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findveronica's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
melsage1823's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thrilling book definitely a good book especially if your looking to support translated work.
A fun unique tale different from its movie adaptation. Its fun twisted and thrilling book to read and I throughly enjoyed it.
As much as I love this book similar to Steven Kings the Shinning there was specific outdated language that fustrates. I know the book was first published in 2010 but I wish Isaka when asking Malissa to translate had changed parts of the book. As given the current political climate the outdated cross dresser character almost made me vomit and crawl out of my skin. There was fatphobic and misogynistic language too. (Call me a snowflake all you want but I don't care) It really took me out the world of the book especially the "cross dresser" who was very clearly trans.
Even though its a bit of a stereotype I'm not going to talk about the Autistic Coding of Lemon and Tangerine (to some extent) as it will give away spoilers but those guys deserved better.
Also thought the ending got wrapped up way too quickly for all the surviving characters at the end apart from one particular character at the end.
Apart from that though this is a fabulous book and I heavily recommend you pick it up. Not relevant to my critic but I love how I finished the book on the LNER train. Finishing Bullet Train on a Train is ironic and special.
One of things I loved was how cleverly the povs were written. I read in reviews that people didn't like the multiple plot point povs but for me they were one of the best parts of the book. In my opinion jumping from character to character wasn't boring at all and Isaka's writing as well Malissa's incredible translation made the descriptions and plot points work very well. The povs entertained me even more when they crossed over and you got to see for example Tangerine before he walked past the Prince.
The characters were amazing every character kept me throughly entertained and they were all included brilliantly and actually well fleshed out. The Prince who was recast as Joey King in the film version was a fascinating character and a lot better fleshed out in this book, I found his povs super pyscologly interesting. Lemon and Tangerine stood out too because I loved their dynamic and personalities. Nanao was epic too infact all the characters were. No character bored me and that's fabulous. Due to the characters being fleshed out super well it allowed for fresh and fun dynamics that worked well, when all the povs eventually came together.
From the action, to keeping my attention, to the fun cliffhanger chapters. Bullet Train is a thrilling immerse book that takes you along for the ride with the characters. Definitely do recommend if you like Murder Mysteries but desire it in a fresh format.
A fun unique tale different from its movie adaptation. Its fun twisted and thrilling book to read and I throughly enjoyed it.
As much as I love this book similar to Steven Kings the Shinning there was specific outdated language that fustrates. I know the book was first published in 2010 but I wish Isaka when asking Malissa to translate had changed parts of the book. As given the current political climate the outdated cross dresser character almost made me vomit and crawl out of my skin. There was fatphobic and misogynistic language too. (Call me a snowflake all you want but I don't care) It really took me out the world of the book especially the "cross dresser" who was very clearly trans.
Even though its a bit of a stereotype I'm not going to talk about the Autistic Coding of Lemon and Tangerine (to some extent) as it will give away spoilers but those guys deserved better.
Also thought the ending got wrapped up way too quickly for all the surviving characters at the end apart from one particular character at the end.
Apart from that though this is a fabulous book and I heavily recommend you pick it up. Not relevant to my critic but I love how I finished the book on the LNER train. Finishing Bullet Train on a Train is ironic and special.
One of things I loved was how cleverly the povs were written. I read in reviews that people didn't like the multiple plot point povs but for me they were one of the best parts of the book. In my opinion jumping from character to character wasn't boring at all and Isaka's writing as well Malissa's incredible translation made the descriptions and plot points work very well. The povs entertained me even more when they crossed over and you got to see for example Tangerine before he walked past the Prince.
The characters were amazing every character kept me throughly entertained and they were all included brilliantly and actually well fleshed out. The Prince who was recast as Joey King in the film version was a fascinating character and a lot better fleshed out in this book, I found his povs super pyscologly interesting. Lemon and Tangerine stood out too because I loved their dynamic and personalities. Nanao was epic too infact all the characters were. No character bored me and that's fabulous. Due to the characters being fleshed out super well it allowed for fresh and fun dynamics that worked well, when all the povs eventually came together.
From the action, to keeping my attention, to the fun cliffhanger chapters. Bullet Train is a thrilling immerse book that takes you along for the ride with the characters. Definitely do recommend if you like Murder Mysteries but desire it in a fresh format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Trafficking and War
There's serious blackmail which might be triggering and an outdated cross dresser character that shows up in three or four chapters.jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I decided to read this after seeing the movie and I wish I’d read this first since the movie has colored my impressions. The movie was an action thriller with LOTS of dark humor - very dark but very funny. I really liked the movie and saw it several times - the quirkiness of the humor appealed to me.
The book is much darker. The characters as a whole really weren’t at all likable - they were pathetic, or buffoonish, or evil. There was some humor to it but it seemed like a satire of itself, not the kind of humor that leaves you feeling good.
I think there’s no way I can write a decent review because I keep judging the book by the movie, and that’s not fair. What’s good about the book is lots of action and the train being an unusual setting. Definitely don’t see the movie first if you’re trying to decide which to experience - read the book first!
The book is much darker. The characters as a whole really weren’t at all likable - they were pathetic, or buffoonish, or evil. There was some humor to it but it seemed like a satire of itself, not the kind of humor that leaves you feeling good.
I think there’s no way I can write a decent review because I keep judging the book by the movie, and that’s not fair. What’s good about the book is lots of action and the train being an unusual setting. Definitely don’t see the movie first if you’re trying to decide which to experience - read the book first!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nyx_belial's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
All in all a really enjoyable book, dark in places and funny in others.
Definitely keep in mind that this doesn't end like the film does but is just as good (if not better!)
Definitely keep in mind that this doesn't end like the film does but is just as good (if not better!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol
Being a book about Assassin's, expect related topics to that to happen in the book -especially as there's 5 of them stuck on a trainthat_chick26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Transphobia, Blood, and Alcohol
anna_blahh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I have not seen the movie yet but I do think this story is probably more enjoyable on screen since the scenery is a little hard to get. Nevertheless, it is a really interesting concept, since the story is told from different people's views, but they all share a location (the bullet train). It is however quite brutal. I found some of the characters, from whose perspective the story is told, extremely annoying. This is probably why I rated the book so low.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a super fun popcorn movie of a thriller about several assassins and other shady types all trying to complete their missions on one crazy train ride. The characters are all larger than life and feel bold and unique. The tension never lets up and every tiny detail that ever comes up is tied up perfectly by the end.
I would have given this 5 stars but there's a minor side character who, while I enjoyed her, was constantly assailed by transmisogynist jokes and that bugged me. I'm hoping that gets fixed in the upcoming film version.
I would have given this 5 stars but there's a minor side character who, while I enjoyed her, was constantly assailed by transmisogynist jokes and that bugged me. I'm hoping that gets fixed in the upcoming film version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Torture, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent