abookwithreview's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Spoiler
The majority of this book is the author queerbaiting us. Like yeah, in the end they run off together but seriously, I'm not sure the MC and LI actually even like each other all that much.The MC is also SUPREMELY unlikable and his redemption is rushed and not super believable. The LI is a blank slate of being black not because the character makes sense as a black man to to add extra conflict that really isn't needed, then he is just given epilepsy and the author downplays it's seriousness so that the character that already has way too much going against him in a time where being gay and black should be enough can "love his disability" and refuse help for a condition that could literally kill him.
The sister is the only redeming part of this book that while well written is just rife with stuff that makes me incredibly angry and unable to recommend it.
Graphic: Gore
const_elle_ations's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, and Racism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexism, Vomit, and Gore
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
rotfaced's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Positives first: The writing style is very whimsical and engaging, made more-so by the expert narration. It was truly enjoyable, listening to this book, and for a brief two weeks it made my long commute more bearable. The author really has a way of twisting internal dialog to contribute to a scene rather than to detract from it, and the narration capitalized wonderfully on this style to provide an animated audio experience. The characters themselves were engaging-- the sister, Felicity, especially-- and the plot really felt like it was taking us on an adventure. I sometimes had no idea what to expect from it.
On the subject of Felicity, I think she's a much more compelling character than her brother and I'm glad to get a second book in her perspective. She was a breakout right away. I love her defiance, her knowledge, her demeanor. She was well and truly the star of many of the scenes she participated in. What a great voice.
Now for the criticism. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Monty, the main character, is fun to follow-- at first. His antics and bad behavior kick the plot of spectacularly, and the messes they get in are fun and compelling to follow, at first. But then it gets old very, very quickly.
This man literally never stops fucking up. He's a lecherous clown. He has no meaningful growth-- any internal dialog he has is kept private and exacerbates his miserable, selfish perspective. He rarely apologizes. He defies reasonable authority for no other reason except that it seems like the author needs a contrived reason to move the plot along in another disastrously ill-executed direction. I literally had to skip some scenes because they were SO painful to listen to. Monty is a total buffoon, and I really came to despise his selfishness over the course of the book-- especially because it's rarely ever actually, meaningfully dealt with. Sure, he has a few spats here and there with people he cares about, but none of it matters! They forgive him in the end anyways! And somehow this resolves in him being a better person in the last couple of pages of the book. It's maddening, and it's made worse by the allowances given him by Percy
Spoiler
and ScipioPercy exists, primarily, to be Monty's romantic fixation and source of tumult. I actually liked Percy when his personality wasn't being defined and modified by Monty's dramatic interior monologue, but I think the thing that really kills his character is the fact that he... never holds Monty accountable. Monty steals, cheats, lies, wastes their money, gets blasted,
Spoiler
has them arrested, nearly dies-- twice!--Scipio and his pirate crew are also
Spoiler
more or less just plot devices. Scipio spends so much of his screen time acting as yet another person who comforts Monty, tries to convince him of his worth, and then refuses to hold him accountable for his bad behavior.(As an aside, I only found out after finishing the book and beginning the sequel that the author has been repeatedly smug, rude, entitled, etc. but that's neither here nor there. Probably.)
The only exception to this is Felicity, who regularly needles her brother but has no control or power over him. She is often
Spoiler
literally fixing his wounds and cleaning up his messes,Spoiler
her disgust and lack of understanding surrounding the Percy/Monty relationship and homosexuality in general, complete with 'it's a sin' rhetoricTakeaway: I had enough fun with the book that I didn't stop listening to it, but it's another tick in the box of 'disappointing m/m fiction' for me. I wish the love interests were more than just a pair of arms to hold the protagonist sometimes, and especially here.
Extra .75 points for the narration, though!
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Child abuse
Moderate: Injury/injury detail and Gore
azyef's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, and Alcoholism
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
parkyparkpark's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Gore
rory_john14's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Slavery
nofy's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Gore and Slavery
ehrycyna's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
ahalexont's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Gore
bebidocrimes's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Gore
Minor: Death, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Vomit