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filia_secunda's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
3.75
Very fun old-fashioned historical adventure (think Kim by Rudyard Kipling or Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson), written with some new-fashioned ideas that rarely feel out-of-place or annoying. You can tell the author has done his research, and he may be stretching history a bit but isn't breaking it. If you accept the right historical theories it's really possible that these wacky far-flung characters could all meet, all adventure together, and all be Jewish. Loved the prose too - it's the long ornate sentences that are proper for this kind of old-timey action-adventure novel, and it rarely has the clumsiness it might have in the hands of some modern-day writers. The author's afterword where he talks about the nature of adventure, the confusion some people felt at a "literary" author writing a book like this, and the reactions to thebook's working title (Jews with Swords) is to die for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Slavery
a1exander's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Gore
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, and Rape
shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to love this book, and I spent the first two thirds doing just that. The characters are wonderfully written, the setting (both immediate ad wider) is so well written out, the writing is beautiful, the pace and tone is wonderfully crafted.
But then we get to theFilaq is a girl plot twist in front of everyone, and that's when things started to go downhill. I don't think this plot element inherently couldn't work. I think the groundwork laid by having Amram compare Filaq to his daughter does a lot of work there, and her preparation to pose as a boy the rest of her life is an interesting element. But ultimately, there's not enough. We don't get enough about Filaq's thoughts and perspective on matters. We don't really know Filaq outside motivation. And the part where Filaq is raped by the baddie was bad enough, but having Zelikman and Filaq have sex for basically no reason after that just felt awful and put such a bad taste in my mouth, especially with Amram having called Filaq a child through so much of it. And the specific note about Filaq "carrying the seed of a king" just felt even more unnecessary and gross. I can't bring myself to give this book only one star, but those elements really ruined what is otherwise a wonderful story for me.
But then we get to the
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Misogyny, Mental illness, Slavery, War, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
cgracec's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Murder
erica_palmisano's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The audiobook is narrated by Andre Braugher, so already that's amazing. The story is interesting and novel – I haven't explore Eastern Europe in the 10th century much before. The author's note at the end provides interesting context. The story isn't my favorite in parts, but it's got sections I really enjoy. It's just tough with the amount of misogyny portrayed to enjoy certain aspects of the tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Minor: Torture and Animal cruelty
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