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dazzy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death
caroline_jane20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Brilliantly written, totally engrossing, surprisingly heart-rending. For anyone who really, truly, believes in the power of a story.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: War
jessicamcfarland's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Slavery
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
When I saw Glorious Exploits, my first thought was, "I don't need another mythology retelling in my life," and moved on. Thankfully, I started paying actual attention to the reviews since this is not a mythology retelling, and I very much needed it in my reading life. Glorious Exploits is set in Syracuse, Sicily, during the Pelopponesian War. The Greeks attempted an invasion but were repelled, and now thousands of Athenian prisoners of war are being held in fairly appalling conditions in an old rock quarry. One day, two unemployed potters head to the quarry and offer food to any prisoner who can quote them a few lines from Euripedes. Somehow, this morphs into the two planning to stage an increasingly elaborate performance of Medea, with the Athenian prisoners as the cast.
I loved the freshness and energy of this story, which was enhanced by the decision to have the Syracusian characters speak a distinctly modern Irish vernacular. There was a definite political point to this choice, but, as a bonus, it also made the audio a real pleasure. The characterisation was excellent, particularly the juxtaposition between Gelon, brooding and despondent following the death of his son and departure of his wife, and Lampo, more of a lovable rogue, very devil-may-care. At least he is initially. For Lampo forges a connection with one of the Athenian prisoners, which really shakes him out of his complacency, particularly after the performance goes horrifically wrong, leading him to undertake some serious risks for the slim chance of saving this man's life. This was one of the story's highlights for me, and one with a lesson for readers. Getting to know people as individuals rather than as a group of feared "other" - refugees/migrants/ perhaps newly released prisoners in a nearby halfway house - can really change how you perceive them and highlights the commonalities between you and them. There are plenty of serious topics, such as power imbalances, exploitation, and unifying power of the arts, canvassed in this novel.They are never explored in detail - this mostly a light-hearted blokey caper than morphs into a more serious charcter led drama - but they are there for a reader to note and consider. Memorable characters plus a fresh, fun feel albeit with some underlying substance combined to make Glorious Exploits a winner for me.
Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: War
sadhbhprice's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Torture, War, and Classism
fuguballoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
A really good book for these times, when things in the world are terrible, life is not fair, and all you can do is make art.
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
skyfluff's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Slavery, and War
lydiesquid's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder