Uneven but won me over

The beginning of this is uneven and I was not sure I was even enjoying it, but about 1/4 way through she starts to actually examine her own self and be honest about her own self and that’s where it gets really good. Overall, it won me over

What a disappointment. Such an interesting historical viewpoint, ruined by confusing writing, and abundant racism and sexism

I learned so much about the investigation of the history of Oceania, and it was very interesting to read and easy to follow. Am docking a star because of the casual way she skirted over how the people of Polynesia were treated as test subjects in the 1920s and 30s

Really good and uplifting. I have read/seen a lot of these “oh the life you might have had” type plots and initially thought “okay this seems predictable, but comfortable reading” and then it completely surprised me!

I read this in an afternoon. It is SO STRANGE. And yet, even as I kept stopping to think “what am I reading?!”, I wanted to KEEP reading.
I’m going to read it again. And look up a lot of references and quotations it uses.
Definitely give this book a chance!

I really wanted to enjoy this book and I hope it is not the last book we have about women of color working in espionage, nor the last about the CIA’s activities in Africa. I learned a lot, and had so many interesting things to look up because of the book. But the story has good seed which never blossom. The author seems to think she’s laid a really compelling backstory and set of motivations, but they are too thin and implausible. The connection between Marie and her target is limited and not worth the attention it consumes. Also she might be the least curious and most gullible spy I’ve ever read! Ask more questions, Marie! She keeps telling us how skilled she is and then she fails at pretty simple espionage elements.
Anyhow, it just didn’t prove to be the book I wanted, but I do think it could be turned into a really good miniseries or movie, even, with a little more fleshing out.

Points for a unique magical world, and for a character who regularly experiences and is affected by her period.
Otherwise, the world building was too vague and lacking in description, and the characters too under-developed for the kinds of relationships and stakes that the author wants them to have.
I genuinely did not understand what happened at the end