leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
I started out loving this trilogy, but by the end I felt a little...fed up, I guess? With the disappearing debutante narrators who are far more interesting that stereotypically tortured Carmichael. With reading about antisemitism and homophobia, although I get that both were spot-on for the Nazis-Won-The-War dystopia Walton created. With Walton's talent for killing off important and sympathetic characters in the blink of an eye.
I guess something just felt a bit overdone? They're a decent read.
I guess something just felt a bit overdone? They're a decent read.
linneahedvig's review against another edition
4.0
Who would have thought a series of books about fascism taking on England could be so downright delightful. I especially loved that this book, about a debutant in the 1960's, leads up to a perfect moment that somehow combines themes of the story of Esther and Chicken Little. Every change in the alternate history was pitch perfect.
heatherjm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gillothen's review against another edition
4.0
Depressingly plausible, apart from the ending which felt a little rushed and more hopeful than the situation warranted. Fascism is more pervasive than a few spontaneous riots could stamp out. :-(
Well-written. I disagree with John Clute - I feel the 'clueless' heroines add a great deal to the trilogy, showing just how easy it is for 'ordinary' people who are bored by politics to allow things to slide. As we've seen this year.
Well-written. I disagree with John Clute - I feel the 'clueless' heroines add a great deal to the trilogy, showing just how easy it is for 'ordinary' people who are bored by politics to allow things to slide. As we've seen this year.
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
Good finish to an enjoyable series, but marred by the finale. It wrapped things up a little too neatly and quickly.
siria's review against another edition
4.0
The last book in the Small Change trilogy, Half a Crown takes place in the 1960s, in an alternate Europe where fascism and terror hold sway. I found this a better book than the middle one in the trilogy—while I thought the ending was a little too pat, I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Carmichael's third person narrative with the first person narrative of his ward, Elvira, much more than I did the juxtaposition of his voice with Viola Larkin's. Elvira's growth from blithe obliviousness to awareness of the world around her contrasts sharply and neatly with Carmichael's growing understanding of his own relative privilege.
I also found the brief, casual mentions we got of other parts of the world to be horrifying (and was incredibly saddened by the reference to pogroms in Ireland; there was one short-lived economic boycott against Jewish people in Limerick in the late nineteenth century, but it was a gut-punch to think of us sinking even lower than that.)
I also found the brief, casual mentions we got of other parts of the world to be horrifying (and was incredibly saddened by the reference to pogroms in Ireland; there was one short-lived economic boycott against Jewish people in Limerick in the late nineteenth century, but it was a gut-punch to think of us sinking even lower than that.)
kiramke's review against another edition
4.0
No fancy review this time. A good ending to the series; I even appreciate the one improbable bit. As I said, I think she justified the invocation, and I approve of the series as a speculative exploration of how tyranny creeps in. Of course it's a lesson we could learn from so many experiences, but I don't care where we learn it as long as it sinks in.
mochavonbee's review against another edition
4.0
This series is very hard to rate as I found it original and compelling and loved it, despite a couple of Buts. I loved the way this one was set later than the first two and we could see how things had developed in the meantime. The alternate version of the 1960s was very plausible and sensitively handled. The writing, especially the way sinister details were thrown in as offhand asides, was excellent. In terms of the setting, this might have been the strongest of the trilogy. I love Jo Walton as an author and will definitely read more of her work, but I did not love the ending, even though it was clever in many ways and did draw all the strands together. Somehow, it just didn't quite fit. It was a Ruritanian ending but this wasn't a Ruritanian novel or series.
Still, I would definitely recommend the trilogy for originality, enjoyment and writing.
Still, I would definitely recommend the trilogy for originality, enjoyment and writing.