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hobbithopeful'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? It's complicated
4.5
Aden Polydoros wows in this gripping tale about the demons inside all of us, and the consequences of guilt.
Set in Chicago in the 1890s Alter works himself to the bone, numbers running through his head all day as he saves up to bring his Mother and sisters over from Romania. His plans become derailed when his best friend is found dead, and soon he finds himself embroiled in the mystery of missing and dead Jewish boys. To make matters worse he has become possessed by Yakov's dybbuk, his past has come back to haunt him, and it seems his only solution is to ask his ex friend Frankie for help. (Frankie who is doing very well for himself with his mini crime empire, overall attractiveness, and assimilation into "American ways")
Please check your trigger warnings, as this does go to dark places. (It's worth it, I promise!)
I loved how incredibly honest and angry this book was. Every page just felt raw, not in an unpolished and unedited way, but as if the author was baring his heart and soul for us to see, his emotions bleeding through every page and character. (Seriously y'all, you can feel the rage and injustice) I saw so much of myself in so many of the characters, but most of all Frankie. I wanted to scream at the police officers who refused to help, and when
I honestly went in with pretty low expectations after reading The Bone Weaver, and to say this book blew me away was an understatement. The City Beautiful has won a ton of awards, and rightfully so.
The only reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is I felt it kinda slowed down near the end. It was all going so well and great and then
I highly recommend this book, and with a renewed interest in the author, I look forward to what he will write next.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
novella42's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Homophobia, Child death, Hate crime, Grief, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Antisemitism, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence
leahkarge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Child death, Blood, Classism, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
jessthepiratess'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
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Gore, Racism, Antisemitism, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Police brutality, Suicide, and Homophobia
lanid's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Antisemitism and Body horror
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Religious bigotry
clovelatte'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
tiredcath'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? No
5.0
The City Beautiful is set in 1893 Chicago, this is unlike any story I've ever encountered. It's gripping, intense, dark, and almost horrifying at times but still warm and loving. Aden Polydoros crafts a story that is not only scary but beautiful. I fell deeply in love with this book by the first couple of pages. The world is atmospheric and deep with culture, the fantasy aspects feel rich.
I was completely invested in the mystery and murders. Where I feel some mystery's drag, The City Beautiful never feels tiring. It's gripping and fast, you're never without action or character development. Every page is needed, every scene is important in either information, culture, or growth- sometimes a mixture of all three. I really like how much you're able to learn about Jewish culture and traditions, as well as the hardships they've had to face. There's a lot of anti-Semitism. A lot. It's tough to read but necessary.
The first layer of this story is a mystery. The second layer is love. There's a good balance between the two. You never feel the novel switch genres to incorporate either one but they're woven together to create a great story and great characters.
Alter is an incredible lead, perfect shoes for the reader to slide into. You easily sympathize with his story and truly root for him. You understand his struggles. And Frankie, truly a lovely and complex character. The chemistry between them is undeniable and believable. Both characters have faults, but none of them are out of place. Their actions and decisions are grounded by their past experiences. When you can completely understand a character's actions without being in their head- that makes for good writing.
I loved this book completely. Aden Polydoros wrote a story that will stand the test of time. Everyone should ready The City Beautiful. I want to read it again for crying out loud. It's beautiful and heartbreaking with bits that make you want to cry and bits that make you want to scream. The writing is rich with imaginary and alive. Go, go, go read this!
Thank you to Netgally, Inkyard Press for allowing me this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Graphic: Antisemitism and Racism
Moderate: Rape and Violence
melaniereadsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When Alter's roommate ends up dead during the World's Fair in 1893 Chicago, Alter knows that it wasn't the accident the police are claiming it was. A string of deaths and disappearances of young Jewish boys are cropping up over the city. To make matters worse, ever since his friend's death, Alter has been experiencing hallucinations and black outs that leave all-too-real marks on his body. He is determined to find out what really happened and put his friend's spirit to rest.
Wow, this book was mysterious and tense throughout! It took me a little ways to get into it, but once I did I was completely addicted! Alter is such a sympathetic character and I loved following his point of view as he discovered what was really going on in the City. I also....I am in love with Frankie. I'm sorry, but he is perfect. He is like.... a slightly-less-traumatized Kaz Brekker but also gay. Yup. I'm in love.
The prose in this book was beautiful and I truly loved it!
Pub Date: Oct 5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Hate crime
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Genocide, Death of parent, Rape, and Pedophilia
kayladaila's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Physical abuse