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lizshayne's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Me: Whether I like a book is about style, how it handles the characters, the larger experience; anything can be done well.
Also me: I don't like books where people live in tall towers and the ground is different.
I...apparently it's a thing of mine. Anyway, it took me a while to get into this book, what with the setting being extremely gonzo and also a thing I don't like.
It got better when it got weirder...not that it didn't start out weird.
Also, Odd Thebes as narrator would NOT have been my first choice. I get it and also I resented him for a significant amount of the book because, well he's that kind of person. Honestly, given how many things in this book are tropes I don't like, it has to have been pretty good to get a 3.
Also me: I don't like books where people live in tall towers and the ground is different.
I...apparently it's a thing of mine. Anyway, it took me a while to get into this book, what with the setting being extremely gonzo and also a thing I don't like.
It got better when it got weirder...not that it didn't start out weird.
Also, Odd Thebes as narrator would NOT have been my first choice. I get it and also I resented him for a significant amount of the book because, well he's that kind of person. Honestly, given how many things in this book are tropes I don't like, it has to have been pretty good to get a 3.
shoelessgirl's review
5.0
I loved this. I liked the writing, and the fact that everything wasn’t spelt out straight away. The narrator was gloriously selfish and unlikeable at times, which again, I perversely liked.
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
This book is a sprawling city of stories that abounds and spills over and moves from spire to spire as is the city the stories are set in.
I found it exhilarating to listen to the underlying story unfold as all these other stories big and small are interwoven into the bigger plot.
The book touches down on family ties and found family, lies and truths and who you are, where you belong to and who you want to be. And this all comes together in many, many stories, so you better love some storytelling if you plan to dive into this book.
I got the audiobook from my local library.
I found it exhilarating to listen to the underlying story unfold as all these other stories big and small are interwoven into the bigger plot.
The book touches down on family ties and found family, lies and truths and who you are, where you belong to and who you want to be. And this all comes together in many, many stories, so you better love some storytelling if you plan to dive into this book.
I got the audiobook from my local library.
vortacist's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cedarwishes's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
girlpuck's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kerasalwaysreading's review
3.0
While the world building was intrinsic and inventive, there were too many things going on that felt disconnected in this book. I went through so much of it confused and having to go back and reread passages.
I liked the idea of this book: a group of teens living on rooftops and the intensity of their lifestyle. There was some romance and a lot of suspense. But there were too many characters referenced and they did not seem to be complete persons. It was more like just ideas of people and a shadowed silhouette as opposed to detailed, fleshed-out characters.
It is hard to summarize a book like this when I feel like I did not quite understand what was happening some of the time. And the length did not lend to that affect.
While this book did not work for me, I would recommend it to others who are more versed in the high fantasy genre who have the patience to really dissect a book like this.
I liked the idea of this book: a group of teens living on rooftops and the intensity of their lifestyle. There was some romance and a lot of suspense. But there were too many characters referenced and they did not seem to be complete persons. It was more like just ideas of people and a shadowed silhouette as opposed to detailed, fleshed-out characters.
It is hard to summarize a book like this when I feel like I did not quite understand what was happening some of the time. And the length did not lend to that affect.
While this book did not work for me, I would recommend it to others who are more versed in the high fantasy genre who have the patience to really dissect a book like this.
patriciaeff's review
2.0
For the first 75% of the book I couldn't understand the low ratings, but the last quarter was not good in a way that almost made me resent the parts I liked
cynsworkshop's review
1.0
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
City of the Uncommon Thief is a high fantasy novel that unfortunately could not hold my attention and left me confused.
Staggering
I did not finish this book; let me start by saying that. You know, that bummed me about because I was excited to read this novel. The cover is fantastic, and the synopsis captured my attention instantly. I labeled this book “must-read.”
Unfortunately, at 27%, I had to stop.
I had with this novel that it was an ARC, and maybe it being unfinished tarnished my experience because online, it looks like all the other people who did not like this book all had ARCs like myself.
After seeing that, I think that was a big part of it because the opening prologue felt disjointed. I could not follow it; I had no idea who the main protagonist was and what the story was setting up.
Now, I started this book after an exhausting week at work. So, after taking a break to relax, I tried again. I restarted the book, refreshed and awake. Still unable to grasp what was happening, but I tried to stick with it; I thought, “maybe if I continue reading, it will start to make sense.” That did not happen.
Again, I was left confused because there was nothing to ground me in the story. I got no sense of world-building from this story. It seemed as though I was dropped in the middle of chaos. People are running over rooftops, and something was stolen; there are various guilds, except I have no idea what these guilds do or how they function.
To me, it lacked cohesion and seemed like a first draft instead of that penultimate draft. It was staggering; I sensed no personality from these characters within all the chaos. I had no idea who was supposed to be the main character, and I could not visualize this world that Bertrand was trying to build.
Final Thoughts
I was not too fond of City of the Uncommon Thief; how could I if I did not finish it. Nevertheless, I am saying this now; please give it a chance. I firmly believe that everyone online who did not like it had an ARC means something because everyone else seems to like City of the Uncommon Thief. From what I understand, there is extensive world-building going on, and someone even compares it to Tolkien. So, while I was not too fond of this book, considering the reviews, it is a book I will give a second chance later on.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
City of the Uncommon Thief is a high fantasy novel that unfortunately could not hold my attention and left me confused.
Staggering
I did not finish this book; let me start by saying that. You know, that bummed me about because I was excited to read this novel. The cover is fantastic, and the synopsis captured my attention instantly. I labeled this book “must-read.”
Unfortunately, at 27%, I had to stop.
I had with this novel that it was an ARC, and maybe it being unfinished tarnished my experience because online, it looks like all the other people who did not like this book all had ARCs like myself.
After seeing that, I think that was a big part of it because the opening prologue felt disjointed. I could not follow it; I had no idea who the main protagonist was and what the story was setting up.
Now, I started this book after an exhausting week at work. So, after taking a break to relax, I tried again. I restarted the book, refreshed and awake. Still unable to grasp what was happening, but I tried to stick with it; I thought, “maybe if I continue reading, it will start to make sense.” That did not happen.
Again, I was left confused because there was nothing to ground me in the story. I got no sense of world-building from this story. It seemed as though I was dropped in the middle of chaos. People are running over rooftops, and something was stolen; there are various guilds, except I have no idea what these guilds do or how they function.
To me, it lacked cohesion and seemed like a first draft instead of that penultimate draft. It was staggering; I sensed no personality from these characters within all the chaos. I had no idea who was supposed to be the main character, and I could not visualize this world that Bertrand was trying to build.
Final Thoughts
I was not too fond of City of the Uncommon Thief; how could I if I did not finish it. Nevertheless, I am saying this now; please give it a chance. I firmly believe that everyone online who did not like it had an ARC means something because everyone else seems to like City of the Uncommon Thief. From what I understand, there is extensive world-building going on, and someone even compares it to Tolkien. So, while I was not too fond of this book, considering the reviews, it is a book I will give a second chance later on.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn