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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
After watching Killing Eve and being so devastated by its ending, I felt I just had to read the book. After reading several reviews prior, I had very little expectation. While I may never read its sequels, I don't think this book deserves ALL of the flak that it gets. I definitely give credit to anyone who dislikes the book for all of its weird sexuality--I would be willing to state that Villanelle has sex at least once every time in her point-of-view. Sometimes, it felt a bit like Luke Jennings's fantasies. Regardless, for what this book is, a mystery/crime book, it served its purpose well enough. Being a short read, it was easy to get through and fast-paced.
If you just want to read more of Villanelle and Eve's nonsense, I can recommend. Although, I'll warn that they do not properly meet each other in this installment.
If you just want to read more of Villanelle and Eve's nonsense, I can recommend. Although, I'll warn that they do not properly meet each other in this installment.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
+.5 because everyone who knows me knows i love villanelle
Very different than the show, but I honestly like this book better than the series. Not sure if I will continue the series because my library does not have the other audiobooks, and I am not interested enough to read the other books myself, but I did enjoy this first book and comparing it to the changes the show made.
I picked up this book with the intention of starting the show based off the works, hearing wonderful things from a lot of people. The book, however, took several turns I wasn't a fan of. All the characters felt hollow and void, which works well for an assassin, not so much for your protagonists. For a little more than 200 pages, I'd say at least an eighth turned into smut with graphic sex scenes (I'm no prude, but even I felt this was overkill). I might still watch the show to compare, but the book left a lot to be desired.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
how did phoebe waller-bridge make a masterpiece out of this??
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Prior to reading Codename Villanelle, I watched all four seasons of the TV adaptation which I loved. I wasn't aware there was a book(s) written prior to the show. I was recommended the book series because apparently, they were better than the adaptation. I decided to give this book a chance, and it took me f o r e v e r to read.
Villanelle's backstory was glued to the beginning of the book, instead of being spread throughout. I found this interesting because we learn about her in great detail, however it ends up dragging on. Her entire personality consists of killing and having sex. It takes a while for Eve to be introduced, and even then, we don't find out much about her. All the characters, including Eve and Villanelle, are one dimensional. It was difficult to relate to or feel for them.
The plot, minus Villanelle's long intro-backstory, was rushed and seemed to jump from descriptions of how beautiful Villanelle is, how Eve doesn't care about her appearance, murder, and often unnecessary sex scenes. I have no issue with sex scenes but again, it seemed to be Villanelle's entire personality.
Without knowing who the author is, you can just tell the book is written by a man-no hate to Luke Jennings.
Disappointing :( 2.5 rating
Villanelle's backstory was glued to the beginning of the book, instead of being spread throughout. I found this interesting because we learn about her in great detail, however it ends up dragging on. Her entire personality consists of killing and having sex. It takes a while for Eve to be introduced, and even then, we don't find out much about her. All the characters, including Eve and Villanelle, are one dimensional. It was difficult to relate to or feel for them.
The plot, minus Villanelle's long intro-backstory, was rushed and seemed to jump from descriptions of how beautiful Villanelle is, how Eve doesn't care about her appearance, murder, and often unnecessary sex scenes. I have no issue with sex scenes but again, it seemed to be Villanelle's entire personality.
Without knowing who the author is, you can just tell the book is written by a man-no hate to Luke Jennings.
Disappointing :( 2.5 rating
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
had low expectations, yet this book still disappointed me. The plot, characters, tension, and pacing just didn’t work.