September 27, 2023sarahylockwood

A Song of Sorrow by C. E. Page

SPFBO Status: Cut

Rate: 7/10

Medium: ebook

Overview (No Spoilers): 

Poor Deana has lost her entire family. Her brother was the last to be taken in her place by the terrible curse that was placed on her by Grandmother Ocean. Deana is consumed with the knowledge that the deity will someday return to reclaim her to the watery depths, despite the price she’s already paid to the curse. Due to Deana unique powers, her life is lonely as her strange ways and magical aura mark her as different. After a frantic sequence of events leads to her friend, the chief’s son being kidnapped and her uncovering a dangerous secret, the rest of the book follows a rotations of adventure-filled rescue missions, each more daring than the last. 

A Song of Sorrow has a very interesting magical system, though I had more questions than answers by the end of this novel. A trilogy precedes A Song of Sorrow that you in no way needed to read, though key elements in backstories are alluded to that leave the reader feeling like they were missing out on some of the depth to the story. The mystery of the forces pursuing Deana and her budding powers kept my curiosity piqued throughout this read. That said, there are a few rough transitions or leaps in journeys that pull the reader out of the story. Additionally, situations were developed in a way that forced main characters to rush into decisions that didn’t quite seem to align with established personalities or values. The end was also abrupt, feeling like the conclusion of part one instead of the end of a novel. In general, A Song of Sorrow is an intriguing magical world with vivid characters whose depths have only just been tapped. 

Additional Insight and Questions (Spoilers Abound): 

  • What was Grandmother Ocean trying to tell Deana?
  • How is Idir so far ahead of everyone plotting? How was he able to find Deana or Agnes as just children?
  • Can Agnes ever be ‘fixed’ from what Idir did to her powers as a child?
  • What is Varlan really after?
  • What was Kai also plotting toward? How did he meet all these different people? What is the secret to his journal?
  • Is Grandmother Ocean a blessing or a curse for Deana?
  • What will the Isle of Splendour or Durmura contain?
  • Will the War Machine work? 
  • Why is Wes so loyal to Varlan?
  • What is the spirit trapped in the stone they stole from Mintura?

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