Reviews

I cospiratori by Un-su Kim

Only show reviews with written explanations

coldprintcoffee's review against another edition

4.0

Always, I take the Goodreads rating with a grain of salt, and here's another book on which we disagree. While the first half is a bit slow, it does a solid job of worldbuilding and letting us sink into the world of The Plotters and assassins and the rules along with that, which hovers between a grounding reality that we do know and the fanciful ideas of one we don't. There's a jerky sensation during reading, bizarre whiplash, but lets you sink in to the gritty atmosphere. The main character is at once aloof, detached, introspective, flat; it's nihilism with moments of reflection and even tenderness, or as close to it as he gets. There's a satisfaction in what it doesn't spell out for you, what it chooses not to say about its characters. Up until the middle, it's a 3/5 - the second half does a great heel-turn in action and suspense but still with that dreamy, detached feeling that spins it into a 4 for me.

orion_or_hyangwoo's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Sora Kim-Russell's translation is beautiful prose. Loved the story but unsatisfied by the ending!

eowyns_helmet's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A lot of fun. The assassin and orphan Reseng deals with the crumbling of the business, prey to cheaper, sloppier competition. Not that Reseng is any kind of James Bond. "Beer Week" was my favorite section of the book. The conceit goes a little long, but very enjoyable.

marshaskrypuch's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A complex and amazing novel! I've not read anything like this before, although the closest would be Haruki Murakami. Hard to describe -- twisty and dark.