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growintogardens's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
This was recommended to me and I liked some of it, but it was missing something for me. I listened to the audiobook, which was fine, but I think this one might be better with a physical or ebook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Violence
readsandsuch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
The world building and magic system were so unique! I was locked in and desperate for more information about everything and everyone. There’s a lot of moving parts to this story and I think for the most part they went well together. The characters were also unique and all had dynamic chemistry with each other.
There’s multiple povs which I’m a fan of, but it can cause the pacing to drag a bit while waiting for certain characters to get the information the reader already has.
There’s multiple povs which I’m a fan of, but it can cause the pacing to drag a bit while waiting for certain characters to get the information the reader already has.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
miraclesnow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Am I perhaps having the best January reading streak ever?
Yes
Did this book help in that?
Most definitely!
The worldbuilding was some of the most creative I’ve read in UF in years. I felt so immersed in the creativity Max Gladstone contained in this book. And thank goodness this guy actually knows how to write decent female characters, because they all feel distinctly different and he wrote a lot of them into this first book. I cannot wait to read more! This is how you write a magical god book.
Yes
Did this book help in that?
Most definitely!
The worldbuilding was some of the most creative I’ve read in UF in years. I felt so immersed in the creativity Max Gladstone contained in this book. And thank goodness this guy actually knows how to write decent female characters, because they all feel distinctly different and he wrote a lot of them into this first book. I cannot wait to read more! This is how you write a magical god book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Sexism
chloebaboey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: War
bookswithjk's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A fresh magic system and a great mystery set in an urban fantasy setting. The plot did drag a little in the middle, but the final battle was absolutely epic!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
*This series was written and published out of in-universe chronological order. The comments in this review are based on reading the series in publishing order, where THREE PARTS DEAD is read first.*
THREE PARTS DEAD is a murder mystery where a new Associate must work with a young priest to find out who murdered his god. Well-paced and dripping with contractual language, with a stunning conclusion plucked from the embers of a dying flame.
This handles multiple narrators expertly, with each one feeling very distinct from the others while obviously belonging to the same world. I love murder mystery stories, political wrangling, and precise language, and this is a beautiful blend of those things.
The world-building is fantastic and very well-handled, it felt so seamless as the various explanations felt so natural that I never felt like it was infodumping, though looking back there were some sections with more intense explanations than others. The few places which were purely informational spiels (I'm thinking of the two examinations of bodies) were some of my favorite sections because they conveyed so much about how the characters thought in addition to the purely informational elements of the scenes. Every character is complex with very different moral compasses from their fellow narrators, and while I do have my favorites, I can see how they got to where they are and why their methods are their own.
I want Abelard to have all the best things, he's my favorite. I like Tara and I'm very proud of how much she grows here. There's so much really good character development and growth all around, Cat's arc is great as well. I also wish there was a bit more of the vampire in this one, but I'll look out for him in the sequels (this didn't need more of him for its actual plot, I just love vampires).
THREE PARTS DEAD is a murder mystery where a new Associate must work with a young priest to find out who murdered his god. Well-paced and dripping with contractual language, with a stunning conclusion plucked from the embers of a dying flame.
This handles multiple narrators expertly, with each one feeling very distinct from the others while obviously belonging to the same world. I love murder mystery stories, political wrangling, and precise language, and this is a beautiful blend of those things.
The world-building is fantastic and very well-handled, it felt so seamless as the various explanations felt so natural that I never felt like it was infodumping, though looking back there were some sections with more intense explanations than others. The few places which were purely informational spiels (I'm thinking of the two examinations of bodies) were some of my favorite sections because they conveyed so much about how the characters thought in addition to the purely informational elements of the scenes. Every character is complex with very different moral compasses from their fellow narrators, and while I do have my favorites, I can see how they got to where they are and why their methods are their own.
I want Abelard to have all the best things, he's my favorite. I like Tara and I'm very proud of how much she grows here. There's so much really good character development and growth all around, Cat's arc is great as well. I also wish there was a bit more of the vampire in this one, but I'll look out for him in the sequels (this didn't need more of him for its actual plot, I just love vampires).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, and Torture
CW for ableist language (minor), consent violations, major character death.troisha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Body horror, Self harm, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
willardfillmore's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Police brutality