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51 reviews for:
A Once Crowded Sky
Tom Fowler, Tom King, Ruth Lee-Mui, David Ter-Avanesyan, Steve Bryant
3.12 AVERAGE
51 reviews for:
A Once Crowded Sky
Tom Fowler, Tom King, Ruth Lee-Mui, David Ter-Avanesyan, Steve Bryant
3.12 AVERAGE
An enjoyable tale of superheroes coming to terms with mortality. Tom King once interned for DC and Marvel, then worked as an operative for the CIA. Plenty of straight-forward prose with comic book illustrated interludes.
It's difficult for me to get into any superhero story where the main character isn't really interested in being a hero, so this book kind of started behind the 8-ball. The writing kept me going, though, and there are some really brilliant passages in here. I think next time I'd like to see a little less deconstruction of the genre and more application of what makes it so great. Still, this was well worth the read.
I'm sure there is a fan base our there for this book, but I only made it about halfway through before giving up. The idea of superheroes robbed of their powers has been done in actual comics more than a few times, but it makes for good dramatic tension. Here, since you don't know any of the characters, it's hard to care much about their hopes, dreams, and struggles.
It felt kinda sexist at times so deffo not a 5 star - but I really enjoyed it! An excellent superhero comic book story lovingly written. A critical look at the comic fandom and why superhero stories are so important to us while simultaneously being a solid superhero story in its own right.
Okaaaaaay. Maybe a little too meta, jumbled... I think a second reading would help but I honestly have so many other books I want to read I probably won't for a very long time. Cool concept but didn't quite sweep me away, unfortunately.
An entertaining super-hero mystery. Imagine being the one hero who didn't make the sacrifice to save the world when everyone else did. Now you are the only one with powers left in a world that doesn't need them. All they are now are a constant reminder to others that you didn't stand with the real heroes.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Tom King as an author but wasn't a huge fan of this book.
The book absolutely drags. While the central mystery is interesting enough, there's so much time spent worldbuilding and developing characters who seem to have minor roles in the story. It helps the world feel lived in and the characters feel real at the expense of anything actually happening.
By the end I was pretty engaged until some decisions made me lack all interest in the outcome of the story. I'd recommend reading his comics - his editors there help to make him shine in a way that I don't feel this did.
This book isn't bad, it's just fine.
The book absolutely drags. While the central mystery is interesting enough, there's so much time spent worldbuilding and developing characters who seem to have minor roles in the story. It helps the world feel lived in and the characters feel real at the expense of anything actually happening.
By the end I was pretty engaged until some decisions made me lack all interest in the outcome of the story. I'd recommend reading his comics - his editors there help to make him shine in a way that I don't feel this did.
This book isn't bad, it's just fine.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes