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ziopera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty
al_dahart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
dragonaion'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
5.0
"Liar... Liar... Liar... Bastard!"
Edit: I've found another book that is a sibling-story to this. If you enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora, you will absolutely feel right at home with Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
This is intended for adult readers, starting at the end of an epidemic sparing only children, contains sexual content, violence, gore, animal cruelty, graphic animal death (only at one point), and mentions slavery all in a realistic lense.foxmulders'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
the_real_al_cal's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
What I liked about the book (without spoilers): Most of the main characters. I really enjoyed the Gentleman Bastards and their relationships with one another. I have a soft spot for twins in storytelling, so I instantly fell in love with the Sanza boys. The worldbuilding was also pretty good, and the world was easy to picture in my mind's eye. The dialogue was fun. Most of the action was well-written, and the antagonists didn't pull their punches, which made the danger much more real. Locke's plans are always really fun and interesting to follow, and you don't always know what he's up to until he puts his plan into action. It's a really fun way to tell the story.
What I didn't like about the book (without spoilers): THE PACING. That was the most frustrating part of the entire book for me, and the thing that stuck out to me the most. It constantly away from the action to tell little vignettes from the past. Sometimes the stories are touching or add to the plot in some way, but other times they feel totally unnecessary. They're often right after exciting cliffhangers, which completely destroys the tension that Scott Lynch builds in each chapter. They weren't bad moments; they were just told at the wrong time. If the entire story had been told in a more linear fashion, I probably would have really enjoyed those chapters--and the whole book--a lot more.
I have a feeling that this may be different in the rest of the series, but I also didn't care for the treatment of women in this story. There were a few named women, but they were often only there as plot devices before they were shuffled out of the way. The Gentleman Bastards kept referencing another woman, but she never showed up. I imagine she plays a bigger role later in the series, but judging this book based on the women who were included, it wasn't the most diverse or empowering story that ever existed.
All this to say: I won't say I'll never read the rest of the series, but I'm not chomping at the bit to buy the next book either.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
rangerwing75's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
And holy hell was she right.
The dialogue was the best part of this book. The characters are witty and filled with all kinds of colourful insults and threats.
The world is so so detailed. Like. It’s clear a lot of care was put into crafting this world. However, I found this could be a bit of a detriment at times. There’s a lot to remember, because everything impacts the plot in some way, and I struggle with grasping detail sometimes.
My only other big gripe is that there were times when the plot dragged. When it dragged, it dragged hard. I’m also not so sure how I feel about the interludes (which is just a fancy term for the flashbacks). Yes, they provided the necessary information for what was to come, and I don’t think there was a better way to have gone about it, but it just wasn’t something I personally enjoyed.
Overall, solid book. Locke and Jean’s friendship is top tier. Be mindful of the constant threats to cut off people’s balls.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
veronika_kasardova's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
bluejayreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Excrement, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Terminal illness
singalana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Excrement, and Death of parent