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randanopterix'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
5.0
It’s heists are genius in their construction, the characters are insanely loveable, the dialogue is realistic and hilarious, and the relationships built between the cast are surprisingly heartwarming. Now, if you think the stakes are high 100 pages in, friend, I hope you’re ready to be stressed as FUCK because the stakes only get higher and higher.
I’m obsessed with this book, not much more to say past that.
Tagging the rest of this review as spoilers as it’s pretty much going to include notes from my annotations:
• Jean Tannen is a murderous, sensitive, smart, fat king and I hope he lives to be 200 and the rest of his life full of happiness and joy.
• Locke is a terrible little rat of a man who I desperately want to be happy. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, king.
• Calo and Galdo, real ones. Y’all didn’t deserve any of that.
• Bug absolutely fucking broke me. Heartbroken. The worst part was that I read up to Calo and Galdo’s death when I had to clock out from work. I had the whole ride home to be shattered about them and scheme about how Bug, Jean, and Locke were gonna take revenge before I finally got home to read the rest of the chapter….
• WHERE. IS. SABETHA.
• Bondsmagi OP, plz nerf /s
• Doña Vorchenza keeps taking those L’s.
• Let me preface this by saying that I LOVED the way women were written and portrayed in this book. Absolutely none of it was patronizing or unrealistic and they were all distinct characters capable of the same level of cunning and brutality as any of their male counterparts. THAT BEING SAID: Was a little disappointed that the two women characters who had potential to be a part of the main crew as it were (Nazca and Sabetha) were neatly folded up and put away for the majority of the novel. Hoping I get to know what the deal is w Sabetha in the next book because she didn’t even show up in the flashback portions of this one and it made her feel like she wasn’t even a part of the Bastards…
• The bank scene is genuinely one of the most insane, most clever, and most hilarious things I’ve ever read. POOR BENJAVIER.
• I was on the toilet during the scene where Locke speaks Bug’s true name and let me tell you, crying heartily about that while pooping was not my most dignified moment.
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Murder, Child death, Cursing, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Trafficking, and Slavery
Minor: Abandonment, Classism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, War, and Drug abuse
anniereads221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
lotten4's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Gore, Kidnapping, Child death, Grief, Blood, Death, Vomit, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Genocide and Trafficking
claire_baco'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
wolfthorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There's a major twist about halfway through that I didn't anticipate, and the second half of the book contains several other twists and various thrilling incidents which really made it exciting reading. It's quite a long read and I didn't really get into it until a third of the way in, but after that point, I was hooked. There were several moments throughout the last third when I realised what Locke's plan or intention was, and seeing how it all came together was most joyous. It's definitely one that you have to stay with, but I think it's worth it. I could write a really lengthy review of the plot in great detail because I was just so taken with it but that would be too much. The characterisations are great, although I didn't like Locke at first because he seemed to be too smug and perfect, but I soon found out that he wasn't like that at all. It was nice for him to have definite flaws, he might be intelligent and great at disguises, but he can't fight with fists or sword to save his life. Literally. The amount of times he got beaten up!
The world building itself is outstanding. The religion and system of 13 gods is very detailed and complex, and having it link in with the calendar so that years are named after the gods all ties together incredibly well. The class system, the economy, and justice system are all well laid out. I loved the detail regarding clothing and how that indicated a person's status. Locke's eye for style, fabrics, and colours suits the time and place, particularly with it being based loosely on 16-17th century Venice.
The main plot of the book is all finished off quite nicely, but I was still left with so many questions about the world, its history with the Elderglass and previous inhabitants; what happened to Chains and Sabetha; and, most importantly, what will Locke and Jean do next??
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
vittorioseg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The plot were very well crafted, the story polished and the action tense and so very vivid. Its truly a heist story with mastermind against mastermind for the right of life and vengeance.
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Gore, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
The story its has some strong white american misoginy on its background. I think only two female characters where not reduced in a sexual way or sexualized inapropiely and one of them was a 70 year old. Its not in your face and it seems at face value to be quite egalitarian, until your realize that 99% of the women presented are: dumb muscle, whore, seductress and/or tragic victim. But its not graphic and I think its mostly unseen by the author in his type of writing, like say Asimov (but without being a piece of shit in real life) or say Marvel directors. Besides that, it can be a little hard the sheer spike it gets into the dark side of murder, betrayal and torture that it get in the second half.elizabeth_lepore's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Torture, and Violence
mscalls's review
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
redthistle'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
It's a criminal underworld, con artist, swashbuckling, found family masterpiece. The characters are amazing and the plot kept me guessing. I absolutely fell in love with Locke and his band of Gentleman Bastards.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
feedmefiction'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Vomit