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floww's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
At the age of eight both Hope and Red were left as orphans, albeit in very different circumstances.
After watching her entire village used as an experiment by a biomancer—“Mystics of biology. They can take living creatures and change them”—the child who comes to be known as Bleak Hope (named after her fallen village) stows away on a merchant ship and, once discovered, is sent to the island of Galemoor where the Vinchen warriors reside.
Grandteacher Hurlo the Cunning sees something in Hope that causes him to forego the ancient rules of the Vinchen and he begins to secretly train her in their ways. Using the skills she learns from Hurlo’s teachings, as well as picking up skills from others along her journey, Hope knows that vengeance for her slain village will someday be hers for the taking.
On the other end of the spectrum we have Red whose nickname comes from the red eyes he was born with due to his mother’s addiction to Coral Spice (an addiction which would later aid in her death). After Red’s father also dies, he finds himself running on the streets of Paradise Circle. A chance encounter with infamous con-woman Sadie the Goat starts Red on a life of piracy and thieving. His name is known far and wide in New Laven, but when Red realizes his thievery only hurts those in the Circle, he set his sights on thwarting the Imperial Guard.
When Hope and Red’s paths cross, they realize their goals share common ground. The Empire has no idea what’s in store for them.
Hope & Red is one of those stories where I finish and I don’t want to start anything else, I wish the next book was out already because I just want to stay enmeshed in this world. I wasn’t really expecting all the swashbuckling piracy that’s littered throughout the story, but I loved it.
But probably best off all is the fact that the awesome action sequences don’t overshadow the heart of the story. There’s just enough room for Red’s tender-heartedness and romantic notions as there is for the violence and gore. It makes the story feel really well balanced, not skewing too far to one side or the other.
The way the story is constructed is great as well. The plot starts off shifting perspectives from Hope to Red and back again from the time they’re eight to ten years later at eighteen. It was really interesting to see these two characters from seemingly different backgrounds, grow up in different ways with different ideals, and later come together with the same goals and, really, the same convictions. Just because Red is a thief he’s not painted outright as a villain. Just as because Hope is a dedicated warrior with a code doesn’t make her supremely the good girl. They both bring out new perspectives in one another that each were lacking when they were on their own.
The only downside for me in this story was that it seemed to drag on a little towards the end. I felt as though there were a few too many confrontations before we actually got to the big showdown. But, alas, once we do get there, of course, Jon Skovron knows how to make readers beg for more. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book, and not only for the situations in which our characters are left, but for the fact that I know they’ll come out swinging.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
At the age of eight both Hope and Red were left as orphans, albeit in very different circumstances.
After watching her entire village used as an experiment by a biomancer—“Mystics of biology. They can take living creatures and change them”—the child who comes to be known as Bleak Hope (named after her fallen village) stows away on a merchant ship and, once discovered, is sent to the island of Galemoor where the Vinchen warriors reside.
Grandteacher Hurlo the Cunning sees something in Hope that causes him to forego the ancient rules of the Vinchen and he begins to secretly train her in their ways. Using the skills she learns from Hurlo’s teachings, as well as picking up skills from others along her journey, Hope knows that vengeance for her slain village will someday be hers for the taking.
On the other end of the spectrum we have Red whose nickname comes from the red eyes he was born with due to his mother’s addiction to Coral Spice (an addiction which would later aid in her death). After Red’s father also dies, he finds himself running on the streets of Paradise Circle. A chance encounter with infamous con-woman Sadie the Goat starts Red on a life of piracy and thieving. His name is known far and wide in New Laven, but when Red realizes his thievery only hurts those in the Circle, he set his sights on thwarting the Imperial Guard.
When Hope and Red’s paths cross, they realize their goals share common ground. The Empire has no idea what’s in store for them.
Hope & Red is one of those stories where I finish and I don’t want to start anything else, I wish the next book was out already because I just want to stay enmeshed in this world. I wasn’t really expecting all the swashbuckling piracy that’s littered throughout the story, but I loved it.
But probably best off all is the fact that the awesome action sequences don’t overshadow the heart of the story. There’s just enough room for Red’s tender-heartedness and romantic notions as there is for the violence and gore. It makes the story feel really well balanced, not skewing too far to one side or the other.
The way the story is constructed is great as well. The plot starts off shifting perspectives from Hope to Red and back again from the time they’re eight to ten years later at eighteen. It was really interesting to see these two characters from seemingly different backgrounds, grow up in different ways with different ideals, and later come together with the same goals and, really, the same convictions. Just because Red is a thief he’s not painted outright as a villain. Just as because Hope is a dedicated warrior with a code doesn’t make her supremely the good girl. They both bring out new perspectives in one another that each were lacking when they were on their own.
The only downside for me in this story was that it seemed to drag on a little towards the end. I felt as though there were a few too many confrontations before we actually got to the big showdown. But, alas, once we do get there, of course, Jon Skovron knows how to make readers beg for more. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book, and not only for the situations in which our characters are left, but for the fact that I know they’ll come out swinging.
chlcrc617's review against another edition
3.0
This was a competent enough book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it since I finished it.
It has the tropes of modern YA fantasy - pirate-ing, a mysterious super stoic, super competent girl (Hope), a thief (Red), some mentors, and some bigger plot lurking in the background. It begins with the childhood of said Hope and Red and moves into the main plot that happens when they're somewhere in the 16-20 age range. Frankly speaking it's really hard to grasp the passage of time in this book, so I'm just not sure where they land age-wise. Despite covering all this ground with time, it doesn't really connect you to the characters. Skovron tries to add in some depth to Red that you read more about by the end, but it feels superficial then.
While I won't claim to be an editor, I think the heavy-handed focus for a number of chapters on the childhood really was the detractor and it left the book unbalanced. All that space could have been used far better... for example, on the empire. The pacing moves quickly enough through the plot, but if not for the speed, it would definitely feel far less connected and cohesive. It feels a bit ramshackled together. It feels a bit like an aimless narrative and then "Oh right we need a big plot here. Everything is now right here to make this happen!"
The characters aren't quite one dimensional, but they're not hyper compelling. Red is definitely far more thought out than Hope. Weirdly though Hope is definitely the one with a clear plot and arc - Red is just basically along for the ride figuring things out, but his POV is simply more compelling to read because it's less bland. So it's a weird balance and it doesn't quite even out, like the pacing mentioned above.
Not terrible, not great. Probably won't read the sequel because I left this novel just not caring.
It has the tropes of modern YA fantasy - pirate-ing, a mysterious super stoic, super competent girl (Hope), a thief (Red), some mentors, and some bigger plot lurking in the background. It begins with the childhood of said Hope and Red and moves into the main plot that happens when they're somewhere in the 16-20 age range. Frankly speaking it's really hard to grasp the passage of time in this book, so I'm just not sure where they land age-wise. Despite covering all this ground with time, it doesn't really connect you to the characters. Skovron tries to add in some depth to Red that you read more about by the end, but it feels superficial then.
While I won't claim to be an editor, I think the heavy-handed focus for a number of chapters on the childhood really was the detractor and it left the book unbalanced. All that space could have been used far better... for example, on the empire.
Spoiler
The biomancers are posed as the big evil, and a bait and switch is attempted at the end with "there's some bigger lurking Evil that we're actually fighting." Somewhere. Maybe. We don't really get a hint at what that could be which would have been nice. We don't know enough about the biomancers to know if they're just lying. In all honesty, I don't care enough to read the next book to find out.The characters aren't quite one dimensional, but they're not hyper compelling. Red is definitely far more thought out than Hope. Weirdly though Hope is definitely the one with a clear plot and arc - Red is just basically along for the ride figuring things out, but his POV is simply more compelling to read because it's less bland. So it's a weird balance and it doesn't quite even out, like the pacing mentioned above.
Not terrible, not great. Probably won't read the sequel because I left this novel just not caring.
bailo2's review against another edition
4.0
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I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, and I was even less sure when I started reading. It took me a while to get settled into the world, and here's why: this book is Pirates of the Caribbean meets the Godfather meets Elektra meets I-don't-even-know-what.
Say what?!
This book is the ultimate combination of pirates and ninjas with a fantastical, slightly sci-fi twist. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out. But to Skovron's credit, it totally did.
