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renee_pompeii's review
4.0
Witches, Cold War era ad-men, CIA agents and double-agents...and a man living as a flea? Set the whole thing in glorious 1959 Paris and you've got an utterly engaging book. Great writing, great story, and fabulous characters make this a helluva good read.
jennymills21's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
maryclaire92's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
Slow at times, but full of delightfully written characters. I found myself rooting for most of them and enjoyed the character development.
The pov switches every chapter which sometimes overwhelmed the story for me. I think I might get more out of a second read. The way these chapters and seeming unrelated plot lines weave together is smart and satisfying.
Overall an enjoyable read full of magic, nods and winks towards history, and likable characters.
The pov switches every chapter which sometimes overwhelmed the story for me. I think I might get more out of a second read. The way these chapters and seeming unrelated plot lines weave together is smart and satisfying.
Overall an enjoyable read full of magic, nods and winks towards history, and likable characters.
abetterjulie's review
2.0
I didn't like the time period or the setting. I was disappointed by every single character's outcome. The writing was tedious at times, usually during the back story parts. I liked the idea of the chorus. I really enjoyed the parts with magic.
acdiehm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
jwmcoaching's review against another edition
1.0
I disliked this as much as I loved Barlow's debut, Sharp Teeth. Convoluted and overlong, this was fun for awhile, if not exactly substantial. Then, came the Lord of the Rings-like string of endless endings. By the time I was finally finished, any goodwill that had been built up was completely gone.
Two other things that bothered me: I hate it when a light, frothy read is interspersed with quotes from intellectuals and famous writers and tries to elevate itself to something more than it is. Don't try to be profound when your novel is really just a silly story about witches and spies. I also hate juvenile writing, like when a woman's vagina is described as tasting like a certain food. Yeccchhh!
Two other things that bothered me: I hate it when a light, frothy read is interspersed with quotes from intellectuals and famous writers and tries to elevate itself to something more than it is. Don't try to be profound when your novel is really just a silly story about witches and spies. I also hate juvenile writing, like when a woman's vagina is described as tasting like a certain food. Yeccchhh!
calliemeich's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
barrettcmyk's review
4.0
in Russian folklore (in case you're not familiar), Baba Yaga is a witch that lives in the woods, in a hut with huge chicken legs. she's one of those witches that children are told about, in an effort to terrify them into good behavior. being the huge Russophile that i am, i pretty much had to read this book.
set in Cold-War era Paris, this is the story of several people and how their lives are affected by two centuries-old witches, both pretty unforgettable in their own rights. then there's a layer of murders. and some enchantments. and jazz musician gangsters. and a front for the CIA. and at least one fairly naive American ex-pat who gets caught up in the middle of it.
just in terms of plot, that's a lot going on. but then you've also got added layers, reflecting on time and love and society. and actually, they're lovely. not heavy handed, not awkward, not forced. they still seem to be a part of the overall narrative, which is a pretty impressive feat.
my only negative is that it took a little longer than usual for me to get into the book. i attribute a large part of that to the sheer number of characters and plot lines going on -- it took a good bit of time for them to start linking up. perhaps half of the book, even. but it was still a clever story, and i particularly liked how the character i thought i'd like least, i ended up liking best. i can't think of the last time that's ever happened.
set in Cold-War era Paris, this is the story of several people and how their lives are affected by two centuries-old witches, both pretty unforgettable in their own rights. then there's a layer of murders. and some enchantments. and jazz musician gangsters. and a front for the CIA. and at least one fairly naive American ex-pat who gets caught up in the middle of it.
just in terms of plot, that's a lot going on. but then you've also got added layers, reflecting on time and love and society. and actually, they're lovely. not heavy handed, not awkward, not forced. they still seem to be a part of the overall narrative, which is a pretty impressive feat.
my only negative is that it took a little longer than usual for me to get into the book. i attribute a large part of that to the sheer number of characters and plot lines going on -- it took a good bit of time for them to start linking up. perhaps half of the book, even. but it was still a clever story, and i particularly liked how the character i thought i'd like least, i ended up liking best. i can't think of the last time that's ever happened.