Reviews tagging 'Death'

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

3 reviews

maxierosalee's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

4.5/5

🎵 Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. 🎵

I was doing a marathon of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and when I got to On Stranger Tides, I was surprised to learn that it was based on a book--this book. 

I actually haven’t heard of this novel, even though it’s a classic and winner of multiple awards. It’s inspired more than Pirates of the Caribbean; the classic point-and-click games from Lucasfilm, Monkey Island, were also inspired by Tim Powers’ fantasy story (according to Wikipedia, at least). After learning about this, I wanted to read it first before watching the movie. I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest. The only thing I knew about the story inside was what the official blurb told me. A complete blind dive into this book.

It was a delight through and through!

I was expecting a fun and solid adventure, and that's what I got! I didn't expect to be so enthralled with the adventure and even with the characters. I mean, some parts even got me a little emotional, and I was so surprised when it happened. It was a case of where I didn't even see it coming. I was listening to the story on the audiobook, nodding along and thinking "yes, this is all quite interesting. This is pretty fun to listen to." I wasn't expecting to get as emotionally invested as I did. Until the very last seconds of the book, I was on the edge of my seat and listening intently, begging and hoping that Jack and Beth would make it out okay.

The story has a great progression; it started as what you'd expect for a typical sea-faring excursion and then ramped it up with fantastical elements. I saw the skeleton pirate on the front of the first edition cover and was intrigued. When the heck does that come into play in this book, which seems like a jaunty old tale of a crew of misfits sailing the seven seas? And then when it did start happening...how exhilarating! The atmosphere, the tension, it all made for excellent listening. This book has all the great aspects of a good adventure story: action, thrills, a helping of magic, and a dash of romance.

I very much respect Powers' prose, too. His imagery was excellent; even listening to it painted such vivid pictures for me. The scene in the jungle...I won't say any more, but one of my favorite parts of the story. Incredibly chilling, creeped me out at certain points. 

I have a huge soft spot for anything with a touch of whimsy in it, and On Stranger Tides is no exception. My favorite part is that there are a couple of points in the story that are borderline ridiculous, but because Powers still gives them weight, they don't come off as contrived or something made for simply a throwaway gag. There's a part with some puppet strings and an old magician...once again, I will not spoil it. But if you know, you know. It was equal parts hilarious and exciting.

Overall, the book is the hallmark of a classic adventure. I can see why it's been seen as a significant source of inspiration. "Fun" describes this book perfectly, in my opinion. If I have any complaints, it's that I do wish we learned a bit more about Elizabeth Hurwood, to get the same kind of devotion towards her that Jack does. There are things to admire about her, but in a book where a lot of characters get the chance to open up about their backgrounds, Beth was conspicuously blank to me. Admittedly, there are things in this book that I think haven't aged well. Some of the descriptors of the black characters in the book were a little weird. They're not outwardly malicious, and I would hesitate to say outright racist. With a little acknowledgment and introspection, it doesn't detract too much. Perhaps you could make the argument that because this book is set in the 1700s, it reflects the attitudes of the people during those days. And honestly, none of the black characters from what I remember are outright slaves and tend to be treated as equals to everyone else (if made fun of, but once again, they're not the only ones). One of these black characters I found to be a compelling character in his own right, and for a book set in the 1700s, I think that's neat!

Honestly, my biggest complaint comes from the audiobook reading of it. It was mostly fine, but some of the voices that the narrator did were very grating. Sure, it was immersive, but having to hear a screechy falsetto or hearing him anytime Shanks spoke wasn't a pleasant listening experience.

But a very, very fun book. Now, I'm a little sad. I feel like I made a mistake reading this book before watching the corresponding Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I'm sure I'll like the book much more and the movie much less.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Rape

Clarification on some of the content warnings: - Being a pirate book, there is lots of fighting and killing, as to be expected. I don't think it's upsetting, in the same way that watching an old 70's pirate movie with stylish killing isn't upsetting. Still listed them just in case. - Beth's whole ordeal had a lot going on, so just in case, all of the content warnings regarding mental health and institutionalization are regarding her, and I added them all to be safe. - As for body shaming...does it count? There are fat characters in the book who, unfortunately, have that part of them poked fun at constantly and not in a positive light. - Regarding the adult/minor relationship, I am pretty sure Anne Bonny in the book is explicitly said to be a teenager, around 16. But this book takes place in the 1700s, so in the context of the book, it makes sense. - As noted in the review, the book is not really racist. Perhaps eyebrow-raising and slightly problematic, but I don't think racist. I listed it as minor just to be on the safe side. -

I personally count the scene in the magical jungle where they turn into plants to be body horror.

- Rape does not happen in the book, but is discussed at a few brief parts in the story.

f18's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Fatphobia, Incest, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Vomit

tooth trauma, underage marriage

cheye13's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.0

This is very well-written and excellently structured; it's an inventive story and the language and imagery are evocative. The plotline itself - in equal parts intentionally predictable and shocking - was what kept me reading. Aside from the premise and the writing, I wholly did not like this book.

There was no relationship development – these characters simply feel this way about each other and that's that. The deepest relationship is between Shandy and his late father, who isn't present in the story. The story is about Shandy's rescue of Beth, yet their relationship doesn't really go beyond "you are woman, I am man." The depiction of women in general is unkind at best, harmful at worst. There were also a number of significant story elements I simply dislike reading about – stolen agency, parental neglect, incestuous undertones, etc.

I love the concept of mystisizing real historical events, but the execution here left much to be desired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Incest, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

Minor: Cursing, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Regarding incest:

The main plot thread is about a man attempting to evict his daughter's spirit from her body so he can replace it with his dead wife's spirit. This isn't portrayed as a sexual desire for his daughter, but there is a clear conflation between the two women. Another villain has memories of making sexual advances on his mother in his past and at one point magically grooms the same daughter as a stand-in for a simulacrum for a mother who won't reject his advances.

Regarding sexual assault:

Throughout the first half of the book, a villain openly lusts after and controls the main female character, at one point kidnapping her. Though he does not get the opportunity to rape her, he does sexually assault her in a briefly detailed scene, and he often magically controls her physically against her will. Despite the cast being pirates, rape is otherwise only ever mentioned in abstract passing.

Regarding self harm and suicide:

Characters often self-harm to draw blood necessary for the magic system of the story. The few suicides are mostly enacted through intentionally losing battles, so as to avoid a "worse" demise due to magic.

Racism and sexism is "of the time" – not explicit nor egregious, but definitely included, addressing both Black and Indigenous peoples.