Great SFF Picaresques (75 books)

Science Fiction and Fantasy lend themselves to picaresque stories. Rank your favorites!

A picaresque is a story about an anti-hero or social outcast (the word is from the Spanish for "rogue" or "rascal"), almost always a criminal, who can't be part of normal society and lives by his/her wits. Picaresque stories are usually episodic, but in SF/F they may be epic.

For series, please vote for an omnibus that includes the first volume or, if that is not available, the first volume, rather than the best.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) by Scott Lynch (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 339,745 ratings score: 2,794, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Watchmen by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 593,305 ratings score: 2,377, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	V for Vendetta by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 324,496 ratings score: 2,262, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	High Couch of Silistra (Silistra, #1) by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 3.58 avg rating — 474 ratings score: 1,699, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller 4.17 avg rating — 69,025 ratings score: 1,179, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Ill Met in Lankhmar (Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, #1-2) by Fritz Leiber 4.15 avg rating — 2,992 ratings score: 981, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance 4.12 avg rating — 6,067 ratings score: 894, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Neuromancer (Sprawl #1) by William Gibson 3.89 avg rating — 363,285 ratings score: 878, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Tempus (Sacred Band Series Book 1) by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 264 ratings score: 794, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs, #1) by Richard K. Morgan 4.03 avg rating — 114,787 ratings score: 791, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Beyond Sanctuary by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 1,950 ratings score: 687, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 964,392 ratings score: 586, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 4.06 avg rating — 55,366 ratings score: 584, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1) by Joe Abercrombie 4.22 avg rating — 309,583 ratings score: 487, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Golden Sword (Silistra, #2) by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 135 ratings score: 486, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Thieves' World (Thieves' World, #1) by Robert Lynn Asprin (Editor) 3.85 avg rating — 8,069 ratings score: 485, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Wasp by Eric Frank Russell 4.05 avg rating — 2,595 ratings score: 476, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Plague of Angels (The Descended, #1) by John Patrick Kennedy (Goodreads Author) 3.52 avg rating — 1,109 ratings score: 400, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 1,078,756 ratings score: 398, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Gap Into Conflict: The Real Story (The Gap Cycle #1) by Stephen R. Donaldson 3.71 avg rating — 11,022 ratings score: 393, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 3.75 avg rating — 108,545 ratings score: 391, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Wind from the Abyss (Silistra, #3) by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 127 ratings score: 386, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Healthy Dead (The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, #2) by Steven Erikson (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 2,291 ratings score: 381, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Jhereg (Vlad Taltos, #1) by Steven Brust (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 15,602 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 41,872 ratings score: 293, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Death of the Necromancer (Ile-Rien #2) by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 4,749 ratings score: 292, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 297,486 ratings score: 292, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2) by Joe Abercrombie 4.36 avg rating — 215,459 ratings score: 288, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre by H.P. Lovecraft 4.30 avg rating — 30,222 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Another Fine Myth / Myth Conceptions (Myth Adventures, #1-2) by Robert Lynn Asprin 4.13 avg rating — 1,675 ratings score: 286, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Last Argument of Kings (The First Law, #3) by Joe Abercrombie 4.36 avg rating — 198,882 ratings score: 285, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie 4.24 avg rating — 110,806 ratings score: 282, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Hunter's Run by George R.R. Martin 3.70 avg rating — 3,744 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Hull Damage (Bad Space, #1) by Timothy J. Meyer (Goodreads Author) 3.38 avg rating — 112 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Absolute Dark Knight by Frank Miller 4.32 avg rating — 1,964 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	O Tesouro dos Alquimistas by Jaques Sadoul 2.80 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Galactic Menace (Bad Space, #2) by Timothy J. Meyer (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 56 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Shadowspawn by Andrew J. Offutt 3.95 avg rating — 1,328 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Bartimaeus Trilogy Boxed Set (Bartimaeus, #1-3) by Jonathan Stroud (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 6,053 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Bad Space: Delinquents (Year of the Horse, #4) by Timothy J. Meyer (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	City of Bones by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 6,901 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Traitor by Michael Cisco 3.70 avg rating — 212 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.01 avg rating — 359,737 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Use of Weapons (Culture, #3) by Iain M. Banks 4.16 avg rating — 52,497 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future (Santiago, #1) by Mike Resnick 4.07 avg rating — 1,849 ratings score: 180, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	A Fortress of Grey Ice (Sword of Shadows, #2) by J.V. Jones really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6,024 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1) by Seth Grahame-Smith (Goodreads Author) 3.32 avg rating — 142,149 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Chocolate Lenin by Graham Diamond (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 52 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Peacemaker (Peacemaker, #1) by Marianne de Pierres (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 331 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	A Fistful of Nothing: A Dieselpunk Noir Novel (The Hollywoodholes Sonata, #1) by Dan Glaser (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 37 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Star and the Stellae (The Stellae Series Book 1) by C.A. Nole (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Aliens versus Chileans, Carmona inc. by Carlos Páez Sepúlveda (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Carnelian Throne (Silistra, #4) by Janet E. Morris (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 96 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Redemption (The Alterran Legacy, #4) by Regina M. Joseph (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 29 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Bone Dance by Emma Bull (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 1,706 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham (Goodreads Author) 3.61 avg rating — 6,396 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	A Sword from Red Ice (Sword of Shadows, #3) by J.V. Jones 4.01 avg rating — 4,052 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Acheron (Dark-Hunter, #14) by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Goodreads Author) 4.56 avg rating — 61,616 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Identidad suspendida by Sergio Alejandro Amira (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 38 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Phule's Company (Phule's Company, #1) by Robert Lynn Asprin really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 10,215 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Midnight Sun: The Complete Stories of Kane by Karl Edward Wagner 4.51 avg rating — 356 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	In Over Her Head by Elsie Russell (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Watcher of the Dead (Sword of Shadows, #4) by J.V. Jones 4.13 avg rating — 3,184 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Blood of Ambrose (Morlock Ambrosius, #1) by James Enge (Goodreads Author) 3.48 avg rating — 916 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1) by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 81,767 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Evento Z. Zombis en Valparaíso by Martín Muñoz Kaiser 3.74 avg rating — 72 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2) by Michael J. Sullivan (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 76,931 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Maledicte (Antyre, #1) by Lane Robins (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 807 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan 3.91 avg rating — 12,847 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Wolf of the Steppes (The Complete Cossack Adventures #1) by Harold Lamb 4.22 avg rating — 258 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Synners by Pat Cadigan (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 2,234 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson 3.94 avg rating — 3,835 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Masque World by Alexei Panshin 3.91 avg rating — 122 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (Goodreads Author) 3.48 avg rating — 2,410 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Staying Dead (Retrievers, #1) by Laura Anne Gilman (Goodreads Author) 3.52 avg rating — 3,529 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars