Reviews tagging 'Death'

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

37 reviews

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The most loveable characters are easily the cats and dolphins, both of which are way more fleshed out than one might expect. This is also a pretty realistic idea of a regular schmegular character being thrown into the world of cartoon villainy. The plot can be hard to follow in a very saturday-evening cartoon special kind of way. If you suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow the experience is fine. 
I have some feelings on every non-white character being nepo-babies and generally morally corrupt bad dudes. They are supposed to be characters with more money than brains,

except the money isn't real and they definitely do not have it

. This was my first Scalzi so maybe there isn't a theme and the diversity of the villains was to really point out their gender bias or something? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Cancer, Cursing, and Terminal illness

treetop's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent

dijigoo53's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Death, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol and Gun violence

mandareads222's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Cancer, Car accident, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Misogyny

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

rwsmith's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

this was such a fun read. i loved the pace and length of this book. its very quippy, but not so much that it gets old or annoying. its predictable enough to be satisfying, but not enough to be boring. i haven't read any other works by john scalzi, but this was so fun i might put some of his other work on my tbr. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Murder, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury

meladriel's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book! Scalzi's style is down-to-earth and his main character, Charlie, read like a realistic person thrust into circumstances beyond his control. The inclusion of animal labor relations and general calling out corporate b.s. was fantastic, humourous, and enjoyable. A quick read and an highly entertaining one for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Death

crownoflaurel's review

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Slavery, Death, and Violence

bookwyrmknits's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was so much fun! I love the way it's both down-to-Earth and over-the-top all at the same time (and often in the same paragraph). The cats are my favorite part of the book, but some of the villain competitors are fun as well. I really enjoyed my time with this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Car accident and Cancer

bambifaun's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I really want to give the author some grace here after hearing he had covid while writing this. I really enjoyed listening to the Audible adaption by Wil Wheaton. He did an awesome job narrating. Unfortunately, I got past 80% of the book and felt scared that the end of the 'action' would feel rushed. It did. Unfortunately #2, the twist at the end was not enjoyable for me. I really wanted more from the characters and didn't get the development I had hoped with our 'starter villain.' Overall, this was an enjoyable read but I wish there was more to the story and characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gun violence

iono's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Car accident, Classism, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Terminal illness, and Cancer