srm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
More politics and less organized crime than the previous two books, PoG takes the series in a new direction, but I'm happy to go along for the ride. But I stand by my previous reviews--if anything happens to Billy, I will riot.
Also, I'm going on record now that somehow Tomas's future is going to hinge on a drunk pirate, and I'm entirely there for that if it happens.
Also, I'm going on record now that somehow Tomas's future is going to hinge on a drunk pirate, and I'm entirely there for that if it happens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Excrement, Slavery, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Child abuse and Incest
kitvaria_sarene's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
I'm a bit speechless here.
The first two books in this series where already brilliant, but Priest of Gallows tops them.
Not for the plot, which is just as nicely twisty as with the previous books, and leads us around corners and sometimes in circles, to then give us a glimpse of what's up next. Always intriguing, always captivating.
But no. What really crowns this one is the character development!
I loved Thomas Piety and his gang right from the start. But wow, can McLean write people and their growth.
Thomas is still very much Thomas, but what he went through so far has steered him in every so slightly different directions that expected. It's not massive, big bits that feel unrealistic, no it's the little minimal pieces here and there that show how he has outgrown his old skin. How living with the Queens Men has changed his outlook. I love just how detailed and well handled his PTSD and trauma are. A small sentence here, a little statement there, and it makes it all so much more real and gripping.
Yes, this is Grimdark, and there's gore and cursing a plenty - however these things don't go by without consequences. All these deeds leave marks on the people involved. Slaughtering people will change people, and McLean does capture the turmoil involved so well.
The end was just... Can I have chocolate and an emotional support pet now, please?
I want to read the end of the series *right now*
I also know I I'll suffer greatly along with these people I care for, and it will be horrendous. Torture me now anyway, please?
The first two books in this series where already brilliant, but Priest of Gallows tops them.
Not for the plot, which is just as nicely twisty as with the previous books, and leads us around corners and sometimes in circles, to then give us a glimpse of what's up next. Always intriguing, always captivating.
But no. What really crowns this one is the character development!
I loved Thomas Piety and his gang right from the start. But wow, can McLean write people and their growth.
Thomas is still very much Thomas, but what he went through so far has steered him in every so slightly different directions that expected. It's not massive, big bits that feel unrealistic, no it's the little minimal pieces here and there that show how he has outgrown his old skin. How living with the Queens Men has changed his outlook. I love just how detailed and well handled his PTSD and trauma are. A small sentence here, a little statement there, and it makes it all so much more real and gripping.
Yes, this is Grimdark, and there's gore and cursing a plenty - however these things don't go by without consequences. All these deeds leave marks on the people involved. Slaughtering people will change people, and McLean does capture the turmoil involved so well.
The end was just... Can I have chocolate and an emotional support pet now, please?
I want to read the end of the series *right now*
I also know I I'll suffer greatly along with these people I care for, and it will be horrendous. Torture me now anyway, please?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Mental illness
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