This book was a slog and I'm not sure why? I can't put my finger on any one clear reason but after a fairly quick start I was completely unmotivated to finish this novel. Post-apocalypse journey across America means almost nothing topic-wise could be more in my wheelhouse but this book was really a chore. The pacing fluctuated wildly, with chapters-worth of time with almost nothing happening and then lots of action coming all at once. I liked Fan but pretty much all of the characters lacked depth. Her entire motivation is searching for Reg but we learn so little about him we can't empathize with that-WHY exactly are you doing all this in search of someone who sounds like a nice guy but of whom there are probably hundreds in your settlement nearly exactly the same? I was also completely uninterested in the flashbacks back to B-Mor where Fan's departure has started to inspire unrest but it's...never really clear why. I feel like Lee spends a lot of time explaining why but it never really came through. Even the ending just sort of...happens.
I guess the muddled motivations of the characters and weird pacing are what dragged this book down for me, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it going in.
I guess the muddled motivations of the characters and weird pacing are what dragged this book down for me, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it going in.
