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eloise_bradbooks's Reviews (801)
*puts on my armour, gets ready to be slammed by most of y'all*
I was disappointed. Some of it is subjective, yes, but in an objective way, the book is messy.
[I don't spoil anything major but this is quite an in-depth review so it might be best not to read it if you don't want to know anything...]
I flew through the first 150 pages and the last 150 pages. The middle 200 pages though...? Nope. I struggled through them, started skim reading and realised this one thing:
- we were warned this wasn't a direct Vicious sequel, it would focus more on new characters
- but the first 150 pages were about our beloved messed up found family (which i love to bits) so obv that's what I started expecting to continue reading about
- but they were completely put aside for 217 pages (yes, i counted)
- and although some of the new characters were interesting (Marcella, mostly), others weren't (June, Jonathan, the peeps at EON, & basically everyone else)
- the ending was all about the Vicious characters anyway
- so what really was the plan for this book..? A Vicious sequel or another story set in the same universe? Because it felt like it couldn't decide between the two, so made it both, and it turned out messy.
Dont get me wrong, there are elements I loved.
Schwab's writing is great. Some phrases gave me chills. The characters are still well crafted but it all seemed... less good... than what we're used to from her.
The POV division really didn't work for me as we went long periods of time with (and without) some of the main characters... And some of those chapters had no use to this story imo.
And the characters just weren't as complicated as we're used to:
From our old characters:
I started disliking Victor, one of my fave characters ever.
Mitch: We didn't get ANYTHING from him. He's MY FAVE.
Sydney Her teen drama would have been interesting IF it weren't mixed with June (more on that later).
I do like Eli but what was the point of 100 pages of his backstory which had absolutely no relevance to the story..?
Dom: oh wel, no one cares anyway.
From the new ones:
Marcella: I've seen a lot of love and praise towards Marcella which I understood at first, but... there's a difference between an interesting (some would say 'strong') female character, and a bossy bitch who treats everyone like shit. Yes, she burns men, but if they're innocent I don't see why I should support her.
June: Her point was..? You can't state in one phrase that they spoke for 3 years and expect me to care about their relationship. This book could have been the same, maybe even better, without her. Her appearances were every convenient to some plot points...
Jonathan: I guess Marcella's power wasn't good enough to keep her alive for the whole book unless she has an object like Jon.
EON: don't even remember their names.
Also, the end broke me, which isn't necessarily bad, but it would have hit a lot harder if you'd given me more of Mitch, Vic and Syd (and Dol) as a family and how they feel for each other.
I was disappointed. Some of it is subjective, yes, but in an objective way, the book is messy.
[I don't spoil anything major but this is quite an in-depth review so it might be best not to read it if you don't want to know anything...]
I flew through the first 150 pages and the last 150 pages. The middle 200 pages though...? Nope. I struggled through them, started skim reading and realised this one thing:
- we were warned this wasn't a direct Vicious sequel, it would focus more on new characters
- but the first 150 pages were about our beloved messed up found family (which i love to bits) so obv that's what I started expecting to continue reading about
- but they were completely put aside for 217 pages (yes, i counted)
- and although some of the new characters were interesting (Marcella, mostly), others weren't (June, Jonathan, the peeps at EON, & basically everyone else)
- the ending was all about the Vicious characters anyway
- so what really was the plan for this book..? A Vicious sequel or another story set in the same universe? Because it felt like it couldn't decide between the two, so made it both, and it turned out messy.
Dont get me wrong, there are elements I loved.
Schwab's writing is great. Some phrases gave me chills. The characters are still well crafted but it all seemed... less good... than what we're used to from her.
The POV division really didn't work for me as we went long periods of time with (and without) some of the main characters... And some of those chapters had no use to this story imo.
And the characters just weren't as complicated as we're used to:
From our old characters:
I started disliking Victor, one of my fave characters ever.
Mitch: We didn't get ANYTHING from him. He's MY FAVE.
Sydney Her teen drama would have been interesting IF it weren't mixed with June (more on that later).
I do like Eli but what was the point of 100 pages of his backstory which had absolutely no relevance to the story..?
Dom: oh wel, no one cares anyway.
From the new ones:
Marcella: I've seen a lot of love and praise towards Marcella which I understood at first, but... there's a difference between an interesting (some would say 'strong') female character, and a bossy bitch who treats everyone like shit. Yes, she burns men, but if they're innocent I don't see why I should support her.
June: Her point was..? You can't state in one phrase that they spoke for 3 years and expect me to care about their relationship. This book could have been the same, maybe even better, without her. Her appearances were every convenient to some plot points...
Jonathan: I guess Marcella's power wasn't good enough to keep her alive for the whole book unless she has an object like Jon.
EON: don't even remember their names.
Also, the end broke me, which isn't necessarily bad, but it would have hit a lot harder if you'd given me more of Mitch, Vic and Syd (and Dol) as a family and how they feel for each other.
"I hate caring about stuff. But apparently once you start, you can’t just stop."
Well, Damn, same.
Well, Damn, same.
This essay is heteronormative and very focused on gender being only binary. It would be nice to add a note at the beginning to clear up the language to make it more respectful for people of all genders (and sexuality).
But other than that, all of this essay is true.
I'd like to get 10 copies and distribute it to the people around me who have discussions with me about this subject (but who often disagree).
But other than that, all of this essay is true.
I'd like to get 10 copies and distribute it to the people around me who have discussions with me about this subject (but who often disagree).
First half: meh.
Second half: HOLY SHIIIIIIIII-
3.5 ? I feel bad giving a mark because.. I didn't read it properly.
The beginning didn't pull me in enough and I started hearing without really listening (audio book problems). I wasn't caring about much for quite a while but...
Then I finally got into it.
I loved how dark and gritty it was. I started getting attached to the characters.
I'd go for the 2d book if it were out now but it isn't. And by the time it actually comes out, I'm pretty sure I will have forgotten most of what happened...
Second half: HOLY SHIIIIIIIII-
3.5 ? I feel bad giving a mark because.. I didn't read it properly.
The beginning didn't pull me in enough and I started hearing without really listening (audio book problems). I wasn't caring about much for quite a while but...
Then I finally got into it.
I loved how dark and gritty it was. I started getting attached to the characters.
I'd go for the 2d book if it were out now but it isn't. And by the time it actually comes out, I'm pretty sure I will have forgotten most of what happened...
Lovely read.
Petticoats and Piracy are very small parts that come into play only at the end of this book. That's not what this story is about. It's about three very different women coming together, going on an adventure and taking back what's theirs, at a time when women couldn't do anything without a man.
Of course Felicity's interactions with Monty are the best and seeing her brother and Percy back was brilliant.
The new characters were well rounded characters each with their faults and strengths and it was great to see how they all came together to form this team I'd love to be a part of.
The small things that bothered me were the same as in the first book so they weren't as bothersome since they were expected.
Special recognition for giving us not only queer guys, sapphic girls and also an aroace main character in a book set in the eighteenth century, with a great author's note on the mention of those topics.
Petticoats and Piracy are very small parts that come into play only at the end of this book. That's not what this story is about. It's about three very different women coming together, going on an adventure and taking back what's theirs, at a time when women couldn't do anything without a man.
Of course Felicity's interactions with Monty are the best and seeing her brother and Percy back was brilliant.
The new characters were well rounded characters each with their faults and strengths and it was great to see how they all came together to form this team I'd love to be a part of.
The small things that bothered me were the same as in the first book so they weren't as bothersome since they were expected.
Special recognition for giving us not only queer guys, sapphic girls and also an aroace main character in a book set in the eighteenth century, with a great author's note on the mention of those topics.
One day, I WILL manage to wait for the volume instead of reading the tiniest issue.
2018 reread: Someone should write an essay on how this first book seems weird on the first read and then becomes a masterpiece of how to craft a first book hinting at so many things that are going to happen next...
---------------
THIS REVIEW IS IN FRENCH AND IN ENGLISH.
EN : I love these characters and this story. As a whole it really is just great.
In this first book we are introduced to everyone, we get to know who most of the characters are and what they're looking for. And I absolutely love them. They're all complicated and filled with wonder. I really love every one of them; even though I have my favourite (I'm part of the protect Adam Parrish squad), and it's actually their relationship with each other that is simply a blessing.
I must say, not that I dislike them, but the women of 300 Fox Way really don't interest me as much as the boys, so at times I would have prefered their chapters to be shorter (don't kill me for saying so).
