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feingartner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Torture, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Ableism
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An outside of my typical genre read! I always enjoy puzzling through a mystery/thriller and the scope and scale of the various mysteries in this thriller were certainly engaging and impressive.
There are some elements of the story that were really hard for me to read - check content warnings!
There are some elements of the story that were really hard for me to read - check content warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Minor: Ableism
CW: Fanaticism and terrorismhjh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
I thought this was a well-written, gripping read. My 74yo mother loved it too and finished it before me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
When I first picked this up I thought, at 800+ pages, I'd be reading it for a month. Instead I devoured it in a week. Yes, it's long, but it's completely engrossing and so immersive. Plus, the short chapters meant I was always making time to read just one more little bit.
It helps that Pilgrim is a fantastic character with a fascinating backstory, and I immediately wanted to know more about him. We come into the narrative relatively close to the end, and a huge chunk of the book is given to filling in blanks along the way. We learn about Pilgrim and the Saracen (Saracen's history is particularly interesting), and their characters flesh out gradually as their paths converge.
The story is heavily influenced by the wake of 9/11, and a new terrorist threat to US soil. So it's incredibly emotional at times. Everyone in the book has been affected in some way and it certainly ramps up the pressure. The story is filled with secrets, covert ops and a huge range of sub-plots that connect in really intricate ways.
By the time things reach a head I couldn't put it down, and I read 220 pages in a day. It's a great, epic book, but the end in particular goes nuts on the tension and drama. But mostly I was there for the amazing characters.
It helps that Pilgrim is a fantastic character with a fascinating backstory, and I immediately wanted to know more about him. We come into the narrative relatively close to the end, and a huge chunk of the book is given to filling in blanks along the way. We learn about Pilgrim and the Saracen (Saracen's history is particularly interesting), and their characters flesh out gradually as their paths converge.
The story is heavily influenced by the wake of 9/11, and a new terrorist threat to US soil. So it's incredibly emotional at times. Everyone in the book has been affected in some way and it certainly ramps up the pressure. The story is filled with secrets, covert ops and a huge range of sub-plots that connect in really intricate ways.
By the time things reach a head I couldn't put it down, and I read 220 pages in a day. It's a great, epic book, but the end in particular goes nuts on the tension and drama. But mostly I was there for the amazing characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
quesarah's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
ivy123's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read this for my work book club and the size was definitely intimidating. There was allot of hype with how good this was so I was hoping despite the length i would love it especially as there really long fantasy books that I love despite the length.
However, I feel I'm in the minority where I found it just average. Everyone else in my book club loved it but for me, it just felt long and not my cup of tea.
I liked how the chapters were small and the writing wasn't tiny which helps when it's a big book. I found myself enjoying the side characters way more than the main characters and to be honest would probably have preferred following their stories instead.
I wasn't that interested in the antagonist's story, to be honest, so when the chapters were about them I had to fight through and wait till we were back with the pilgrim. I also found for all this talk of being the top super-spy he made lots of mistakes with lots of chapters ending with I should have known this or should have done that. I mean I know he was out of the business for a bit but seemed a bit repetitive.
Also found nearly all women were described by their looks and were all good looking which was distracting. I know pilgrim obviously been alone for a while but was really over it. Especially as I felt like Pilgram had no real personality.
Guess this just wasn't for me and not worth reading so many pages for.
However, I feel I'm in the minority where I found it just average. Everyone else in my book club loved it but for me, it just felt long and not my cup of tea.
I liked how the chapters were small and the writing wasn't tiny which helps when it's a big book. I found myself enjoying the side characters way more than the main characters and to be honest would probably have preferred following their stories instead.
I wasn't that interested in the antagonist's story, to be honest, so when the chapters were about them I had to fight through and wait till we were back with the pilgrim. I also found for all this talk of being the top super-spy he made lots of mistakes with lots of chapters ending with I should have known this or should have done that. I mean I know he was out of the business for a bit but seemed a bit repetitive.
Also found nearly all women were described by their looks and were all good looking which was distracting. I know pilgrim obviously been alone for a while but was really over it. Especially as I felt like Pilgram had no real personality.
Guess this just wasn't for me and not worth reading so many pages for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Rape
zoenne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Really not sure what to say about this book. The pacing is a bit all over the place (the narrative jumps around a lot) and it only really comes together (somewhat clumsily) at the end. But still, it did not feel nearly as long as its page count. Not sure if I'd recommend it, especially as one of the main plotlines is left hanging, and the author seems to be very bad at publishing (some people who pre-ordered his new -- unrelated -- book 3 years ago are still waiting)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Torture, and Islamophobia
gaius_bouns's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Violence
elinekp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder
georgiajala's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I read this entire book, which I kind of regret. It felt sexist and islamophobic in how it described and portrayed female characters. Also, I didn't really appreciate reading a book written by a white man that portrays Muslim people as violent.
Not for me.
Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture