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cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This is literally so bad lol I can’t fathom that someone managed to write an incredible television series based on this book?! This is the epitome of men writing women as they behave in their imaginations vs how women actually behave in real life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
theabee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
lucecanon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Transphobia
msnew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
At first I was pleasantly surprised that a story about women, written by a man, was well done. Then about halfway through I realized Jennings was fulfilling some kind of fantasy through Villanelle, sexualizing her to the point where it was just gratuitous. I think the show, especially season 1, does a better job of showing her sexuality in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of her personality.
For a book about queer women and features other LGBTQ characters, there is some very problematic language about the trans women. In fact I won’t be reading anymore because of it.
For a book about queer women and features other LGBTQ characters, there is some very problematic language about the trans women. In fact I won’t be reading anymore because of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, and Murder
emory's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
I feel like I can't give that accurate of a review as my interest came entirely from reading the inspiration for and comparing this to Killing Eve.
A fine thriller with seemingly low stakes as the main characters do not ever actually meet in this installment. Each scene is thoroughly set with emblematic and grandiose details of whichever European country Villanelle's about to assasinste someone at any given point. This can come across as extraordinary mood setting or unnecessary and ostentatious simply depending on the scene.
The fact that Villanelle's bisexuality is played as a moral failing and caused by sociopathy is a bit annoying, as are the pretty gratuitous sex scenes involving her, but what did I expect from a spy thriller that includes a female assassin?
Very middle of the road read for me, but again, it's hard to think strictly about the books pacing and plot when you are already aware of most of its plot and are familiar with someone else's interpretation of the characters. Good way to kill a day if you need.
A fine thriller with seemingly low stakes as the main characters do not ever actually meet in this installment. Each scene is thoroughly set with emblematic and grandiose details of whichever European country Villanelle's about to assasinste someone at any given point. This can come across as extraordinary mood setting or unnecessary and ostentatious simply depending on the scene.
The fact that Villanelle's bisexuality is played as a moral failing and caused by sociopathy is a bit annoying, as are the pretty gratuitous sex scenes involving her, but what did I expect from a spy thriller that includes a female assassin?
Very middle of the road read for me, but again, it's hard to think strictly about the books pacing and plot when you are already aware of most of its plot and are familiar with someone else's interpretation of the characters. Good way to kill a day if you need.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Transphobia
Minor: Misogyny and Rape
eurydice_books_09's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.5
okay so, I love the show and since I love reading I thought I should try these books. Going into it I read a bunch of reviews and people said the first one sucked and the other two are much better and honestly this book was pretty boring and hard to follow 😭. I liked it more towards the middle of it but honestly it was hard to read. This book is soooo different from the show, but I’m excited to see what the next two have in store. I didn’t hate it though! It’s very interesting to read these after watching the show cause they are two totally different things most of the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Rape
sommer22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
For Killing Eve fans, this book roughly follows the plot of season 1. There are large details and plot and character aspects that were changed upon adaptation, in my opinion for the better. Whereas Codename Villanelle reads like James Bond fitted with a fresh, unique and murderous protagonist that is much more plot-driven, Killing Eve is a lot more introspective, especially when concerning Eve's subplot and her reactions and emotions concerning Villanelle. The relationship between them is the key difference between the source material and the adaptation, and I would say the thing I missed most from this. I kind of missed out on Villanelle's motivation to mess with Eve besides protecting herself, and I miss the complexity in her character beyond a sociopathic, opulent killer as well. However, Codename is still a very satisfying and enthralling spy thriller. I usually judge mysteries/thrillers by if they motivate me to read the rest of the series, and in this case, I definitely do (both the Codename series and Killing Eve)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual violence
In the Shanghai sequence, there is a transwoman who is a sex worker. Other characters refer to her using transphobic terminology, including the tr-slur.