I have to say, I’m always a little nervous when I realize a novel is going to be written from multiple perspectives. It can be a challenge for some authors to create sufficiently distinctive voices for their characters so that you know who’s speaking without referring to the beginning of the chapter to check “Who is this again?” I have to say, in The Refining, the first in what will likely be a series, JC Brown has nailed it. She’s created compelling (if sometimes infuriating) characters, members of a band and their manager working towards their debut at a huge music awards show, who must wrestle with their individual pasts and present as they fight for their future. The Refining skilfully follows each of these intersecting stories and lays the foundation for what I think will be a compelling, thoughtful series.

The pace of the narrative is quick and we’re thrown into the plot right away, but thanks to Brown’s skill in deftly providing enough backstory and voice to her characters, it’s not hard to follow. Being a performer myself I love that this story centres around a band, and a performance, as I related to the anxiety, frustration and excitement of the lead up to music awards show appearance, as well as the aftermath. I also loved reading something with a Canadian setting as this book takes place in Toronto, and as a musical theatre performer I got a huge kick out of the fact that this was originally a musical! I wish I could have listened to the soundtrack while I was reading!

The Refining will be released SOON - on November 4th, and will be available on Amazon. Thank you very much to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book to review.