I do feel (and know, having read all the books now) that there is so much more to come.
Is that all ?
That's all there is.
FR : J'adore ces personnages et cette histoire.
Dans ce premier livre on est introduit à tous les personnages : qui ils sont et ce qu'ils recherchent. Et je les adore, tous (bien que j'admire Adam par dessous tout), et surtout l'amitié qu'ils entretiennent. Ils sont tous compliqués et remplis d'émerveillement.
Je dois admettre que les femmes de 300 Fox Way m'ont moins intéressé que les garçons alors les chapitres qui parlaient d'elles m'ont semblé non importants, bien que je sais qu'elles ont leur part à jouer.
Je sens, et je sais, qu'il y a tellement plus de choses à venir de ces personnages et de cette histoire.
---------------
THIS REVIEW IS IN FRENCH AND IN ENGLISH.
EN : I love these characters and this story. As a whole it really is just great.
In this first book we are introduced to everyone, we get to know who most of the characters are and what they're looking for. And I absolutely love them. They're all complicated and filled with wonder. I really love every one of them; even though I have my favourite (I'm part of the protect Adam Parrish squad), and it's actually their relationship with each other that is simply a blessing.
I must say, not that I dislike them, but the women of 300 Fox Way really don't interest me as much as the boys, so at times I would have prefered their chapters to be shorter (don't kill me for saying so).
I do feel (and know, having read all the books now) that there is so much more to come.
Is that all ?
That's all there is.
FR : J'adore ces personnages et cette histoire.
Dans ce premier livre on est introduit à tous les personnages : qui ils sont et ce qu'ils recherchent. Et je les adore, tous (bien que j'admire Adam par dessous tout), et surtout l'amitié qu'ils entretiennent. Ils sont tous compliqués et remplis d'émerveillement.
Je dois admettre que les femmes de 300 Fox Way m'ont moins intéressé que les garçons alors les chapitres qui parlaient d'elles m'ont semblé non importants, bien que je sais qu'elles ont leur part à jouer.
Je sens, et je sais, qu'il y a tellement plus de choses à venir de ces personnages et de cette histoire.
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4.5 / 5 ~ Beautiful.
What I love about this trilogy is how heartwarming it is. I feel so much warmth in my heart right now, it's almost unbearable (almost).
The characters form their own (found)family who love each other to bits. They stick with each other no matter what, and all of them are adorable. Magnus forms this glue that shows how important everyone means to one another.
I adore how there is so much representation (muslim main character SAVING THE WORLD DURING RAMADAN!!!!, genderfluid main character (+ THE ROMANCE OMG), deaf main character and therefore a whole bunch of sign language...). I want to say the representation is great, because it feels that way and I haven't seen any negative comments from people concerned - but I don't have the authority on that.
It also deals with homelessness, found family, home, friends, FOUND-FAMILY!
My babies.
I guess the plot was cool. Norse Mythology is interesting, although I feel like we don't get to learn as much about Norse myth as we do in Uncle Rick's other mythological books. It does feel, however, like there is a chance of more stories focused on these characters so... Let's just wait and see.
The plot definitly isn't what makes this story stand out. It's the characters, how they evolve, how they love, how they live, how they give back. How darn loveable they are.
What I love about this trilogy is how heartwarming it is. I feel so much warmth in my heart right now, it's almost unbearable (almost).
The characters form their own (found)family who love each other to bits. They stick with each other no matter what, and all of them are adorable. Magnus forms this glue that shows how important everyone means to one another.
I adore how there is so much representation (muslim main character SAVING THE WORLD DURING RAMADAN!!!!, genderfluid main character (+ THE ROMANCE OMG), deaf main character and therefore a whole bunch of sign language...). I want to say the representation is great, because it feels that way and I haven't seen any negative comments from people concerned - but I don't have the authority on that.
It also deals with homelessness, found family, home, friends, FOUND-FAMILY!
My babies.
I guess the plot was cool. Norse Mythology is interesting, although I feel like we don't get to learn as much about Norse myth as we do in Uncle Rick's other mythological books. It does feel, however, like there is a chance of more stories focused on these characters so... Let's just wait and see.
The plot definitly isn't what makes this story stand out. It's the characters, how they evolve, how they love, how they live, how they give back. How darn loveable they are.