Book: Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 5/5
Ayana Grey has a great intriguing writing style. There were many quotes that I found myself highlighting and thinking of after.
"The road to hell is paved by easily impressed people."
Both Vesper and Maximilian were developed characters who really built up the story. I enjoyed the layers to their history and how they progressed through the book. Vesper determined and surviving in a world that doesn't approve of women standing on their own. I enjoyed that the entirety of this book was in her POV. Max was a classic fun aloof rich boy with the sad backstory that humanizes his charm.
One of the more vital world building aspects, the magic system and technology, really hit in an important way. I found myself siding with Max's opinions about the shortcut of the machine and dangerous by product of it. Not that the point is to take sides, but Gray really cooked with these lines:
"An artificial machine is not the same thing as a human being. The flick of a switch or the press of a button does not replace years of honing a craft."
"The Gladwell Machine allows people to bypass that. Think of all the time you've spent honing your craft as a writer. Imagine if someone could just press a few buttons and call themself a writer too."
The mystery itself had a great pacing and interesting twists. I did clock who it was from fairly early, but not because it was obvious. There was a one-off line I really latched onto and I couldn't let it go, I just knew.
Such a great Gilded Age fantasy mystery with light romance that I truly enjoyed. Thank you to Net Galley & Fierce Reads for this ARC!