Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

13 reviews

andrewgeha's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Essex Dogs is a bold step into historical fiction for Dan Jones. At its best, the book was raw and visceral, offering a gritty look into the Hundred Years War through the eyes of common soldiers. The stakes felt real and the costs of war felt tangible for the central heroes. The Essex Dogs didn't read as superheroes, which I appreciated. They were an ordinary band of soldiers seeking to survive the horrors of a brutal campaign. The final act in particular felt vividly consequential. 

However, I felt Jones's strengths as a history writer didn't wholely translate over to writing a flushed out fictional story. Aside from Loveday and Romford, the rest of the cast felt one-dimensional and shallow.

I thought this might change after some of the Dogs died as the story went along and the squad thinned, but even thereafter the remaining band didn't feel entirely compelling.

The pacing of the book was clunky at times, and the story didn't feel consistent. Sometimes I was drawn in, other times I felt disinterested. 

With that said, I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy to see how the story progresses. Hopefully Jones will continue to play to his strengths and refine his weaknesses after stepping into the fictional world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape

laurajeangrace's review

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit

lovetlr's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, War, Violence, and Drug abuse

nyhofs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Murder, Blood, Death, Excrement, Gore, Violence, War, and Cursing

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide attempt, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

kaismitand's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gore

mickey79's review

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, War, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Blood

shadowykittenwizard's review

adventurous funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Cursing, Death, and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

naomi_k's review

adventurous dark informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Gore, Animal death, and Cursing

Moderate: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse

Minor: Excrement, Vomit, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Torture

sph_23's review

adventurous emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Violence

bluejay21's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Violence, War, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Child abuse