Reviews with content warning for Murder - River of Teeth

This book was beyond ridiculous, but I did finish it.

The one thing I can say is that it was the right length. If it had been any longer, I wouldn’t have finished it. It was the exact right length of how much I could handle reading it.

The similes were a lot.

Content Warnings

soggycedar's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

megh_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Gripping short story, looking forward to reading the prequel and sequel! Loved the lgbt representation too

Content Warnings

asparagusisreading's review

Go to review page

adventurous 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

4.5

River of Teeth is a historical fiction inspired by a real plan the United States government concocted to breed and slaughter hippopotamuses as an alternative meat source. The story is set in 1890s America after the plan has been put in place - multiple hippo generations have come and gone, bred and raised like cattle. Despite the government's best efforts, the plan failed when the hippos became feral and savage, eating anyone and everyone that got too close. To solve their problem, the government hires a small team of mercenary hippo wranglers, lead by Winslow Houndstooth... a man looking for a fortune and revenge.

River of Teeth successfully weaves relationship dynamics and non-heteronormative characters into a fast-paced compelling story full of adventure and mischief, tension (both romantic and murderous), a heist, romance, humor, violence, and history - all packed into less than 200 pages. When this book popped up in StoryGraph's "Up Next Recommendations" feature, I was intrigued. I did not expect to be sucked in immediately and so enthralled by the story. I mean, who wouldn't be intrigued by mercenary cowboys riding hippos? Think The Magnificent Seven, Wild Wild West, The Harder They Fall, and Razorblade Tears. I finished the book in just a few hours reading physically and listening to the audiobook. I have the sequel queued up for tomorrow because I need to know more. This is the first book that I have read by Sarah Gailey and I will certainly be reading more.

Representation: (I don't remember a confirmed official sexuality on page but I assume) pan/bi male main characters, bi plus sized female main character, nonbinary main character (they/them), aroace Latina main character,

Content Warnings:

violence and gore with blood
deaths and murder, including both humans and animals
theft and arson

Content Warnings

sadiejayne3426's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Really enjoyable read! All of the characters were well-developed, unique and incredibly fun to get to know. I especially liked the idea of a group of people who would have been incredibly marginalized in the 1890s were able to have this epic adventure. Openly trans and queer characters were normalized, fat characters experienced no fat phobia and were portrayed as desirable, and almost all the characters were POC. The plot was engaging and playful but was still treated with the utmost sincerity.

This is a great book for those fond of westerns, cowboys, vigilante justice, historical fiction, and ambiguous characters.

My only criticism of this book is that the reviews led me to believe it was funnier than it was or that it was more explicit in queer romance scenes. I also found it a little slower to get into, but by chapter three I was totally hooked.

Content Warnings