DrawnAuthor: Cecilia Gray
Publisher: Gray Life, LLC
Publication Date: December 12, 2013
Goodreads ♥ Amazon
Review:
I love street art. Growing up in a bad neighborhood there was always graffiti around, most of it really terrible some of it less terrible. As I’ve gotten older my tastes have changed but I still love street art and the political and social messages behind the art.
Sasha is basically a human truth serum. Around her people can’t help but say exactly what is on their mind, even if that they’re thinking isn’t so nice. This skill leads her to be employed by the FBI and when the CIA is in need of her skills she is spirited away to Belgium to infiltrate the street art community and find Kid Aert, a Banksy-esque street artist.
Sasha is the type of character you want to root for. She has grown up largely alone, abandoned by one foster family after another when she begins to make friends in the street art community you want it to work out for her. I also liked Sasha’s love of comics and how Gray incorporated that in to the novel by having a little comic strip before each chapter.
I liked the Belgian setting. Gray did a great job of making the reader feel like they are there along with Sasha. Prior to reading this book I had no desire to visit Belgium and now I’m ready to get on a plane, the country sounds lovely!
My biggest issue with Drawn was that there wasn’t enough detail. This novel felt like the outline of a story and not the story itself. Sasha’s history wasn’t discussed in detail, we never learn more about where she came, and the story ended in a strange way, it didn’t feel resolved. Drawn was rather short so I’m not entirely sure why more information wasn’t added there was definitely the space to do so.
Overall, I liked the premise and the characters in Drawn but the lack of detail didn’t allow me to fully enjoy this story. Still, it was a quick fun read and if you have any interest in graffiti or comics this is a novel you will enjoy.
Awesome! I requested this ARC on NetGalley; I hope I get to read it. It's good to know your reservations about the detail and length. But, I'm a sucker for books featuring art/artists. Have you read Graffiti Moon yet?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Graffiti Moon yet but it is on my shelf, did you enjoy it?
Delete