DNF at 50%. 

1.5 stars, rounded down. 

“The Secret Book of Flora Lea” begins with a promising premise: a long-lost sister, a mysterious fairy tale, and a World War II backdrop. However, the execution didn’t live up to the potential, and I ultimately gave up due to boredom.

The story alternates between Hazel’s life in 1960s London and her memories of being evacuated with her younger sister Flora during the war. While this dual timeline could have added depth, it ends up feeling clunky and overly drawn out.

The pacing is painfully slow, and the central mystery — what really happened to Flora — drags on far too long without any real tension or payoff. I eventually gave up reading and looked up the ending instead, because the story meandered too much for me to continue.

Hazel, the protagonist, is difficult to connect with. Her guilt over Flora’s disappearance is hammered home repeatedly, to the point where it feels redundant. Her emotional arc is predictable and uninspiring, and Flora herself feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character. The supporting cast doesn’t add much either, with most side characters feeling flat and forgettable.

The writing leans heavily on flowery descriptions and sentimentality, often at the expense of meaningful progress. What should have been magical — the fairy tale world of Whisperwood — feels disconnected and underwhelming. 

The historical setting of World War II, particularly the child evacuations, had so much potential to enrich the story but ends up being underdeveloped. The war feels like a convenient backdrop rather than an integral part of the narrative, which makes the story feel shallow.

While the concept had potential, “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” failed to hold my attention. Its slow pacing, shallow characterizations, and lack of emotional payoff made it a forgettable and unsatisfying read.