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jmcguoirk's review against another edition
5.0
“What happens to two scorpions in a brandy glass?” said Nate. Gable flipped the soggy cigar butt into the fire, and drained his drink. “They can’t get traction so they get face-to-face, lock pincers, and sting each other over and over. They’re immune to their own venom. It’s a fucking metaphor for marriage.” Ha!
Thriller from beginning to end. 5 stars... it was amazing. Thanks Jason Matthews.
Thriller from beginning to end. 5 stars... it was amazing. Thanks Jason Matthews.
katyjean81's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first one, but still very good. I had a few authentic gasp out loud moments! Looking forward to the trilogy finale.
chelsearl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.25
aligmich's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get into this book due to the language and it’s reliance on tradecraft terms, but man did it end on a bang! Literally! The characters are just so real, I can feel their tangibility more with every conversation. Dominika is a Queen and I can’t wait to see how her story ends! Educating and entertaining, I think this took the base of the first book and elevated it 100 times!
speesh's review against another edition
3.0
All in all, seen as a whole, this second volume in the Red Sparrow trilogy, is probably actually better than the first, Red Sparrow (surprisingly enough). It hangs together better and is more thrilling and has a depth the first one was only beginning to scratch at. He's obviously settled into the writing now, and learned a lot about writing tension, plot and thrillers in general, from Red Sparrow and so this being a better book, is a gratifying surprise, being the follow up to a well-received, and filmed, first.
However...
The recipes are back. If you thought you’d suffered enough ‘sautés’ this that and the other. Enough ‘mix aggressively’ - there's even an 'aggressively sauté' ffs - ‘garlic’ this, 'marinate' that, 'slather' the other and general “Really?! That, with cheese?! That’s not healthy, surely?!” general artery-hardening mismatched ingredients - think again. Is there anyone who doesn’t groan when they get to the end of the chapter and see another one? Does anyone not groan when during a chapter the characters eat something - or even just smell food in one instance - knowing there’s gonna be a bloody recipe? Does anyone try one of them? And live? Is there anyone who doesn’t skip over to get to the start of the next chapter, hoping that what happened hasn’t been destroyed in their memory by the bloody recipe. Does anyone know what the effing point of them is? The answer friends, isn't blowin' in the wind, the answer is "no!"
Why they're there, I have no idea. Even I, in my copywriting days who have written enough bollocks about things I didn’t understand, can’t think of a rational explanation I could bullshit a boss with. Any explanation. There is none. Unless he’s deliberately trying to break/sabotage any rhythm, suspense, momentum, the preceding chapter might have built up. Sure, he’s got hold of the Charles Dickens-idea of ending the chapter on a high, but then he sticks a dead zone of a recipe in between any built-up excitement and his reader. And, because he’s painted himself into a corner with them, it’s now the recipes, the need for the characters to have something to do with food in the preceding chapter, that is driving a good half of the plot. Visits to restaurants when staying in would be the spy-sensible thing to do, serving food at meetings, having Putin offer cakes and whathaveyou at every opportunity. And Mr. Matthews must have bleedin' shares in eggplant-growing companies.
Then there are the colours. They're back too. For me, they're in the same class as people dreaming of bad events and people, that just happened, the night after they happened and gaining plot-worth-changing information out of them. Doesn't happen. And she not only sees, but talks to - and gets replies from - dead people. Enough said about that sort of nonsense the better.
Those things apart, as I said at the top, the book as a whole, is actually pretty good. Them both having affairs is a sure sign of style over content, but I'll give him that. And, as he seems to have also read The Company, I'm warming to the whole idea, and actually thinking the final one, after razorblading the recipes out, might actually be well worth getting hold of.
Blog: Speesh Reads
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However...
The recipes are back. If you thought you’d suffered enough ‘sautés’ this that and the other. Enough ‘mix aggressively’ - there's even an 'aggressively sauté' ffs - ‘garlic’ this, 'marinate' that, 'slather' the other and general “Really?! That, with cheese?! That’s not healthy, surely?!” general artery-hardening mismatched ingredients - think again. Is there anyone who doesn’t groan when they get to the end of the chapter and see another one? Does anyone not groan when during a chapter the characters eat something - or even just smell food in one instance - knowing there’s gonna be a bloody recipe? Does anyone try one of them? And live? Is there anyone who doesn’t skip over to get to the start of the next chapter, hoping that what happened hasn’t been destroyed in their memory by the bloody recipe. Does anyone know what the effing point of them is? The answer friends, isn't blowin' in the wind, the answer is "no!"
