Reviews

A Cidade das Máscaras by Genevieve Cogman

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tfj's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.25

zozoisgolden's review against another edition

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4.0

Warning: this review is just one giant spoiler.

much, much better.

Still has a few things, (Irene, why do thoughts prick your mind so much????) but a lot better.

Funny how most people like this one less but the story did it for me. Especially the last 30% which is what I wanted from the very beginning with a few tweaks. That last part is the reason for one of the stars, actually.

The romance makes me want to tear my hair out because the will-they, won't they, is very 90's and not great anymore. Also, Vale getting on the train and suffering no consequences made the least sense out of everything. Like the very least. She made such a big deal about how Chaos affects humans and he just skipped on like it was nothing. I think Vale is my least favorite character actually.

One more thing, for an enby character, just use they. I beg of you. Constantly going "Irene wasn't sure if it was a he or she" EVERY TIME she comes across this character feels a certain kind of way.

I'm just babbling at this point, don't mind me.

labocat's review against another edition

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3.0

The result of the popsugar "first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed". It's been on my to-read shelf for....uh....a while. And I wonder if I would've enjoyed it more back then. It's fine; I still love the concept, of a librarian keeping balance between worlds and a language that sets the state of things, but this feels much lighter than I think it intends to be. I don't feel a lot of weight between character relationships, there's an entire chapter that is helpful side character infodump who then is never seen again, and the best part is the last train scene, which unfortunately doesn't feel quite like a balanced payoff for everything that's come before. I clearly liked the first book enough to get the second, but I think I'm content to stop here.

jonnyh9's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed the invisible library, but I really liked this.

The world building that seemed fun, if slightly shallow, in the first book is expanded upon in a very satisfying and solid way.

The way Cogman writes the world's Irene and gang go to is full of Magic, and distinct differences that make the alternates fit.

Highly recommend and look forward to what comes next.

ciddi1004's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious

4.0

ginnikin's review against another edition

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I didn't like it as much as the first, I think because I like the dynamic between Vale, Kai, and Irene. I'll probably check out the third, but maybe after a break.