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100reads's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautiful writing but I think I have to read it multiple times to understand it.
spaulk57's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Beautiful writing, especially the descriptions of Alexandria, and some parts of the story were intriguing but some of the navel gazing could be obtuse. I will probably read the other books in this quartet as the characters were interesting and I would like to find out where they end up.
brdgtc's review against another edition
2.0
If it's beautifully written misogyny does it become art?
whoopsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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
harleyclaes's review
1.0
I was in love with “Justine” the first book in the series. “Balthazar” however dragged on. My biggest pet peeve in books is when they expect you to know or care about characters, places, or events right off the bat instead of pitching and developing a case on their relevancy and importance. This book was just boring and drawn out, focusing on Nessim and his brother and very little of Justine whose character I resonated with the most.
michael5000's review
2.0
I found Balthazar similarly airy and difficult to penetrate as its antecedent Justine, but it wins promotion to "it's OK" on the strength on an occasional noteworthy incident or anecdote breaking out among the bland, sweeping, world-weary statements about the nature of existence.
kregbrb's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookish_5280's review
2.0
sped up a little towards the end, but still not my type of book. too modernist and disjointed.
maialafina's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Desde la página cien no pude parar de anotar frases o conversaciones que me diviertieron, impresionaron o horrorizaron.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Islamophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: War, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Hate crime, Police brutality, Car accident, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Torture, Rape, Genocide, and Adult/minor relationship
steven_nobody's review against another edition
5.0
Like the first book in this series, I read "Balthazar" twice. I think it must be read together with the first title. I seriously love the nonlinear plot. The actual chronology baffles me! And the weirdest thing is that it is more fun to think and talk about than it is to read. I mean, I can't shut up about The Alexandria Quartet.