Reviews

Company of Liars by Karen Maitland

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

This wasn't quite the novel I was expecting. Rather than historical fiction it turned out to be a fantasy/thriller/horror mashup set during the Black Death. The characters are two dimensional caricatures, and the plot is slow and thin, but there was enough to keep me reading to the end. And the end is what really lets down this book.
The main story is hurried away, followed by a lengthy "explanation" which didn't fit with the rest of the book, and then the cheesiest of final paragraphs which felt like a child had written it.
Perhaps this is unfair on my part as this isn't a genre I would normally read but it hasn't tempted me to venture further into this author's work.

blairsatellite's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

pepsqueaks's review against another edition

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3.0

i think this would get a 2 and a half, it was ok and clearly very well researched. but the constant arguing between the company got wearing and their 'lies' were too obviously hinted at before they were revealed so there were no surprises

eshaw27's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

sarah_d's review against another edition

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I do like a book about the plague but I found the characters to be flat and uninteresting. 

megan_mac_'s review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

Really enjoyed the slow pace of this one. Felt completely immersed in the mid 14th century (I recommend reading the historical notes and glossary at the back first) and the mysterious, haunting vibes kept building & building- perfect read for autumn (or winter).

I think the ending felt disappointing, but maybe I'm still processing the story.

morrauror's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

cassiope_fastigiata's review against another edition

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5.0

Not perfect, but I loved it anyway. I listened to the audio version, which was extremely well narrated, and I listened whenever I could, even during coffee breaks at work. The ending wasn't very satisfying, but I'm willing to forgive that given the hours I spent thoroughly caught up in the story.

kellishinn's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

davechua's review against another edition

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3.0

Great detail and atmosphere in this medieval horror/mystery, but let down by a confused and rushed ending. A group of travelers try to escape the plague, but their group is gradually whittled down by death itself. All in the group possess secrets which lead to their undoing. Little details make the book stand out, such as the cripples' wedding. It was also hard to believe that the group could constantly find food in their circumstances.