Standalone Sunday is a weekly feature created by Megan at Bookslayer Reads which aims to showcase standalone books which you loved or would recommend.
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Palomas and the Corbeaus have long been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for more than a generation. Both families make their living as travelling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.
Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she’s been taught since birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.
Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.
It’s no secret that I love magical realism books, in fact I think I’ve already picked three others to highlight as part of this weekly feature, and I think Anna-Marie McLemore is probably my favourite magical realism author. I actually read When the Moon Was Ours first, after receiving an ARC from NetGalley, and I was hooked from the first page.
The Weight of Feathers was McLemore’s debut novel and while I didn’t think it was as good as When the Moon Was Ours it was still a wonderful story all the same. The characters were magical, the writing beautiful and the romance heartbreaking at times. If you’re looking to jump into the magical realism genre, I’d recommend starting with McLemore’s books.
“The scar on her forearm meant she could never be loyal to her family. Her name meant she could never be loyal to the Corbeaus. The only one left to be loyal to was him.”
You can check out my review for The Weight of Feathers here.
What did you think of The Weight of Feathers? Have you read it yet or is it still on your to-read list? Let me know in the comments and let me know if you took part in this week’s Standalone Sunday as well.
Reading Every Night 
I remember reading your review for this one and talking about how I was going to read it soon and I still haven’t 🙈. I haven’t read When The Moon Was Ours yet either. I was actually talking to Fadwa about it a few weeks ago because both of you guys were the first to really recommend it to me and I told her if I didn’t get to it this year for her to yell at me. 😂 But seriously I need to read this author’s books and finally take the leap into the magical realism genre already. I’m especially intrigued by this one because I love Romeo and Juliet like stories (even though I don’t much care for the original). I’ll have to move it up my list soon! Great pick for this week, Beth!! 😊♥
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I’ll have to yell at you as well then if you don’t at least get around to When the Moon Was Ours this year. You’ve still got quite a few months to go so more than enough time to get around to it. If you’re going to take a leap into magical realism then Anna-Marie McLemore is an author I would highly recommend. Other than Bone Gap, which was the first magical realism I read and still my favourite, Anna-Marie McLemore’s books are my next two favourites! Ohh, if you love Romeo and Juliet stories then I even more highly recommend this one to you Melissa! Thanks. 😀
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Definitely 😂😂
But yeah I still have over nine months so plenty of time to get around to at least When the Moon Was Ours. Although I’m definitely going to try to get around to both and her new book that’s being published this year because I’ve been hearing some good things about it. I also have Bone Gap on my TBR for this year, I think.
You’re welcome!! 😊
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Nine months is a long time so I’m sure you’ll be able to do it Melissa, and even if you try and read both before Wild Beauty is released that’s still maybe six months of time, again more than enough!
Ohh Bone Gap is amazing so I really hope you enjoy that one. You’ll have to let me know what you think as soon as you finish these books Melissa! 😀 ❤
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Definitely enough time! And since I’m on a self-imposed NetGalley ban there’s no worrying about ARCs.
I hope so too and I’ll make sure to let you know. 😁
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Ahh, I’ve been on one of those as well, does help to allow you to read other books and not ARCs as much. 🙂
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I really enjoyed this one! I’m glad you decided to spotlight this one this week (finally a book I read haha :P), it really is a great novel. I have to pick up the author’s other books sometime though… ❤
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It’s a great magical realism book isn’t it? And I think Anna-Marie McLemore has become my favourite magical realism author! When the Moon Was Ours was amazing, I actually thought it was even better than this one so I hope you love it as well Analee. 🙂 ❤
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I really, reaaaaaaaaaaaally want to read this book as soon as I can, it sounds so, so good, and exactly the kind of book I could fall in love with. I want to read When the moon was ours just as well though, so…I don’t know where to start now ahah.
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I think it is ever better than it sounds. It’s a great book so I think you’ll really like it Marie. I’d recommend reading this one first and the going onto When the Moon Was Ours, simply because I enjoyed that one a little more than The Weight of Feathers so you’ll be saving the best for last! 😀
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Ohhh okay, well I’ll do that for sure then, thank you 😀
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That’s all right! 😀 ❤
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Oh, yes! I wasn’t aware this was Anna-Marie McLemore’s other book! I’ve heard good things about this one. And since I enjoyed When the Moon Was Ours so much, I’m sure I’d love this one, too! Thanks for the recommendation, Beth!!
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I was inspired by our conversation to make this my Standalone Sunday pick for this week! 🙂 I wouldn’t say this was a popular book in terms of the amount of people who’ve read it but it has some amazing reviews, and given you loved When the Moon Was Ours I reckon you’ll love this one as well.
That’s all right! 🙂 ❤
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Yes! When I saw your post, I remembered the book! I do want to read that one!
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In that case I hope you enjoy it as much as When the Moon Was Ours! 😀
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Thank you!
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Sounds like an interesting stand-alone! I have seen it once or twice throughout my feed, but never more. Glad to see it was well appreciated by you! 🙂
– Lashaan
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It’s definitely an interesting standalone, I haven’t actually seen it around WordPress too much so I’d kind of class this as a hidden gem more than anything else! Thanks Lashaan! 😀
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Well, you got me on the family feud, as I have a soft spot for those types of book conflicts. Thanks for the rec!
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That’s all right, and yep if you like feuding families and conflicts in books then I’d highly recommend picking this one up! 🙂
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Ooh sounds interesting. I like the sound of the romance, like a Romeo and Juliet thing? Is that how it is? Like feuding families?
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It’s a great book Stephanie, and yes it is very much like Romeo and Juliet with feuding families. If that’s something you enjoy reading then I’d definitely recommend this book! 🙂
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