Riddle’s Reviews > The Italian > Status Update
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This pains me. 2.5 stars. I am in a bit of a rush, so I will give it another chance at a later date. To me, Radcliffe is second to none with setting; unfortunately, to me in the case of this narrative, the same can't be said for the dialogue, pacing, and writing style. The monk escapes like four times, in the same unbelievable way. The MC has no emotional regulation and doesn't think. The pacing is extremely slow.
— Jun 21, 2026 03:33AM
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Jun 21, 2026 09:07AM
Thanks for the review, Riddle. I love this kind of early gothic literature, and the Italian has been high on my tbr list for some time. I've heard the same criticisms that you've listed here about the pacing and dialogue. I do love the atmosphere and mood Radcliffe creates, however. Sorry it wasn't an enjoyable reading experience for you
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Arielle wrote: "Thanks for the review, Riddle. I love this kind of early gothic literature, and the Italian has been high on my tbr list for some time. I've heard the same criticisms that you've listed here about ..."Same! To me, the setting in the Mysteries of Udolpho, for example, is second only to Lothlorien, or the forests of Doriath by Tolkien. I would possibly still recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Radcliffe. But, yeah, a lot of things in Volume 1 just added up, and I am going to give it another try someday. I hope you like it!
