Kimberlyyyreads's Reviews > A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

TBD

Okay, so I want to start this review off saying thank you to the author for providing me with a ARC copy of this book.

So the book features two MC's: we have Dave, a bad boy drummer in a metal band with a dark past and then there’s Isabella, an upcoming journalist who ends up covering the metal band in an article. In which together they sprout a slow burn friends to lovers romance.

Now this review will be speaking strictly about Isabella, the journalist. A large reason as to why I requested an ARC for this book was due to the “Latina representation” that the author was promoting via instagram which I was interested by.

Unfortunately, throughout the entire book there was no representation in sight. Which I was a little confused about given how in the author's posts anytime Isabella was addressed she was largely marketed as Latina.
Before I contacted the author and before writing out this review, I scoured this entire book for information about Isabella and her nationality and literally nowhere in the entire book was it ever mentioned or addressed. The only “proof” that Isabella was Latina was that she spoke Spanish and had a Latinx last name. OH, and how could I forget! The racist remarks thrown at her by one of the characters in the book.

That was it. I can’t believe I have to say this but Latinx representation in any genre is MORE than some thrown out spanish words and racist comments...

*Takes a deep breath
bare with me everyone...

I reached out to the author and asked for clarification as to what Isabella’s nationality was and if the lack of it was purposeful. The author stated that Isabella is of Mexican heritage but that it is a very “minor plot point” in the book.

The author also addressed that she herself wasn’t Latina so she didn’t feel comfortable writing about specific issues within the Mexican community. While I appreciate her stating how she felt and totally understand it, that doesn’t change the fact that Isabella’s character isn’t “representation” and as of right now doesn't deserve to be called representation at all despite the constant promotion of the book having “Latina representation.”

After some conversation with her I was able to convince L.H. Blake to make a couple changes. Now, I'm not sure if those changes will be seen through before the final copy of this book is published but I truly hope they will be. For the mean time this review will be kept up but not actual rating will be going to it until I have seen and read the edits myself.

I write this review with the intention to bring awareness to the importance of ACCURATE Latinx representation.