caitatoes's review against another edition
4.0
This book was good to read, and mostly fun (but also somewhat gruesome). My only issue with it is that it created many, many side plots, sub plots, red herring plots, etc. that it was hard for the author to actually address them all with any grace. Setting up all of these plots and characters was very nice to read, but then his solution to them all seemed to be to cram all the resolutions into the last hundred pages or so, instead of resolving some throughout the book instead and leaving the most important to the end. Otherwise, good characters and good writing!
es42's review against another edition
3.0
I love Bullington's style and his weird historical settings! The first third of the book is absolutely amazing. The chapters about Jolanda diving are the main highlight for me - I will definitely return to the book to re-read these parts. However, I found the rest of the book uneven and lacking focus. There are still great episodes, but just not on par with the high beginning.
sirlancelot2021's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kiramke's review against another edition
3.0
Bought this on a whim for a dollar or so. It's a sort of historical fiction adventure story that I wouldn't normally have picked for myself. As a result it's rather different from anything else I've read. Although I won't search out his other books, I really did enjoy reading something outside my alley(s), and I found this a little spooky and somehow charming at the oddest moments, and overall well written. I think my lasting impression is going to be amusement that it managed to charm me.
tbz's review against another edition
4.0
So many unanswered questions. I feel like that is common among the reviews I have seen. I feel the same way. However, the writing was well done and overall I enjoyed it.
dluman's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a departure from Jesse's former expression of his style, but very much a Jesse Bullington novel. It gets at the grittiness, the technicality and the very 'Earthy' side of living.
codalion's review against another edition
3.0
Jesse Bullington has an odd relationship with plot. Actually, I'm not sure they've ever been properly introduced. He has this tendency to take a bunch of charming elements and an entertaining style and throw them at each other and hope they bounce. They don't always--but Hell, I like him anyway, who else is writing gross adorable queer body horror historical fiction these days?
A little better than Grossbarts, not quite as good as Enterprise. I got attached to Sander especially, but I'm not sure I can say in good conscience that the actual narrative of Folly went anywhere coherent.
A little better than Grossbarts, not quite as good as Enterprise. I got attached to Sander especially, but I'm not sure I can say in good conscience that the actual narrative of Folly went anywhere coherent.
vermidian's review against another edition
5.0
When you find yourself actually openly screaming at the last 100 pages of a book, it's either a really really good thing or a really really bad thing. In this case, it was a little bit of both. I went into the book grimacing and wincing at the characters and the violence and by the end being completely hooked into their well being and their life choices. And oh my god, those life choices.
I am going to preface the rest of this review by warning you now that if you are squeamish, homophobic, or don't like reading about violence or murder, this book is ABSOLUTELY NOT MEANT FOR YOU. Judging by other reviews, the author's other books are similarly violent. But, if you happen to be looking for a period drama that doesn't pull any of it's punches and follows three very flawed characters, you are absolutely in luck.
If you've ever heard the phrase, "Sometimes it's like watching a train wreck. You're uncomfortable, but you just can't help yourself." This is literally that book. I don't want to give anything away if you plan to read it, because not knowing what to expect made this train wreck of a story something that was very hard to pull myself away from. It was fantastic and it was horrible and I want an HBO miniseries because for once they might actually have to tone back some of the violence, craziness, and sex instead of adding it in.
When I first started reading, I found it difficult to attach myself to characters that are so foreign to me in their attitudes. A crazy thug, a manic 17-year-old girl, and a con man toddling around in flooded Holland? Not that easy. But as things progressed, I really got attached to these odd creatures of fiction. The book was also way more violent than most of the things I read. But, because it wasn't over the top, I found it bearable. Perhaps it was just me, but the violence plateaus off after a certain point for a while.
It was also very informative. I had never heard about St. Elizabeth's Flood at all, so I had to go look it up to understand it better. I can't imagine how crazy it was in those days to wake up one morning only to find that possibly 10,000 people had drowned due to failed infrastructure. It was also informative in another way: cursing. This book came up with more unusual curse words than I could probably list. My favorite was very easily shitbird, which is just a funny thing to call someone to me.
Ultimately, I would recommend this to a friend if I were sure they wouldn't be offended by how unusual the book is. (Because it really is that unusual.) It's not a book for the faint of heart or the easily offended, but gosh is it ever worth the read.
I am going to preface the rest of this review by warning you now that if you are squeamish, homophobic, or don't like reading about violence or murder, this book is ABSOLUTELY NOT MEANT FOR YOU. Judging by other reviews, the author's other books are similarly violent. But, if you happen to be looking for a period drama that doesn't pull any of it's punches and follows three very flawed characters, you are absolutely in luck.
If you've ever heard the phrase, "Sometimes it's like watching a train wreck. You're uncomfortable, but you just can't help yourself." This is literally that book. I don't want to give anything away if you plan to read it, because not knowing what to expect made this train wreck of a story something that was very hard to pull myself away from. It was fantastic and it was horrible and I want an HBO miniseries because for once they might actually have to tone back some of the violence, craziness, and sex instead of adding it in.
When I first started reading, I found it difficult to attach myself to characters that are so foreign to me in their attitudes. A crazy thug, a manic 17-year-old girl, and a con man toddling around in flooded Holland? Not that easy. But as things progressed, I really got attached to these odd creatures of fiction. The book was also way more violent than most of the things I read. But, because it wasn't over the top, I found it bearable. Perhaps it was just me, but the violence plateaus off after a certain point for a while.
It was also very informative. I had never heard about St. Elizabeth's Flood at all, so I had to go look it up to understand it better. I can't imagine how crazy it was in those days to wake up one morning only to find that possibly 10,000 people had drowned due to failed infrastructure. It was also informative in another way: cursing. This book came up with more unusual curse words than I could probably list. My favorite was very easily shitbird, which is just a funny thing to call someone to me.
Ultimately, I would recommend this to a friend if I were sure they wouldn't be offended by how unusual the book is. (Because it really is that unusual.) It's not a book for the faint of heart or the easily offended, but gosh is it ever worth the read.
krchesh's review against another edition
3.0
I think the thing I loved most about this book is that you think you know what the general plot is going to be, and then you find yourself at the end of that story arc with half the book to go. It's the first time in a long time that I've had no idea what was going to happen. No character is safe, you can't trust the narrator, and any time you think you could predict the book's path a wrench is thrown into the whole thing.
itsthunderkid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25