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jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
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This is the conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. The capital has fallen and the Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. There is the grand climax to the series. Everything felt expected.
I really, really like the Six of Crows series, but this whole trilogy felt very tropy. I think the writing and the world is really cool. I wish we could've got more explanation into how things work, but alas here we are. The story doesn't feel consistent and the characters don't seem to have a ton of development. The Darkling is for sure the best character, but Alina and Mal were just so bland. I feel like Alina only gets characterization when convenient. I felt like the book could've been so much darker. Its a book about war, and yes it's YA but I've read YA books that got darker. Marie Lu's books, The Hunger Games, etc. They all got dark.
I felt like Bardugo wanted Alina to be an antihero, but it didn't happen. This book trilogy had a lot of potential and it didn't live up to.
2/5. For the Darkling.
I don't really recommend this trilogy unless you want to read it before the TV show. Just read Six of Crows and it's sequel. Much better and you don't miss anything for the world.
Sidenote: How are they going to combine these 2 series together? They are in the same world, but the characters don't interact and it's a war story and a heist novel... I'm intrigued though.
This is the conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. The capital has fallen and the Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. There is the grand climax to the series. Everything felt expected.
I really, really like the Six of Crows series, but this whole trilogy felt very tropy. I think the writing and the world is really cool. I wish we could've got more explanation into how things work, but alas here we are. The story doesn't feel consistent and the characters don't seem to have a ton of development. The Darkling is for sure the best character, but Alina and Mal were just so bland. I feel like Alina only gets characterization when convenient. I felt like the book could've been so much darker. Its a book about war, and yes it's YA but I've read YA books that got darker. Marie Lu's books, The Hunger Games, etc. They all got dark.
I felt like Bardugo wanted Alina to be an antihero, but it didn't happen. This book trilogy had a lot of potential and it didn't live up to.
2/5. For the Darkling.
I don't really recommend this trilogy unless you want to read it before the TV show. Just read Six of Crows and it's sequel. Much better and you don't miss anything for the world.
Sidenote: How are they going to combine these 2 series together? They are in the same world, but the characters don't interact and it's a war story and a heist novel... I'm intrigued though.
elfbread's review against another edition
4.0
I had to think about how I felt about this finale for a little bit to really put this together. I'd heard from a lot of people that this last book was a little disappointing, but I really tried to not let that effect my opinion while reading it.
1. Alina was a pretty un-interesting main character. I didn't feel like she really grew much as a character through out the trilogy. At times I felt she was a little Mary Sue like... : /
2. Mal should have stayed dead. I call this pulling a SJM, where you can't follow through on killing your main character or keeping them dead. The scene in the Fold where Alina killed Mal was one of the most interesting things she did during the series and I thought his sacrifice really improved my overall opinion of his character. So yeah, I was definitely disappointed in that.
3. Nikolai was one of my favorites in the series, no question. This sass-cat was certainly a high point. I also enjoyed that after he was saved from the Darkling, he didn't immediately go back to normal. I am planning on reading King of Scars just because I enjoyed his story so much.
4. I really felt like the story of the Darkling and the end of his story was a super big let down. In Shadow and Bone, he was an awesome, complex character with a lot of gray area, which I LOVED. His relationship with Alina was really interesting and I was so intrigued to see how it developed on the series. However, in the next two books he became such a background character, a boogeyman lurking around. Such potential, such disappointment.
1. Alina was a pretty un-interesting main character. I didn't feel like she really grew much as a character through out the trilogy. At times I felt she was a little Mary Sue like... : /
2. Mal should have stayed dead. I call this pulling a SJM, where you can't follow through on killing your main character or keeping them dead. The scene in the Fold where Alina killed Mal was one of the most interesting things she did during the series and I thought his sacrifice really improved my overall opinion of his character. So yeah, I was definitely disappointed in that.
3. Nikolai was one of my favorites in the series, no question. This sass-cat was certainly a high point. I also enjoyed that after he was saved from the Darkling, he didn't immediately go back to normal. I am planning on reading King of Scars just because I enjoyed his story so much.
