Assessment:
Plot: The author has assembled all the elements necessary for a winning novel, but unfortunately they don't come together in the end. Readers are likely to be frustrated that the book fails to live up to its potential.
Prose: For the most part, the writing is workmanlike, though some sections have a stilted quality due to awkward phrasing or excessive and unimportant details.
Originality: The premise while not original has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the execution—and an ending that falls flat—undercuts that potential.
Character Development: While the characters are rendered well, few of them show much growth over the course of the novel. Lena probably exhibits the most change, but even she tends to react more than act.
Date Submitted: June 29, 2017
