About the Book
-
Author:
- Flavia Brunetti
- Genre:
- Fantasy
Cover Story: Making Waves
BFF Charm: Torn
Talky Talk: Elegant Whimsy
Bonus Factors: Art, Loyal Pet God, Tasty Business
Anti-Bonus Factors: Awful Grown-Ups, Existential Fear
Relationship Status: Suspend Your Disbelief
Cover Story: Making Waves
The background of this cover is “Sidi Bou Said blue”, exactly like the traditional paint color of the neighborhood in Tunis where one of the protagonists lives. (I had to Google that.) The golden waves could represent either the ocean or the Web of Time, but either way it’s a beautiful design, with a mystical feel that captures the mood of this story.
The Deal:
The Web of Time is unraveling, and even the gods don’t know why. Tevere, the Roman river god, warned his colleagues that parts of Roman history were being erased, but they dismissed him as an alarmist. But when a side effect causes portals to open between continents, throwing human teens Anna and Jack around between Rome, Tunis and Tripoli, no one can ignore what’s happening. All the two friends want is to get back home, but home may no longer be where and when they left it … if it still exists at all.
BFF Charm: Torn
I didn’t much care for Jack or Anna, but I’m not sure whether that’s due to them or to the writing. They seemed so wise for their age at first that a sudden petty squabble (putting the entire space-time continuum even further at risk) took me by surprise. And speaking of petty squabbles, a lot of page time is taken up by the various gods arguing in circles without coming up with a solution.
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Anna’s parents, Pietro and Marta del Giudizio, have an adorable meet-cute story (courtesy of a mischievous cat god – see “Loyal Pet” below), but otherwise there’s not much romance in the book.
Talky Talk: Elegant Whimsy
Dusk is “the Roman Forum’s favorite time of day.” The river god’s anxiety feels like “rheumatism in his bends”. A young bride’s laugh sounds “like silver, or sometimes like velvet”. Flavia Brunetti’s writing style is hands down my favorite thing about this book.
Bonus Factor: Art
Jack is a visual artist, Anna a writer. The way they bond over the joys and frustrations of trying to make your work live up to your imagination is one of the few times I could relate to them.
Bonus Factor: Loyal Pet God
The Libyan cat god Nafusa would hate to be called a pet, but he’s certainly loyal. He watches over the del Giudizio family even though their short lifespans break his immortal heart.
Bonus Factor: Tasty Business
Jack likes to cook and bake; some of his favorites include crostata (Italian cherry pie) and bambalooni (Tunisian fried doughnuts covered in sugar). Now that sounds worth crossing a magical portal for … I’m joking. Mostly.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Awful Grown-Ups
When Jack was a child, his uncle beat him. His parents, instead of making sure their son was okay, fought over the issue until they divorced, leaving Jack to feel responsible for “break[ing] the family” (his words) on top of everything else. On a larger scale, flashbacks show several portals being created by human curiosity, only to be destroyed by human selfishness later. (Apparently nothing ruins magic like a bunch of bullying border guards. I can believe that.)
Anti-Bonus Factor: Existential Fear
All the things that even the gods don’t know in this fictional universe – such as why the Web of Time is breaking, or how it was created in the first place – imply a rather alarming power vacuum if you think about it too long.
Relationship Status: Suspend Your Disbelief
I’ve read this book twice, and whether I find it enchanting or disappointing depends largely on how I slept the night before. Be advised to turn off your inner skeptic by getting a good night’s rest (and maybe some pastries).
Literary Matchmaking
Momo by Michael Ende is another story set in Italy that contemplates the nature of time.
Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Mertoui also features a Tunisian main character.
In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce also includes a faithful cat who’s more than they seem.
FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher. I got no compensation for this review.
