C
Christina R
July 21, 2023
My New Favorite In the Series
From the dedication, Piper had me hooked. I've never seen or read such a beautiful and varied representation of bisexuals, specifically, and queer people, generally. Beyond the representation, I love how Piper writes every character and describes every place, situation, and interaction. Her illustrative language and extensive metaphors combined with her "Listen Along" song list has created a fantasy book that is incredibly immersive. All the characters are real and act exactly as I expect according to their trauma and lived experience. And yet, the story Piper has created is constantly surprising me in the best way. She naturally and seamlessly intermixes character development and world-building with foreshadowing so every twist is unexpected but never contrived.
Though the book is primarily about Nox and Amaris and their continued journey to break the curse separating Raascot and Farehold, it's also very character driven. It vividly describes the complex growing and changing of relationships between the core characters. It explores found family, all the forms of love (from platonic to familial to romantic), and all the complexity (good and bad) that can come from loving someone. And most importantly, this book is about loving, accepting, and finding yourself in a world that didn't see your value.
If you like queer stories, fantasy, women saving themselves, found family, and vivid language, this series is for you. Every book has only gotten better. The Gloom Between Stars…
