adrienreads's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
5.0
Short but excellent, the perfect pace for a bite-sized heist. I would die to see this as a movie. Fascinating alternative history premise with a charming cast of characters.
Some parts of the mystery/plot don't make a ton of sense - but in the way that makes the characters believably flawed, rather than criminal masterminds.
The nonbinary representation was particularly excellent - I've read few like it.
Some parts of the mystery/plot don't make a ton of sense - but in the way that makes the characters believably flawed, rather than criminal masterminds.
The nonbinary representation was particularly excellent - I've read few like it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, and Animal death
Less a warning than an endorsement, there is only one instance of near misgendering of the nonbinary character(quickly corrected), but no other. A rarity with this kind of character, especially in the time period, so it was exciting to me!c_dmckinney's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
avacadosocks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Child death
black_cat_iiix's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gore
Moderate: Torture, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Animal cruelty
katndrsn's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, and Animal death
quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, and Torture
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
mayblegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
This hippo book was crazy and I'm not pleased with it. In fact, I'm manifestly unsatisfied. I read a review that said...
"On a separate note, the importation of 21st-century notions of gender and sexuality into 19th-century America is distracting. Even the bad guy apologizes for using the wrong pronoun"
And it's true. 19th century America had its own interesting conceptions of gender, but this book didn't pick up any of those. It just transported modern characters who behaved like modern people into the American Western genre. Consequently, the internal validity of the plot really suffered. I feel like it just wasn't picking what it wanted to be. On the one hand it wants to be speculative fantasy fiction, in which non orthodox gender identity and such would be 100 percent fine, but on the other, it's trying to be a serious discussion of a historical what if, with none of the nuances that such an assemblage of characters would entail.
So it's such a mishmash that it ends up feeling like nothing.
"On a separate note, the importation of 21st-century notions of gender and sexuality into 19th-century America is distracting. Even the bad guy apologizes for using the wrong pronoun"
And it's true. 19th century America had its own interesting conceptions of gender, but this book didn't pick up any of those. It just transported modern characters who behaved like modern people into the American Western genre. Consequently, the internal validity of the plot really suffered. I feel like it just wasn't picking what it wanted to be. On the one hand it wants to be speculative fantasy fiction, in which non orthodox gender identity and such would be 100 percent fine, but on the other, it's trying to be a serious discussion of a historical what if, with none of the nuances that such an assemblage of characters would entail.
So it's such a mishmash that it ends up feeling like nothing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
studaslop's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
River of Teeth is a fast-paced, witty, and very indulgent work. The characters are distinct and fun and feel like they have long histories, despite the brevity of their introductions. Gailey’s alternative history is just grounded enough to be enjoyable, but not so alien as to be absurd. (That said, it is unfortunately absent of any explicitly Black or Indigenous people who would have made up a not insignificant portion of the population.) It was an unexpectedly queer story as well, which was a pleasant surprise.
My biggest issues with the novella really come down to the “-la” part—it’s too short! There are scenes and relationships I wish we could’ve seen develop more, and the third act felt rushed despite the fast-paced but balanced first and second acts.
All in all, though, I’m definitely going to get my hands on the sequel. I had a blast listening to the story. I *highly* recommend the audiobook. Some of the accents are suspect, but it’s very well done, really helps place you into the setting, and augments the campiness of it all.
My biggest issues with the novella really come down to the “-la” part—it’s too short! There are scenes and relationships I wish we could’ve seen develop more, and the third act felt rushed despite the fast-paced but balanced first and second acts.
All in all, though, I’m definitely going to get my hands on the sequel. I had a blast listening to the story. I *highly* recommend the audiobook. Some of the accents are suspect, but it’s very well done, really helps place you into the setting, and augments the campiness of it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child death, Animal death, and Gore
oliverreeds's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.0
good but the tension wasnt balanced. there should have been more exposition. more character building. so good tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Pregnancy, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Torture