As a young child, a girl witnesses the horrifying massacre at the hands of the Empire's biomancers, mages capable of manipulating living materials. Traumatized and orphaned, she is taken in by a group of warrior monks called Vinchen and secretly trained in their ways despite females being forbidden from the Vinchen order. Unable to recall her own name, the monks give her the name Bleak Hope in honor of her destroyed village.
In another part of the empire, an eight year old boy finds himself orphaned by drugs and illnesses, forcing him out into the slums. He is discovered by the criminal Sadie the Goat, who recognizes his cleverness. takes him aboard her crew and calls him Red for his red eyes as a result of his mother's drug use during his pregnancy. Sadie teaches Red the ways of a wag, to fight, steal, and throw knives. Red grows up, esteeming to be the greatest thief in Paradise Circle.
We follow Hope and Red's individual stories till they converge when the two are older. They're both interesting characters, but follow familiar archetypes. Bleak Hope is the perfect name for our female heroine. She is stoic, solemn, and honorable. She's obsessed with the vow she's taken to avenge her village. Some might find her a bit lackluster since she's not your typical saucy, sarcastic woman that we often see in the warrior female lead roles. Personally, I'm a such a softie when it comes to stories about women taking on men's roles. And let's remember that she is a ninja after all: you know, quiet but deadly. Red, on the other hand, is the charismatic thief with a heart of gold. He's definitely the funnier one of the pair, but they end up complementing each other and making a great dynamic duo. Naturally,
While the pair can at times come off as "Mary and Gary Stu" with their mad skills and ability to overcome insurmountable tasks, I think what sells it was the world building. With the crazy mix of plot elements and tropes, Jon Skovron is able to pull it off by building a world that neatly connects them together and makes it believable. He creates rich cultures, social classes, and even an impressive vocabulary of unique lingo and curses; though be warned, crude references to genitalia are common in the dialogue.
The real reason I rated this a 4 star as opposed to a 5 was that the plot structure seemed a bit wonky to me, like the book almost should've been split into two parts. The plot structure I was always taught in English was: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. This seemed to happen a few times within the book.
I'd be reading along and something crazy would be happening. I'm staring at my Kindle screen, saying to myself, "Oh my gosh, this is crazy, this has to be the climax of the story! Oh wait, I'm only 57% through the book..." This may have happened a few times, which drove me a little nuts. I feel that perhaps emotionally I might've felt a deeper connection to the Hope and Red if the book had been split in half.
But, I will say the ending note that the book left off on was surprising, totally unexpected, and left me anxious to see what happens next.
All in all, I call that a success! The book is being released on Tuesday, so go out and get it!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, and I was even less sure when I started reading. It took me a while to get settled into the world, and here's why: this book is Pirates of the Caribbean meets the Godfather meets Elektra meets I-don't-even-know-what.
Say what?!
This book is the ultimate combination of pirates and ninjas with a fantastical, slightly sci-fi twist. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out. But to Skovron's credit, it totally did.
As a young child, a girl witnesses the horrifying massacre at the hands of the Empire's biomancers, mages capable of manipulating living materials. Traumatized and orphaned, she is taken in by a group of warrior monks called Vinchen and secretly trained in their ways despite females being forbidden from the Vinchen order. Unable to recall her own name, the monks give her the name Bleak Hope in honor of her destroyed village.
In another part of the empire, an eight year old boy finds himself orphaned by drugs and illnesses, forcing him out into the slums. He is discovered by the criminal Sadie the Goat, who recognizes his cleverness. takes him aboard her crew and calls him Red for his red eyes as a result of his mother's drug use during his pregnancy. Sadie teaches Red the ways of a wag, to fight, steal, and throw knives. Red grows up, esteeming to be the greatest thief in Paradise Circle.
