Boy With Wings by Mark Mustian, this book is about the 30s during the depression a boy named Johnny rotten who has wings he joins an oddity show and makes friends but things happen in the crew disperses while life goes on. throughout the book we learn about the trials and tribulations in his life being different trying to come to terms with that and even a potential romance. This is usually the kind of book I eat up for breakfast but unfortunately I found myself daydreaming when I should’ve been paying attention to the words on the page. I can honestly say this isn’t the worst book I’ve ever read not even close it it actually hits some pretty good parts that we’re not only suspenseful but sections that made me sad and others that made me hopeful but then there were also those parts that made me daydreaming that is why I say read this at your own risk. Some people love this book I myself did not. #NetGalley, #KohlerBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #MarkMustian, #BoyWithWings,

This book was strange and dark. There was really nothing hopeful or uplifting that balanced it out at all. I really didn't understand the point of it.

I was very excited to read this one but I ended up not enjoying it as much as I thought I would, but that doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's just not the one for me.

Boy with Wings was too dark and fantastical for me. I could not finish the title because the subject was not to my reading interest.

Mark Mustian’s “The Boy with Wings” effectively captures the turbulence of a world grappling with the Great Depression, the lingering scars of slavery, and the deep-rooted social injustices of the era. Set in the late 1920s American South, the novel vividly portrays a society weighed down by fear, hate, and oppression.

The story revolves around Johnny, a boy marked by a peculiar birthmark that grows into wing-like shapes. Born into a deeply religious community governed by hate and fear of the unknown, Johnny’s life is marred by rejection. His mother, desperate to protect him, fakes his death, and flees in a bid for safety. After his mother’s death, Johnny’s journey only grows more tumultuous as he becomes a centerpiece in a freak show circus. Through his encounters with cruelty and rare acts of kindness, the novel explores themes of identity, isolation, and belonging.

The story was interesting and explored significant societal issues, but it was challenging to follow the narrative. I had to put in quite a bit of effort to follow along with the plot as there were aspects of the writing that were intentionally vague and left me confused. I enjoy deep, rich storylines but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

As soon as I saw a book about an old-timey Circus listed on Netgalley I knew that I needed to read it. Some of my favorite books are set in circuses (Geek Love, The Night Circus). This didn't quite reach 5 star status like those books did, but I still enjoyed it immensely.

As Boy With Wings progresses, the reader is faced with so many hardships that Johnny has to deal with. Sometimes explained in detail and sometimes only hinted at as vague horrors that shaped his personality and beliefs. It is hard to give many details about his experiences in the book without giving spoilers but one big theme throughout is found family or alternative families and how those can be more special to us than our blood relations. Johnny first finds family in a Black community of tree farmers and later with the circus performers but he is never able to fully open up to any of them. He is truly restless and can't find where he belongs. Young love, heartbreak, and a wandering to find his true self all come to pass before the book is over and I must say the ending to this book was perfect and maybe one of the best endings I have read in a very long time. Tears were shed!

I had a few small ethical issues. As has been mentioned by other readers, some of the words used in the dialog were probably standard at the time but obviously offensive now and made me wonder if they needed to be used so often, even if to make a point. There is a bit of a "white savior" issue I feel, and it is very literal in one part. There was also a questionable r*pe scene that bothered me and not for the usual trigger reasons, but I will leave it at that.

I know that some people were bothered about the lack of description when certain parts of his life aren't elaborated upon. I actually enjoyed that - I like when we as readers are left to our own ideas about what happened. It makes for great discussion and introspection and I didn't think that it took away from the story at all.

All of that made it very hard for me to figure out the stars for this book. If I didn't have any issues it probably would have been like a 4.75 for me. I think the writing and the detail and character development of this book were beautiful and amazing but I can see how some of those triggers might really bother certain readers. But everything taken into consideration, I would definitely try another Mustian book in the future.

Boy With Wings, to me, is the quintessential Southern gothic novel, using a "freak show" to explore what it feels like to be different. The main character experiences isolation and violation as a result of his wings, and even those who say they care for him contribute to either one or the other if not both. "Difference" also manifests itself in the depictions of racism, even by members of the traveling show. Mustian uses multiple perspectives to show the reader things that protagonist Johnny doesn't see or understand (as he's a child/teenager for much of the book), which both helps round out the narrative and builds dramatic irony. Mustian artfully captures Johnny's voice (and its evolution) and the world around him - I would definitely recommend this book to others seeking a historical read.

I looked forward to this, as the premise put me in mind of Ray Bradbury's stories (I can pay no higher compliment!), and while it started off well, I found it lost its way about halfway through. I continued to read and was a little disappointed when I reached the end. The writing was fine, but the plot could be a little tighter.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy.

