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wanderlustsleeping's review
3.0
Just fine. I'm a bit disappointed, but only because I expected more than what I got. Overall still enjoyable!
novellenovels's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jgwc54e5's review against another edition
5.0
This is a long novel but such a good read. I really enjoyed the gothic atmosphere of the prologue which sets up the story in the next generation. Plenty of action and melodrama follows. Much of the story is told through letters and diary entries (by the female villain Lydia Gwilt with her “terrible red hair”) but this didn’t slow the story down for me. Plenty of melodrama in a kinda convoluted plot but all the ends are tied and I had plenty of fun reading it.
bickley_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
tigerlinus's review against another edition
3.0
3.5? Slow beginning, picks up in the middle third of the book with the introduction of Lydia Gwilt, with the last third the best pace of the book - some exceptions to this last third being too many pages from the diary of Miss Gwilt (also found in the middle third), and an overlong explanation of a sanitarium. Additionally, Collins could have reduced this story by 150+ pages and still presented an engrossing tale that would have kept his readers engaged; there were enough moments when I wanted him to 'get on with it.'
I'm a fan of Collins, but his writing can be verbose, overly descriptive, and his characters entirely too emotional/romantic; the reader will find much of that in Armadale.
Overall, this read is worth the time it will take to finish the 700+ pages. I truly did enjoy the story, which included foreshadowing, friendships, murder, romance, revenge, Victorian era social norms and issues, and interesting characterization. I was especially intrigued by the driven, self-seeking, resourceful, and unforgettable villainess of Miss Gwilt.
I'm a fan of Collins, but his writing can be verbose, overly descriptive, and his characters entirely too emotional/romantic; the reader will find much of that in Armadale.
Overall, this read is worth the time it will take to finish the 700+ pages. I truly did enjoy the story, which included foreshadowing, friendships, murder, romance, revenge, Victorian era social norms and issues, and interesting characterization. I was especially intrigued by the driven, self-seeking, resourceful, and unforgettable villainess of Miss Gwilt.
dkalina's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
diane500's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75