Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

86 reviews

lish_e's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

3.25

 “I hope you don’t expect fairness from me, Alina. It isn’t one of my specialties.” 

The book had a lot of typical YA tropes, but I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. 
While the plot was a bit predictable and cliché at times, I’m still interested in reading the next book in the series.
In addition to that there are a few intriguing characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Death of parent

redherring's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Kind of predictable and the main character is annoying as hell but I bought the next two books after I finished it. Interesting plot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Kidnapping

Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent

bibliorama's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

I was able to read this pretty quickly, which is a good sign to me. I liked the setting and thought the world was detailed. Winter environments are some of my absolute faves. I thought this was a good YA fantasy, and an easy place for a teen to start their fantasy reading adventure.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Gaslighting

chloevienna's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

this was a really solid start to the series!! :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, War, Death of parent, and Cursing

maryjames's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent and Rape

therobinjoyce's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Shadow and Bone really is one of the greatest Young Adult/New Adult fantasy series I’ve ever read.

Not only does it encompass tropes such as the found family, the chosen one, a thrilling love triangle, and friends to lovers, but we also see so many amazing and wonderful creatures and countries through the eyes of her characters.

The writing style is just incredible and so easy to read. It sucks you right into the story. All of the characters are so diverse but so well written, their character arcs providing just the perfect amount of tension and fulfilment.

There’s still a debate open whether this series will have me leaning more towards darklina or malina but I’m so excited to dive into Siege and Storm and find out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Genocide, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Death, Body horror, Animal death, and Abandonment

shaylee_reads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was nothing like I expected, I had expected to have to push myself to read this book because I had heard that it was pretty boring and that it wasn't very good but honestly I disagree. I had no problem getting into this book and I actually found it boring although the ending did get kinda slow but other than that it kept me hooked the whole time and I just could not put it down. 
I know a lot of people don't like this book because they don't like Alina the main character and they just didn't really connect with any of the others but I was the exact opposite. I loved Alina yeah she could make some stupid chooses and was very easy to manipulate but honestly the reason I liked her so much is because she reminds me alot of myself… like seriously we are pretty much the same person. I also really loved Gyna and found her to be a really good character that I just loved and want to know more about. 
I went into this book fully expecting to fall deeply in love with the darkling like everyone else and well… I did. He's just so dark and amazing! I just can't help but love a villain and he was just… something else and I can't wait to learn more about him. 
I still don't 100% understand the magic system and everything but hopefully that will change once I read the next books but I don't think me not understanding it affected me enjoying the book.
There is one thing that I didn't enjoy and that was her relationship with Mal….

Like honestly I didn't give two craps if Mal died or not at the end because we barely get to see him the whole book and when we do see him he's kinda of an asshole. Instead of not only building up his character and their relationship we are just supposed to believe that they are in love with each other and give a crap if he dies. I think I would have cared a lot more if we had seen them growing up with each other and actually seen how Mal acted around Alina and the feelings he has for her because the little scenes we do have of them together it seems like Alina is just the girl who loves her best friend and he's just cares about other girls and doesn't even see her in that way instead of seeing him loving her and just not wanting to admit it

Another then that all together I really enjoyed this book and felt like it was a great introduction to this world and story. It has definitely done its job and has me hooked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

ma1vina's review against another edition

adventurous 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? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

ana_belen_herrera's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and War

adri_mkg's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting