Reviews

One Night in Boukos by A.J. Demas

marsali's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jamiereadthis's review against another edition

3.0

A lovely warm-up to Something Human. I like this alt-history world a lot.

susanscribs's review against another edition

4.0

Hard to categorize but intriguing historical fantasy. Not quite a mystery (although someone disappears and the two main characters are allegedly trying to find what happened to him), not quite a romance (the love interests don't show up until halfway through the book although once they appear they play major roles), not quite social commentary (although there are quite a few pointed observations about the culture clash when representatives from a rigid formal country visit a city where statues with giant penises paraded through town are part of an annual holiday).

One Night in Boukos takes a while to get going but once everything starts to come together you appreciate the groundwork that has been laid. Contains several priceless scenes (trying to get something accomplished in a bureaucratic department where you're always waiting in the wrong long is apparently timeless) and a rousing conclusion. I've read both of A.J. Demas' books ([b:Something Human|41100024|Something Human|A.J. Demas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1533932464s/41100024.jpg|64212074] was also very good), and she is definitely on my "authors to watch" list. She has a unique, wry but warm voice and seems capable of both laughing at and caring for her characters.

incrediblefran's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a lovely little book. The worldbuilding is folded neatly into this one unfolding night, seen through the eyes of the two main characters, and discovering the city of Boukos and learning the history of this other world felt completely natural. Marzana and Bedar are delightful main characters, each one allowing us to see a different side to this city and world. There's a warmth and humour throughout, and the central romances (one M/F and one M/M) are both extremely engaging. A quick, diverting read.

kjcharles's review against another edition

I enjoyed this greatly. It isn't quite a fantasy--set in an alt Mediterranean world with very well developed clashing cultures. Not quite a romance--there are two love stories going on, m/f and m/m, but neither takes sufficient prominence to fully qualify. And not quite a detective story, though there is a strong mystery of which the resolution is hilarious. So it does fall slightly between stools in terms of genre expectations, but if you just leave those at the door it's a beautifully written intriguing and immersive story of people trying to get the job done, coping with in some cases fairly crappy hands in life, and finding love and friendship. If you like the Astreiant books by Melissa Scott, and who could not, I suspect you'll love this.

NB the m/m love story is between a eunuch and a 16yo slave prostitute. I think this is handled really well, with cultural context used well but in no way handwaving the situation, still less using it for titillation.

A pleasure to read, and well edited too.