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bluedilly's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Minor: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
moonlitreading_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was not a heist from a movie, the glamour of Ocean’s Eleven or the high-speed car chases from Fast Five, but it was something real, something possible.
First of all, let me just say that Grace D. Li writes beautifully. Sometimes you would encounter books with narrations that you just want to skim and be over with, but that's not the case with Portrait of a Thief. I have read every single word written because Grace has managed to capture my attention with her words. They made me feel what the characters were feeling, and see what they're seeing. I felt various things about this book as I was reading it. There were some parts that I liked, and some where I felt disappointed. What I liked the most was how relatable the characters were. We have five college students worried about their future, disappointing their families, and everything in-between. Their drive to reclaim what rightfully belongs to China really moved me because I could see how much this cause means to each of them. Sure, it's stealing, but it's stealing back. I was disappointed mainly with how the heists were executed because I was expecting more, but I do understand that the characters are no thieves and are amateurs. All in all, this was a great read, it’s a real eye-opener when it comes to colonialism and it sends a really powerful message to the reader.
Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness
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