4. I really felt like the story of the Darkling and the end of his story was a super big let down. In Shadow and Bone, he was an awesome, complex character with a lot of gray area, which I LOVED. His relationship with Alina was really interesting and I was so intrigued to see how it developed on the series. However, in the next two books he became such a background character, a boogeyman lurking around. Such potential, such disappointment.
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was going to be another crappy 3rd book dragging out a trilogy but it was so good. The first 120 pages were just okay (Sturmhond doesn’t even make an appearance until page 121) and I was like where is this going, but the twist was totally unexpected and I loved how it ended. I didn’t imagine this ending and now I see it was the only way to end it. Bardugo is great at world building and with dialogue, I love all the bantering between Alina and Nikolai. Just a solid and enjoyable trilogy. On to Six of Crows!
crickedcactus's review against another edition
5.0
The best of the trilogy by far! The first one was a good introduction of the world and the characters, the second one I found a bit slow at times, but this one... this was a constant page turner, every chapter ending in a cliffhanger,I just couldn't put it down. Loved the character development and the plot twists.
kamilovesgreekmythology's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
booktopia_7879's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
This trilogy was so much better than I expected!
If I had to sum up the main things I wanted to say they would be:
1. Mal was not toxic or evil or selfish: he was just a teenager who genuinely loved Alina for who she was and not because of her power or what she's capable of doing with it. He was always the first person to come to her aid and pretty much gave up his entire life for her. Yes he was difficult in some situations but that was given because he was the only person who recognised how this new power could corrupt Alina, how the influential people around her wanted her for her power alone, and also just because he went from being the centre of attention everywhere he went to being treated like a mere servant and a shadow. It would be hard for anyone, and personally his reaction was totally valid, both for their circumstances and their ages. And even before Alina had her power he still made time for her when he could have been hanging out with more popular people; he snuck out of his tent to meet her and almost died protecting her on the ship in the Fold.
2. The ending was great: it was bittersweet and satisfying. I loved the concept that not one person should have all the power alone but instead should be split between everyone who deserves it, because power corrupts and makes you hungry for more once you have a taste of it.
3. The Darkling: he was evil, cruel and manipulative, and his actions were unforgivable. Yet he was such a great villian because he's like so many powerful people in the world: alluding and promising, making you feel like you are safe following them when in reality their actions are fuelled by selfishness and ruthlessness, however logical their motives might seem at first glance. At the end of the day, I loved that he still died a mortal, and a human, because he too felt alone and lonely with no real person like him until Alina came along.
If I had to sum up the main things I wanted to say they would be:
1. Mal was not toxic or evil or selfish: he was just a teenager who genuinely loved Alina for who she was and not because of her power or what she's capable of doing with it. He was always the first person to come to her aid and pretty much gave up his entire life for her. Yes he was difficult in some situations but that was given because he was the only person who recognised how this new power could corrupt Alina, how the influential people around her wanted her for her power alone, and also just because he went from being the centre of attention everywhere he went to being treated like a mere servant and a shadow. It would be hard for anyone, and personally his reaction was totally valid, both for their circumstances and their ages. And even before Alina had her power he still made time for her when he could have been hanging out with more popular people; he snuck out of his tent to meet her and almost died protecting her on the ship in the Fold.
2. The ending was great: it was bittersweet and satisfying. I loved the concept that not one person should have all the power alone but instead should be split between everyone who deserves it, because power corrupts and makes you hungry for more once you have a taste of it.
3. The Darkling: he was evil, cruel and manipulative, and his actions were unforgivable. Yet he was such a great villian because he's like so many powerful people in the world: alluding and promising, making you feel like you are safe following them when in reality their actions are fuelled by selfishness and ruthlessness, however logical their motives might seem at first glance. At the end of the day, I loved that he still died a mortal, and a human, because he too felt alone and lonely with no real person like him until Alina came along.
aderrick's review against another edition
5.0
My HEART. I love love loved this book. Incredible ending.
vivid_emma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pinkminion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0