It reads like a diary, which can be good and bad — I’m giving it three stars because of ambivalence rather than apathy. Some lines are striking and uniquely vivid, while others are just motivational-poster quotes with extra line breaks; beyond the basic subdivision into four sections, there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason behind the order of the poems in terms of length/structure or content. However, the themes are important and relatable, and the doodles (for lack of a better descriptor) are a good match for the imagery and moods of the poems they accompany.

My biggest issues are, as always, the narrative structure doesn’t work for me — it’s mostly first-person and some third-person limited present-tense narration, secondhand versions of firsthand retellings of what’s gone down; the way they’re put together doesn’t make sense, with the cliffhangers and phrasing — and the narrators all sound exactly the same, from seasoned civilian-soldier Cormac to young Mathilda to Nine Oh Two. (The possible exception is Takeo Nomura, though I also have issues with his characterization, as the most prominent PoC, which I won’t get into here because it’s been a long day and I just don’t have the energy.) I also had trouble relating to any of the characters since the POV switched so frequently, and since the book was structured like a Post-War Record rather than a story.

Other than that, though, it’s a fairly well-written story: thoroughly developed, straightforward enough to follow but complex enough to keep the reader’s interest.

Unlike Dear Friend, this book took me so long to read just because it was long and thorough, which I enjoyed.

It’s a unique perspective on colonialism and conversionism (is that a word? oh well), a callout from the perspective of would-be “civilizers” and bringers of religion. Each of the women brings a different perspective and set of lessons learned, giving variety without oversaturating one single character with moral dilemmas; the split narrative also allows for the exploration of different journeys, almost like if you reread a choose-your-own-adventure novel enough times to see all the possible storylines through. The opening and ending were a bit much, but they seem to fit with the setting of the Congo — specifically, the culture and beliefs of those who live there — and with the themes of life/loss and family.

3.5 stars.

(I meant to come back to this and elaborate on my rating, but I kept forgetting. So here's another long-after-the-fact reflection that will certainly be less accurate to my initial impression of the book.)

I've always loved the "scrappy band of misfits" trope, but as a reader I didn't find the actual writing and plot of this book to be especially effective. I liked it fine, but it was far from being one of the best books I've read lately.

There's something special about a book like this — obviously there's a plot, but the story is driven by characters you can't help but root for because they're so vividly human. None of the twists were really unexpected, but I think it really worked: I didn't want to believe it about Felix, but I never gave up on him completely either. The way it worked out just seems the most reasonable explanation, consistent with the characters I spent the book getting to know, as a happy bonus to it being the most acceptable series of events. Obviously it doesn't bring Vanse back, but I'm glad Felix and Jottie finally found closure and a healthier way to coexist. And as for the others, Willa and Layla and Emmett and Bird, I'm really glad they got their happy ending.

On paper, this book is pretty cool. Kind of Narnia-ish, but more meta. However, I couldn't really empathize with the main characters, and the pacing seemed to drag.

This book had a lot of the things I dislike about male authors and male action protagonists, including the presentation and treatment of female characters. The plot was interesting enough to get me through to the end, though personally I wouldn't classify it as a "thriller." (Just look at how long it took me to finish, compared to books I've really enjoyed: far from being unable to put it down, I had to keep taking breaks.)

Compelling characters and plot; I didn't see the ending coming but once I got there it definitely made sense in light of the clues scattered throughout.