We follow Hope and Red's individual stories till they converge when the two are older. They're both interesting characters, but follow familiar archetypes. Bleak Hope is the perfect name for our female heroine. She is stoic, solemn, and honorable. She's obsessed with the vow she's taken to avenge her village. Some might find her a bit lackluster since she's not your typical saucy, sarcastic woman that we often see in the warrior female lead roles. Personally, I'm a such a softie when it comes to stories about women taking on men's roles. And let's remember that she is a ninja after all: you know, quiet but deadly. Red, on the other hand, is the charismatic thief with a heart of gold. He's definitely the funnier one of the pair, but they end up complementing each other and making a great dynamic duo. Naturally,
Spoiler
there's also a romance element between the two, but it wasn't all soppy and gross, thank goodness.While the pair can at times come off as "Mary and Gary Stu" with their mad skills and ability to overcome insurmountable tasks, I think what sells it was the world building. With the crazy mix of plot elements and tropes, Jon Skovron is able to pull it off by building a world that neatly connects them together and makes it believable. He creates rich cultures, social classes, and even an impressive vocabulary of unique lingo and curses; though be warned, crude references to genitalia are common in the dialogue.
The real reason I rated this a 4 star as opposed to a 5 was that the plot structure seemed a bit wonky to me, like the book almost should've been split into two parts. The plot structure I was always taught in English was: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. This seemed to happen a few times within the book.
I'd be reading along and something crazy would be happening. I'm staring at my Kindle screen, saying to myself, "Oh my gosh, this is crazy, this has to be the climax of the story! Oh wait, I'm only 57% through the book..." This may have happened a few times, which drove me a little nuts. I feel that perhaps emotionally I might've felt a deeper connection to the Hope and Red if the book had been split in half.
But, I will say the ending note that the book left off on was surprising, totally unexpected, and left me anxious to see what happens next.
All in all, I call that a success! The book is being released on Tuesday, so go out and get it!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
hank's review against another edition
2.0
50% DNF. My cutoff standard for rating it. The writing was stilted, the transitions from one part to another jerky and beginner-ish. The characters lacked depth and although the world was intriguing, it failed to overcome the other flaws.
kurostar88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-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
dearestdorian's review against another edition
5.0
So much fun!
Hope and Red is an adult fantasy book, but it has the economy of style and fast-paced writing that YA is known for. I was instantly attached to every character - Sadie the Pirate Queen! Red the artistic orphan! Bleak Hope, a trainee warrior with the coolest name ever! Nettles! Filler! Hurlo! Brigga Lin! Awesome, awesome, awesome.
I read this book more than a week ago, and I still remember character names without having to look them up. That's rare. That means this book left an impression on me, stronger than most other things I've read.
The magic system is incredibly interesting, and the worldbuilding was so easy to slip right into. I felt like I was wandering the streets with Hope and Red, and the slang was both creative and easy to understand without even having to think about it.
There's a lot of plot packed into this book, but it never stops moving. Events lead right into one another, and it's very difficult to find a stopping point that won't absolutely torture the reader. You gotta eat, drink, pee, and sleep sometime, but where is this scene going, what's happening next?!
Scenes where magic is used as a weapon? Grotesque and terrifying, but also very effectively described. The author is very keen to unsettle the reader in those moments, and yeah wow, it works.
I've got both sequels sitting in my cart right now. Just waiting for payday.
Hope and Red is an adult fantasy book, but it has the economy of style and fast-paced writing that YA is known for. I was instantly attached to every character - Sadie the Pirate Queen! Red the artistic orphan! Bleak Hope, a trainee warrior with the coolest name ever! Nettles! Filler! Hurlo! Brigga Lin! Awesome, awesome, awesome.
I read this book more than a week ago, and I still remember character names without having to look them up. That's rare. That means this book left an impression on me, stronger than most other things I've read.
The magic system is incredibly interesting, and the worldbuilding was so easy to slip right into. I felt like I was wandering the streets with Hope and Red, and the slang was both creative and easy to understand without even having to think about it.
There's a lot of plot packed into this book, but it never stops moving. Events lead right into one another, and it's very difficult to find a stopping point that won't absolutely torture the reader. You gotta eat, drink, pee, and sleep sometime, but where is this scene going, what's happening next?!
Scenes where magic is used as a weapon? Grotesque and terrifying, but also very effectively described. The author is very keen to unsettle the reader in those moments, and yeah wow, it works.
