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amylynn44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Classism, Body horror, Murder, Gore, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement
jennn_3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Incest
ellenigrace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Drug use, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Vomit
bcope84's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Bullying, Child abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Stalking, Classism, Death, Incest, Infidelity, and Sexual content
falling_through_the_pages's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
I think some authors have a hard time transitioning from young adult or youth books when they are so well-known and so good at writing them. But Holly Black managed to pull it off. It still has the same feel as her young adult books with a dark, grown up twist to this unique world in Book of Night.
Charlie Hall lives in a world of shadows and the magic to wield them. Even though she won't dabble in it herself, she had no qualms doing criminal jobs for those who do. She's good at it. And while she might be trying to turn her life around now, she's drawn to danger and the wrong choices like a moth to flame.
This book took a while to hook me. At least the first 50% of the book was good enough to keep reading, but nothing that special. The world building and magic we're certainly fascinating and unique, and that was what kept me going. Halfway through the book, I'd say the plot finally picked up. But the whole book is worth it for the last 20%, especially with this book being relatively short. The major plot twist was fantastic, and I felt like I should have seen it coming, but didn't.
No happy endings for this book, but one of the best bittersweet last minute twists I've read in a while. I could see this going either way with a second book or a standalone. I would definitely read the next.
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Gore
taythegreat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a very slow book at first, I knew little to nothing about it when I started reading so I wasn't expecting it to be twisty-turny, pleasantly surprised for sure! I had some parts of the ending figured out early on and thought I had it all figured puy. I was pretty smug about it ngl, but the unexpected hit and was so satisfying.
The one thing I don't love is I went into this book thinking it was a stand alone, probably my fault for not researching it first, so the cliff hanger was a doozy.
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Incest, Addiction, and Confinement
starlesscircus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Blood, and Torture
jg34's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
claudiashelf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
❝ The universe belongs to the curious. ❞
*take a deep breath* I expected lots of fortes when I took the yields of this book just because I enjoyed Holly Black’s previous books. Plus, the concept of this book sounds promising, not going to lie. —Where shadows can work magic, but only for those who have the ability to awaken, or hasten, their shadows— But, since this book is about Holly Black’s first adult debut, I can tell the worldbuilding was a bit difficult to follow. I mean, some aspects sound pretty much disconnected. Not in the usual romantic sense, but rather in a darker, more gothic one, which is what I found more enjoyable, this book was also more romantic than I had anticipated. All things considered, a fantastic read with fantasy, romance, and mystery components.
Graphic: Gore and Violence