January Black by Wendy S. Russo
Maer’s Review
This is one of my favorite Indie/small press books that I read in 2013. The intriguing title is at the heart of this mystery, as sixteen year old Matty tries to answer a question for the king and earn his Master’s. In an undisclosed world, he has been set a task by the king – discover just what “January Black” is. Clever, full of twists and turns and mysteries, Matty’s journey to solve the riddle is also a coming of age story. With his interest in Iris and their growing friendship, it’s also a love story.
I loved Russo’s intelligent style, her intricate world-building and characters who seemed to leap off the page. There are so many rich details on every level of this novel: story, plot and character are layered and complex.
I was thoroughly drawn in immediately and was sorry when the book ended. I fell in love with this novel and can’t wait to see what Russo has in store for us next. I highly recommend January Black!
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