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faehistory's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lauren_aida's review
5.0
I can't believe the world of Stravaganza is over! After 10 years, I'm really going to miss them.
mariaburns's review
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book, but I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that made me not LOVE it. You should definitely take time to read it if you've kept up with the rest of the series. That's all. I don't know what to say today... Sorry!
Overall: enjoyable, set aside some time for it, don't prepare an alter
I enjoyed this book, but I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that made me not LOVE it. You should definitely take time to read it if you've kept up with the rest of the series. That's all. I don't know what to say today... Sorry!
Overall: enjoyable, set aside some time for it, don't prepare an alter
aotora's review
2.0
I loved some parts of this book - like the fact that Luciano nearly got hanged but it was an unsatisfying end to the series and it made me want more books because so much was left unfinished.
I loved the fact that we get yet another good protagonist with a really good backstory- she is cutting herself and she has a sister that got hit in the head and stuck in the hospital for the rest of her life -that was strong and good, but her personality just felt kind of bland. I also didn't like the romance between her and Ludo because it felt so rushed and unsatisfying- I mean they barely spend any time together and they are somehow madly in love and he ends up translating for her.
I also didn't like that everyone got justly punished but Fabrizio, Fabrizio nearly hangs Luciano, kills a ton of people, nearly hangs Enrico, nearly goes mad, kills the previous pope.... and yet he somehow gets away without problems -and the way the last part of the book is worded it sounds like there will be more books where he comes back and seeks revenge again.
I also didn't like that we never got to see what happened with the connection - can they still stravage? Was the connection broken because of Ludo's translation? There is also this huge tension going through the entire book about Nick still being sad and missing Talia and Luciano coming back to his original world upsetting Nick and Vicky and Nick being mad at it.... but it just fizzles out and it's never resolved.
And last but not least- I feel like Mortimer Goldsmith was really underused in this book. He gets in on the stravaganti secret and so does Eva, Matt's great aunt, he visits Talia once but we barely see him interact with said world, he does help at the end of the story but I wish that he did more considering that he was such an important character in the series. I feel like he was just there... to be there and so that he can be mentioned in the book. And same goes for most of the other stravaganti, yet again. And yet again only Georgia and Nick get any spotlight alongside Isabel, the rest of them are just there for support.
I loved the fact that we get yet another good protagonist with a really good backstory- she is cutting herself and she has a sister that got hit in the head and stuck in the hospital for the rest of her life -that was strong and good, but her personality just felt kind of bland. I also didn't like the romance between her and Ludo because it felt so rushed and unsatisfying- I mean they barely spend any time together and they are somehow madly in love and he ends up translating for her.
I also didn't like that everyone got justly punished but Fabrizio, Fabrizio nearly hangs Luciano, kills a ton of people, nearly hangs Enrico, nearly goes mad, kills the previous pope.... and yet he somehow gets away without problems -and the way the last part of the book is worded it sounds like there will be more books where he comes back and seeks revenge again.
I also didn't like that we never got to see what happened with the connection - can they still stravage? Was the connection broken because of Ludo's translation? There is also this huge tension going through the entire book about Nick still being sad and missing Talia and Luciano coming back to his original world upsetting Nick and Vicky and Nick being mad at it.... but it just fizzles out and it's never resolved.
And last but not least- I feel like Mortimer Goldsmith was really underused in this book. He gets in on the stravaganti secret and so does Eva, Matt's great aunt, he visits Talia once but we barely see him interact with said world, he does help at the end of the story but I wish that he did more considering that he was such an important character in the series. I feel like he was just there... to be there and so that he can be mentioned in the book. And same goes for most of the other stravaganti, yet again. And yet again only Georgia and Nick get any spotlight alongside Isabel, the rest of them are just there for support.
m3l89's review
5.0
The 6th installment of the Stravaganza sequence features Laura who is a self-harmer and ironically stravagates to the City of Swords. There she meets Ludo who had revealsed himself to be half Manoush and half di Chimici. This causes a civil war as Old Prince Jacpop dies and Ludo challenges Princess Lucia's claim to the throne of Fortezza.
I was very excited when reading this, as I have loved the entire series! Other plots came together, including the long awaited marriage of Arianna and Luciano. I felt that Laura and Ludo's relationship was a little far-fetched, I can understand the concept of love at first sight but they barely had anything to do with each other, and so I found this a little unbelievable.
Despite this, I am giving City of Swords 5*, but am VERY disappointed that there will not be any more installments.
I was very excited when reading this, as I have loved the entire series! Other plots came together, including the long awaited marriage of Arianna and Luciano. I felt that Laura and Ludo's relationship was a little far-fetched, I can understand the concept of love at first sight but they barely had anything to do with each other, and so I found this a little unbelievable.
Despite this, I am giving City of Swords 5*, but am VERY disappointed that there will not be any more installments.
manonh90's review against another edition
3.0
Mooie afsluiting van de serie, maar ik denk dat het verhaal sterker was geweest als ze het bij een trilogie had gelaten. Maar ik ben blij dat ik ze allemaal gelezen heb en vind het jammer dat ik afscheid moet nemen van Talia en de stravaganti.
whyteal's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I felt like there was too many things going on in this book, compared to the previous books which had numeral subplots but was still well-paced. For City of Swords, I felt like there was just way too much and I hardly saw Laura at all.
I felt like there was too many things going on in this book, compared to the previous books which had numeral subplots but was still well-paced. For City of Swords, I felt like there was just way too much and I hardly saw Laura at all.
fictionalmandy's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
go_jan's review
4.0
I started reading the Stravaganza series when I was still a teenager and I was very glad to come back to it several years later, as new stories appear. It was a pleasure to devour this book in 3 nights.
Although I agree with some other reviews that Laura's character wasn't as developed as it could have perhaps been, I see that Hoffman has included many other sub-plots in this story, involving most of the characters met in the previous books, including Mortimer Goldsmith and Vicky Mulholland, as well as all the other young Stravaganti.
I'm looking forward to discovering the remaining six titles (for 6 remaining city states) as and when Hoffman publishes them and fully expect to be in my thirties by the time I read the final book!
Although I agree with some other reviews that Laura's character wasn't as developed as it could have perhaps been, I see that Hoffman has included many other sub-plots in this story, involving most of the characters met in the previous books, including Mortimer Goldsmith and Vicky Mulholland, as well as all the other young Stravaganti.
I'm looking forward to discovering the remaining six titles (for 6 remaining city states) as and when Hoffman publishes them and fully expect to be in my thirties by the time I read the final book!
adelaidebijou's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm