Rant & Rave- The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

 Hi All!

This is my Rant & Rave for The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He.  This was the latest Owlcrate book, though I got a bit of a late start on this one.

The Ones We're Meant to Find follows two very different main characters- Cee, a free-spirited woman trapped on a long-forgotten island with a robot and faint memories of her sister, and Kasey, a reformed criminal science genius dealing with the loss of both science and her sister.  The book takes place in an apocalyptic post-climate crisis world.  Through Cee's story, we see the destroyed world as we know it, and through Casey's, we see a novel science-based way of living.  Both stories are captivating in their own way, and all I can say about the book as a whole is "wow!"

So let's rave!

The twist in this book- amazing!  It was perfectly hinted at in a way that still leaves you dumbfounded when you figure it out.  I kept asking myself "how did I miss this, there were so many hints?"  The answer, of course, is that the hints were subtle and a little confusing until everything clicks into place. Joan He does an excellent job both concealing and finally revealing the twist in the book.  Is she planning to switch to mysteries anytime soon?  (I hope not, because I don't really read mysteries!)

The book flows nicely.  It's almost like reading poetry in two very different styles- Cee's chapters are emotional, passionate, and social, while Kasey's are thought-provoking and filled with world-building and problem solving.  However, throughout both chapters, Joan He's beautifully flowing authorial voice shines through.  

And my (admittedly scant) rant:

I really wanted to jump into every detail of this world.  Joan He does a good job of limiting what information the reader needs, but I almost felt like it was a little too limited.  Yes, it provided what was necessary for the book, but I think that a little more about Kasey's world in particular might have added to the flavor of the book, and made the world itself as memorable as the plot.  

Overall, I think this book takes the top spot of all the Owlcrate books I've gotten so far.  (Sorry Sweet and Bitter Magic; I loved your characters more, but the plot of this one is just TOO good.)  I don't really think a sequel to this book would be worthwhile, but I will certainly be following Joan He's career and checking out future books.  I might decide to do a more elaborate review of this book with spoilers sometime soon, but I don't want to make any promises yet.  

Up next is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. A friend recommended it to me and I can see why! It has all the dark fantasy, magic, and courtly intrigue I could ask for.  As always, feel free to leave comments about the book or my thoughts on the book in the comments!

Dana