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3.79k reviews by:
kailey_luminouslibro
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Edmond Dantes is wrongfully imprisoned when he is betrayed by three men. Fernand, his rival for the beautiful Mercedes, denounces Dantes to the government as a Bonapartist spy. Danglar, his rival for the promotion on board their ship, pens the letter to the local police and delivers it with evidence of secret letters in Dantes' possession. And the judge, Villefort, suppresses the true evidence and denies Dantes a fair trial. Years later, Dantes escapes prison and begins to plot his revenge.
This classic is one of my favorite books of all time! I could read it over and over. It has a heart-wrenching complex plot, marvelous characters, and a beautifully arranged story!
The plot has many layers with multiple sets of characters. They are all connected on some level to Dantes, but the web of lies and intrigue runs deep through their history. I love the way that the threads of each person's life are being woven in and out of the Count's plans for revenge. He is manipulating everyone to punish those who are evil and protect the innocent.
The writing really tugs at your heart, as so many of the characters have tragic stories. But there are also moments of joy and triumph for the good guys. The writing is just so powerful and intense! There are a few over-the-top dramatic scenes where the characters are just so excessive in their emotions that it doesn't feel realistic. But it fits with the overall tone of the story, so it doesn't feel out of place.
Rereading this for the second or third time, I did remember that there are a few scenes that I don't like, such as the hanging in Italy and other violent scenes. But those are overshadowed by the rest of the wonderful story!
I really love the different characters and their story arcs. Even the bad guys are interesting because they are so complex and believable. You can see how their actions led them into doing evil for these particular motivations, and it all makes perfect sense. And then you can see how that same greedy and selfish behavior leads to their ruin when the Count manipulates events so that their evil hearts are made known.
The good guys are thoroughly good and brave and generous. I love how they instinctively trust the Count, as though he is an instrument of God's judgment. They know they have nothing to fear, because their hearts are pure.
There are so many deep themes explored in this story: family loyalty, redemption, revenge, love, spiritual truth, and the nature of good and evil that resides in every person's heart.
The story line is complex , suspenseful, and involved. The characters are drawn larger than life, and very dramatic. True Gothic style, and I love it! Not an easy read, but worth the effort.
Favorite quote:
"O sleep, O gentle sleep,
Nature's soft nurse, How have I frighted thee,
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down,
and steep my senses in forgetfulness?"
"O sleep, O gentle sleep,
Nature's soft nurse, How have I frighted thee,
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down,
and steep my senses in forgetfulness?"
Shakespeare seems to like writing ladies disguised as men, since he uses it in a couple of plays. Of course, most actors were men anyway, and frequently played the women's parts.
The traditional love triangle is upgraded to a love trapezoid, which makes for all sorts of hilarity! I love it, of course! Especially the bits where Viola and Sebastian (identical twins) are being mistaken for each other by every one. ha ha! That made me laugh.
SPOILERS BELOW:
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Spoiler Alert:
At the end when the Duke proposes to Viola, after finding out that she's actually a woman, it struck me that he repeats twice that she should change into her "woman's weeds". Maybe he wanted to see how she would look in a skirt before he would commit himself to marrying her? hah a! Maybe she'd make a good-looking man but an ugly woman. ha ha! He wanted to make sure he liked her looks before he marries her. :) Ah, the wily old duke.
The traditional love triangle is upgraded to a love trapezoid, which makes for all sorts of hilarity! I love it, of course! Especially the bits where Viola and Sebastian (identical twins) are being mistaken for each other by every one. ha ha! That made me laugh.
SPOILERS BELOW:
.
.
.
.
.
Spoiler Alert:
At the end when the Duke proposes to Viola, after finding out that she's actually a woman, it struck me that he repeats twice that she should change into her "woman's weeds". Maybe he wanted to see how she would look in a skirt before he would commit himself to marrying her? hah a! Maybe she'd make a good-looking man but an ugly woman. ha ha! He wanted to make sure he liked her looks before he marries her. :) Ah, the wily old duke.
I though this was the perfect ending for this trilogy! A big climactic battle at the end and then everything resolved. The world of Wonderland is so imaginative and magical, and I loved how it connects with Earth. Wonderland is very different from the Lewis Carroll books, and has such a cool twist on the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the whole cast of Wonderland characters, and even Alyss herself!
Like the other books, the writing isn't amazing, but definitely entertaining. There's plenty of intrigue, and I was surprised a couple of times by the plot twists. The action and tension in the story are practically non-stop, and the characters are all so unique and interesting. I love how those characters develop and change and make bad decisions!
I liked seeing more of a development in the relationship between Alyss and Dodge. They really connect on a deeper level and learn to trust one another more. Molly and Hatter are such a great duo, fighting bad guys side by side! I loved seeing them all work through grief and pain, and come out a family on the other side.
The Council of Caterpillars was such an enigma through all the books, and finally in this book we see more of their machinations in manipulating people and planning their future. A brilliant plot device to have those caterpillars behind the scenes formulating their own schemes!
I was not blown away by any of the books in this series, but I enjoyed reading them and was entertained by the story. I cared about the characters, and I would recommend them to others to read!
Like the other books, the writing isn't amazing, but definitely entertaining. There's plenty of intrigue, and I was surprised a couple of times by the plot twists. The action and tension in the story are practically non-stop, and the characters are all so unique and interesting. I love how those characters develop and change and make bad decisions!
I liked seeing more of a development in the relationship between Alyss and Dodge. They really connect on a deeper level and learn to trust one another more. Molly and Hatter are such a great duo, fighting bad guys side by side! I loved seeing them all work through grief and pain, and come out a family on the other side.
The Council of Caterpillars was such an enigma through all the books, and finally in this book we see more of their machinations in manipulating people and planning their future. A brilliant plot device to have those caterpillars behind the scenes formulating their own schemes!
I was not blown away by any of the books in this series, but I enjoyed reading them and was entertained by the story. I cared about the characters, and I would recommend them to others to read!
Another great book in this series! There are so many twists and turns. The unexpected is always happening, and I never know where the plot is going to go! Cal continues to drive the story forward with his great character. His resolve to help his family, his despair in tough circumstances, and his basic humanity are all so believable and compelling.
I loved that in this book we meet some new characters who are never quite who you think they are. They sort of pop into the story, and we are left to wonder, Do we trust this person? And then the story develops around them, Cal learns to trust them or hate them or whatever happens, and we have this new delightful person involved in the story!
The action is non-stop, and the mystery surrounding the Ormond Riddle continues to perplex me with every new discovery. We finally see the Riddle in this book, and it's such a delicious enigma. The suspense is killing me and I can't wait to solve this mystery.
More wonderful interactions between Boges and Winter. They bicker bicker bicker all the time, but I think, if they would just trust each other, they could be good friends.
Loving this series, and I am devastated by the cliffhanger. I need that next book!
I loved that in this book we meet some new characters who are never quite who you think they are. They sort of pop into the story, and we are left to wonder, Do we trust this person? And then the story develops around them, Cal learns to trust them or hate them or whatever happens, and we have this new delightful person involved in the story!
The action is non-stop, and the mystery surrounding the Ormond Riddle continues to perplex me with every new discovery. We finally see the Riddle in this book, and it's such a delicious enigma. The suspense is killing me and I can't wait to solve this mystery.
More wonderful interactions between Boges and Winter. They bicker bicker bicker all the time, but I think, if they would just trust each other, they could be good friends.
Loving this series, and I am devastated by the cliffhanger. I need that next book!