“Melyndie” is a beautifully character-driven story, with the character herself at its heart: complex, emotionally authentic, and easy to root for from the very first chapters. The supporting characters feel purposeful and distinct, each shaping her journey in meaningful ways and adding emotional depth to the narrative. The world-building is thoughtfully woven into the story, creating a dystopian setting that feels immersive without overwhelming the reader; details about the environment, social dynamics, and underlying tensions give the world incredible richness while keeping the focus on the characters’ personal stakes. The central themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and growth are handled with warmth and sincerity, giving an extra human depth so critical to the stakes of the plot. The latter is confidently structured with clear momentum and satisfying progression, though a few individual scenes could have lingered slightly longer to heighten atmosphere and develop key emotional beats more. Dialogue flows naturally and supports character development well, even if some exchanges move quickly toward plot progression rather than fully exploring the scene. The pacing remains steady and engaging throughout, maintaining narrative drive while still allowing reflective moments. Overall, this is a compelling and heartfelt story that shines brightest in its characters and thematic depth, leaving a strong and memorable impression; a brilliant, haunting addition to the sci-fi genre. The end will have you on the edge of your seat, even though technically Melyndie hasn’t truly started her adventure yet. The arc from her as a naive, somewhat compliant a75b99r84GE to the time-traveling rebellious Melyndie is amazing to see and is so earned.
I award this book 4,5 stars!
Characters: 5
Dialogue: 4
Plot: 5
Pacing: 4
Editing: 4
