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reyna_bm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
georgesc's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
romajstorovic's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Genocide and Fire/Fire injury
fieldofhats's review against another edition
This was an interesting story, but very meh when put to prose. Simply put, this book was not interesting enough to read physically and the audiobook narrator was too awful to listen to it fully. The story with Jean flashing back to the past was intriguing, and Kitty Pryde’s origin as a teenage mutant was good, but neither plotline was developed as well as it could have, at least within the first third of the novel.
One of the most prominent issues, I think, is that this book is written by a man. Truly I don’t understand that choice. While there are many male side characters that impact the plot, the two main characters are women who deal with women-focused problems. I don’t think the original comic was written by a woman, so this would have been such a great opportunity to have a woman author recreate this narrative.
Here’s my issue with the narrative itself: There’s some seemingly crucial context to the story that we aren’t shown. We’re continually told about an event that happens in between the (pro-)epilogue and chapter one where the X-Men fight Magneto at a Volcano, the team is separated from Jean Grey, and both sides think each other is dead. We’re told this from both sides, which is nice, but we don’t get to see it. It sounds like a really cool event and fight scene, so it stings even more that we don’t see it. I know this is probably detailed in comics and I think I’ll look into reading about it, but still. It’s a weird thing to leave out.
This sort of thing seems to happen relatively often throughout the narrative. When three of the X-Men get captured by Emma Frost after trying to recruit Kitty Pryde, the chapter ends and the next time that story thread is picked up again, the narrative places us at the end of a battle that happened off-screen.
One of the most prominent issues, I think, is that this book is written by a man. Truly I don’t understand that choice. While there are many male side characters that impact the plot, the two main characters are women who deal with women-focused problems. I don’t think the original comic was written by a woman, so this would have been such a great opportunity to have a woman author recreate this narrative.
Here’s my issue with the narrative itself: There’s some seemingly crucial context to the story that we aren’t shown. We’re continually told about an event that happens in between the (pro-)epilogue and chapter one where the X-Men fight Magneto at a Volcano, the team is separated from Jean Grey, and both sides think each other is dead. We’re told this from both sides, which is nice, but we don’t get to see it. It sounds like a really cool event and fight scene, so it stings even more that we don’t see it. I know this is probably detailed in comics and I think I’ll look into reading about it, but still. It’s a weird thing to leave out.
This sort of thing seems to happen relatively often throughout the narrative. When three of the X-Men get captured by Emma Frost after trying to recruit Kitty Pryde, the chapter ends and the next time that story thread is picked up again, the narrative places us at the end of a battle that happened off-screen.
slaker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.5! Though I still haven’t been able to get a hold of the original comic series, I know enough about X: Men lore to understand its importance and legacy. I was excited for this novelization and went in with an open mind. For the most part, I say it succeeded!
The story is completely wild and bold. I believe it is fairly accurate, because I can tell some moments didn’t age very well. That said, it keeps the campy dialogue, high octane action, and creativity the X: Men are known for.
Readers who enjoy the X: Men are the ones who will enjoy this the most. There are references to previous events that are essentially glossed over, and the assumption is that the reader knows who the classic characters are. I did, so the plot flowed relatively well for me. It’s always fun to see beloved heroes working together to beat up bad guys.
Where this story wins however, is its depiction of the bond between Scott and Jean as she struggles to contain the Phoenix Force. That power is famed throughout Marvel and I never really understood why. Now I do, and to see it grow within Jean was shocking and horrifying.
Jean fighting against this entity, warring with her own self, and Scott losing her is heartbreaking and makes for an epic tragedy. Moore’s writing with Jean under the Phoenix Force’s influence really sucked me into the moment.
While I would have enjoyed a bit more characterization and internal thought, I think this is a thrilling, solid story for comic fans wanting to witness, or relive, one of the greatest story arcs in X: Men history.
The story is completely wild and bold. I believe it is fairly accurate, because I can tell some moments didn’t age very well. That said, it keeps the campy dialogue, high octane action, and creativity the X: Men are known for.
Readers who enjoy the X: Men are the ones who will enjoy this the most. There are references to previous events that are essentially glossed over, and the assumption is that the reader knows who the classic characters are. I did, so the plot flowed relatively well for me. It’s always fun to see beloved heroes working together to beat up bad guys.
Where this story wins however, is its depiction of the bond between Scott and Jean as she struggles to contain the Phoenix Force. That power is famed throughout Marvel and I never really understood why. Now I do, and to see it grow within Jean was shocking and horrifying.
Jean fighting against this entity, warring with her own self, and Scott losing her is heartbreaking and makes for an epic tragedy. Moore’s writing with Jean under the Phoenix Force’s influence really sucked me into the moment.
While I would have enjoyed a bit more characterization and internal thought, I think this is a thrilling, solid story for comic fans wanting to witness, or relive, one of the greatest story arcs in X: Men history.
oxuria's review against another edition
3.0
Nie wiem, jak to jest z ostatnim filmem z serii o X-Menach, ponieważ go nie widziałam – nie mam pojęcia więc, jak została przedstawiona tam postać Phoenix. Jej historia – przedstawiona w „Sadze Mrocznej Phoenix” – zainspirowała jednak twórców filmowych już wcześniej! W produkcji zatytułowanej „X-Men: The Last Stand” („Ostatni bastion”) z 2006 roku wykorzystano wątek Jean Grey, aczkolwiek został on tak pozmieniany i powycinany na potrzeby filmowego uniwersum, że nie mogłam w to uwierzyć (obejrzałam ten film ponownie dosłownie dzień lub dwa po odłożeniu książki). Zestawiając ze sobą wspomniany film i powieść uniwersum Marvela – zdecydowanie wygrywa książka.
