Reviews

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker

andrew_corduroy's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 ⭐️ maybe 3.75. Stream of consciousness narrative with a self-described unreliable narrator. Could have been pared down a little bit but I liked it. Hopefully the sequels will expand on the very abrupt ending.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and War

Minor: Classism, Blood, Colonisation, and Death of parent

benmcfc's review against another edition

challenging dark funny 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? Yes

4.25

pretenderjoe's review

adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

tara_whitaker's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.25

eugen_wzrd's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

jenthebest's review

4.0

This was incredibly fun. The light tone and humor in the telling of this inventive military fantasy worked brilliantly for me.

jessicafulton's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Mostly enjoyable, some pretty misogynistic comments peppered in though

ots3go's review against another edition

3.0

3.5*

moscat's review

4.0

Great fun. Our protagonist is somewhere between Moist Von Lipwig and Tyrion Lannister with a dash of Odysseus. The first time I tried reading this I was expecting fantasy and bounced off it but this time around the pseudo-Roman empire vibe clicked perfectly for me.

sir_dagonet's review

challenging funny inspiring lighthearted 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