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Let me start by saying that I have no idea how it stands up culturally today or how much of the story is based in fact or folklore. I'm happy for anyone with more knowledge to clarify or confirm.

The writing is simple, but the story has plenty going for it. It's a tale of survival, loss, love, belonging, home, culture, and so many other things. Of the many books I read in school, this one pops up in memory the most. So I decided to give it another read. I wasn't disappointed.

While categorized as juvenile fiction, there's nothing particularly juvenile about it apart from the age of Karana. The challenges she faces are no less adult—or life and death—than any other book I've read written for older audiences.

I won't go so far as to call the book wholesome, it communicates enough of the violence and struggle to drive the point home. But it's not gory or over-the-top at any points. A good way to spend a day or two in the head of someone else.

I'd like to think it's also a chance to see a strong non-white protagonist without stereotypes or the like as well. But, as stated above, I can't vouch for any sort of authenticity or research on the behalf of the author. But as an 80s kid growing up in public schools on military bases, this was certainly one of the more diverse books I stumbled across then and there's nothing that made me pause or question continuing to read the book now.

I suspect that I might benefit more from the next book in the series or taking the actual course. That said, it's not because the information presented isn't valuable, timely, or something that any author (traditional or self-published) shouldn't keep in mind to optimize and grow their newsletter. It's just that at a high level, most things in play are established best practices.

That said, there are some actionable tips and tricks as well as specifics that really help to reinforce the concepts and provide clarity. And they're delivered in a conversational and approachable tone that I wish more of the non-fiction/how-to books I read adopted. It's like sitting down with a trusted friend to learn about something they know.

I don't regret the purchase at all. In fact, on the Kindle "What's Next" screen, I picked up the next book the moment I finished this one. If you're new to newsletters (or have one but don't understand why it isn't working), this book is a great place to start figuring out your foundation and creating a plan that should lead to success. If you're looking to min-max an already-successful newsletter, maybe not so much.

To be clear, this is the first in a series of books spanning double digits (and decades of writing), so writing a review for it almost feels somehow unfair. I have no idea if it reflects on the rest of the series and would suspect it likely doesn't, given the time available to work on things.

I'll also note upfront that mysteries are not my usual genre. But I wanted to try something different. So my ability to compare this to other mystery authors or even gauge whether it's a "good" mystery is probably wanting. I'm a sci-fi and fantasy guy at heart.

All of the disclaimers out of the way, the main character is a bit of a weepy mess and probably not the kind of person I'd get along with. Given I'm very much a character-driven stories kind of guy, that had me questioning things at first. That said, the story itself was interesting, there was enough nuance to the various people and situations in play to leave me guessing before the big reveal, and the writing /editing itself is solid.

It turned out that I was right about the culprit(s) based on my first suspicion, but I was never completely sure. That's good enough for me. I'll probably read a few more of these and see if it sticks. For me, that will mostly depend on if there is any development of the main character.

Even after reading this, I'm still thinking about the world of this series and where things will go next. This book picks up on Elke's adventures and again manages to ratchet up the stakes--though I feel the next one is going to be one hell of a ride.

From technologically enhanced dogs to young kids exploring their world, this book offers a range of POVs, yet they all feel spot on. You never feel lost between head-hopping. Details and perceptions change, and you get the story from multiple angles. It's a great balance that kept me counting the minutes until I could get back to the book and read some more.

With the dynamic languages, distinct cultures, and strong personalities, the world established in the first book really comes alive in this second installment. It's just different enough to be whimsical but familiar enough that you can make pictures in your head. I can't wait to see what's in store for Elke next!

I'd put off reading this one for a bit... I didn't want the adventure of Ro and company to come to an end.

But I had to know. And I'm thoroughly pleased with how things are wrapped up.

I've always said that Derelict was a bit of a slow burn and that once things took off plot wise, the rest of the series flew by...

Then this book came along. LJ Cohen really found the groove with pacing and head hopping in this one. I couldn't put it down... As my sleep patterns can attest.

Hold on, you're in for a ride.

Still sad to think I won't be able to see what else the crew might get up to, explore New Louisiana or other settlements, and see where life takes Dev and Barre in particular... But that's just me being greedy.

Amazing series, and I think this book is my favorite within it. The change and growth in characters across stories, the struggles (both internal and external), and the power struggles... So good.

We've seen fae and spacers so far, can't wait to see where LJ Cohen takes us next.