My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Official best read of 2017. HANDS. DOWN.
I am heart broken. I am betrayed. I am wrecked. Completely and utterly WRECKED.
I needed the next book like about 2 chapters before the end because. Was ANY OF IT REAL? IS ANYTHING ANYONE EVER SHARED REAL? I DON'T KNOW.
I can't write a decent review without spilling everything. Let me leave it at this, I was excited, I was happy, this was going to be a comfort book with all my favorite tropes, and instead it tore me apart like piece by piece, each shard of hope broken so completely I cannot see a way of reconciliation ever.
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5 darkest stars to a book I know I will be re-reading many times over.
Actual Review: so after taking like a month to calm down, I'm still obsessed with this book, but a bit more coherent. So I owe this book a review. Kamzin is a village head's daughter, she is an extremely capable climber, but that's about it. However, her people expect her to be the next shaman as her older sister takes her place as their future leader. However, their village gets word that the most famous explorer, River, is coming to their village before he embarks on a difficult journey that no one has ever attempted. After a series of betrayals and events, Kamzin agrees to help River navigate the mountain.
River is quite the enigmatic character. His actions, powers, and how he manages to get by every impossible hurdle can't be explained. He's always been aloof and alone, but Kamzin breaks a very small layer of ice around his heart. I do believe he cares for her in some ways after the journey they go through together. River finds in Kamzin an equal in terms of climbing and passion. However, they find their are passionate about incredibly different things, and this leads to some serious heartbreak and betrayal. All the characters change vastly from page 1 to the very last page. You honestly do not know who the characters truly are and what they are capable of. Even then, I expect more change in book 2.
Even the Darkest Stars was not a book I expected to love. It seems like it's about mountain climbing, but oh my god, it is so incredibly well written and about so much more. Witches, ancient beasts, hidden powers, and evil. Fawcett truly pulls you in with her writing. The side characters are very well developed and you get enough of an impression to like, love, or hate them. They've got their own quirks and agendas. The only problem I have is that I hate the whole childhood best friend in love with the MC thing and follows her to the ends of the earth. Stop it, this trope is overused. (view spoiler) This book questions morals too. What is evil, and is suppression of a people condoned by evil, no matter what the species? Just SO. MANY. QUESTIONS. And tears, but maybe that's just me. It also really makes you think, what would you be willing to give up for what you want most. The answer isn't what you always expect of people or for youself.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>
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