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kovak's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Quite interesting, though not exactly what I was expecting. That made the adventure into it good and I didn't know what was coming next.
I liked the descriptions of things and some of it was so well-done that I could vividly see the action in my mind as I read it.
The grew to quite like the main characters as well - and dislike some as well. But I was always looking forward to when I had the time to pick up the book and read the next part. Sometimes I couldn't put it down.
I liked the descriptions of things and some of it was so well-done that I could vividly see the action in my mind as I read it.
The grew to quite like the main characters as well - and dislike some as well. But I was always looking forward to when I had the time to pick up the book and read the next part. Sometimes I couldn't put it down.
quitegood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
Usually with a debut novel, you have the excitement of a new author finally putting their words to paper, but lacking the refinement that will colour their later work. This is a rare instance of a debut novel coming in hot with feverish new ideas, and a level of refinement that made me constantly second guess "Surely this isn't their first novel?"
There are some issues to be sure, such as the prose being a little overly verbose for its own good, using words that have a very specific definition.
But other than that, it has the blistering pace of say a Guy Ritchie film if he ever did horror, or perhaps Edgar Wright. Where the book is explosive, efficiently paced, and doesn't linger to build suspense and instead just gets stuck in.
A fantastic little book.
There are some issues to be sure, such as the prose being a little overly verbose for its own good, using words that have a very specific definition.
But other than that, it has the blistering pace of say a Guy Ritchie film if he ever did horror, or perhaps Edgar Wright. Where the book is explosive, efficiently paced, and doesn't linger to build suspense and instead just gets stuck in.
A fantastic little book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, and Death of parent
el_viral's review against another edition
3.0
I've loved the other books I've read by China Miéville, so I had high hopes for King Rat, but I felt very let down by it. I don't know if it's partly because the music scene in which it takes place just isn't for me, but I felt that the story just didn't connect for me. The characters felt largely one-dimensional, and parts of the story felt like they had been slotted in without any real reason. It gets three stars as it still has the writing style I enjoy, though you can tell this is an earlier incarnation of that writing, and because it gives an alternative view of London, which is something I have a soft spot for.
marcrosenblum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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? No
4.0
Good read. Weird premise. Dragged on a little at the end.
leitnerkev's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Classic Mieville.
sailor_marmar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
urlordlorin's review against another edition
adventurous
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
eljaspero's review against another edition
4.0
I think I would have liked this book more had I not read the Bas-Lag series some years back. It's inventive and adventurous, but feels immature and a bit predictable in the light of Mieville's later work. That said, still a cracking good read!
star_ansible's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, still not sold on mr mieville, perdido street station is the go.