Reviews

One Night in Boukos by A. J. Demas

sashahc's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

I just finished AJ Demas’ book “One Night in Boukos” and it’s perfect pandemic reading.  It’s a cozy queer story of making new friends and falling for them while trying to solve a mystery, taking place in an Alt Ancient Mediterranean.  Highly recommend. 

whatcassiedid's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-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

A very sweet, romantic book

scrow1022's review against another edition

4.0

Very interesting, nice turns and plot revelations, satisfying conclusions, lovely relationships (there are two that develop over the course of this novel).

vasha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-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? No

4.5

erinanire's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

purrson's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

percyc's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

wunder's review against another edition

2.0

Pleasant but mediocre. Could be shorter or deeper, either one would help. Thin characters, a plot with surprises rather than developments, and so on.

For example, the first third of chapter 5 should have been deleted. A character walks through the town and notices things. He noticed something peculiar about streetside statues and I expected that to be a plot point, but no such luck.

hartd's review against another edition

5.0

I enjoyed this book so much! I love this world that AJ Demas has created. Bedar and Marzana are both great point-of-view characters, and their friendship is really nice. Both of their romance plots are also very satisfying, although the romances here definitely take a backseat to the story of finding the missing ambassador.

But really, the book is about Marzana and Bedar immersed in this city that's foreign to them, which made me feel like I was visiting this place too. I think Boukos is the author's version of Athens, because of the statues (hermae, in ancient Athens), and I've always dreamed of seeing ancient Greece. There are so many wonderful details here.

Spoiler

Having read Saffron Alley before this, I was smiling every time Marzana was wistful about sweets, since I knew what was in store for him.

Overall, this book gave me such good feelings! Definitely a keeper.

galleytrot's review against another edition

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

3.75