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A review by sspaghettiboness
Three Assassins by Kōtarō Isaka
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kotaro Isaka is so amazing at creating these absurd characters and making them feel so real, it’s difficult as a reader to not feel very strongly about them.
I’ve read a lot of books with despicable characters, but I think I hate The Whale the most. I hated him passionately from his first chapter, I hated him as his story progressed, I hated him when I closed the book. But I love that it’s only due to Isaka’s amazing writing that could make me feel that way. Likewise, my character crush on Cicada just kept getting stronger (I know that he’s not a good guy, he was just so relatable to me. Aside from being an assassin with a penchant for knives.)
This book was very fun, like reading an action movie. It had some heart tugging moments, a lot of black humour, great fight scenes. Touched on humanity and grief. It kind of felt like he was making fun of the overused film trope “a man will stop at nothing to avenge *some crime against his family*”.
But the real draw to this book is this crazy underworld building Isaka is doing. I’m so loving the way pieces are interweaving. I love this gritty, dark, absurd crime world populated by equally wild, skilled professionals. Rushing off to preorder his next book now!
I’ve read a lot of books with despicable characters, but I think I hate The Whale the most. I hated him passionately from his first chapter, I hated him as his story progressed, I hated him when I closed the book. But I love that it’s only due to Isaka’s amazing writing that could make me feel that way. Likewise, my character crush on Cicada just kept getting stronger (I know that he’s not a good guy, he was just so relatable to me. Aside from being an assassin with a penchant for knives.)
This book was very fun, like reading an action movie. It had some heart tugging moments, a lot of black humour, great fight scenes. Touched on humanity and grief. It kind of felt like he was making fun of the overused film trope “a man will stop at nothing to avenge *some crime against his family*”.
But the real draw to this book is this crazy underworld building Isaka is doing. I’m so loving the way pieces are interweaving. I love this gritty, dark, absurd crime world populated by equally wild, skilled professionals. Rushing off to preorder his next book now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder