Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Codename Villanelle

Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

18 reviews

smcaput2's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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cady_sass's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

This is literally so bad lol I can’t fathom that someone managed to write an incredible television series based on this book?! This is the epitome of men writing women as they behave in their imaginations vs how women actually behave in real life.

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theabee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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alexreads111's review against another edition

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3.75

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msnew's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

At first I was pleasantly surprised that a story about women, written by a man, was well done. Then about halfway through I realized Jennings was fulfilling some kind of fantasy through Villanelle, sexualizing her to the point where it was just gratuitous. I think the show, especially season 1, does a better job of showing her sexuality in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of her personality.

For a book about queer women and features other LGBTQ characters, there is some very problematic language about the trans women. In fact I won’t be reading anymore because of it.

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theghostintheattic's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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emory's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

I feel like I can't give that accurate of a review as my interest came entirely from reading the inspiration for and comparing this to Killing Eve.

A fine thriller with seemingly low stakes as the main characters do not ever actually meet in this installment. Each scene is thoroughly set with emblematic and grandiose details of whichever European country Villanelle's about to assasinste someone at any given point. This can come across as extraordinary mood setting or unnecessary and ostentatious simply depending on the scene.

The fact that Villanelle's bisexuality is played as a moral failing and caused by sociopathy is a bit annoying, as are the pretty gratuitous sex scenes involving her, but what did I expect from a spy thriller that includes a female assassin?

Very middle of the road read for me, but again, it's hard to think strictly about the books pacing and plot when you are already aware of most of its plot and are familiar with someone else's interpretation of the characters. Good way to kill a day if you need.

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