Ash

I'm never going to be a fan when the book starts off with unlikable characters. Olivia is selfish and conniving and Bennet doesn't actually have a personality outside of taking Olivia's bs over and over and still showing up. It was never an issue of zodiac incompatibility, she was just dumb. I wasn't rooting for their pairing until the last couple of chapters. This book has one of my least favorite tropes. The MC that is pretty terrible to everyone, but it's all a “misunderstanding” and the other characters flock around and make them feel better about whatever they did. I wish this book had more zodiac history or facts. Olivia talked constantly about the compatibility of certain zodiacs, but we didn't actually get to see her do much pairing except with Harper. I liked all of the older characters and the cultural aspects with the funeral and making the moon cakes and swiss rolls. I love the enemies to lovers trope, but the enemies still have to be likable. This was just a miss for me.

This book was not what I was expecting it to be after reading the prequel. I think there was too long of a lull in the middle. I wanted more of the scenes with the tests and less of Celaena in her room contemplating Dorian and Chaol. I'd rather she chose Nehemia tbh... I liked it better than I liked ACOTAR when I first read it. That being said, though liked it better, it still felt like a filler book instead of an introduction to a series. I'm going to start the next one today so, we'll see.

This story was intriguing, thought-provoking, and honest of how quickly someone's life can be derailed because of wrongful accusations. This is specifically true for men of color as prison statistics can attest. This book was a real human emotional journey and I loved the entire process of getting to the ending.
I only have one negative overall...
I have a giant pet peeve with multiple point of view stories when each character can not be distinguished by the tone or voice of the writing. If I stopped off in the middle of the chapter, I had to check back to see who I was reading because every character had the same phrasing and vocabulary. I know this is picky, but if you can't make the voices distinct, write in third person omniscient. Just sayin'~

Ngl, I googled the qualifications to receive a Pulitzer because I couldn't figure out what would make this book receive such an award other than the manifestations of the main character in the story. I couldn't find much information other than if the board likes the submission, they vote and someone wins. This book was suggested to me by a book loving friend, but it took me two years to attempt to read it. I judged from the cover that it would be about the misfortunes of a white male so you can imagine my surprise when not only is that exactly what the book is about, but the characters even talk about it not being a good selling plot. It's not that I didn't enjoy this book, it was just mundane and okay at best. I will not read the second one.