Reviews with content warning for Violence - Codename Villanelle

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

19 reviews

crondeau_yvr's review

challenging dark funny 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

4.5

Excellent read. I’m not a huge fan of spy novels, but having watched the first season of killing eve, I was curious. This book was excellent and not at all like the show. The back story into Villanelle is fascinating.

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heddyreading's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

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

2.75

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dizz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Short read.

The show is better by miles but this was also interesting to read. I wouldn't recommend anyone reading this as a standalone because I'm afraid the characters didn't stick as much, asides from Eve and Villanelle.

It was exciting to see more from Villanelle's pov though, and there's a lot more detail for her jobs than in the show—where it's a bit more mysterious.

A lot of sex which is eh.

Overall, this was a lot more plot driven, and handed to the reader on a plate, while in the show it flows more interestingly. I don't mean to compare too much though and the book was okay on its own.

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cady_sass's review against another edition

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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.

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theabee's review against another edition

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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

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sadiemaybe's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-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

2.5

Quick read, but high fashion descriptions were lost on me.

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lotsofsarah's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Turns out very little of what I love about the show came from the books. This is a perfectly fine book about some pretty regular women, one of whom happens to be an assassin. Eve is as bad a wife in the book as the show, though.

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emory's review against another edition

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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.

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