Elisa can’t stay in one place for more than ten months due to a family curse. Stay any longer, and she risks turning into a tree. During one of her wanderings, she arrives in Greenborough, Massachusetts - a place where residents can’t leave. She must find the root of her curse and a way out of town before it's too late. I’ll avoid saying more to keep things spoiler-free.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The premise is original, the world-building is evocative, and the main characters are richly drawn. The story moves between three generations of women across three timelines, with the focus mainly on Elisa. I liked Elisa's voice more than the others and found her story the most engaging. The double meaning of Warbler (a wanderer or a small songbird) was also a nice touch, cleverly woven into the narrative. Oh, and there's a bookstore and a cat, which I adored!
The book explores themes of choices, or lack thereof, the tendency to do what's expected rather than pursuing one’s dreams, the need for belonging, mother-daughter relationships, grief, and how even the best intentions can go wrong. I found it frustrating how others' choices were imposed on Elisa and her mother, and the assumption that everyone needed or wanted the same things felt condescending.
The book started strong, lagged a bit in the middle, and then picked up the pace. I liked the conclusion, though it wasn’t entirely satisfying. I figured out the mystery before the heroine did, but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment. A bit of tightening in the plot would have made it even more engaging.
In sum, "The Warbler" is a marvelous read with good writing, vivid imagery, and relatable characters. The author takes the reader into the mind of the book's main characters and exposes them to their emotions. I’d recommend this to Sarah Beth Durst fans and lovers of magical realism.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "The Warbler" by Sarah Beth Durst
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