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solaris_zip's Reviews (198)
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For starters I must say I do not enjoy tartt’s writing style, which seems to be repetitive and full of “big” words simply for the sake of it. The book is slow, and the chapters are pretty long. The start goes right into the story, we read the book from richards prospective, in sequence of flashbacks. The beginning is very interesting, it really gets you so intrigued on what’s going to happen. (I do have to say tho, I managed to figure out a lot of the main actions before they happen). As the book goes forward that’s when we start to lose ourselves. The writing becomes “thicker”. There are a lot of details, useless most I might add, which really add nothing new to the story.
Now,to the main issue. One of the things I hate about this book (but all of tartt’s book in general) is the overuse of homophobic slur, sexist , racist, antisemitic and incest undertones. It’s not funny, it’s not quirky it’s just ridiculous at this point.
*SPOILER*
the r@PE scene was very inconsiderate and poor of taste. It shouldn’t have been written to being with.
Overall, it took me a week to finish this book, I enjoyed reading the first half, but I feel it lacks in the second part. The characters are flawed (as they should be in this case), I don’t like any of them. They all stuck to their past and are unable to escape it. What they did is eating them from the inside out. I believe the ending scene could have been better.
Now,to the main issue. One of the things I hate about this book (but all of tartt’s book in general) is the overuse of homophobic slur, sexist , racist, antisemitic and incest undertones. It’s not funny, it’s not quirky it’s just ridiculous at this point.
*SPOILER*
the r@PE scene was very inconsiderate and poor of taste. It shouldn’t have been written to being with.
Overall, it took me a week to finish this book, I enjoyed reading the first half, but I feel it lacks in the second part. The characters are flawed (as they should be in this case), I don’t like any of them. They all stuck to their past and are unable to escape it. What they did is eating them from the inside out. I believe the ending scene could have been better.
slow-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
So, the ending truly raise my rating from 4.75 to 5 stars. It was an enjoyable read. I didn’t know what to expect when I bought the book, but I’m truly happy and shocked (to say the least). Throughout the book I realised who was going to die and who was going to be the killer a lot sooner than it’s revelation, but it was still a shock reading it. It was obvious from the real beginning that Oliver an James had this unspoken situation going on, which I’m glad we got something at the end to clarify. Not so glad on how the book ended, which completely destroyed me inside and out. James leaving a letter with a play verse is so in character, more or so, if you actually take time to translate the play verse to see their meaning. Chills.
Although I’m not a big fun of Shakespeare (English not being my first language makes it complicated to understand it most of the time), I quite enjoy reading the book; founding it not so hard to follow and actually easy to understand and read in between the lines. These characters are morally grey, you’re either a fan of them or not. There are a few I dislike more than others, but overall they hold now a special place in my heart. (Especially Alexander and Filippa, love them so much). This book is one of those that you can only read once, maybe twice, because the impact it leaves on you it’s so strong that you cannot possibly find the courage to reopen the wound it has left on you.
I HATE Calypso and Leo as a couple. They do not fit together at all. It really made book impossible to read. Leo deserved the so much needed character growth without that old fucker. The first book is so much better honestly.
fast-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
FINALLY. Is the only word that comes to mind. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
The way I screamed internally when Gideon kissed nico😭 I knew it from moment one, since I read nicos first chapter in book one that he and Gideon were destined to be together. They had so much chemistry, the banter, the softness they only showed to one and other. PLS I WANT MORE. Overall the book started a bit slow, like the first one, and just like it as the book moved forward it picked up speed. I loved the way the characters were explored, from exposing why they act a certain way (cough cough CALLUM), from Tristan developing a somewhat personality traits aside from being constantly angry. I loved Callum outrageous moments, where he just went for it. I like this side of him and the way he got described made me understand and appreciate his character a lot more. His friendship (or acquaintance) with Reina was such a perfect touch. They are so different, but both so broken in different ways that just make sense. I still dislike Parisa, who somewhat has gotten even more arrogant and superficial that before. Can’t wait for libby revenge arc in book 3. Also, Belen deserves better.