I've got both sequels sitting in my cart right now. Just waiting for payday.
oursinculte's review against another edition
5.0
Encore une série Bragelonne qui traine depuis bien trop longtemps dans la PALE (c’est la PAL électronique, « celle qu’on ne voit pas »). Mais si on se penche un peu sur Hope & Red, premier tome de L’empire des tempêtes de Jon Skovron, ça ressemble fort à une série de fantasy qui est passée un peu sous les radars des blogueurs fantasy français mais qui a fait quelques remous chez les angloricains. Tentons l’aventure.
Hope est la seule survivante du massacre de son village par les biomanciens de l’Empire, elle assiste à l’agonie de ses parents avant de s’enfuir, et sera recueillie par Hurlo, un maître Vinchen. Cet ordre forme les plus grand guerriers de l’empire, mais la formation des femmes est formellement interdit. Pourtant Hurlo n’en a rien à foutre et va initier Hope à son art en secret. Red est un orphelin aux étranges yeux rouges recueilli par Sadie la teigne, il va apprendre la vie de voleur, de pirate et d’ivrogne, mais surtout les liens qui unissent la communauté de Cercle Paradis. Évidemment, les deux protagonistes vont se croiser quand l’Empire mettra un peu trop son nez dans les affaires de Cercle Paradis, mais il faut pas trop emmerder Hope et Red.
Hope & Red commence en suivant séparément les récits initiatiques de ses deux protagonistes, deux récits qui semblent très très classiques même si ils sont bien menés et accrocheurs. La formation d’une jeune fille par un maître-ninja, et la vie à la dure d’un garçon des rues roublard et attachant. Ce sont quasiment deux clichés de littérature Young Adult, mais une fois qu’on a passé un bon (gros) tiers du roman, la rencontre tant attendue a lieu et là, pouf, magie. Le bouquin prend un élan de dingue, part sur un mélange d’histoire de gangsters (pensez Gangs of New-York ou Peaky Blinders) avec un soupçon de piraterie et beaucoup de fun. Comme ça arrive quasiment à la moitié du roman, il serait dommage de dévoiler ce qui sera finalement l’intrigue principale, mais elle arrive à mélanger efficacement les trajectoires des deux personnages et le background de l’univers qui est lui aussi assez multi-couches.
L’empire des tempêtes présente un univers intéressant et original sur plusieurs points. On a cet empire qui emploie un ordre de « biomanciens », des mages qui font des trucs dégueulasses avec le vivant et doivent sans arrêt continuer leurs expérimentations… En prélevant quelques cobayes sur la population, mais bon, il faut bien faire avancer la recherche. Plus au premier plan, le lecteur découvre les bas-fond de Cercle Paradis avec Red et ses compagnons qui vivent tant bien que mal de roublardise et d’embrouilles en tout genre. C’est un monde violent, sombre, mais l’auteur y insuffle une grosse dose de bonne humeur grâce à ses personnages qui portent une attitude positive et fun sur le devant de la scène. Pourtant, le quartier et ses voisins sont dirigés par des bandes qu’il faut pas emmerder.
Les personnages sont crédibles et très attachants. Red est le voleur-charmeur-baratineur qui a toujours un plan foireux à mettre en place, et son fidèle compagnon Bouche-Trou qui le suit dans toutes ses embrouilles. Sadie la teigne est magnifique en tutrice dégénérée mais bienveillante, et on ajoute Ronce, videuse du bordel local qui castagne dur. Puis Hope arrive dans tout ce merdier, avec sa formation de super-guerrier, son désir de vengeance et son regard neuf. Les liens qui unissent tout ce groupe sont solides et les rendent très touchants, Jon Skovron noue des relations de confiance et d’amitié, des attitudes positives que les plus rabat-joie qualifieront de « naïveté ». J’ai adoré cette ambiance.
Hope & Red est aussi très agréable grâce à son jeu constant avec les attentes du lecteur par rapport aux stéréotypes et aux genres. Ses personnages féminins sont bad-ass, indépendants, ont un but propre et de la personnalité. Son univers de gangsters présente autant (sinon plus) de prostitués hommes, une des héroïnes est la videuse du bordel, botte les culs des clients qui dépassent les bornes. Skovron joue avec le lecteur qui attend une romance, c’est amusant et ça en dit aussi long sur ses personnages féminins. Leur destin leur appartient et elles ne se définissent pas par rapport au premier « mâle » qui se pointe. On a aussi un aspect trans-genre inattendu et amusant qui accompagne une trame tirant vers le féminisme, tout ça donne finalement un sous-texte fort qui ne gâche rien.
