What a strange book... I get the sense that Lydia Kang really likes romance focused stories, and even though this is a very odd premise, I actually think it's well executed for what it is. Not really my thing at all, but I did appreciate the morally gray female main character! Would recommend for fantasy readers who don't mind a heavy romantic element.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

3.5 stars
I definitely enjoyed this book. However, it did not blow me away.

Hector lives in an abusive situation and this time he wants to run away for good. He goes to Isle Royale in Lake Superior to hide until he is 18 so he can get out of living situation. Once he arrives on the Isle he meets Anda. Anda has some secrets of her own especially about her parentage. As the two try to survival the harsh November storms, Hector finds out that there is something odd about this girl on the island.

Anda and Hector are very likable characters. It is not hard to sympathise with Hector once you know his backstory. Anda has done some more questionable things but as she makes a way into Hector's heart so she does into the readers' hearts.

Kang doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of surviving on an island in winter with almost no food. Nor does she shy away from the harshness of the November storms. Although, I wonder if the November storms are really that bad around the area of Lake Superior. Probably not? Correct me if I am wrong.

<spoiler>Anda's abilities were very nicely done. Although, I am a bit biased because I am a huge fan of Avatar the Last Airbender so everything that reminds me of that makes me happy. In this case, Anda's power to control the storms and the water reminded me of water- and airbending.
I also liked how on some areas of the island she had more control and on other parts she had less. It showed the limits and I feel like that is not always very well done in other fiction.</spoiler>

I would recommend this book is you like to read about people with superpowers, small mysteries and magical realism.

I have been waiting a long time for this book to come out and I'm so excited to have a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

The story didn't disappoint. Anda is a strange girl, but so strong. She lives alone on an island and has a secret, but everything changes when Hector shows up. The only thing about this book that struck me as odd, was how quickly the two characters fell in love. I didn't feel the connection between them. It was just a naïve girl with a horny teenage boy kind of thing.

The story was quick and full of mystery and action. I loved the ending and how Anda has to overcome the truth about what she is. This was an epic read.

Ms. Kang has made me have feelings for shipwrecks and inanimate objects that include corpses. How did she do that? She wove a lovely tale involving two people that were halves and made them whole as individuals and as one. Anda's nature of violence with reason was terrifying and yet beautiful. Her love of the items destructed washed unto me. Hector's being broken did not stop him from caring for Anda and her oddities. This story was so moving without much dialogue. Typically I am not a fan of books without dialogue but this one reeled me in and kept me there until the last wave was gone. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!

What a dark book. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the book. It took me forever to finish. I kept having to stop to think about what I was reading and how I felt about it. I kept needing to confirm that I did, indeed, want to finish this book (the honest answer was no, but the type A answer was yes).

Not sure of what I should have expected from the book but I wasn't expecting what I got. The story is deep, dark, and explores true nature when you're trapped in two worlds. How humans perceive good versus precieved evil. I think knowing what Anda was earlier in the book would have helped. Throughout the book (from page 1) there's always mention of what she is, there's always hints at what she is but her true nature isn't revealed until the very end of the book and by then - I was over it.

Same goes for Hector's story. You know that the kid is traumatized, you know something isn't right, but we don't find out until the end of the book. It's almost like I spent the whole book playing mystery theater as both Hector and Anda (which is probably what the author intended) but I kind of hated it.

Don't get me the wrong, the book was well written. The story is interesting developed and it seems like Kang put a good deal of planning into the book. Personally, I just can't stand books like this with dueling perspectives and neither one actually making any sense or providing some clarity.

Would I read this book again? Nope. Would I recommend it to a friend? Probably nope. Will I remember this book in a few months and a few dozen books in-between? Maybe (probably) for the trauma that it's caused. Read at your own risk and be prepared to be frustrated but fascinated at the same time.

I have been DYING to read this since I found out about this book and because of netgalley (THANNNKKK YOUUU!!!), I got an arc for an honest review and I was left breathless from this novel. It was such a beautiful, dark, dangerous love story that is right up my alley. I was hooked and lost at sea, sucked in from the beginning.