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kivt's review against another edition
3.0
this had a really slow start for me—not because the action is slow, but because the style is VERY pronounced and it took me a while to acclimatize. i’ve never especially enjoyed this style of hard-boiled dramatic writing. the style is one of the key aspects that’d draw a reader to this book, but for me it was something to tolerate til it felt invisible. i’ve also never especially enjoyed this genre of story, another aspect that’d draw readers. i kept reading out of inertia and because this book rapidly became one of the more bisexual things i’ve ever read. it was a good read, ultimately! the end was brutal and perfect. i just know more than 80% of what this book did well was lost on me as i’m not really its reader.
bookish_emily's review against another edition
3.0
Alma Rosales is a disgraced former Pinkerton's agent who turned her talents to smuggling after being dismissed from the detective agency. Her current mission: figure out who has been stealing opium from her boss's smuggling operation in Port Townsend, WA. If she can get to the bottom of it there is a big promotion in store for her. She goes undercover as a man to infiltrate the crew and solve the mystery, but faces distraction, betrayal, and the risk of exposure at every turn.
The summary description for The Best Bad Things piqued my interest right away, but I found the book did not really match the sense of it that I got from that description. It focused less on the mystery and more on physical fighting and sexual tension among the characters. At times it was difficult to keep track of everything and everyone because the novel skips back and forth in time. While there were interesting characters, the only one that really got any development was Alma. Despite that, it was still an interesting read and definitely a page-turner. Fans of antiheroines will enjoy cheering for Alma throughout her criminal endeavors.
The summary description for The Best Bad Things piqued my interest right away, but I found the book did not really match the sense of it that I got from that description. It focused less on the mystery and more on physical fighting and sexual tension among the characters. At times it was difficult to keep track of everything and everyone because the novel skips back and forth in time. While there were interesting characters, the only one that really got any development was Alma. Despite that, it was still an interesting read and definitely a page-turner. Fans of antiheroines will enjoy cheering for Alma throughout her criminal endeavors.
adventurepants2's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
awahle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kwheelzroxx's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Biphobia, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
thegabecole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
erboe501's review against another edition
2.0
I love historical fiction, and I was intrigued by the cross-dressing element and strong female characters. But this was just an all-right read.
The protagonist Camp/Alma constantly wanted to pick a fight, to the point where it felt a little farcical. The gender play and way that Rosales distinguished between female Alma and male Camp lent a rather humdrum story an edge. Otherwise, it was just a crime/thriller with a bunch of men beating each other up and trying to smuggle drugs.
The protagonist Camp/Alma constantly wanted to pick a fight, to the point where it felt a little farcical. The gender play and way that Rosales distinguished between female Alma and male Camp lent a rather humdrum story an edge. Otherwise, it was just a crime/thriller with a bunch of men beating each other up and trying to smuggle drugs.
canadiancat's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @50%
I tried to get into this book, really I did. It took me a week to even get how far I did. It just felt incredibly slow.
I tried to get into this book, really I did. It took me a week to even get how far I did. It just felt incredibly slow.
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mcf's review against another edition
5.0
The highest compliment I can pay this book is to say that it completely consumed my brain while I was reading it -- everything that happened in my day made me think of it, and I spent most of my waking moments at least 15% in its world. Everything in that world is distinctive and fully formed, from the environment to the relationships and the characters, and the comfort with which Carrasco addresses the complexities of gender is impressive and reassuring.
So, basically: Better than Cats, would recommend.
So, basically: Better than Cats, would recommend.