Scan barcode
king_duncan's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting to compare with the stage/movie adaptations. Entirely epistolary, which got a bit tiresome for me, but still a pretty good read.
sarahbc93_'s review against another edition
4.0
This is quite a long book to read and as a result there were moments where I ended up getting quite lost as I was trying to keep a track of all of the characters and their connections to each other, and some of the language that was being used is quite old fashioned so can be a little bit of a struggle to get through.
But once you kind of get past that, or you decide to not let it bother you as you’re reading it, you actually then get into the actual plot of the story which is where the real intrigue lies. The lives and plots of the two former lovers turned rivals, the Marquise de Merteuill and the Vicomte de Valmont, have enough drama in them to last for several series of the steamiest TV dramas.
Watching them go up against each other is quite enjoyable and gives a real insight into court life in France, and you can’t help but sympathise with those who led the revolution if this is how the nobility behaved. The fact that it’s written as a series of letters gives the impression that you’ve just stumbled into the story and as such you don’t really have much of a stake in the outcome, which is quite nice when faced with such a dense tome.
But once you kind of get past that, or you decide to not let it bother you as you’re reading it, you actually then get into the actual plot of the story which is where the real intrigue lies. The lives and plots of the two former lovers turned rivals, the Marquise de Merteuill and the Vicomte de Valmont, have enough drama in them to last for several series of the steamiest TV dramas.
Watching them go up against each other is quite enjoyable and gives a real insight into court life in France, and you can’t help but sympathise with those who led the revolution if this is how the nobility behaved. The fact that it’s written as a series of letters gives the impression that you’ve just stumbled into the story and as such you don’t really have much of a stake in the outcome, which is quite nice when faced with such a dense tome.
lolif_123's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-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? Yes
3.75
frankly_im_grumpy_rn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
obxpug_4a's review
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thinkingrobot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Found this by pure coincidence because I was looking for the title of a French book and then decided I'd pick it up as well.
The characters were complex and so interesting. I loved the letter-format.
The characters were complex and so interesting. I loved the letter-format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
kitf's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Definitely a book full of characters you love to hate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault