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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
Just binged the show and wanted to start the books because the end of the series in the book is different in the show. But man… the only thing keeping me going through this was my love of Villanelle/Eve. The back of the book says something about ending in a confrontation— they literally never have an interaction except one small part where Villanelle sneaks into her hotel room and watches Eve sleep for a hot sec.
I was really looking forward to a more in-depth depiction of Eve’s and Villanelle’s fascination with one another. I was hoping for some sort of internal monologue from Eve about how she can’t stop thinking about Villanelle and assassins like her. (Something akin to the scene in the show were she lightly stabs herself in the leg because she’s curious how it feels.) Something to get into her brain. Likewise with Villanelle. Nope. All you get is Eve occasionally proclaiming how much she wants to kill Villanelle to her colleagues, and Villanelle is like “she’s my enemy.” Idk if I literally missed a chapter, but for a story about these two women, they barely mention each other.
The third person voice doesn’t help. I feel like I would like it better if the third person was only being used to describe Villanelle’s and Eve’s inner thoughts— JUST them. But there’s a lot of bouncing between other smaller characters’ inner thoughts and it messages with your perception of the story and who you’re supposed to be focused on.
Also, while some character names and situations are different, if you’re wondering where this book ends, it’s like the part where in season 1 they finally learn that Frank is involved/getting money from the Twelve. It overall feels like maybe 2-3 plot points happen and the rest is slow and weird inserts of backstories.
I also didn’t like the writing style at all. The way it jumped time and characters was weird and there was a lot of descriptive imagery and small character backstories that felt like they served no purpose.
I saw another review saying Jennings does more telling that showing and I have to agree. I personally don’t like a ton of descriptive imagery, and he does a lot of that when I’d rather have had more plot. I don’t want the details of each street they’re scootering down and what buildings they pass— I wanna know how they FEEL. And it felt like there was so little of that. Or it was mostly told and not shown.
I know some other people dig these books, and I totally understand/respect that, but it was not my cup of tea at all.
I’m still gonna read the other two because they are short and I already bought them (glad I bought used though). Hopefully it gets better.
I was really looking forward to a more in-depth depiction of Eve’s and Villanelle’s fascination with one another. I was hoping for some sort of internal monologue from Eve about how she can’t stop thinking about Villanelle and assassins like her. (Something akin to the scene in the show were she lightly stabs herself in the leg because she’s curious how it feels.) Something to get into her brain. Likewise with Villanelle. Nope. All you get is Eve occasionally proclaiming how much she wants to kill Villanelle to her colleagues, and Villanelle is like “she’s my enemy.” Idk if I literally missed a chapter, but for a story about these two women, they barely mention each other.
The third person voice doesn’t help. I feel like I would like it better if the third person was only being used to describe Villanelle’s and Eve’s inner thoughts— JUST them. But there’s a lot of bouncing between other smaller characters’ inner thoughts and it messages with your perception of the story and who you’re supposed to be focused on.
Also, while some character names and situations are different, if you’re wondering where this book ends, it’s like the part where in season 1 they finally learn that Frank is involved/getting money from the Twelve. It overall feels like maybe 2-3 plot points happen and the rest is slow and weird inserts of backstories.
I also didn’t like the writing style at all. The way it jumped time and characters was weird and there was a lot of descriptive imagery and small character backstories that felt like they served no purpose.
I saw another review saying Jennings does more telling that showing and I have to agree. I personally don’t like a ton of descriptive imagery, and he does a lot of that when I’d rather have had more plot. I don’t want the details of each street they’re scootering down and what buildings they pass— I wanna know how they FEEL. And it felt like there was so little of that. Or it was mostly told and not shown.
I know some other people dig these books, and I totally understand/respect that, but it was not my cup of tea at all.
I’m still gonna read the other two because they are short and I already bought them (glad I bought used though). Hopefully it gets better.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 but landing on the 3 side. It was OK. It was slightly better than OK. But it's not going to bring my back over and over again.
slow-paced
Content warnings - Transphobia including T-slur, questionable bi-representation
Wow, this was pretty disappointing.
If you've seen the series, stick to the series - it's far better. In every way the show is feminist, this book is anti-feminist. Villanelle's rep feels like it fulfils the 'predatory bi' trope and the way women are written about in this book did make me pretty uncomfortable in general.
Also the book ended on what the author clearly intended to be a cliff hanger but in reality was just the middle of a scene?? Like it just cut off mid conver-
Wow, this was pretty disappointing.
If you've seen the series, stick to the series - it's far better. In every way the show is feminist, this book is anti-feminist. Villanelle's rep feels like it fulfils the 'predatory bi' trope and the way women are written about in this book did make me pretty uncomfortable in general.
Also the book ended on what the author clearly intended to be a cliff hanger but in reality was just the middle of a scene?? Like it just cut off mid conver-
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
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:
Complicated
For once, I actually think I preferred the drama on BBC. I think the book was good, it was quick paced and I love how well Jennings develops two powerful female characters, especially having a carefree female villain. However, I think the filming really leant to this kind of plot, with the evasiveness of Villanelle for example, it just felt better to have us recognise her (and Konstantin) during their various jaunts, rather than having to have them introduced in the book, removing the mystery somewhat.