Reviews - The City Beautiful

479 reviews for:

The City Beautiful

Aden Polydoros

4.19 AVERAGE

kaseyreadss's review against another edition

3.0

Content warnings: rape, anti semitism, homophobia

riahwamby's review

4.25

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

izzy_obert's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark informative 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

incunabula_and_intercourse's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

flyingpages's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense 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: N/A

zoefnk's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hayfarmer's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Beautifully written. Amazing story .

almosthere's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

turlough11's review against another edition

5.0

This is an LGBTQ historical fantasy novel that takes place at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with a Jewish MC, Alter Rosen, who has been possessed by the dybbuk of his friend. Alter must discover what became of his friend in order to rid himself of the spirit that has attached itself to him, or risk being overtaken by it. He will face anti-Semitism and anti-immigration from within and outside of his own community along the way.

This book is a joy to read. It deals with a lot of difficult themes and the pacing isn't always perfect, but the payoff is worthwhile. I loved learning more about Jewish traditions and lore in a historical setting without holding my hand. The plotting is complex and there is a lot of detail accurate to the time and place. The book is from Alter's point of view and his development is wonderful. His motivations are revealed slowly, as are the purposes of those around him.

All in all, this is a murder mystery, a fantasy, an adventure story and it has a little romance on the side. If you are okay with the occasional slow moment then this is a great read.

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

H.H. Holmes/White City + dybbuk + queer Jewish immigrants + anarchist + right up my alley! Gorier than I usually go for but well worth handling the "ick factor."

Content Warnings

More...