I first read this series shortly after the last one dropped. My girlfriend at the time said it was one of her favourite books, so I read them too, to see what she liked about it. Maybe that nostalgia fluffs my view a bit. But I actually think this reads like perfectly acceptable commercial fiction, in terms of sentence structure and vocabulary and character work. It’s the same level as Baldacchi and Dan Brown—stuff like that.

It would have made for a better book had it been told from a more outside perspective because then a lot of the stuff the book doesn’t pull off well, such as some instances of dialogue could be handwaved as a sort of fairy tale telling of the story. With the perspective the way it is, you either empathize with Bella and cast, or you don’t. Either way it’s entirely characterized by her perspective.

Having known Mormons, dated them, worked with them for 10 years, I feel like she’s a product of a very specific subset of those kinds of women. How they find agency and what gender roles are like, and how men and sex, as well as other taboos, are viewed and treated by them. I actually find it pretty interesting from that perspective. But i doubt it’s written to be an exploration of those things, even though sometimes they feel rather underlined!

As far as commercial fiction goes though, it’s a fast read with a tone I find playful and kind of fun. Like a cheesy B movie and the characters are a standard affair for the genre. It hits all the commercial fiction buttons and that’s why it has done so well. It’s fine. From time to time I like reading commercial fiction, just like I like watching cheesy movies sometimes.

Tighter than the first instalment, and still boasts are pretty interesting setting that isn’t rooted in Western fiction, yet the relationship dynamics and character growth feel a replication from the first one, making the sequel feel like the first book was cut in half because of page count. The character arcs feel like they’re going to happen but then sort of continue on the same trajectory. The story also feels similar, patterning itself off the first. I come away lukewarm on it. Don’t think I’d continue to the next.

I’ve read a lot of books on the subject, so the benchmark is high. Some of the best written and mind opening books I’ve ever read have been the recounting of these kinds of experience. I went for it because of this particular framing. And the prose delivers in connection with the theme.

However the conceit wasn’t enough to differentiate itself from stronger works. It does what it sets out to do. And it’s good. It’s just exactly as I expected. If you’re new to stories like this, I think you will be moved by it. If you’re steeped in classics and historical/modern classics, I think you may find it won’t exceed expectations. Which a perfectly fine thing for a book to deliver, imo. 3 stars, for me, is a good rating.