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booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
SLIPPERY CREATURES is a dynamic story with vivid characters and intimate stakes for a former soldier come bookshop owner who keeps having his calm interrupted.
Normally I cannot stand books where one of the main characters is lying to the other, especially in the context of a relationship. I think what makes the difference is that Will figures out quickly that Kim is lying to him about some pretty important things, even if he doesn't know the precise shape of it for a while. Kim is fascinating as a character, but I would not want to hang around him in person. Will and Kim have a very nice time at their first meeting, but Kim keeps lying to him because he has priorities other than Will and it takes most of the book book to get to a point where Will might be more important to him than his prior commitments. Will for his part wants to know where he stands and wants everyone to stop messing up his life for the sake of something he originally didn’t know it was in his possession and has no desire to hold.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this, I will keep reading the series because I want to know what happens next. Future books seem likely to deal more with Zodiac and the relationship between Kim and Will.
Normally I cannot stand books where one of the main characters is lying to the other, especially in the context of a relationship. I think what makes the difference is that Will figures out quickly that Kim is lying to him about some pretty important things, even if he doesn't know the precise shape of it for a while. Kim is fascinating as a character, but I would not want to hang around him in person. Will and Kim have a very nice time at their first meeting, but Kim keeps lying to him because he has priorities other than Will and it takes most of the book book to get to a point where Will might be more important to him than his prior commitments. Will for his part wants to know where he stands and wants everyone to stop messing up his life for the sake of something he originally didn’t know it was in his possession and has no desire to hold.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this, I will keep reading the series because I want to know what happens next. Future books seem likely to deal more with Zodiac and the relationship between Kim and Will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Confinement, Torture, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
iamamyyyyy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Torture, Homophobia, and Confinement
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, and War
pitsikakku's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and War
jennyoli96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Classism, Death, and Torture
koyotl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
A thoroughly fun romp - I found myself really drawn to Will, the main character, and the many misfortunes that fall upon him. His relationship with Kim is fascinating and I can’t wait to read more about the two of them! The mystery was enjoyable, the witty banter between Will and Kim was delightful, and I don’t know about y’all but I LOVE a capable main lead. Onto the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Torture, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Murder, Blood, Cursing, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
20sidedbi's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Torture
darkmattersoybean's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: War
criticalgayze's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
When talking to a friend on my overall thoughts on the book, I said, "I thought it was fun and pretty cute. I don't think I'm 'in love' with them yet, but I think that's a staple of my feelings on cozy BBC police squad TV shows, too. Takes me a while to feel my groove before I love them." I think this is an accurate expression on where I stand at the end of Slippery Creatures.
Although I think I like the story best at the beginning when it is about an angsty bookseller, this was a very enjoyable book. The men at the core of the story and their "tangential lady acquaintances" were incredibly likable, which is the key component to a book like this. There's back-and-forth and furtive scrambling and fag hag "whispering" to help the men understand each other better. You know. All the key components.
I also think the mystery here is well plotted. There were many moments when I thought, "Is this plot twist not a little too contrived?" or "Is it necessary to have ANOTHER character reversal?," yet Charles manages to make sure the answer is always, Yes.
Again, my only issue here was not yet buzzing on the romance at the book's center, but I have full hopes to being at a full 5-star on the series as a whole by the end of book three.
Quotes:
"Will Darling was outnumbered by books." (Page 1)
"'My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There's never anywhere better to be." (Page 26)
"He went through another box of his uncle's letters at his desk, working mechanically, serving customers out of bloody-mindedness rather than enthusiasm. None of them seemed surprised by his attitude. Maybe he was getting the hang of bookselling." (Page 59)
"Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. 'Cup of tea?'" (Page 72)
"'Nor do I, you corkscrew-tongued bastard. Jesus wept. You could open wine bottles with that.'" (Page 244)
"'It sounds like the start of a joke,' Kim said, and then, a little less waspishly, 'Or at least, a story.'" (Page 246)
"It could be the start of a story or the end of one, Will thought, as they headed out together into the cold, dark street. It could be a farewell, or the foundation of a friendship. It could be an awkward drink in a crowded pub with an upper-class man wound tighter than a neurasthenic's pocket watch, or just possibly something else entirely." (Page 247)
Although I think I like the story best at the beginning when it is about an angsty bookseller, this was a very enjoyable book. The men at the core of the story and their "tangential lady acquaintances" were incredibly likable, which is the key component to a book like this. There's back-and-forth and furtive scrambling and fag hag "whispering" to help the men understand each other better. You know. All the key components.
I also think the mystery here is well plotted. There were many moments when I thought, "Is this plot twist not a little too contrived?" or "Is it necessary to have ANOTHER character reversal?," yet Charles manages to make sure the answer is always, Yes.
Again, my only issue here was not yet buzzing on the romance at the book's center, but I have full hopes to being at a full 5-star on the series as a whole by the end of book three.
Quotes:
"Will Darling was outnumbered by books." (Page 1)
"'My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There's never anywhere better to be." (Page 26)
"He went through another box of his uncle's letters at his desk, working mechanically, serving customers out of bloody-mindedness rather than enthusiasm. None of them seemed surprised by his attitude. Maybe he was getting the hang of bookselling." (Page 59)
"Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. 'Cup of tea?'" (Page 72)
"'Nor do I, you corkscrew-tongued bastard. Jesus wept. You could open wine bottles with that.'" (Page 244)
"'It sounds like the start of a joke,' Kim said, and then, a little less waspishly, 'Or at least, a story.'" (Page 246)
"It could be the start of a story or the end of one, Will thought, as they headed out together into the cold, dark street. It could be a farewell, or the foundation of a friendship. It could be an awkward drink in a crowded pub with an upper-class man wound tighter than a neurasthenic's pocket watch, or just possibly something else entirely." (Page 247)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement
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