Book Review: The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
12:00 PM
The Game of Love and Death
by Martha Brockenbrough
E-book edition, 336 pages
Published April 28th 2015 by Scholastic, Inc.
✰✰✰
Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now . . . Henry and Flora.
For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.
Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?
Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.
The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.
Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget.
For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.
Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?
Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.
The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.
Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget.
When Love and Death choose their player
When Flora and Henry first met
But then the whole courting thing is actually... (This may be the cause of my slump, or the result of my slump)
How I Feel About Death Helen
How I Feel About Ethan
When things started to burn and people started to die
Finally exciting things are happening!
When Flora keep refusing Henry
The ending
Overall... I think I would like it more if the first 50% wasn't that boring and the reading slump doesn't hit... It's just not what I expected. I didn't feel the connection to the characters, or the spark between Flora and Henry. I feel more connected to Love and Death?? Maybe that's because I'm a magical creature. And also this has the most obvious case of insta love. I don't believe in insta love because of destiny and such... at least give a time for the love to develop before Henry started to stalk Flora. It's a shame though since I've been wanting to read this one for ageees and ends up dissapointed.
18 comments
I love your review! So cute! This really could have been epic, Marc Antony and Cleopatra, I've never seen it explored before in fiction. I'm so sorry you couldn't have enjoyed this more Tasya, hopefully your next read knocks your socks off. Brilliant review! :D :D
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was expecting the exact same thing with you.. at least exploration about the previous players, but nada. It's all about Flora and Henry and it's just really dissapointing :(
DeleteOmg I'm sooo sad you didn't like it! ILOVE THIS BOOK TO PIECES although I agree it wasn't what I was expecting either. XD Aaand, Love and Death were the BEST. Like, can we forget about the humans for a while and ship Love and Death? Because yes please and thank you. ;D
ReplyDelete(I also love how you gifed your reactions! BEST EVER.)
YES OMG. Can we just forget that Henry and Flora exists and just read about Love and Death?? The only time I love Henry and Flora is at the end of the book... Thank you Cait!<3
DeleteThe synopsis sounds so intriguing!! But I hate books with a weird slow middle when it should be exciting. Glad you enjoyed the end! I may have to add this to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteDanica @ A Redheaded Bookworm
I hope you'll enjoy reading it! <3
DeleteHaha, this review is great! I've heard plenty of mixed reviews about this book, so I've been putting it off for a while, but your simple and straight-to-the-point review just nails it down for me. Love and Death seem interesting, but Flora and Henry? They seem so... normal? And if there isn't much chemistry between them, then that really sucks. Good review Tasya!
ReplyDeleteCloe @ Mornings and Epilogues
I know right? I was expecting something magical, but this book just really flat for me... I also can't feel the chemistry, it's just more telling than showing that they love each other... (it's also an insta love)
DeleteOH NO :( I actually got so excited by reading the synopsis, but ahh you didn't like it! :/ A lack of connection to the characters is a big no-no for me :/ IM SORRY YOU DIDN'T LIKE THIS ONE - it honestly sounded so good! :/
ReplyDeleteI loved the unique way you wrote thisreview though!! :)
I know right? I lvoe the synopsis but it just.. I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY DISSAPOINTED WITH MYSELF FOR NOT LIKING THIS. Thank you!
DeleteI love your GIFs - they're perfect! I'm sorry you didn't completely love this one, but I'm glad you still enjoyed it regardless. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
ReplyDelete~ Zoe @ Stories on Stage
Thank you!<3
DeleteHahaha I love the style of this review - so entertaining and so intriguing at the same time because I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about and I WANT TO KNOW *stamps foot*
ReplyDeleteI'd heard of this book already and was pretty excited to read it, i'm a bit dubious now but if i ever get my hands on it i probably will still try it out..
Awesome review!
Thank you!<3 It's really the best way to make other people read the book before dying out of curiosity :D
DeleteIt sucks when a book fails your expectations and you just end up being disappointed. oh well. I possibly never cared about this until today (because your gif review!!! ohmygosh!). This really sounds interesting and your gif review just made me want to grab it. Now I'm so curious I need this. hahaha.
ReplyDeleteczai @ the Blacksheep Project
I know, it's really disheartening :( I hope you'll enjoy it, can't wait to see your thoughts! :)
DeleteThis was such a really adorable review haha. But I'm really sorry that you ended up not enjoying the book so much :( It looked so intriguing and honestly, I was pretty excited. I might give this a try someday, though, but I don't guarantee it. Hope your next read is so much better than this one! :D
ReplyDeleteJillian @ Jillian's Books
Thank you! If you do try it, I can't wait to know what you think about it!
DeleteHi guys! Thank you so much for visiting, feel free to leave a comment and talk to me, I don't bite :D