skybalon's review against another edition
5.0
Really 4.75. This is a really good and entertaining story that is surprisingly deep. My only complaint, and it is minor, is it is being sold as a thriller. It has the elements of a thriller: spies, terrorists, complicated plots, and some suspense. But much of the story takes place in the past and as such isn't "thrilling". Don't get me wrong, it is a great story, but it feels like it is being pushed as a thriller because someone (the publisher?) didn't trust marketing it as just a great story. Is it fair to dock it .25 points because someone put Thriller on the cover? I say yes, but I also say read it.
sealinec's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
imi_bassett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
yoteach87's review against another edition
3.0
DNF @ 80%
I ran out of time on my loan from the library and was not able to finish it. It's very well written, but so detailed that calling it a slow burn makes other slow burns fast thrillers. I may return to it in the future, but the time taken to read it and the heaping page count will probably deter me for some time.
I ran out of time on my loan from the library and was not able to finish it. It's very well written, but so detailed that calling it a slow burn makes other slow burns fast thrillers. I may return to it in the future, but the time taken to read it and the heaping page count will probably deter me for some time.
edrumsey's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kelbi's review against another edition
4.0
I hate to say that this is a man's book. But it is. I enjoyed much of it. It's a brilliant example,of it's genre.
elean0rtaylor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this was a very good book. It was incredibly cleverly written. I found the first 100 pages a little fluffy and at first I didn't like the protagonist, but the pace quickened and he grew on me.
There is the overlying plot with another sub-plot (which could be its own novel) mixed in. The story has a few chapters of seemingly random bits thrown in here and there, but they always come back to mean something. The call backs were excellent - you could really tell how carefully and meticulously written the book was.
I loved the little hints at what would happen next...'I made a mistake' etc - it meant you could never stop reading as you always wanted to read what was going to happen next.
The length of the book is daunting - 900 pages is the longest book I've read - but it does probably need to be that long.
I think it would make a great - albeit long - film. Everyone I know who has read this has said it's brilliant, and a random man on the train told me it was brilliant when he saw me reading it. And I think I have to agree.
There is the overlying plot with another sub-plot (which could be its own novel) mixed in. The story has a few chapters of seemingly random bits thrown in here and there, but they always come back to mean something. The call backs were excellent - you could really tell how carefully and meticulously written the book was.
I loved the little hints at what would happen next...'I made a mistake' etc - it meant you could never stop reading as you always wanted to read what was going to happen next.
The length of the book is daunting - 900 pages is the longest book I've read - but it does probably need to be that long.
I think it would make a great - albeit long - film. Everyone I know who has read this has said it's brilliant, and a random man on the train told me it was brilliant when he saw me reading it. And I think I have to agree.
liseronnocturne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5