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andreapap15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
definitely a slower paced book than the constant terror of the first one, but with a more fleshed out villain and a more interesting dual POV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: War
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
I feel like Viola and Todd just can't catch a break in this series; this second installment starts with them thrown into a whole new state of constant peril. But I love that this story is totally different from The Knife of Never Letting Go, where the characters are fleeing from the Mayor of Prentisstown. Here they have reached Haven but it does not provide the safety they desperately sought. Instead the pair are thrown onto opposite sides of a war.
It's so clever that Viola and Todd's chapters are written in different fonts, which makes all of the writing feel like their Noise. So the story is told from inside their heads rather than from an objective external source. It makes the different behaviours they encounter from their 'leaders' all the more intriguing; it's clear that Todd doesn't agree with the Mayor (who really ramps up the insidious in this book), but is stuck in his position and has to shut down to cope. But at the same time you can see that Mistress Coyle is not a wholly innocent party acting purely in defence. It really pulls you into the politics and shows how easy it is to become complicit to keep yourself or those you love safe.
As with the first book, this ends on a HUGE cliffhanger where things are clearly all about to go (even more) horribly wrong. Suffice to say I can't wait to read Monsters of Men.
It's so clever that Viola and Todd's chapters are written in different fonts, which makes all of the writing feel like their Noise. So the story is told from inside their heads rather than from an objective external source. It makes the different behaviours they encounter from their 'leaders' all the more intriguing; it's clear that Todd doesn't agree with the Mayor (who really ramps up the insidious in this book), but is stuck in his position and has to shut down to cope. But at the same time you can see that Mistress Coyle is not a wholly innocent party acting purely in defence. It really pulls you into the politics and shows how easy it is to become complicit to keep yourself or those you love safe.
As with the first book, this ends on a HUGE cliffhanger where things are clearly all about to go (even more) horribly wrong. Suffice to say I can't wait to read Monsters of Men.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Misogyny, and Torture
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Rape
queen_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Misogyny, Medical content, and Sexism
Minor: Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Blood, and Genocide
fierceweebadger's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Xenophobia and Genocide
emlela's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Torture, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Sexism
alex_paget's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
abyanismangil's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A bit tropey but kinda vibes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape
slipperygourd's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and War
kkenna7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It took me over a month to read this one because it’s just… tough. It’s a tough read, tough subject matter, tough everything. Some parts got so intense for me at a tumultuous mental health time for me and I had to put it down more than once.
Of course, Patrick Ness continues with the great writing and world building, naturally. It always is. I can’t say I *enjoyed* this necessarily, but objectively it is a good book. It’s just a challenging read. I pushed through so hopefully the finale is well worth it!
Of course, Patrick Ness continues with the great writing and world building, naturally. It always is. I can’t say I *enjoyed* this necessarily, but objectively it is a good book. It’s just a challenging read. I pushed through so hopefully the finale is well worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and War
sneha_m's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: War and Torture
Minor: Medical content