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marieos's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Slavery, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
bg_oseman_fan's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked the premise of the book. I especially enjoyed how much research the author put in to telling the story. At times the story dragged and felt like it was repeating itself. Overall an enjoyable and mostly lighthearted read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
elspethmigliore's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i really enjoyed this! i’ve read this book around 5 times now because it’s so unique and interesting, and it never fails to impress me. like i was actually obsessed with this book 4 years ago. i will say that the most recent time i’ve read it, i found it to be very difficult to get through and kind of boring, but i think that’s because i know the story so well.
all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories.
definitely reread material ✅
all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories.
definitely reread material ✅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Slavery
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
eidal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Slavery, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
akrafi's review
adventurous
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
inkdrunkalex's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The MC is also SUPREMELY unlikable and his redemption is rushed and not super believable. The LI is a blank slate of being black not because the character makes sense as a black man to to add extra conflict that really isn't needed, then he is just given epilepsy and the author downplays it's seriousness so that the character that already has way too much going against him in a time where being gay and black should be enough can "love his disability" and refuse help for a condition that could literally kill him.
The sister is the only redeming part of this book that while well written is just rife with stuff that makes me incredibly angry and unable to recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
const_elle_ations's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Medical content
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
rotfaced's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A few things, before I dive in: I got this as an audiobook, which I think affected my review in positive and negative ways.
Positives first: The writing style is very whimsical and engaging, made more-so by the expert narration. It was truly enjoyable, listening to this book, and for a brief two weeks it made my long commute more bearable. The author really has a way of twisting internal dialog to contribute to a scene rather than to detract from it, and the narration capitalized wonderfully on this style to provide an animated audio experience. The characters themselves were engaging-- the sister, Felicity, especially-- and the plot really felt like it was taking us on an adventure. I sometimes had no idea what to expect from it.
On the subject of Felicity, I think she's a much more compelling character than her brother and I'm glad to get a second book in her perspective. She was a breakout right away. I love her defiance, her knowledge, her demeanor. She was well and truly the star of many of the scenes she participated in. What a great voice.
Now for the criticism. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Monty, the main character, is fun to follow-- at first. His antics and bad behavior kick the plot of spectacularly, and the messes they get in are fun and compelling to follow, at first. But then it gets old very, very quickly.
This man literally never stops fucking up. He's a lecherous clown. He has no meaningful growth-- any internal dialog he has is kept private and exacerbates his miserable, selfish perspective. He rarely apologizes. He defies reasonable authority for no other reason except that it seems like the author needs a contrived reason to move the plot along in another disastrously ill-executed direction. I literally had to skip some scenes because they were SO painful to listen to. Monty is a total buffoon, and I really came to despise his selfishness over the course of the book-- especially because it's rarely ever actually, meaningfully dealt with. Sure, he has a few spats here and there with people he cares about, but none of it matters! They forgive him in the end anyways! And somehow this resolves in him being a better person in the last couple of pages of the book. It's maddening, and it's made worse by the allowances given him by Percyand Scipio .
Percy exists, primarily, to be Monty's romantic fixation and source of tumult. I actually liked Percy when his personality wasn't being defined and modified by Monty's dramatic interior monologue, but I think the thing that really kills his character is the fact that he... never holds Monty accountable. Monty steals, cheats, lies, wastes their money, gets blasted,has them arrested, nearly dies-- twice!-- and overall drives the plot purely through his inability to contend with his own behavior. I cannot imagine what Percy must see in Monty, who does nothing but make life worse for the both of them, and it's never really touched on. I would have loved to see Percy's perspective even for a bit of the book. More, I would have loved to see Percy stand up for himself more often. I would love to have seen Percy actually deny Monty refuge in his comfort.
Scipio and his pirate crew are alsomore or less just plot devices. Scipio spends so much of his screen time acting as yet another person who comforts Monty, tries to convince him of his worth, and then refuses to hold him accountable for his bad behavior. It seems like every 'good' character exists for the sole purpose of propping up Monty and cleaning up his messes with almost no recompense.
(As an aside, I only found out after finishing the book and beginning the sequel that the author has been repeatedly smug, rude, entitled, etc. but that's neither here nor there. Probably.)
The only exception to this is Felicity, who regularly needles her brother but has no control or power over him. She is oftenliterally fixing his wounds and cleaning up his messes, but at least she seems properly put-out about it. However, in line with the perspective of good versus bad, the author apparently felt the need to have Felicity voice her disgust and lack of understanding surrounding the Percy/Monty relationship and homosexuality in general, complete with 'it's a sin' rhetoric . This came out of nowhere? Why do this except to give Monty just an ounce of moral high ground to a sympathetic audience?
Takeaway: I had enough fun with the book that I didn't stop listening to it, but it's another tick in the box of 'disappointing m/m fiction' for me. I wish the love interests were more than just a pair of arms to hold the protagonist sometimes, and especially here.
Extra .75 points for the narration, though!
Positives first: The writing style is very whimsical and engaging, made more-so by the expert narration. It was truly enjoyable, listening to this book, and for a brief two weeks it made my long commute more bearable. The author really has a way of twisting internal dialog to contribute to a scene rather than to detract from it, and the narration capitalized wonderfully on this style to provide an animated audio experience. The characters themselves were engaging-- the sister, Felicity, especially-- and the plot really felt like it was taking us on an adventure. I sometimes had no idea what to expect from it.
On the subject of Felicity, I think she's a much more compelling character than her brother and I'm glad to get a second book in her perspective. She was a breakout right away. I love her defiance, her knowledge, her demeanor. She was well and truly the star of many of the scenes she participated in. What a great voice.
Now for the criticism. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Monty, the main character, is fun to follow-- at first. His antics and bad behavior kick the plot of spectacularly, and the messes they get in are fun and compelling to follow, at first. But then it gets old very, very quickly.
This man literally never stops fucking up. He's a lecherous clown. He has no meaningful growth-- any internal dialog he has is kept private and exacerbates his miserable, selfish perspective. He rarely apologizes. He defies reasonable authority for no other reason except that it seems like the author needs a contrived reason to move the plot along in another disastrously ill-executed direction. I literally had to skip some scenes because they were SO painful to listen to. Monty is a total buffoon, and I really came to despise his selfishness over the course of the book-- especially because it's rarely ever actually, meaningfully dealt with. Sure, he has a few spats here and there with people he cares about, but none of it matters! They forgive him in the end anyways! And somehow this resolves in him being a better person in the last couple of pages of the book. It's maddening, and it's made worse by the allowances given him by Percy
Percy exists, primarily, to be Monty's romantic fixation and source of tumult. I actually liked Percy when his personality wasn't being defined and modified by Monty's dramatic interior monologue, but I think the thing that really kills his character is the fact that he... never holds Monty accountable. Monty steals, cheats, lies, wastes their money, gets blasted,
Scipio and his pirate crew are also
(As an aside, I only found out after finishing the book and beginning the sequel that the author has been repeatedly smug, rude, entitled, etc. but that's neither here nor there. Probably.)
The only exception to this is Felicity, who regularly needles her brother but has no control or power over him. She is often
Takeaway: I had enough fun with the book that I didn't stop listening to it, but it's another tick in the box of 'disappointing m/m fiction' for me. I wish the love interests were more than just a pair of arms to hold the protagonist sometimes, and especially here.
Extra .75 points for the narration, though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
azyef's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
parkyparkpark's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Gore