Ah, the dreaded three-star read. An okay story to read, a nightmare to review. It’s so much easier to rave about a book you love or rant about a book you hate, but the ones in the middle? The ones you picked up because you thought you would love them but then didn’t? I hate those 😅

So yeah, I picked up Boy With Wings on a whim. I liked the cover and I liked the premise even more and I felt sure it would be right up my street. Unfortunately, though, something about the execution didn’t quite work for me. Magical realism is always a bit hit or miss for me, that might be part of it. My inner Fickle Frieda made a comeback and that sure didn’t help. Neither did the fact that I seemed to have the attention span of a gnat again. But the cold, hard truth is that reading Boy With Wings took quite some effort at times and it felt much meatier than the 300 something pages it actually is.

Boy With Wings tells the story of Johnny, a boy born with green eyes, white fluffy hair on his head, and winglike ridges on his back that only grow and extend and even sprout some kind of feathers as he grows older. Being different is never easy, but when it’s that obvious, it’s even harder. To the point that his mother stages his death so they can get away. When his mother dies, he is taken care of, loved even, by a group of former slaves, but he gets snatched away and ends up in a freak show.

I enjoyed that first part but then it all sort of fizzled out and by the end, I felt little connection to any of the characters, and little urge to find out what happened to them. The story just lost me.

Boy With Wings, for me, missed the mark. If you’re intrigued by the premise, or enamoured with the cover, don’t let me stop you, you may well enjoy it more than I did.

Boy With Wings is out in digital formats, paperback and hardcover on 15 March.

Thanks to Koehler Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

the world building and plot set up was well done in this book. it sets it up for success because it kept the reader engaged and wondering what was next

Coming of Age when you are very different isn't an easy journey. I enjoyed Boy With Wings, it's filled with profound sadness and unexpected joy. Setting the story in a freak show added unexpected drama. Well done.

Boy with Wings by Mark Mustian is a poignant and imaginative coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers he can fly, weaving themes of isolation, identity, and destiny. Mustian’s lyrical prose and thoughtful character development create a deeply emotional journey that lingers long after the final page. While the novel’s pacing may feel slow at times, its quiet beauty and introspective depth make it a compelling read

I do not know why, but I really disliked this book. I got 20 percent through and couldn’t read any further

This book had a great concept and overall could have been amazing but it was hard to follow and the ending did not seem like it fit. There was quite a bit that was confusing or unresolved and what could have been an amazing book was just so so.

This story was absolutely incredible. I enjoyed the writing style, the multiple POVs, and the addressing of so many societal issues. I will be buying this book for my family members when it’s published!

The beginning was a bit confusing at first, Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking or why certain characters were introduced only to not be there again. I do like the concept though and it has a great flow to it as well but sometimes grammatical errors or broken sentences really get to me.

This was a very readable and enjoyable biographical narrative that followed Johnny Cruel through several setpieces and time periods, from his adoptive home at a distillery camp to a 1930's freak show. However, it didn't really do anything new, and Johnny's relationship with and treatment of the Black people around him felt a bit white savior-y and "I don't see color"-y at times (especially knowing the author is a white cishet man). It felt like less of an exploration of how disability intersected with racism and classism in Depression-era America than an unexamined presentation of well-worn territory. Also, Johnny's love interest Winifred wasn't really a character in her own right and served as the convenient, romantically viable woman nearby followed by the reason for Johnny's character growth and eventual happy ending. How did he spend YEARS after the fire simply not exploring whether she was alive????

My favorite book of 2023 was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Why mention this? Because as I was reading this book, I was getting the same vibe I had when I read Demon Copperhead.

Set in the south during 1920s and 1930s, Johnny Cruel has a rough life. He doesn’t know who his father is, his mother passed away when he was young, and people blame him for things going wrong in their lives because of his unusual back. He eventually ends up as a “freak” in a traveling show. After several years with the show a mishap brings his world crashing down and he must make his way on his own. Struggling to keep his back a secret, trying to find a way to support himself, and all the while there is the mystery of who his father is.

This is a great book. It pulled me in with a vast array of unique characters. You can’t help but cheer Johnny on as he goes through his young life, and the book keeps giving a great story clear to the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

I wanted to love this book, it had so much potential. It follows the life of Johnny Cruel, a boy born with a birth defect resembling wings. There was a lot to feel for Johnny, mostly heartache and sadness. The writing style made it difficult for me to really get into. There were also a lot of people to keep track of throughout the book. Several chapters were written from the point of view of one of these many characters, which gave valuable background and insight, but could be tricky when the reader has to dig deep to remember why the character is significant.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Mustian, and Koehler Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had such an interesting premise and I loved the first third of it, but then the writing became too slow. It took me a long time to get through the rest of the book and I also felt most information was mere filler to make the book longer.