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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Main thoughts:
The ending was predictable and rushed.
The magic sistem is nice, but nothing special.
I liked the writing, it was very fluid and easy to digest.
The main villain could have been more violent.
The main character should grow a backbone.
The ending was predictable and rushed.
The magic sistem is nice, but nothing special.
I liked the writing, it was very fluid and easy to digest.
The main villain could have been more violent.
The main character should grow a backbone.
I first read this book when it originally came out, almost 10 years ago. I remember reading it through and forcing all my friends and family to read it, saying it would make an excellent movie. And now.....NETFLIX!!!! For how much I loved this book and talked it up to any and all who would listen, I only read it that once when they first came out.
So, naturally, a reread was in order before hunkering down and shutting out the world while binge watching the Netflix show multiple times over. I'm so glad I chose to reread. I remember the basics of the books but the finer details I've forgotten, and actually, have messed up the timeline a bit. Mistaking what happened in book 1 for later in the series. I never read Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom so I'm excited to read those as well.
This book was just as good as I remember thinking it was when I first read it. I have no idea why some people feel it reads slow because I think the pacing is spot on. This series will always hold a special place in my heart and I cannot wait for the show! It looks epic!
So, naturally, a reread was in order before hunkering down and shutting out the world while binge watching the Netflix show multiple times over. I'm so glad I chose to reread. I remember the basics of the books but the finer details I've forgotten, and actually, have messed up the timeline a bit. Mistaking what happened in book 1 for later in the series. I never read Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom so I'm excited to read those as well.
This book was just as good as I remember thinking it was when I first read it. I have no idea why some people feel it reads slow because I think the pacing is spot on. This series will always hold a special place in my heart and I cannot wait for the show! It looks epic!
[Spoiler Free Review]
I never expected this book to have me in the chokehold it has now. I've watched the first episode of the TV show back then and wasn't instantly grabbed and thought, meh, I'll watch it another time. Now that I'm back into reading I thought, hey this is right up my alley, has all the genres I like, what could go wrong?
To anyone reading this: BUY IT. IF YOU LIKE THE GENRE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
I am utterly OBSESSED. I've already bought the graphic novel and the other spin-offs. I am actually in awe how much story, worldbuilding and content the author managed to pack into 350 pages. I felt like I've experienced at least 500 pages worth of story, I was emotionally destroyed at the end. And there are two wolves inside of me... one is toxic and loves the Darkling and the other is looking for a happy end and loves Mal. I just really love all these characters and I damn near ugly cried when Mal and Alina reunited. It's actually so rare to see a good male love interest, especially in a love triangle (well, it's technically not a love triangle, but in my unhinged mind it is).
Also, big shoutout to the slavic inspired world. I'm russian myself and it was a pleasant surprise to see a fantasy world that has so much from my experience in it. I'm a sucker for speaking mainly english but using foreign words in between, so you can imagine the field day I had with all the russian and russian inspired words thrown in there :D
Sidenote: I'll be forever mad that they didn't cast a young man as the darkling, he was explicitly described to look as young as Alina or even younger, I COULD'VE HAD MY PRETTY BOY DARKLING! THE TRAGEDY. (No shade to Ben Barnes, he's fine, but the visible age gap in the show icky).
I never expected this book to have me in the chokehold it has now. I've watched the first episode of the TV show back then and wasn't instantly grabbed and thought, meh, I'll watch it another time. Now that I'm back into reading I thought, hey this is right up my alley, has all the genres I like, what could go wrong?
To anyone reading this: BUY IT. IF YOU LIKE THE GENRE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
I am utterly OBSESSED. I've already bought the graphic novel and the other spin-offs. I am actually in awe how much story, worldbuilding and content the author managed to pack into 350 pages. I felt like I've experienced at least 500 pages worth of story, I was emotionally destroyed at the end. And there are two wolves inside of me... one is toxic and loves the Darkling and the other is looking for a happy end and loves Mal. I just really love all these characters and I damn near ugly cried when Mal and Alina reunited. It's actually so rare to see a good male love interest, especially in a love triangle (well, it's technically not a love triangle, but in my unhinged mind it is).
Also, big shoutout to the slavic inspired world. I'm russian myself and it was a pleasant surprise to see a fantasy world that has so much from my experience in it. I'm a sucker for speaking mainly english but using foreign words in between, so you can imagine the field day I had with all the russian and russian inspired words thrown in there :D
Sidenote: I'll be forever mad that they didn't cast a young man as the darkling, he was explicitly described to look as young as Alina or even younger, I COULD'VE HAD MY PRETTY BOY DARKLING! THE TRAGEDY. (No shade to Ben Barnes, he's fine, but the visible age gap in the show icky).
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
Disappointed that the darkling was actually the bad guy and not a misunderstood love interest :(
This book was great! I would recommend it to any fantasy fan. However, I do wish that the author could have gone into more detail in some parts, but thats the only thing I have to critique. Everything else was excellent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
I'm glad I finally took the leap and started reading the grishnaverse. It's been years since watched the show and I'm happy I forgot about a lot of things.
I really enjoyed the worldbuliding and magic that the author created. There are a lot of characters that are introduced and I really liked the main characters. Alina and Mals banter makes me smile and miss my best friends. Alina is a fun and a bit of a badass underneath her confusion a s self doubt. Seeing her grow more confident in herself and her powers was chef kiss. Mal is such a cinnamon roll and an amazing tracker.For a minute there I may have been crushing on the Darkling. I wish I was introduced to this world at an earlier stage in my life but I loved what I read so far.
I really enjoyed the worldbuliding and magic that the author created. There are a lot of characters that are introduced and I really liked the main characters. Alina and Mals banter makes me smile and miss my best friends. Alina is a fun and a bit of a badass underneath her confusion a s self doubt. Seeing her grow more confident in herself and her powers was chef kiss. Mal is such a cinnamon roll and an amazing tracker.
3.5 for me
Update 3-Abr-21: con el tiempo me dí cuenta que es un muy buen libro y amo a The Darkening, cambio a 4⭐
Update 3-Abr-21: con el tiempo me dí cuenta que es un muy buen libro y amo a The Darkening, cambio a 4⭐
Kinda slow in the beginning but picked up pace with a great ending.
Lo primero de todo, el libro me ha gustado mucho, he disfrutado de los personajes y del comienzo del Grishaverso.
Yo me leí el año pasado la bilogía de Seis de Cuervos, porque era la trama que realmente me llamaba. Pero como Netflix anunció que iba a adaptar Sombra y Hueso, decidí leer este libro. En comparación se me ha hecho un poco más lento que Seis de Cuervos, sin embargo, una vez superado el bloqueo lector que me estaba provocando otro libro, me he acabado el libro en apenas dos días.
Algo que creo ha hecho que no disfrute al 100% del libro ha sido todo el contenido y el hype que hay ahora mismo. Todo el mundo tiene el hype por las nubes con el Oscuro. Entiendo que es un personaje muy atractivo, sin embargo (y sin hacer spoiler), no entiendo el hype -probablemente cuando continúe leyendo la saga lo entenderé mejor-. Y me pasa lo mismo con Mal, en este caso el hype es negativo, la mayoría de comentarios que he leído son más bien malos. No es que sea mi personaje favorito, creo que tiene actitudes bastante cuestionables, pero no tiene mal fondo.
Dicho esto, me encanta Alina, pienso que es un personaje con el que uno se puede sentir fácilmente identificado. Es un personaje con muchas dudas, tantas que duda de sí misma, que no sabe en quien confiar o que pensar de todo lo que le sucede y no puedo no verme reflejada, porque actuaría de la misma forma.
Y en cuanto a la adaptación, pensaba que en algún momento de la trama aparecerían los cuervos, porque si no no entiendo como van a hacer para que las tramas se crucen. Según tengo entendido solo han cogido Sombra y Hueso y Seis de Cuervos para hacer la "primera temporada" de la serie... I'm confused.
Yo me leí el año pasado la bilogía de Seis de Cuervos, porque era la trama que realmente me llamaba. Pero como Netflix anunció que iba a adaptar Sombra y Hueso, decidí leer este libro. En comparación se me ha hecho un poco más lento que Seis de Cuervos, sin embargo, una vez superado el bloqueo lector que me estaba provocando otro libro, me he acabado el libro en apenas dos días.
Algo que creo ha hecho que no disfrute al 100% del libro ha sido todo el contenido y el hype que hay ahora mismo. Todo el mundo tiene el hype por las nubes con el Oscuro. Entiendo que es un personaje muy atractivo, sin embargo (y sin hacer spoiler), no entiendo el hype -probablemente cuando continúe leyendo la saga lo entenderé mejor-. Y me pasa lo mismo con Mal, en este caso el hype es negativo, la mayoría de comentarios que he leído son más bien malos. No es que sea mi personaje favorito, creo que tiene actitudes bastante cuestionables, pero no tiene mal fondo.
Dicho esto, me encanta Alina, pienso que es un personaje con el que uno se puede sentir fácilmente identificado. Es un personaje con muchas dudas, tantas que duda de sí misma, que no sabe en quien confiar o que pensar de todo lo que le sucede y no puedo no verme reflejada, porque actuaría de la misma forma.
Y en cuanto a la adaptación, pensaba que en algún momento de la trama aparecerían los cuervos, porque si no no entiendo como van a hacer para que las tramas se crucen. Según tengo entendido solo han cogido Sombra y Hueso y Seis de Cuervos para hacer la "primera temporada" de la serie... I'm confused.