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faith_d's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
For me, this book was an emotional roller coaster. Love the character development, how everything worked out in the end (in ways I never expected)!
It left you on a slight cliffhanger where the author has the option too write where she left off if she chooses too. Amazing book, amazing series, amazing author!
It left you on a slight cliffhanger where the author has the option too write where she left off if she chooses too. Amazing book, amazing series, amazing author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Blood, Violence, War, Misogyny, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Grief
sammymilfort's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Death, Hate crime, Violence, Religious bigotry, Torture, and War
erins_bookshelf_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I really liked this one, probably in my top three grishaverse books (it was a little slow getting into but that final battle scene was absolutely amazing) BUT THE END FELT LIKE A CLIFFHANGER SO Leigh is there going to be another book because if there isn’t going to be another one I might cry
Anyway that was great but I need to read something short next because Leigh certainly loves writing long chapters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Torture, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
ehmannky'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Much better than the King of Scars (which wasn't bad, just took much longer for me to get into). It's a long read, but I felt that all of the POV's came together nicely, loved the themes of growing past your trauma and learning to be loved and the comfort that community brings, and Zoya and Nikolai's romance was 10/10. I think that despite this being like *~Nikolai's duology~*, it was really Zoya's, and I'm fine with that since I am a sucker for prickly and angry female characters. I do think there was a lot going on in this book, but unlike the previous book, I think I was okay with all of it. Like, maybe Nina's chapters could have been their own book, but I don't know. I think it worked here.
I think really my only complaint was the Darkling's chapters. I don't know if I particularly believe the inclusion of him brought much to this duology and I think a lot of the things Bardugo uses him for could have been accomplished with another character or something else. Like, I get the idea of her characters working beyond their trauma from him and I think narratively they did need to heal from the damage he did to them. But did he have to physically be there for them to do that??? I liked the focus on people really taking stock of the pain he did to them and their loved ones and really reckoning with his abuse, and trying to recover from that, I just don't know if he needed to be there as a character. I will say that a lot of reviews seem to be like "she's scolding us for liking the Darkling!!!" when this duology feels a lot more like, "hey, let's focus on the victims of the abuse and their trauma and how they're recovering from that."
I think really my only complaint was the Darkling's chapters. I don't know if I particularly believe the inclusion of him brought much to this duology and I think a lot of the things Bardugo uses him for could have been accomplished with another character or something else. Like, I get the idea of her characters working beyond their trauma from him and I think narratively they did need to heal from the damage he did to them. But did he have to physically be there for them to do that??? I liked the focus on people really taking stock of the pain he did to them and their loved ones and really reckoning with his abuse, and trying to recover from that, I just don't know if he needed to be there as a character. I will say that a lot of reviews seem to be like "she's scolding us for liking the Darkling!!!" when this duology feels a lot more like, "hey, let's focus on the victims of the abuse and their trauma and how they're recovering from that."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug use, War, Death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism
ali_debookness's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction
krijemseoddusana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, War, and Fire/Fire injury
syd991's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh god. Thank the Saints for Leigh Bardugo’s amazing writing.
After speeding through the rest of the Grishaverse and finally making my way to this amazing novel, I can genuinely say I was not disappointed.
After the absolute cliffhanger that King Of Scars ended on, starting this book was no trouble at all, and for me it was fast-paced and brimming with an extraordinary plot.
I adored watching Nina and Hanne’s relationship grow throughout this book, something I didn’t expect but also didn’t know I absolutely needed.
Another thing I loved was both Zoya and Nikolai’s character development, both coming to terms with their power.
One thing I loved was the appearance of a few certain characters, and the ending of this novel. I love how the option is open for Bardugo to write another book in the series, but at the same time, is left feeling complete.
The one book I haven’t read in the Grishaverse yet is Lives of Saints, and although I don’t deem it necessary, I still feel like it may have added a little more to the story for me, particularly with how this duology deals with the idea of Saints.
As this is the last novel Bardugo has written thus far for the Grishaverse, I can only hope that we’ll be graced with another one soon, because I cannot bear to leave this universe just yet.
After speeding through the rest of the Grishaverse and finally making my way to this amazing novel, I can genuinely say I was not disappointed.
After the absolute cliffhanger that King Of Scars ended on, starting this book was no trouble at all, and for me it was fast-paced and brimming with an extraordinary plot.
I adored watching Nina and Hanne’s relationship grow throughout this book, something I didn’t expect but also didn’t know I absolutely needed.
Another thing I loved was both Zoya and Nikolai’s character development, both coming to terms with their power.
One thing I loved was the appearance of a few certain characters, and the ending of this novel. I love how the option is open for Bardugo to write another book in the series, but at the same time, is left feeling complete.
The one book I haven’t read in the Grishaverse yet is Lives of Saints, and although I don’t deem it necessary, I still feel like it may have added a little more to the story for me, particularly with how this duology deals with the idea of Saints.
As this is the last novel Bardugo has written thus far for the Grishaverse, I can only hope that we’ll be graced with another one soon, because I cannot bear to leave this universe just yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Physical abuse, and Rape
aklovekorn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Grief, Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, and War
gayghostprince's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
this is my favourite grishaverse book, even over six of crows or crooked Kingdom.
I am truly awestruck by how much I love this
most importantly though: ZOYA!!!!!
she's my fav character now I love her so very dearly
I am truly awestruck by how much I love this
most importantly though: ZOYA!!!!!
she's my fav character now I love her so very dearly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Child death, Gun violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Kidnapping, Dysphoria, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child death, Rape, Ableism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Slavery, Infertility, Suicide, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Genocide
there's talk of wide scale use of missiles that can destroy cities.veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Das ist mein Lieblings Grishaverse-Buch. Der erste Band von King of Scars hat mich nicht so wirklich gepackt, aber der hat es echt wettgemacht.
Ich fand das Ende echt gut.
Hanne/Rasmus und Nina sind meine Lieblings Storyline. Bin super froh, dass sie zusammengekommen sind. Der Plottwist am Ende war super. Ich mag die beiden mehr als Mathias und Nina. Außerdem bin ich begeistert, dass es eine Transperson in der Geschichte gab.
Mayu, Ehri und ihre Schwester fand ich als Charaktere super spannend.
Außerdem bin ich ein riesiger Zoya-Fan sie als Zarin passt perfekt Aber irgendwie konnte ich mich nie wirklich mit Nikolais Charakter anfreunden.
ich war echt traurig als David starb. Die Arme Genya. Ich fand auch toll wie viele Charaktere aus vorherigen Büchern vorkamen
Ein würdiger Abschluss für das Grishaverse.
Mayu, Ehri und ihre Schwester fand ich als Charaktere super spannend.
Außerdem bin ich ein riesiger Zoya-Fan
Ein würdiger Abschluss für das Grishaverse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime
Minor: Transphobia