A review by iforgotilivedhere
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I found the romance nice at times, even the mystery at some points throughout the story itself, but the pay off of this mystery was fucking annoying.
I don't know if Meadows exactly knows how child abandonment works. Laecia as a character is the typical youngest child, very outspoken and upfront, but how child abandonment shows on a child or and adult that goes through abandonment is not how Meadows showed. It may've been that Meadows was trying to convince the reader that Laecia was not the villain when she was, but what annoyed me was the lack of complexity to her character and then the failed attempt at said complexity. A true villain shouldn't have to feel like they have to win you over to liking them, they should be understandable because they are, Laecia felt forced, is all I am saying. And that is why I am annoyed. I also wasn't necessarily understanding how Velasin as a character was healing so quickly. As a rape survivor, after my first rape, I dissociated for years before actually being able to say shit. Even when people in my life made me as comfortable as possible, I still didn't say shit because you cannot because you're still not sure what happened. Rape is not easy to process and even after the event happens, you are still in disbelief for what can be months or even years. I wanted the book to go slow, I wanted it take place for over a year if need be, but Meadows made it so that it took place for only a week. That frustrated me because that felt like ista-love and a not so accurate representation for rape survivors!
I will be reading the sequel tho because I have faith.