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A review by ktoreilly
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Pearson drops us into a complex world of high-stakes politics with two guides of very different, sometimes opposing, backgrounds that can’t help but feel a connection to one another… Even though it had a bit of a slow start, I was fully hooked by page 50ish.
I really enjoyed the two perspectives we got from Kazi and Jase, though their voices didn’t always feel very distinguishable at times as they share many similar traits (stubbornness, loyalty, propensity for violence, etc…). I really loved the beginning of their story, and thought their dance between enemies and lovers was a refreshing take on the trope. However, their continual miscommunication / lying got pretty annoying towards the end. (They’re seriously both in positions of authority but don’t have the maturity to just talk to each other???) I did like the ending, but I wish there’d be a scene of them reconciling and clearing the air. It felt a bit sudden that they reunited after their big conflict.
Otherwise, I found the story very compelling, but the details were burdensome when reading - there were so many names to keep track of (esp. the Ballengers, omg), there wasn’t much context provided for the setting and world building, and it was difficult to feel connected to the motivating events that took place before this story. (It wasn’t until now, reading through other reviews, that I’m learning there are other books that take place in this world, ahead of these events. I wish there’d been some acknowledgement of that or some additional background provided, since this a separate series, but oh well.)
I enjoyed Pearson’s writing and this story so much, I’ll probably pick up the sequel so we’ll see how that one is!
I really enjoyed the two perspectives we got from Kazi and Jase, though their voices didn’t always feel very distinguishable at times as they share many similar traits (stubbornness, loyalty, propensity for violence, etc…). I really loved the beginning of their story, and thought their dance between enemies and lovers was a refreshing take on the trope. However, their continual miscommunication / lying got pretty annoying towards the end. (They’re seriously both in positions of authority but don’t have the maturity to just talk to each other???)
Otherwise, I found the story very compelling, but the details were burdensome when reading - there were so many names to keep track of (esp. the Ballengers, omg), there wasn’t much context provided for the setting and world building, and it was difficult to feel connected to the motivating events that took place before this story. (It wasn’t until now, reading through other reviews, that I’m learning there are other books that take place in this world, ahead of these events. I wish there’d been some acknowledgement of that or some additional background provided, since this a separate series, but oh well.)
I enjoyed Pearson’s writing and this story so much, I’ll probably pick up the sequel so we’ll see how that one is!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking and Kidnapping
Moderate: Abandonment and Violence
Minor: Death