Tis’ the season for book reviews and Christmas orders. Here are two new reviews: one from OnlineBookClub.org and a second from BookLife Prize. I love and appreciate reviews from Readers, too! Feel free to add your viewpoints and critiques on GoodReads or Amazon. Muchos Gracias!!!!
OnlineBookClub.org- The prose is excellent. Sykes is skilled at vivid descriptions with ornate details and beautiful metaphors. The characters are well-formed and each has a distinct personality. The pacing is very well done. Right off the bat, the story drew me in. At no point did I want to stop reading. The ending is satisfyingly heartwarming. Overall, I am pleased with Eat the Moon. I rate it four out of five stars. I recommend this to any mature reader who is comfortable with graphic sex scenes and depictions of gun violence.
Assessment from BookLife Prize:
Plot/Idea: Sparks fly when Saffron LeMay and Colton Miller end up in close quarters on his boat, after a raging storm almost claims their lives. Despite their differences—and Colton’s long-term girlfriend—the two hit it off, opening up to each other and glimpsing what a true, honest relationship could be like. When tragedy strikes, it only serves to drive the two closer together, as Saffron’s environmentally conscious way of living expands Colton’s worldview.
Prose: Sykes depicts the central characters’ growing connection in easy, comfortable language, gifting the story a slow burn alongside a thought-provoking study on climate change. Some tangents distract from the main plot points, but overall Sykes writes clear, eloquent prose with snappy dialogue.
Originality: There are multiple components to Eat the Moon—like the daily ins and outs of Saffron’s commune—that add originality to the narrative, but the sweet give and take between Saffron and Colton is the backbone of this appealing story.
Character/Execution: Sykes delivers a small but memorable cast. Saffron is a vivid character who jumps off the page and into readers’ hearts; her softness, paired with a steely resolve about her place in the world, is a good balance to Colton’s uncertainty about his path. As he transforms throughout the novel, his assurance and conviction swell, allowing him to take the necessary steps to have the life he’s always dreamed about.
Score from BookLife:
- Plot/Idea: 9
- Originality: 8
- Prose: 8
- Character/Execution: 9
- Overall: 8.50
Portia D. Sykes 