This is not what you'd expect . . .
355537
Colleen McCullough has done a fine job of recreating the Roman world in her "Masters of Rome" series, but her flaws show in "Fortune's Favorites."  More on those later.  For those expecting the rich characterization of "The First Man in Rome" or the emotional punch of "The Grass Crown":  You're going to be disappointed.
McCullough truncates the civil war between consuls Carbo, Cinna and Sulla to the final few months, but what she gives us in return is meager.  Her portrayal of Sulla's last years is the book's biggest disappointment.  Part of Sulla's glamour is his incredible physical presence and charisma; by making him repulsive, she robs him of any attraction save for some rubber-necking curiosity over what new monstrosities he'll commit.  Sulla just doesn't connect here, which is a shame for a character who was vivid and alive in her previous two novels.  The only time he's enjoyable--when he isn't wreaking havoc in people's lives--is when he's playing off young Pompey's breathtaking self-centeredness.
(Breathtaking, by the way, is the word.  Wait until you read Pompey's letter to Sulla from Africa.  If you don't get the joke, just read Sulla's answer).
"Fortune's Favorites" jolts the reader back and forth between Pompey, young Julius Caesar, Quintus Sertorius, Spartacus, and Marcus Licinius Crassus.  While it is refreshing to see Crassus portrayed as a decent family man at heart (in spite of his greed), the other portrayals are disheartening.  Pompey was easily led, immature, fond of believing what his flatterers said about him, and willful, so McCullough hits the mark (even though her broad portrayal of him makes him seem clownish rather than charming).  And Sertorius retains some sympathy through his attachment to a particular white fawn.  But McCullough's bias for Caesar is undisguised, and some readers might find her portrayal of him to be too much of a "superhero" cast.  And her treatment of Spartacus is, in my opinion, implausible and unnecessary, unless her publisher told her to avoid any comparison with the Kirk Douglas film of the same name.  In that case, why not tell it completely from the Roman point of view?
For its flaws, "Fortune's Favorites" isn't all bad.  Some parts of it are entertaining; I refer to any encounter between Sulla and Pompey, and Sulla's dealings with the Senate.  Yet when it comes to her characters, McCullough fails to create solid, believable women;  while Aurelia remains McCullough's premier heroine in this series, no other woman comes close to her.  McCullough's women are just not as well-drawn and, often, not as interesting as her men--which is a shame.
McCullough has polished two flaws into glaring annoyances.  The first is her mastery of the information dump--whole pages of exposition litter "Fortune's Favorites," with no relief in sight except to skip through the book and hope a conversation or a letter breaks out.  The second is her lavish use of anachronistic language throughout the book.  It's jarring and it breaks the flow of the story.
One final quibble:  Whoever commissioned the Harlequin-reject cover for the paperback edition should be forced to live in a room papered all over with the covers from Regency Line romances.  If nothing else, the nauseating presentation is a perfect reason to spend more money and buy the hardcover edition.
2116581
This was not what I expected. Very disappointed.
180902
I must say this was not at all what I was expecting but a delightful read nonetheless. Everything we've ever heard about the Antichrist is pushed aside in the story and I was completely drawn in from the beginning. The concept that he was neither good or evil and we are all from the same source is one I can relate to. Kudos!! Looking forward to more in this series.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Antichrist-16-The-Becoming-Antichrist-16-Trilogy/dp/B0083AB0EO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Antichrist 16: The Becoming (Antichrist 16 Trilogy)</a>
4100635
This was definately not what I was expecting. The first half was lacking in excitement but the second half more than made up for it. Never saw the ending coming. Overall, a good read.
231910
this was not quite as anticipated, and not to my liking, however it did find another reader who is enjoying the delights of it.
2029280
O.K., boys, nice try, but for making your fans wait so long only to put  out this??  It's not metal, it's alternative!!  It may be very good,  especially compared to the rest of todays music, but it is just not what  everyone was expecting.
4857646
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I purchased this book, but I can say it's description does not do it justice. Quirky.
2206078
This book is more than you think, more than you expect. Surprising depth.
909631
They aren't what i expected they where going to be.
3907934
I got this book as my free book for Amazon Prime and was surprised. It was not what I was expecting at all but it was interesting. The story took some very unexpected turns towards the middle.

It was an odd read because it's clear that the characters are terrible people but you're seeing it through the eyes of a child who doesn't really understand that.

In any case, it is worth the read.
1659690
This is just an introduction to a new way of living that might surprise you.
2236416
Very different from what I expected, and it really makes you think about your actions and how those can affect others.
414963
The Title "In His Way" is a little misleading.  Here I thought I was going to be reading a story about "obedience" and being in God's will.... NOPE.  That's not what it's about.  I read this book in a day!  When the author describes what was going on inside her head as opposed to what was revealed on the outside, it was honest and raw.  I think this is one of those books that will speak to people differently.  What I got out of it won't be what someone else gets out of it.  So I'm just gonna say "Read it and let it hit you however it hits you".

If you've had kids, been divorced, been married, lost a parent, or ever tried to live up to someone else's expectations... this book is for you!
1242899
Not at all what you think it would be about but loved it more!
2003154
The S-Word certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Not at all.  I was expecting a dark contemp about name calling, bullying and its devastating effects. That is a very common thread throughout the book, but I wasn't expecting it to be as dark and intense as it was. Nor was I anticipating the mystery that slowly unravels throughout the book.

There's a lot going on in The S-Word. There's several mysteries, there's lots of tough issues brought up (and handled nicely, I must say), and there's also some romance thrown in there. It all mostly works though. There was one story line, while interesting and a bit horrifying, I felt like we could have done without. Some things I predicted very early and one thing really surprised me. So that all evened out, I suppose.

The book is very dark. There's also something different about the writing style. I can't really explain, but it's obvious from the start. It makes the story fast paced and intense. The romance is pretty unique as well. At first I thought it was a little odd, but it definitely grew on me by the end.

The main character isn't going to be winning any favorite character awards. She's not very likable, but I didn't really find her to be really unlikable..if that makes sense. She makes a lot of poor choices. My biggest emotional connection to the story was Lizzie. She's already dead by the time the book begins, but as Angie learns new things about her and as we get glimpses of her diary you can't help but feel some much regret that this happened to her. It's really heartbreaking.

Overall, The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher was a riveting read. It was almost impossible to put down during the last half. I was shocked and heartbroken, but the ending was hopeful.
965350
I started to put the book down and stop reading several times in the first few pages.  I don't know what I expected but this wasn't it!  A Fantasy, mixing future world with medieval history.  A story like no other.  Fun, not serious, not what you will expect, but what you will likely enjoy.
1428053
It's not what I expect it, I didn't like it much!