Why they're there, I have no idea. Even I, in my copywriting days who have written enough bollocks about things I didn’t understand, can’t think of a rational explanation I could bullshit a boss with. Any explanation. There is none. Unless he’s deliberately trying to break/sabotage any rhythm, suspense, momentum, the preceding chapter might have built up. Sure, he’s got hold of the Charles Dickens-idea of ending the chapter on a high, but then he sticks a dead zone of a recipe in between any built-up excitement and his reader. And, because he’s painted himself into a corner with them, it’s now the recipes, the need for the characters to have something to do with food in the preceding chapter, that is driving a good half of the plot. Visits to restaurants when staying in would be the spy-sensible thing to do, serving food at meetings, having Putin offer cakes and whathaveyou at every opportunity. And Mr. Matthews must have bleedin' shares in eggplant-growing companies.
Then there are the colours. They're back too. For me, they're in the same class as people dreaming of bad events and people, that just happened, the night after they happened and gaining plot-worth-changing information out of them. Doesn't happen. And she not only sees, but talks to - and gets replies from - dead people. Enough said about that sort of nonsense the better.
Those things apart, as I said at the top, the book as a whole, is actually pretty good. Them both having affairs is a sure sign of style over content, but I'll give him that. And, as he seems to have also read The Company, I'm warming to the whole idea, and actually thinking the final one, after razorblading the recipes out, might actually be well worth getting hold of.
Blog: Speesh Reads
Facebook: Speesh Reads
Pinterest: Speesh Reads
dharni's review against another edition
5.0
The entire time I was reading this book, I was on the edge of my seat. The writing is superb and fast-paced. An enthralling and intriguing tale!
bruc79's review against another edition
5.0
Tenso. Empolgante. De cortar a respiração. Este autor e a sua experiência vai descrevendo com um detalhe de grande credibilidade o poder avassalador com que Putin manobra as suas marionetas na federação Russa. Todos querem agradar o poderoso ditador e ele manipula todos, bem, quase todos.
Dominika Egorova é uma personagem magnífica que nos dá esperança de que exista alguém que consegue combater o poder absoluto e discretamente lhe vai enfraquecendo a sua hegemonia.
Neste 2° volume Dominika continua a sua cruzada de partilha de segredos e o Kremlin via Putin cada vez lhe vai dando mais confiança, o que deixa o anão Zyuganov louco de raiva. Este personagem é descrito de forma arrepiante e aterradora fazendo tudo o que necessita para cair nas graças de Putin.
A manipulação ao longo do livro é deliciosa e as personagens são descritas de forma fascinante. De referir que surge durante o livro uma personagem insatisfeita que por não ter sido promovida, decide começar a vender segredos para o lado russo. Esta descrição da inveja, ganância, cobiça e jogos de espiões está de forma mestra descrita ao longo de todo o livro.
Mas continua a ser reconfortante acompanhar a relação entre Nate e Egorova, que ilustra uma réstia de esperança e amor onde parece apenas existir manipulação, segredos e morte.
Vou continuar no 3° livro e esperar que Egorova consiga superar os poderes prescientes de Putin.
Dominika Egorova é uma personagem magnífica que nos dá esperança de que exista alguém que consegue combater o poder absoluto e discretamente lhe vai enfraquecendo a sua hegemonia.
Neste 2° volume Dominika continua a sua cruzada de partilha de segredos e o Kremlin via Putin cada vez lhe vai dando mais confiança, o que deixa o anão Zyuganov louco de raiva. Este personagem é descrito de forma arrepiante e aterradora fazendo tudo o que necessita para cair nas graças de Putin.
A manipulação ao longo do livro é deliciosa e as personagens são descritas de forma fascinante. De referir que surge durante o livro uma personagem insatisfeita que por não ter sido promovida, decide começar a vender segredos para o lado russo. Esta descrição da inveja, ganância, cobiça e jogos de espiões está de forma mestra descrita ao longo de todo o livro.
Mas continua a ser reconfortante acompanhar a relação entre Nate e Egorova, que ilustra uma réstia de esperança e amor onde parece apenas existir manipulação, segredos e morte.
Vou continuar no 3° livro e esperar que Egorova consiga superar os poderes prescientes de Putin.
laurank103's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
inesips's review against another edition
4.0
Jason Matthews supreende-me cada vez mais. O segundo livro e melhor que o primeiro, mais emocionante, mais "apetecível", mais dinâmico.
Adoro!!!
Adoro!!!