Reviews

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

aopella's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-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

meginsanity's review against another edition

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5.0

I originally wasn’t interested in this book – the jacket text didn’t intrigue me. But a coworker of mine recommended it, and I found myself drawn into it within the first few pages. It’s definitely my favorite book of the year so far. I loved the story, but also the stories within the story – Marianne Engel’s historical, tragic love stories, with repeating common themes, and the narrator’s journey through Dante’s hell. I loved each of the characters, and found myself reading it slowly to enjoy certain passages and stories, with the author’s vivid writing bringing every scene to life. Definitely one I am going to buy and keep on my bookshelf.

sianw1992's review against another edition

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5.0

This was one of the most amazing books I've ever read. I'm not much for love stories, I find them all a bit schmaltzy, but this was beyond a love story. It was epic, the characters were fantastic, especially Marianne Engel, and the protagonist was an anti-hero of sorts. The author did everything to make you dislike him but he still found a way into your heart. I recommend this above every other book I have ever read. It's incredible, out of this world and will keep you hooked right through to the end.

vicjack's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tanashea07's review against another edition

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5.0

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Marianne's stories and I became so involved with the story that I felt like I was one of the characters.

I cannot wait to see more work from this author!

I LOVED IT!!!! :)

libbyruptash's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

jw12056's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

drannieg's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Started well, continued nicely, then got flabby and by the end I wasn't entirely sure of the point. 

lovemyshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

sweetangst's review against another edition

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3.0

There is some fantastic prose, at times.
There are some beautifully heartbreaking short story asides.
Parts of the ending are pretty moving as standalone circumstances.

But there really isn't any romance between the main characters, in their past or present...

And I don't even mean physical interactions here, as the main character loves reminding you every other page that he has no penis, because that's all that matters right?



I kept waiting for it. Surely by the time the main character moves in with his mysterious benefactor in the present timeline, she'd have told him this moving, heart-wrenching story of their love right? Nope.

There's literally zero emotional connection. No romantic dialog. No physical interactions from the time they were both fairly whole. No witty, playful banter. Nothing beyond the circumstances of her being a nun and him being a deserter and now we're facing the world as outcasts... yadda yadda yadda.

I'm glad I read this as there were beautiful stories and descriptions in it, but as a "transcends time" sort of love story, it fell flat for me.