When I first read the synopsis, I was genuinely intrigued and excited to dive in. But... Snow City is not at all what I expected. To be fair and completely honest, the synopsis itself led me to believe I was entering one story when in-fact, it became something different - something very unexpected. Snow City was enjoyable, just not what I was expecting.

As for the cast of characters, admittedly I was first a bit put off by our protagonist Echo Japonica. I felt a bit uneasy getting acquainted with Echo but only at first. Yes, Echo is odd but that is her charm. Give her some time and she will surely grow on you, as she did for me. Her mannerisms, the way she speaks and her protective nature are all the things that make her special. And those unlikely friendships that blossom into meaningful relationships - they are the hope that ties everything together to make Snow City a place of sanctuary and peace.

G.A. Kathryns has written a fantasy book that oftentimes feels a bit poetic. I am intrigued by her writing style. Delving in to this space where death, religious cults, family, and unlikely friendships are at the forefront - I appreciate how Kathryns packages all these elements together in a story that is unlike any other I've read. Snow City is rich in creativity and uniqueness.

Admittedly, this book is a bit of a departure from books I typically will read but that does not take away from the fact that it is still very well written and quite interesting. ( )

I adore the cover of this book! And it totally matches the very graceful and delicate style of the story. Echo Japonica is a guitarist who works in a little cafe. She lives in Snow City, a beautiful little place with no violence, no sadness. But Echo's life wasn't always this way. In fact, Snow City is a dream, her dream, and it was created for her to escape from how horrible the world had been. Of course, dreams do not last forever. Echo runs into an odd girl who does not get wet from the rain, and Snow City begins to turn into a nightmare.

I personally really liked the writing style of this book, and like I said, it seemed graceful and delicate. This is just one of my favorite lines:
And at last the silence, strained to the point of fracture like a guitar string cranked beyond its tolerance, gives way with her simple question."

While I loved the writing style, however, the plot was a little odd, as it teetered between something like speculative fiction or fantasy or contemporary. Therefore, I wish the story itself had a bit more closure, maybe some sort of revelation that would give me answers as to why some of these things happened.

I think the lack of closure contributes to my thought that there could have been more character development. I was very anxious to find out why Echo felt the need to create Snow City and how it came to be, but I don't think my questions were ever really answered. Understandably, some people enjoy an open-ended book because it allows the reader to think and speculate, but I really just wanted to know!

Regardless, I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy or magical realism. And just to add, I really I lived in a place that snowed because it would've been beautiful to read this book next to a cozy fireplace and look out the window as snow was falling! ( )