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jelkebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's going to be hard to talk about this book without any spoilers, but I'm going my darn hardest to try. I truly thought it was an incredibly interesting installement into the series. I thought that what we focussed on in this book was really interesting, and a curious change of pace. The setting of Sydney's part of the story was super interesting (yes, that word again), and despite it being a bit on the slower side I still couldn't put the book down because I just wanted to learn more.
By the way the last book ended I was expecting a bit more action from this book though, especially on Adrian's side. I totally get why things happened the way they did, and I do think this book was quite well executed, but I don't know. There was just a lot of sitting around, and waiting. I just wanted something more, I guess.
This book also kind of felt like a bit of a side quest. Like I said before, I do understand why this book was executed the way it was, and I don't mind it, it's just that there are so many elements of the series that are put on hold. Considering this is the penultimate book in the series it just feels a bit like an odd decision to make. It has made me incredibly curious to see how everything is going to connect again in the final novel.
So yeah, I did have some issues with this book so it wasn't a five star. However, it definitely is my second favourite in the series, and by far the most interesting as well. I just think we got great insight into a certain part of this world. Again, it's hard to fully talk about this without spoiling anything, but I am incredibly hyped to see how this series is going to conclude in the next and final installement.
By the way the last book ended I was expecting a bit more action from this book though, especially on Adrian's side. I totally get why things happened the way they did, and I do think this book was quite well executed, but I don't know. There was just a lot of sitting around, and waiting. I just wanted something more, I guess.
This book also kind of felt like a bit of a side quest. Like I said before, I do understand why this book was executed the way it was, and I don't mind it, it's just that there are so many elements of the series that are put on hold. Considering this is the penultimate book in the series it just feels a bit like an odd decision to make. It has made me incredibly curious to see how everything is going to connect again in the final novel.
So yeah, I did have some issues with this book so it wasn't a five star. However, it definitely is my second favourite in the series, and by far the most interesting as well. I just think we got great insight into a certain part of this world. Again, it's hard to fully talk about this without spoiling anything, but I am incredibly hyped to see how this series is going to conclude in the next and final installement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Torture
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexism
Minor: Rape
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
📱
I enjoyed reading this book. It was emotional and the drama was intense. I think there was good character development for both Adrian and Sydney, and despite the main plot, I do think it strengthened their relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was emotional and the drama was intense. I think there was good character development for both Adrian and Sydney, and despite the main plot, I do think it strengthened their relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Torture, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape and Body shaming
santabeby's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
rosalie_pearl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Alcoholism, and Forced institutionalization
martamae77's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Body shaming
melosamatic's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
tiana_king's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying
Minor: Rape
wellreadjill_'s review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use and Kidnapping
Minor: Eating disorder and Rape
psydneigh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my favorite book so far in the series. My heart was pounding for the whole read. However, this one I felt like had the most plot holes out of all the books.
Why didn’t the Alchemists interrogate Sydney about Marcus in the beginning? She literally texted about him to them. I also felt like Mrs. T just dropped off the face of the earth even though she probably could’ve found Sydney with the gas problem fixed or at least helped. And they should’ve thought about Jill’s location being compromised as soon as they thought of pulling a rescue (I am assuming that the Alchemists are the ones that took Jill, but the point still stands if that isn’t true). How can you think about going against a group when that group knows where a super important person to you and your society is? Idk, I just felt like there was a lot of poor foresight going on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Torture
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
[fifth read, November 2022]
Last year I said “stewing in Sydrian feels is just a lifestyle at this point” and that couldn’t be more true. She wanted Rome, so he gave it to her!! They are peak romance and I love that for them!! If you hear incoherent shrieks and squeals in the distance, that’s just me because THEY ARE ADORABLE!!!! 🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗
[fourth read, November 2021]
I think I set a new personal record by reading this in three and a half hours. I had to wait a week for Aly to be ready to start, and I don’t even think they have yet, but I have no self-restraint when it comes to my babies. I missed Sydney and Adrian. I adore them and this book, excruciating as it is, was exactly what I needed after a rough week. Stewing in Sydrian feels is just a lifestyle at this point. :’)
I don’t know if Richelle Mead did this on purpose or not, but the fact that in The Golden Lily Adrian said he didn’t want Sydney dating “some deadbeat” and then in this book called himself a “brooding, deadbeat Moroi” in his proposal has me EMOTIONAL. The parallels!!!
Although, to be quite honest, the whole damn book has me emotional AF. The agony of Sydney and Adrian being apart and suffering in their own ways, their heartwarming reunion, the intensity of the chase and, amid it all, the most romantic and adorable wedding scene ever written. I squeal EVERY TIME. These two WILL be the reason my heart explodes one day, if Romitri doesn’t cause it first. F E E L I N G S!!!
And now I have to wait to read the last book. Crap. Being such a fast reader and obsessed with these books is a blessing and a curse, I tell you.
[third read, June 2020]
I read this in about eight hours. The whole book is intense and the first two thirds are heartbreaking. That last third? Still intense, yes, but incredible. Adorable. Wonderful. One of my favorite moments in the whole series.
I am Sydrian trash and also just Bloodlines trash, and we aren’t even getting into VA right now. I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH IT HURTS. :’)
[second read, October 2019]
I have no words. Everything good was on the line in Silver Shadows, and each chapter seemed to bring terrifying new risks, unimaginable new consequences, and daring new schemes. I sped through the second half of the novel today in a matter of hours, and the first half only took me a couple of days due to family obligations over the weekend. I’m trash for the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines books, and when I have uninterrupted reading time... it shows. They’re so easy to read, to get invested in and thus forget about the world around you. At least in my experience.
Before I dive into the final book, I want to take a moment to shriek about Sydney and Adrian. I forgot how much they go through, and how passionate and dedicated they are, in the midst of chaos. Despite the near-constant intense moments, there’s still so much amusing banter and heartwarming love in every one of their interactions. Rereading this series has reminded me exactly why 15-year-old Liv loved them so wholly. That’s one of the only things I have in common with my younger self now.
Romance aside, the power and complexity in Sydney and Adrian as individuals is truly something to behold. Each has something monumental to overcome and, because this is a Richelle Mead book, multiple smaller issues along the way. Both have developed so much since the beginning of their story, and I just...I can’t put into words how much I love and admire them.
The numerous reappearances of my Vampire Academy favs is also a great element of these later novels, something I’m incredibly glad Mead continued to incorporate. But I’m just rambling now, so I’ll see myself out.
[first read, February 2017]
…
…
What are words? Where do I even start with this book?
…
I read this in a little under 19 hours, if that's any indication of how much I loved it. I read about 50 pages last night and then the rest of it today, because there was no school. Every page was absolutely amazing, and that ending has me NEEDING #6. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm done with it, because then the VA/BL series will truly be over. I'm honestly so invested and obsessed with this series. Also, Sydney and Adrian are one of the best couples, hands down. SO MANY FEELS. *infinite heart eyes*
Last year I said “stewing in Sydrian feels is just a lifestyle at this point” and that couldn’t be more true. She wanted Rome, so he gave it to her!! They are peak romance and I love that for them!! If you hear incoherent shrieks and squeals in the distance, that’s just me because THEY ARE ADORABLE!!!! 🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗
[fourth read, November 2021]
I think I set a new personal record by reading this in three and a half hours. I had to wait a week for Aly to be ready to start, and I don’t even think they have yet, but I have no self-restraint when it comes to my babies. I missed Sydney and Adrian. I adore them and this book, excruciating as it is, was exactly what I needed after a rough week. Stewing in Sydrian feels is just a lifestyle at this point. :’)
Although, to be quite honest, the whole damn book has me emotional AF. The agony of Sydney and Adrian being apart and suffering in their own ways, their heartwarming reunion, the intensity of the chase and, amid it all, the most romantic and adorable wedding scene ever written. I squeal EVERY TIME. These two WILL be the reason my heart explodes one day, if Romitri doesn’t cause it first. F E E L I N G S!!!
And now I have to wait to read the last book. Crap. Being such a fast reader and obsessed with these books is a blessing and a curse, I tell you.
[third read, June 2020]
I read this in about eight hours. The whole book is intense and the first two thirds are heartbreaking. That last third? Still intense, yes, but incredible. Adorable. Wonderful. One of my favorite moments in the whole series.
I am Sydrian trash and also just Bloodlines trash, and we aren’t even getting into VA right now. I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH IT HURTS. :’)
[second read, October 2019]
I have no words. Everything good was on the line in Silver Shadows, and each chapter seemed to bring terrifying new risks, unimaginable new consequences, and daring new schemes. I sped through the second half of the novel today in a matter of hours, and the first half only took me a couple of days due to family obligations over the weekend. I’m trash for the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines books, and when I have uninterrupted reading time... it shows. They’re so easy to read, to get invested in and thus forget about the world around you. At least in my experience.
Before I dive into the final book, I want to take a moment to shriek about Sydney and Adrian. I forgot how much they go through, and how passionate and dedicated they are, in the midst of chaos. Despite the near-constant intense moments, there’s still so much amusing banter and heartwarming love in every one of their interactions. Rereading this series has reminded me exactly why 15-year-old Liv loved them so wholly. That’s one of the only things I have in common with my younger self now.
Romance aside, the power and complexity in Sydney and Adrian as individuals is truly something to behold. Each has something monumental to overcome and, because this is a Richelle Mead book, multiple smaller issues along the way. Both have developed so much since the beginning of their story, and I just...I can’t put into words how much I love and admire them.
The numerous reappearances of my Vampire Academy favs is also a great element of these later novels, something I’m incredibly glad Mead continued to incorporate. But I’m just rambling now, so I’ll see myself out.
[first read, February 2017]
…
…
What are words? Where do I even start with this book?
…
I read this in a little under 19 hours, if that's any indication of how much I loved it. I read about 50 pages last night and then the rest of it today, because there was no school. Every page was absolutely amazing, and that ending has me NEEDING #6. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm done with it, because then the VA/BL series will truly be over. I'm honestly so invested and obsessed with this series. Also, Sydney and Adrian are one of the best couples, hands down. SO MANY FEELS. *infinite heart eyes*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Torture, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
Everything tagged graphic is explicitly shown in the book. Forced institutionalization, abuse, confinement and torture are in Sydney’s chapters; alcoholism and grief are in Adrian’s. Drug use is tagged because of the drugs Sydney’s captors use against her. Vomit is tagged because said captors induce vomiting as a form of punishment.
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