W przypadku „Wojny domowej” minusem wydawało się być to, że w pewnym momencie ilość postaci (w większości nieznanych tak dobrze jak Iron Man czy Kapitan Ameryka) przytłaczała Czytelników i można się było lekko pogubić. Tym razem jednak nie musicie się aż tak przejmować tą kwestią – opowieść o Mrocznej Phoenix kręci się głównie wokół zespołu X-Menów i paru innych osób, których z pewnością nie pomylicie.
Książkowa wersja historii tak mrocznej i nieprzewidywalnej bohaterki całkiem mnie zaintrygowała – przede wszystkim to, jak ukazana została psychika bohaterów, którzy walczą tym razem sami ze sobą, też na podłożu własnej psychiki. Jean to ich przyjaciółka, jest nawet kimś w rodzaju rodziny dla nich. Jak w takim wypadku mają postąpić wobec niej – traktować ją jak wroga czy chronić, narażając równocześnie własne bezpieczeństwo? Nie ma tu jednoznacznej odpowiedzi, ponieważ każdy tłumaczyłby się innymi rzeczami i miałby do tego prawo. To jest walka w sercu, duszy, ale i wręcz – rozrywająca i wyniszczająca od środka.
W przypadku „Wojny domowej” minusem wydawało się być to, że w pewnym momencie ilość postaci (w większości nieznanych tak dobrze jak Iron Man czy Kapitan Ameryka) przytłaczała Czytelników i można się było lekko pogubić. Tym razem jednak nie musicie się aż tak przejmować tą kwestią – opowieść o Mrocznej Phoenix kręci się głównie wokół zespołu X-Menów i paru innych osób, których z pewnością nie pomylicie.
Książkowa wersja historii tak mrocznej i nieprzewidywalnej bohaterki całkiem mnie zaintrygowała – przede wszystkim to, jak ukazana została psychika bohaterów, którzy walczą tym razem sami ze sobą, też na podłożu własnej psychiki. Jean to ich przyjaciółka, jest nawet kimś w rodzaju rodziny dla nich. Jak w takim wypadku mają postąpić wobec niej – traktować ją jak wroga czy chronić, narażając równocześnie własne bezpieczeństwo? Nie ma tu jednoznacznej odpowiedzi, ponieważ każdy tłumaczyłby się innymi rzeczami i miałby do tego prawo. To jest walka w sercu, duszy, ale i wręcz – rozrywająca i wyniszczająca od środka.
unluckycat13's review against another edition
I just don't know...
I appreciate that the author chose to center exclusively female PoVs in what could easily have been an ensemble cast-- Or another story told way too much from Cyclops and Wolverine PoV. I think the female PoV was very fitting for the story. At the same time though-- This book is abominably sexist in the most subtle ways that continue building and building.
Some of it certainly comes from the original Dark Phoenix comic, but so many things were modernized I don't understand why he left so much archaic stuff in it. Some of the writing comes off as having a bit of a softcore porn vibe, honestly. Especially a lot of scenes with Emma and Kitty. Especially their first meeting where (schoolgirl) Kitty, fresh off being humiliated, is exposed to the overly sexual headmistress who's "heels were one inch too high for business". There's quite a bit of boomer fetishism coursing through this book. Even the story itself pretty clearly makes a case that if Jean had stayed a more docile, obedient woman that it would have been better because having so much awesome power corrupts her and she gets too uppity.
The part that really broke me is when Emma Frost referred to herself as a 4th wave feminist which is, a better line than in the original comic I guess but also so clearly absurd. I just can't anymore.
There are also weird prose issues that make things a little confusing sometimes. I understand Jean's scenes are supposed to have an ethereal, shifting, dream-like quality-- But it's hard to know when and where she is. Or why when Moira hands her Moira's own cell phone, Jean gets all of the messages meant for her own cell phone? Maybe it's her god powers? For that matter, what was Jean's problem with corsets and bloomers. She seems to imply she thinks Wyngarde's wardrobe is for him? And if it was, it's unclear what the issue with that was? This book was written in 2019. Bizarre.
I appreciate that the author chose to center exclusively female PoVs in what could easily have been an ensemble cast-- Or another story told way too much from Cyclops and Wolverine PoV. I think the female PoV was very fitting for the story. At the same time though-- This book is abominably sexist in the most subtle ways that continue building and building.
Some of it certainly comes from the original Dark Phoenix comic, but so many things were modernized I don't understand why he left so much archaic stuff in it. Some of the writing comes off as having a bit of a softcore porn vibe, honestly. Especially a lot of scenes with Emma and Kitty. Especially their first meeting where (schoolgirl) Kitty, fresh off being humiliated, is exposed to the overly sexual headmistress who's "heels were one inch too high for business". There's quite a bit of boomer fetishism coursing through this book. Even the story itself pretty clearly makes a case that if Jean had stayed a more docile, obedient woman that it would have been better because having so much awesome power corrupts her and she gets too uppity.
The part that really broke me is when Emma Frost referred to herself as a 4th wave feminist which is, a better line than in the original comic I guess but also so clearly absurd. I just can't anymore.
There are also weird prose issues that make things a little confusing sometimes. I understand Jean's scenes are supposed to have an ethereal, shifting, dream-like quality-- But it's hard to know when and where she is. Or why when Moira hands her Moira's own cell phone, Jean gets all of the messages meant for her own cell phone? Maybe it's her god powers? For that matter, what was Jean's problem with corsets and bloomers. She seems to imply she thinks Wyngarde's wardrobe is for him? And if it was, it's unclear what the issue with that was? This book was written in 2019. Bizarre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Death
jclayton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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