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syliu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
This book occupies a very unique place in my heart — I first read it around when it was published, almost seven years ago, and I haven’t forgotten it since. It was one of the books that introduced me to the whole concept of queer culture and gender non-conformity, and has absolutely changed my life in some aspect.
Coming back to it has been like seeing old friends again, and the book didn’t have to prove the legitimacy of any of its characters or relationships. To me Cy and Ari’s love and tacit understanding was solid fact, Delia was as good as real, as were the many side characters that brought the book to life. In that I’m very biased — I think the character development is brilliant, I hold a deep affection for each of the main protagonists, and felt horribly empty and listless when Amberlough met its explosive (and tragic) end.
The politics…a bit on the nose at times. But for how ambitious it is I haven’t encountered much better in speculative fiction. Once you get past the slightly confusing premise and fictional slang (which I’ve grown to love) all the espionage and characters’ constant manoeuvrings are thrillingly fun. Many little plotlines and schemes are set up perfectly and brought to incredibly satisfying conclusions.
The sparkling lights and spangles of a Roaring-20s-esque cabaret; sharp and cunning politics behind it all; and the equally adroit cast. Damn it’s so much fun. It's the sort of book that kept me up, heart pounding, till I finished it at 4am, then continued on its sequel till I could no longer keep my eyes open. I know I’ll read this again some day and savour every word.
Content Warnings
Minor: Police brutality, Cursing, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, War, Hate crime, Blood, Classism, Homophobia, Torture, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Death, Genocide, Murder, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was really curious to see what Amberlough would do with its characters and plot. Overall I think it really delivered.
I thought the book had a really strong setting. The world building felt well done and consistent. I was curious about the wider world, but I was always given enough information to understand what was going on. The aesthetic of the world also felt well described. I felt like I could always clearly visualise what things looked like in a scene.
One of the biggest downfalls of the book were, unfortunately, the characters. Each character was uniquely interesting. I was always curious as to what they were doing, their thoughts on things, and how they would react to events in the story. The struggles I faced were finding Aristide and Cyril likeable. Cordelia was easily my favourite, and I didn’t face that struggle with her. It was just a mix of how Cyril and Aristide acted and treated others that pulled me away from them. This was also a struggle as a lot of their plot and actions hinges on their relationship, but I couldn’t get into it. I just wasn’t invested in their relationship and it damaged the plot.
On the topic of the plot, I generally found it hard to keep track of. I felt like there were huge swaths of information I was missing. Something would happen and I would try to remember why or where the buildup to it was. The book handled plenty plot points well, but enough felt very out of where it left me confused.
Overall it was an enjoyable book with an excellent setting. There were just a few short comings that stopped it from being great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Alcohol, Confinement, Drug use, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse
elizas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Suicide, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Hate crime
Minor: Toxic relationship
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