sarahhbeth_reads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Like a visceral, profane, necromantic game of Among Us with the most pretentious co-players.
This is a book I want to lend to all my friends, readers and non-readers alike. After finishing, I’ve already passed it off to my brother. It took me two years after buying the book to finally get around to reading this masterpiece and now I want to get everyone else obsessed.
x striking imagery
x irreverent humor
x diabolically clever
x grandiloquent writing undercut by killer one-liners
x the stupidest, most juvenile jokes—and I mean that in an extremely positive way
x the hostility between Gideon and Harrow? 🤌🏼exquisite. Intimate hatred.
x unforgettable, visceral imagery
x so many unfamiliar words that I questioned my grasp on the English language
On the one hand, this was a book I wanted to take my time reading and relish every word. On the other, I could not put it down. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop.
This is a book I want to lend to all my friends, readers and non-readers alike. After finishing, I’ve already passed it off to my brother. It took me two years after buying the book to finally get around to reading this masterpiece and now I want to get everyone else obsessed.
x striking imagery
x irreverent humor
x diabolically clever
x grandiloquent writing undercut by killer one-liners
x the stupidest, most juvenile jokes—and I mean that in an extremely positive way
x the hostility between Gideon and Harrow? 🤌🏼exquisite. Intimate hatred.
x unforgettable, visceral imagery
x so many unfamiliar words that I questioned my grasp on the English language
On the one hand, this was a book I wanted to take my time reading and relish every word. On the other, I could not put it down. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop.
btw_rae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
aaryn83's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
alblent23's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t even begin to describe how great this book was. The world of the book is brilliantly laid out, I could picture every crumbling archway and spooky laboratory. The characters felt fully fleshed out (or not, at least in terms of actual physical flesh but it made it SO GOOD). The relationships are incredible and deep and break your heart in the best ways at times. Didn’t think a book about space lesbians and bones would make me cry, but here we are. Cannot WAIT to get my hands on the sequel.
snfredman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
cmhamper's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fedak's review against another edition
4.0
- Really enjoyed Muir's snarky/sarcastic writing style- reminded me a lot of Glen Cook's "Black Company" series. The setting/magic system were also refreshingly different from the usual tropes
- This isn't remotely science fiction. It's a Gothic GrimDark Fantasy complete with swordsman and magic users. There's no "science" and the entire plot takes place in one indoor location. (two if you include the opening chapter). Not a bad thing but I've seen this repeatedly classified as SF.
- I found keeping track of the large number of characters quite difficult. Especially when each had a collection of titles and nicknames on top of their similar sounding given/surnames. This prompted continuously referencing the character list at the start of the book and using Kindle's xray to try and keep the characters apart. And in the end the core issue here is most of those characters weren't developed enough that this came naturally.
- The narrative seemed like it couldn't quite decide between being a murder mystery or a competition/race between the houses. Instead it kind of bounced between the two and sort of eventually abandoned both.
- This isn't remotely science fiction. It's a Gothic GrimDark Fantasy complete with swordsman and magic users. There's no "science" and the entire plot takes place in one indoor location. (two if you include the opening chapter). Not a bad thing but I've seen this repeatedly classified as SF.
- I found keeping track of the large number of characters quite difficult. Especially when each had a collection of titles and nicknames on top of their similar sounding given/surnames. This prompted continuously referencing the character list at the start of the book and using Kindle's xray to try and keep the characters apart. And in the end the core issue here is most of those characters weren't developed enough that this came naturally.
- The narrative seemed like it couldn't quite decide between being a murder mystery or a competition/race between the houses. Instead it kind of bounced between the two and sort of eventually abandoned both.
hrushikesh890's review against another edition
4.0
Really good character work. The writing is good as well. The main character has great depth. IMO the story is a bit lacking and the relationships are a bit forced too.
racheld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.0
critcharlie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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