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friesandmayo's review against another edition
2.0
This book was trying to do too much and failed at pretty much everything.
thirdspin's review against another edition
concept is intriguing but the writing style is unimaginative and pedantic.
sternenwesen's review
5.0
This was amazing. I loved all the representation, I loved how real world political issues played into it. It felt like a complex fantasy rpg game in the best way (probably because the idea originated when the author was dming). The characters are complex and interesting and I love the way they interact throughout ths book.
At the beginning I was scared I would confuse all of the characters but they all had very distinct names, voices and arcs and in the end it was really easy to understand who was who and to keeo up with all the interacting plotlines.
Im very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!!!
At the beginning I was scared I would confuse all of the characters but they all had very distinct names, voices and arcs and in the end it was really easy to understand who was who and to keeo up with all the interacting plotlines.
Im very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!!!
loganslovelylibrary's review
4.0
This book explores a fascinating new world fraught with interesting relationships and ideas about sexuality, gender identity, and race within a fantasy world. Very unique, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
mousie's review against another edition
I think I wasn't in the right mood for this at the right time, might revist later and see if I feel differently
araleith's review against another edition
This book is not a bad book! It's just apparently not the book my brain needs right now. Will likely give it another go later.
alexthereadingdragon's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
booksreadbykat's review
DNF @ page 95
There was literally a different POV every single chapter for the first 100 pages (at least 10 different ones)..this book is only 425 pages...
CW - SA.
This was so unnecessary on page 77. "Not to mention the very thought of Avenazar touching her apprentice - or any young girl, especially one who disliked men - made her stomach turn." - Let's not, SA is terrible for everyone.
There was literally a different POV every single chapter for the first 100 pages (at least 10 different ones)..this book is only 425 pages...
CW - SA.
This was so unnecessary on page 77. "Not to mention the very thought of Avenazar touching her apprentice - or any young girl, especially one who disliked men - made her stomach turn." - Let's not, SA is terrible for everyone.
iam's review
5.0
This is the great start of what I fear will be an extremely nerve-wrecking and exciting series. City of Strife is full of political intrigue and a big cast of diverse characters, each of them with their own elaborate backstory, secrets, motives and agenda.
I'm a reader who wants all of the characters to be happy, so it was a bit stressful for me to see all of them crossing paths, work together and against each other and the side characters. All those convoluted connections were already leaving me hand-wringing, which was emphasized by how flawed most of the characters are: they have prejudices, bad habits, make bad decisions and sometimes are just plain wrong (or racists, in one character's case).
It was also surprisingly cruel - what shocked me most was how casual most characters were towards torture and violence, though it did fit with their past experiences and setting.
Aside from a few typos and editing errors, the writing is good and engaging.
The only problem I had with it was that the beginning didn't manage to immediately hook me. There are a lot of different POVs, and the first 10 chapters are each written from a different view with seemingly no connection to the previous ones, with no clear plot of direction in sight and the politics and relationships only unfold slowly... It does get better as the book progresses, but the start wasn't easy for me.
Once I passed the first 15% though, I could barely put it down, and I'm looking forward to book 2!
I'm a reader who wants all of the characters to be happy, so it was a bit stressful for me to see all of them crossing paths, work together and against each other and the side characters. All those convoluted connections were already leaving me hand-wringing, which was emphasized by how flawed most of the characters are: they have prejudices, bad habits, make bad decisions and sometimes are just plain wrong (or racists, in one character's case).
It was also surprisingly cruel - what shocked me most was how casual most characters were towards torture and violence, though it did fit with their past experiences and setting.
Aside from a few typos and editing errors, the writing is good and engaging.
The only problem I had with it was that the beginning didn't manage to immediately hook me. There are a lot of different POVs, and the first 10 chapters are each written from a different view with seemingly no connection to the previous ones, with no clear plot of direction in sight and the politics and relationships only unfold slowly... It does get better as the book progresses, but the start wasn't easy for me.
Once I passed the first 15% though, I could barely put it down, and I'm looking forward to book 2!