The centaurs must return to Earth in order to save their dying race. But where they hope to find solace, they only find conflict and violence. They must work to keep the last centaur infant alive so that their race doesn’t die out completely. But have they done enough to ensure their species’ survival?
Tabitha Darling sent me a copy of this book to review, and it’s pretty far from what I usually read. Despite this, I found myself drawn into the story of the centaur’s desperate fight to save their species. It really makes you think about what you would do in order to save your own species. Darling pulls in elements from our own world to help make her fantastical one more realistic, which works in drawing in the reader’s attention and centering them in this world.
The information provided at the beginning of the book about the religion of the centaurs, the point of view, and other important aspect of the novel and the world was helpful when diving in at the beginning. While the world was immersive, at times, I wish there was a more gradual build in the story itself. I found that there were moments when I would get lost, having to refer to the front to try to orient myself back into the story.
Despite these moments, the story itself was compelling, especially as you get to know the characters throughout. It was refreshing that this was a dystopian-esque book, but there wasn’t really a single person chosen to save the centaurs. In a sense, they all had to work together to ensure that their species didn’t disappear forever. This was probably my favorite aspect of the book, and I’d be interested in seeing where the series goes next.
4/5 stars