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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really well-written book. Felt like an action-packed, funnier version of Murder On The Orient Express. There are lots of characters, but they each are incorporated into the plot very nicely. Lots of clues, symbolism, and foreshadowing; fun for readers who like to connect the dots. The novel also has some deep themes, but manages to make them come across to readers in a fun, engaging way. This book now makes me want to read the prequel, Three Assassins.
This was a fast-paced, action-packed read. The different point of views of each character was fascinating, especially as Kotaro Isaka shows how the minds of each character works and their thought processes in everything they do. The only thing that let me down was the ending, it felt quite anti-climactic to me and like the book was building up to something bigger than what it was. But, despite the disappointing ending, it was honestly a great, fun read throughout!
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
I read this on a whim because the fact the movie was adapted from a Japanese novel intrigued me. Maybe something was lost in adaption. Maybe edges were sanded down. Maybe it was more cohesive, more unique, maybe it was as stylish and slick and cutting edge as the movie postured to be. And nope. The movie captures it pretty well and is actually better. There’s some gay panic homophobic jokes the movie mostly excised. It streamlined a lot of needless plots from this, made the crime boss an actual relevant character.
And most of all it salvaged the Prince, who is insufferable here. The edgiest, faux deep nothing of a villain with no motivation beyond ‘because’. Not wrong in of itself, but the character lacks the charisma and the author the skill to make it compelling or interesting, instead it’s a total slog to go through the nihilistic posturing of a character and story that thinks itself smarter than it is. The movie gave the Prince actual motivation and ties to the plot and takes away a lot of the contrived confidences here for a more unified plot.
Even the good stuff here, like Lemon and Tangerine who the book seems to agree are the highlight, are better served in the movie. And the movie isn’t even that good! The one thing this really has over the movie is the cool old lady, but that’s just about it. This is a mediocre story that can’t even beat the slightly less mediocre film that adapted it. Save your time and just watch the movie on an airplane or a train to pass the time. That’s really the optimal experience.
And most of all it salvaged the Prince, who is insufferable here. The edgiest, faux deep nothing of a villain with no motivation beyond ‘because’. Not wrong in of itself, but the character lacks the charisma and the author the skill to make it compelling or interesting, instead it’s a total slog to go through the nihilistic posturing of a character and story that thinks itself smarter than it is. The movie gave the Prince actual motivation and ties to the plot and takes away a lot of the contrived confidences here for a more unified plot.
Even the good stuff here, like Lemon and Tangerine who the book seems to agree are the highlight, are better served in the movie. And the movie isn’t even that good! The one thing this really has over the movie is the cool old lady, but that’s just about it. This is a mediocre story that can’t even beat the slightly less mediocre film that adapted it. Save your time and just watch the movie on an airplane or a train to pass the time. That’s really the optimal experience.
This train doesn't stop! The plotting is devious and intricate and the characters are different shades of bad, each with a dirty job that will probably intersect with another character's path, no matter how hard they try to stay out of, or get into, each other's way. Some of the dialog may suffer from translation from the original Japanese but the quirkiness fits right in. Fast-paced, funny, violent, and a little bit insane but also hopeful and philosophical in a twisted way.
this was so good the twists were literally everything. like i kept on being shocked & frustrated and had no idea what to expect. i will say since i read this in preparation for the movie, i wonder what will be cut since almost every plot point is as equally important as the next, with way too much to fit in a 2 hour movie.