Dans les petits défauts on notera une couverture assez horrible, que ce soit la version Bragelonne ou la version poche, je regrette pas vraiment d’avoir la version numérique… Et on a aussi quelques choix de traduction qui peuvent faire bizarre. J’ai eu du mal tout le long du roman avec les quelques mots d’argot des bas-quartiers qui sort des « Mecton », « Midinette », « Poteau », ça colle pas très bien à l’ambiance pour moi, question de ressenti. Après y’a quelques trouvailles rigolotes aussi, tout n’est pas à jeter, mais quand même de temps en temps ça grince un peu…. Mais ces petites pinailleries ne suffisent pas à gâcher le plaisir de lecture, bien sûr.
Hope & Red est donc un roman fun et fort, qui allie un univers gangsters-pirates à des personnages très attachants, de l’action rythmée. Il y a beaucoup de personnalité et le lecteur qui aime la fantasy positive sera comblé. Si ça peut finir de vous convaincre, Elbakin lui a donné une note passable, en général c’est signe d’un grand roman.
https://ours-inculte.fr/hope-red/
Hope est la seule survivante du massacre de son village par les biomanciens de l’Empire, elle assiste à l’agonie de ses parents avant de s’enfuir, et sera recueillie par Hurlo, un maître Vinchen. Cet ordre forme les plus grand guerriers de l’empire, mais la formation des femmes est formellement interdit. Pourtant Hurlo n’en a rien à foutre et va initier Hope à son art en secret. Red est un orphelin aux étranges yeux rouges recueilli par Sadie la teigne, il va apprendre la vie de voleur, de pirate et d’ivrogne, mais surtout les liens qui unissent la communauté de Cercle Paradis. Évidemment, les deux protagonistes vont se croiser quand l’Empire mettra un peu trop son nez dans les affaires de Cercle Paradis, mais il faut pas trop emmerder Hope et Red.
Hope & Red commence en suivant séparément les récits initiatiques de ses deux protagonistes, deux récits qui semblent très très classiques même si ils sont bien menés et accrocheurs. La formation d’une jeune fille par un maître-ninja, et la vie à la dure d’un garçon des rues roublard et attachant. Ce sont quasiment deux clichés de littérature Young Adult, mais une fois qu’on a passé un bon (gros) tiers du roman, la rencontre tant attendue a lieu et là, pouf, magie. Le bouquin prend un élan de dingue, part sur un mélange d’histoire de gangsters (pensez Gangs of New-York ou Peaky Blinders) avec un soupçon de piraterie et beaucoup de fun. Comme ça arrive quasiment à la moitié du roman, il serait dommage de dévoiler ce qui sera finalement l’intrigue principale, mais elle arrive à mélanger efficacement les trajectoires des deux personnages et le background de l’univers qui est lui aussi assez multi-couches.
L’empire des tempêtes présente un univers intéressant et original sur plusieurs points. On a cet empire qui emploie un ordre de « biomanciens », des mages qui font des trucs dégueulasses avec le vivant et doivent sans arrêt continuer leurs expérimentations… En prélevant quelques cobayes sur la population, mais bon, il faut bien faire avancer la recherche. Plus au premier plan, le lecteur découvre les bas-fond de Cercle Paradis avec Red et ses compagnons qui vivent tant bien que mal de roublardise et d’embrouilles en tout genre. C’est un monde violent, sombre, mais l’auteur y insuffle une grosse dose de bonne humeur grâce à ses personnages qui portent une attitude positive et fun sur le devant de la scène. Pourtant, le quartier et ses voisins sont dirigés par des bandes qu’il faut pas emmerder.
