Invictus by Aska J. Naiman

My rating: 4.65 of 5 stars

For a book that I randomly picked up through Instafreebie, this was one very satisfying short story. While I admit that there's a bunch of stuff that others might find 'wrong' with it (writing style, 'errors', etc.), I found the book very entertaining.

Told entirely through the point of view of one young woman, the story tells about this woman's recovery from some event that took her lower leg from her (it is never explained what occurred). She had been either Olympic caliber or on the way to being Olympic caliber in swimming, but now . . . now she's missing one leg. She'd put her entire life, ambition, purpose for being, everything into swimming. And now? Now she has to attempt to learn to walk again. Learn to . . . live again. Learn to find something more than just swimming to occupy her time (the passion for swimming is still there).

As part of that 'more', her parents encourage the young woman to expand her brain. She'd basically been 'average' in school. Somewhat because she spent hours swimming instead of studying, partly, possibly, because she is average. But, still, even 'average' people can 'improve' their mind. Train it. Expand it. Fill it. So a tutor comes over.

After many many weeks, the young woman admits to herself that she has a massive crush on her young female tutor. She's in a somewhat difficult position, though, because she doesn't want to scare the woman away by making advances or anything like that. So . . .

I should probably mention that both young women have dark skin. As Seda (the tutor) notes, when she first glimpses Shla (the POV character), 'I . . . I thought you were white.' (there are reasons for the comment, quickly seen after the comment is made). Oh, and one's British, while the other has a non-British accent.

Right, so.

If there was one thing I'd point out, not exactly a negative, but . . . , it's the part where the book ended and . . then there was a 'cut scene' just there. There should have been some greater indication that the book was over now before that scene, beyond titling the chapter "Cut Scenes" and assuming people would understand that this was a bonus scene. Since I wasn't sure, myself, if the story was over at that point or not. And if that 'extra scene' added anything. *shrugs* It probably should have remained cut.

Rating: 4.65

September 19 2017



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