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Book Review of The Sparrow (Sparrow, Bk 1)

The Sparrow (Sparrow, Bk 1)
reviewed on + 8 more book reviews


This is a book that wormed its way into my head. It is pretty well-written, with nicely developed characters. The author's tone is a little distant, and I never became truly engaged with the characters, never really FELT what they felt, but they stayed with me all the same, and I will probably keep this book as part of my pantheon.

Ms. Russell touches on themes that also stay with you: bigotry, faith, doubt, and above all redemption. That last one is often the most difficult for people, particularly when it is the redemption of the self (not of someone else) that is at stake. The central character, Emilio Sandoz, is perhaps a bit extreme in his stance, given his character development early in the book, but it makes for a good read, nonetheless.