Scan barcode
whattamess's review
2.0
MacHalo Buddy Read I nominated this book for BOTM, and so I shouldn't be allowed to back out of it when Sarah says, "ew".
And I agree, ew and sucky. But I am curious about the author's Tom Holt books. Sarah says they are not sucky.
And I agree, ew and sucky. But I am curious about the author's Tom Holt books. Sarah says they are not sucky.
celiapowell's review
3.0
I really enjoy KJ Parker's darkly funny books, and this novella is in that very familiar style. Set in fantasy-Italy, it's about some quite terrible people and a captive angel, and the nature of sin and God and other chilled out topics like that. I enjoyed it, but it's definitely not my favourite of Parker's books.
residual_sizzle's review
3.0
This was my first K.J. Parker novella and I enjoyed it - Maybe it's my religious trauma, and cynical outlook therein. But I really resonated with this work. I haven't personally ready anything like this before and I thought it was funny, and immediately went out to get Prosper's Demon.
souymuilk's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
copiousfreetime's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abbiemens's review
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.0
timinbc's review
2.0
I can see why an author would just keep pumping out the stories with a snarky, street-smart protagonist. But this book demonstrates that you can't force every idea, however clever, through the same mill.
Exploring some of the logic traps in religion sounds good. But Parker loses me, as he has done before, with the wanton cruelty that keeps popping up. And I am no stranger to books full of violence and cruelty.
Wing-breaking and decades of imprisonment seem fine by our "hero." I admit the possibility of an argument that this is how it was in the world depicted, which has a basis in our own world. But it comes across as if Parker's typing it more gleefully than reluctantly. Example: the use of a garden fork, especially when its victim's hirer just shrugs. There's a little bit of "woudja look at these guys, huh?" but quite a bit more of "I wish we could do this sorta stuff today."
I'm done with Parker. And I'd already decided that I've read enough Holt.
Exploring some of the logic traps in religion sounds good. But Parker loses me, as he has done before, with the wanton cruelty that keeps popping up. And I am no stranger to books full of violence and cruelty.
Wing-breaking and decades of imprisonment seem fine by our "hero." I admit the possibility of an argument that this is how it was in the world depicted, which has a basis in our own world. But it comes across as if Parker's typing it more gleefully than reluctantly. Example: the use of a garden fork, especially when its victim's hirer just shrugs. There's a little bit of "woudja look at these guys, huh?" but quite a bit more of "I wish we could do this sorta stuff today."
I'm done with Parker. And I'd already decided that I've read enough Holt.
frogcakes's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vic_from_cali's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75