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christinebeswick's review
3.0
This is a complex and sometimes untidy assortment of genres and mythology. It’s a combination of thriller, fantasy, romance, and a fair bit more including crime, punishment and final redemption. As a result, it’s confusing at times, but it's also fascinating, imaginative and well researched. The listless, dreary Purgatory was brilliantly described and very depressing.
At more than 600 pages, this was quite a commitment, but overall, it was worth it - 3.5 stars.
At more than 600 pages, this was quite a commitment, but overall, it was worth it - 3.5 stars.
pao_reynard's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
louloureadsbooks's review against another edition
Dnf at p.74. 1 star for what I've read.
I found this weird (not the good kind of weird, like Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, or Alan Garner's Treacle Walker) and disappointing.
This book definitely casts a feeling when reading it but it's not for me.
It seems slow and all over the place. Perhaps it gathers and culminates into something that makes sense and is exciting but I don't care to put the immense effort in to find out. I can't even summon the interest to read the last few pages.
On a slight tangent, I wish publishers wouldn't plaster gushing comments by other authors and newspapers all over books. In my experience it's often false advertising. It doesn't ever make me want to read the book. The synopsis is what makes me want to read a book. Invariably the gushing quotes are at odds with my reading experience, so much so that I wonder of we've even read the same book. Guardian reckons this book 'ranks alongside His Dark Materials'. Hmm well, that's their opinion and they're entitled to it. My opinion is, the first 74 pages bear no resemblance to HDM, if they did this would be a totally different review and wouldn't have been a dnf.
I found this weird (not the good kind of weird, like Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, or Alan Garner's Treacle Walker) and disappointing.
This book definitely casts a feeling when reading it but it's not for me.
It seems slow and all over the place. Perhaps it gathers and culminates into something that makes sense and is exciting but I don't care to put the immense effort in to find out. I can't even summon the interest to read the last few pages.
On a slight tangent, I wish publishers wouldn't plaster gushing comments by other authors and newspapers all over books. In my experience it's often false advertising. It doesn't ever make me want to read the book. The synopsis is what makes me want to read a book. Invariably the gushing quotes are at odds with my reading experience, so much so that I wonder of we've even read the same book. Guardian reckons this book 'ranks alongside His Dark Materials'. Hmm well, that's their opinion and they're entitled to it. My opinion is, the first 74 pages bear no resemblance to HDM, if they did this would be a totally different review and wouldn't have been a dnf.
partypie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bernie13's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 250 ish pages. This book is so hard to get through I couldn’t tell you what is going on at any point in the book.
spinstah's review
I got about a quarter of the way through this and just kind of lost interest. There’s a point where a lot of things start happening and there’s not quite enough explanation for me, at least so far. I also am not particularly interested in the mystery that’s (somewhat) set up before that point so there was no real driver for me to keep going.
edward528's review against another edition
5.0
Rich, wonderful (as in ‘full of wonder’), challenging, well-written. I kept thinking about it for a long time after I had finished reading it (twice), which is always a good sign.
hebo1987's review against another edition
4.0
Kommer nog ta ett tag att smälta, vissa delar extremt vackra, vissa delar läskiga och andra delar lite långtråkiga. Intressanta karaktärer som verkligen är mångdimensionella. Stark 4 som med fördel läses så sammanhängande som möjligt.
lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely about 250 pages too long.
3 stars because I finished it, but I'm not even sure what happened at the end.
3 stars because I finished it, but I'm not even sure what happened at the end.