Scan barcode
arthurbdd's review
dark
funny
fast-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
5.0
Excellent crime saga, based around a somewhat exaggerated version of the cut-throat politics of 1970s wrestling territories. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/where-kayfabe-becomes-omerta/
tiggum's review
2.0
I found this book kind of hard to follow, and it didn't help that I didn't like any of the characters. It wasn't unclear in what was happening in the moment, but I never really understood what the protagonist (if any character can even be called such) was trying to do, what his plan was.
And it wasn't even clear who the protagonist was. I think it's meant to be Danno, but we get way too many scenes from Lenny's perspective, even though he does little and knows less. And seriously, fuck Lenny, he's the worst. Just a complete dumb shit who reeks of desperation, a guy so pathetic that he wishes the bullies would pick on him, because then at least they'd be acknowledging his existence.
And Danno's not much better. It would help if we could understand his goals, but the book tries to keep you guessing, only by the time you hear the answer it just makes you wonder "well, did it work? I couldn't tell."
There were a couple of minor characters I didn't mind, but otherwise it's just a bunch of unpleasant people subjecting themselves to unpleasant things in order to make some nebulous profit. There's a lot of talk of money but it's never clear who's getting it or how much.
There are also a number of events that presumably fit into the narrative in some way behind the scenes but I couldn't see the connection. In at least one case it was an obvious sequel hook, but other times I feel like I was supposed to realise what was going on but I didn't.
I didn't absolutely hate this book, but it felt unfinished, like it needs a lot of rewriting and editing to make the story clearer and give it a tighter focus. And probably just cut Lenny from it entirely, because he's terrible and pointless.
And it wasn't even clear who the protagonist was. I think it's meant to be Danno, but we get way too many scenes from Lenny's perspective, even though he does little and knows less. And seriously, fuck Lenny, he's the worst. Just a complete dumb shit who reeks of desperation, a guy so pathetic that he wishes the bullies would pick on him, because then at least they'd be acknowledging his existence.
And Danno's not much better. It would help if we could understand his goals, but the book tries to keep you guessing, only by the time you hear the answer it just makes you wonder "well, did it work? I couldn't tell."
There were a couple of minor characters I didn't mind, but otherwise it's just a bunch of unpleasant people subjecting themselves to unpleasant things in order to make some nebulous profit. There's a lot of talk of money but it's never clear who's getting it or how much.
There are also a number of events that presumably fit into the narrative in some way behind the scenes but I couldn't see the connection. In at least one case it was an obvious sequel hook, but other times I feel like I was supposed to realise what was going on but I didn't.
I didn't absolutely hate this book, but it felt unfinished, like it needs a lot of rewriting and editing to make the story clearer and give it a tighter focus. And probably just cut Lenny from it entirely, because he's terrible and pointless.
More...