Les personnages sont crédibles et très attachants. Red est le voleur-charmeur-baratineur qui a toujours un plan foireux à mettre en place, et son fidèle compagnon Bouche-Trou qui le suit dans toutes ses embrouilles. Sadie la teigne est magnifique en tutrice dégénérée mais bienveillante, et on ajoute Ronce, videuse du bordel local qui castagne dur. Puis Hope arrive dans tout ce merdier, avec sa formation de super-guerrier, son désir de vengeance et son regard neuf. Les liens qui unissent tout ce groupe sont solides et les rendent très touchants, Jon Skovron noue des relations de confiance et d’amitié, des attitudes positives que les plus rabat-joie qualifieront de « naïveté ». J’ai adoré cette ambiance.
Hope & Red est aussi très agréable grâce à son jeu constant avec les attentes du lecteur par rapport aux stéréotypes et aux genres. Ses personnages féminins sont bad-ass, indépendants, ont un but propre et de la personnalité. Son univers de gangsters présente autant (sinon plus) de prostitués hommes, une des héroïnes est la videuse du bordel, botte les culs des clients qui dépassent les bornes. Skovron joue avec le lecteur qui attend une romance, c’est amusant et ça en dit aussi long sur ses personnages féminins. Leur destin leur appartient et elles ne se définissent pas par rapport au premier « mâle » qui se pointe. On a aussi un aspect trans-genre inattendu et amusant qui accompagne une trame tirant vers le féminisme, tout ça donne finalement un sous-texte fort qui ne gâche rien.
Dans les petits défauts on notera une couverture assez horrible, que ce soit la version Bragelonne ou la version poche, je regrette pas vraiment d’avoir la version numérique… Et on a aussi quelques choix de traduction qui peuvent faire bizarre. J’ai eu du mal tout le long du roman avec les quelques mots d’argot des bas-quartiers qui sort des « Mecton », « Midinette », « Poteau », ça colle pas très bien à l’ambiance pour moi, question de ressenti. Après y’a quelques trouvailles rigolotes aussi, tout n’est pas à jeter, mais quand même de temps en temps ça grince un peu…. Mais ces petites pinailleries ne suffisent pas à gâcher le plaisir de lecture, bien sûr.
Hope & Red est donc un roman fun et fort, qui allie un univers gangsters-pirates à des personnages très attachants, de l’action rythmée. Il y a beaucoup de personnalité et le lecteur qui aime la fantasy positive sera comblé. Si ça peut finir de vous convaincre, Elbakin lui a donné une note passable, en général c’est signe d’un grand roman.
https://ours-inculte.fr/hope-red/
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Gangs, warriors, pirates and thieves.
First there is Bleak Hope (not her real name, that would be rather depressing), who ends up with a bunch of monks and becomes a warrior. A truly kick ass warrior who is all about honor. So she lives on her island and trains and..well duh, leaves so the stories can become one.
Red is a thief and lives in a city ruled by gangs, that is the underworld is ruled by them. The Imps patrol the rest and protect the good folk. As for Red, aye I liked him, he had grown up differently and was kinder cos of it. He also had that smile you can not say no to.
Oh and there is some pirating in there too ;)
And creepy magicians called Biomancers and those are really really evil, I did not see a single one one do a good thing. You will see.
Ass-kicking, pirating, running, danger and an ending that made me all whaat? What next?! More is sure in store for us, and I am curious.
First there is Bleak Hope (not her real name, that would be rather depressing), who ends up with a bunch of monks and becomes a warrior. A truly kick ass warrior who is all about honor. So she lives on her island and trains and..well duh, leaves so the stories can become one.
Red is a thief and lives in a city ruled by gangs, that is the underworld is ruled by them. The Imps patrol the rest and protect the good folk. As for Red, aye I liked him, he had grown up differently and was kinder cos of it. He also had that smile you can not say no to.
Oh and there is some pirating in there too ;)
And creepy magicians called Biomancers and those are really really evil, I did not see a single one one do a good thing. You will see.
Ass-kicking, pirating, running, danger and an ending that made me all whaat? What next?! More is sure in store for us, and I am curious.
_camk_'s review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Hope and Red.
Both characters were enjoyable and somewhat reminded of Kaz and Inej from Six of Crows.
Both characters were enjoyable and somewhat reminded of Kaz and Inej from Six of Crows.