The way I screamed internally when Gideon kissed nico😭 I knew it from moment one, since I read nicos first chapter in book one that he and Gideon were destined to be together. They had so much chemistry, the banter, the softness they only showed to one and other. PLS I WANT MORE. Overall the book started a bit slow, like the first one, and just like it as the book moved forward it picked up speed. I loved the way the characters were explored, from exposing why they act a certain way (cough cough CALLUM), from Tristan developing a somewhat personality traits aside from being constantly angry. I loved Callum outrageous moments, where he just went for it. I like this side of him and the way he got described made me understand and appreciate his character a lot more. His friendship (or acquaintance) with Reina was such a perfect touch. They are so different, but both so broken in different ways that just make sense. I still dislike Parisa, who somewhat has gotten even more arrogant and superficial that before. Can’t wait for libby revenge arc in book 3. Also, Belen deserves better.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I decided not to give a full 5 stars because on some occasion I struggle to understand what was going on for a sec. Besides that, I think it’s a wonderful book with such an interesting concept. It drives you immediately into the story of each character, pieces by pieces reviling darker and shocking facts. All of the main characters are morally grey, they aren’t good but neither too bad. They aren’t heroes nor villains. They make their choices accordingly to themselves.
I would like to say tho, looking through reviews I seem to find some commons questions and/or misconceptions. Callum, for example, a lot of people dislike (which fair enough he is typical daddy’s white rich boy, who doesn’t have a care in the world). What annoys me tho is when people say his character development was out of the blue. For starters, we can see how his and parisa powers are more complex that we think. They are very similar, and both of them affect the owner. Callum literally says he tries to not make him feel too much because he is aware and conscious of how emotions can be used against him, but also the price that comes with them. He feels every, about everyone. We see start to see by mid book ish how he starts to change with Tristan. Yes, he was using him to have an ally, but didn’t the others do the same thing? Parisa sleeps with people to get access to their minds, shape and read them as she pleases. How is it different? I’m not excusing the words or the actions he has made, but we do have to point out that no one is a saint in that group. All of them used each other in one way or another.
Other point, I don’t get how many people ship Libby and Nico. They have a banter, a academic rivalry, which has grown in maybe a possible friendship, but there isn’t any romantic attraction. Just reading the way nico talks about Gideon, his touch, just him as a person makes you see how in love he is. Callum even says to Tristan at some point “ not sure if realised he is in love with his roommate”… CMON NOW PEOPLE.
I have never found a book where all of the characters can be shipped with one or more people, that’s how much chemistry they have.
The book is nice, is interesting. The right amount of dark academia and magic realism. It gets you so interested to know more, what happened to Libby? And what about Ezra? Is Atlas the game master or a puppet? How did he influence Dalton? I have so many questions. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
I would like to say tho, looking through reviews I seem to find some commons questions and/or misconceptions. Callum, for example, a lot of people dislike (which fair enough he is typical daddy’s white rich boy, who doesn’t have a care in the world). What annoys me tho is when people say his character development was out of the blue. For starters, we can see how his and parisa powers are more complex that we think. They are very similar, and both of them affect the owner. Callum literally says he tries to not make him feel too much because he is aware and conscious of how emotions can be used against him, but also the price that comes with them. He feels every, about everyone. We see start to see by mid book ish how he starts to change with Tristan. Yes, he was using him to have an ally, but didn’t the others do the same thing? Parisa sleeps with people to get access to their minds, shape and read them as she pleases. How is it different? I’m not excusing the words or the actions he has made, but we do have to point out that no one is a saint in that group. All of them used each other in one way or another.
Other point, I don’t get how many people ship Libby and Nico. They have a banter, a academic rivalry, which has grown in maybe a possible friendship, but there isn’t any romantic attraction. Just reading the way nico talks about Gideon, his touch, just him as a person makes you see how in love he is. Callum even says to Tristan at some point “ not sure if realised he is in love with his roommate”… CMON NOW PEOPLE.
I have never found a book where all of the characters can be shipped with one or more people, that’s how much chemistry they have.
The book is nice, is interesting. The right amount of dark academia and magic realism. It gets you so interested to know more, what happened to Libby? And what about Ezra? Is Atlas the game master or a puppet? How did he influence Dalton? I have so many questions. Can’t wait to read the sequel.