Soaring Start, Uneven Landing: A Review of "Boy With Wings" by Mark Mustian
- Kim Bartosch
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Some stories begin with such rich promise that you can’t help but be pulled in right away—and that was exactly my experience with Boy With Wings by Mark Mustian. Published by Koehler Books and featured on tour with iRead Book Tours, this novel starts off as a beautifully tragic tale of otherness, survival, and a mother’s fierce protection. But despite the strong beginning, the story lost its way for me somewhere in the middle, and by the end, I found myself detached from the characters I’d once been so intrigued by.
Thank you to the author for the book and my honest review. Be sure to scroll down to read my full review!
A Striking Premise with Strong Early Momentum
The book introduces us to Johnny, a boy born with striking features—green eyes, fluffy white hair, and wing-like ridges on his back. As he grows, these ridges sprout feathers, making his difference impossible to hide. His mother, desperate to protect him in a world that won’t understand, fakes his death and disappears with him. This early part of the novel is poignant, tense, and evocative. It captured my full attention and had me emotionally invested. The imagery, the mystery surrounding Johnny’s condition, and the powerful mother-son bond had all the makings of a compelling literary journey.
Life After Escape: A Shift in Tone
Following his mother’s death, Johnny is taken in by a caring group of former slaves who embrace his uniqueness with compassion. This segment of the book felt tender and hopeful, adding new layers to Johnny’s story. Unfortunately, not long after, the narrative takes a sharp turn when Johnny is captured and forced into a freak show—a setting ripe with potential for metaphor and tension, but one that ultimately felt underdeveloped and emotionally distant.
Losing Connection Along the Way
For me, the middle and latter sections of Boy With Wings didn’t carry the emotional resonance or narrative clarity of the beginning. The pacing became inconsistent, and the plot started to feel disjointed. I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, especially Johnny, whose emotional arc felt increasingly murky as the story progressed. While the first third of the book created a strong foundation, that connection fizzled as the plot wandered in too many directions without a clear focus.
The Ending That Didn’t Take Flight
Endings are tough—and this one just didn’t land for me. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say I was left unsatisfied and even a bit confused. The emotional payoff that I hoped for never arrived. The story concluded, but not in a way that felt earned or impactful. I was left with more questions than closure, which might be intentional on the author’s part, but it didn’t resonate with me as a reader.
Final Thoughts
Boy With Wings is not without merit. The premise is unique, the writing has moments of lyrical beauty, and the themes of difference, identity, and belonging are important ones. But the execution didn’t quite match the promise. The first few chapters had me hopeful for a deeply moving and imaginative narrative, but as the plot unfolded, that early momentum faded.
If you’re drawn to stories that explore the metaphorical weight of physical difference, or if you’re intrigued by the genre-bending premise and gorgeous cover, you may still want to give this book a try. But for me, Boy With Wings hovered on the edge of greatness, never quite taking off.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
A strong beginning and imaginative premise, but ultimately a story that didn’t deliver the depth or cohesion I was hoping for.
About the Book:
Publisher: Koehler Books
Pub. Date: March 2025
Genre: Magic Realism, Historical
Synopsis:
What does it mean to be different?
When Johnny Cruel is born with strange appendages on his back in the 1930s South, the locals think he’s a devil. Determined to protect him, his mother fakes his death, and they flee. Thus begins Johnny’s yearslong struggle to find a place he belongs. From a turpentine camp of former slaves to a freak show run by a dwarf who calls herself Tiny Tot and on to the Florida capitol building, Johnny finds himself working alongside other outcasts, struggling to answer the question of his existence.
Is he a horror, a wonder, or an angel? Should he hide himself to live his life? Accompanying Johnny’s journey through love, betrayal, heartbreak, and several murders, Boy with Wings is a story of the sacrifices and freedom inherent in making one’s own special way—and of love and the miracles that give our lives meaning.
BUY THE BOOK:
Midtown Reader (signed copy) ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Google ~ Bookshop.org
Aadd to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Mark Mustian is the author of the novel The Gendarme, an international bestseller shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing and published in ten languages, and the new novel Boy With Wings, winner of the 2025 Grand Prize for Fiction from Next Generation Indie Book Awards. He's the founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, and lives in Florida and Michigan.
