A review by katieg
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Loved this book. Odile’s strong character voice and close perspective created such a strong tone of melancholy and longing and often regret. The concept was strongly executed without ever getting overrun with world building details. And the plot knew when to be propulsive and when to let character moments breathe. The last quarter of the book flew by even as its emotional stakes made me want to stop reading out of concern for the characters, not of which I consider good things!