Reviews

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse

hayleyh84's review against another edition

challenging sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

jillibean9's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

vmwexler's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

sandrewx's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

uss_mary_shelley's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcohol

drlucyc's review

adventurous mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rae_steer's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is the second book in the Joubert family series.  It wasn’t until this novel that I realised what had bothered me about the first book.  The characters and character growth is a bit flat.  I find that though Minou and Piet are adventurous but not particularly interesting or distinguished as people.  This is remedied in Marta who has a lot more character and a small amount of character growth.  I get that these novels are mainly plot driven, but I found I wasn’t as invested in the characters because of this.
On the other side, I have enjoyed learning more about the Huguenots and French 16th century history.  It is an area I’ve not been familiar with.  

readinginmagnolia's review against another edition

3.0

While I enjoyed The Burning Chambers, I found the City of Tears to be less compelling. There were multiple parts primarily separated by the passing of a number of years. After each time jump, the setting and the evolution of the relationships between the characters had to be reestablished. This slowed the progression of the story until another threat developed, usually another coup or assassination attempt. There were moments of true action and adventure during which I couldn’t put the book down. Unfortunately, they were interspersed with long passages of dull everyday life that I didn’t find compelling but were necessary to fill in the time jumps. Ultimately, I enjoyed parts of this book and not others. I definitely recommend that you read The Burning Chambers before this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the free copy provided for an honest review.

rhianreads14's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

deborahisreading's review against another edition

5.0

Family and friends struggle to keep together through feuds, politics and religious wars. Fabulous saga.