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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
So where to begin with this review? I, like many was drawn to the new smart, funny and very stylish Killing Eve program (possibly my new favourite program!) and when I found it was based on a series of novels I was very keen to read them.
However, I think this is one of the rare occasions when the book is not better than the film. That is not to say that the novel has little going for it but the treatment of it in transfer to the program has left little remaining of the original in terms of both content and particularly style.
It is certainly not fair to make a comparison of the two formats of this story but when the program is so individualistic in its production and has been a very definite draw to the novel for me it is hard not to make those comparisons.
The novel is fine, but reads like a fairly standard modern spy thriller but for the Kingsman and Game of Thrones generation. The fact that the main characters are both women is what sets it apart but other than that, there is very little new in this publication. The locations are good and well described but although quite a lot of backstory is provided for the characters (particularly Villanelle) they remain surprisingly two-dimensional.
Having said that, I enjoyed the novel well enough but had I not been attempting to fill in the blanks (possibly intentionally left by the program) or to spot the differences between the two formats I don’t know that I would have found this particularly satisfying.
However, I think this is one of the rare occasions when the book is not better than the film. That is not to say that the novel has little going for it but the treatment of it in transfer to the program has left little remaining of the original in terms of both content and particularly style.
It is certainly not fair to make a comparison of the two formats of this story but when the program is so individualistic in its production and has been a very definite draw to the novel for me it is hard not to make those comparisons.
The novel is fine, but reads like a fairly standard modern spy thriller but for the Kingsman and Game of Thrones generation. The fact that the main characters are both women is what sets it apart but other than that, there is very little new in this publication. The locations are good and well described but although quite a lot of backstory is provided for the characters (particularly Villanelle) they remain surprisingly two-dimensional.
Having said that, I enjoyed the novel well enough but had I not been attempting to fill in the blanks (possibly intentionally left by the program) or to spot the differences between the two formats I don’t know that I would have found this particularly satisfying.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
I don't really know how to review this book because it's not really a full book. It ends on a cliffhanger and doesn't really deliver full arcs for either of it's main character. I guess it's good I've seen the TV show, because I know what happens next, so I don't feel as cheated. Aside from the truncated narrative, it was fine, I guess. It's not nearly as compelling as the first season of Killing Eve. The characters aren't as compelling and the story, though it moves quickly, is not really that interesting (maybe it would be if it had more of a second half).
Decent intrigue and was able to root for both main characters. Not sure I’ll follow up on book two
3.5 stars rounded up. Review to come, but I’ll say that while I enjoyed it, this is one case of the tv show outshining the book.
ETA: I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'd feel about this book if I hadn't watched the tv series. I think it's both a plus and a minus. My enjoyment was definitely helped by the fact that I had Sandra Oh's Eve and Jodie Comer's Villanelle in my mind, strengthening those characters. The tv show took things in different directions here and there, so while I could recognize some familiar beats in the book, the details were different and there were still surprises. But in most cases, I thought the tv show made more interesting choices. And I was disappointed that Book!Eve's obsession with Book!Villanelle was fueled more by revenge than fascination. Maybe that will change in future books as the story continues?
Honestly, I probably would give this 3 stars if I didn't love the tv show so much, but it was nice getting to read about Eve and Villanelle while I'm over here impatiently waiting for Season 3!
[Having said all of that, I do have to mention there is one use of a trans slur that I won't state here, but it was jarring and offensive and so unnecessary that I can not figure out why it was used. It didn't even seem in character for the person who thought it (it's not said aloud, but still, I had to read the dang thing.) I was all set to cheer for a trans-inclusive sex scene and then that happened. Ugh.]
ETA: I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'd feel about this book if I hadn't watched the tv series. I think it's both a plus and a minus. My enjoyment was definitely helped by the fact that I had Sandra Oh's Eve and Jodie Comer's Villanelle in my mind, strengthening those characters. The tv show took things in different directions here and there, so while I could recognize some familiar beats in the book, the details were different and there were still surprises. But in most cases, I thought the tv show made more interesting choices. And I was disappointed that Book!Eve's obsession with Book!Villanelle was fueled more by revenge than fascination. Maybe that will change in future books as the story continues?
Honestly, I probably would give this 3 stars if I didn't love the tv show so much, but it was nice getting to read about Eve and Villanelle while I'm over here impatiently waiting for Season 3!
[Having said all of that, I do have to mention there is one use of a trans slur that I won't state here, but it was jarring and offensive and so unnecessary that I can not figure out why it was used. It didn't even seem in character for the person who thought it (it's not said aloud, but still, I had to read the dang thing.) I was all set to cheer for a trans-inclusive sex scene and then that happened. Ugh.]
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
women’s wrongs personified. and she was right to do it !