Scan barcode
maddyrosecohen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
libbymaggas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
My rating: 4.75/5⭐️
This was such a refreshing read for me and can safely say I haven’t read anything like it in a long time. It has dark and gothic vibes, paranormal elements, and a flawed but sarcastic FMC - I’m obsessed! 🤩 This was also my first ever Leigh Bardugo book and I am in love with her writing. There were so many scenes in this book that felt raw, visceral and real to me, was literally shivering 😬
“That’s what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you’d been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.” 💭✨
This was such a refreshing read for me and can safely say I haven’t read anything like it in a long time. It has dark and gothic vibes, paranormal elements, and a flawed but sarcastic FMC - I’m obsessed! 🤩 This was also my first ever Leigh Bardugo book and I am in love with her writing. There were so many scenes in this book that felt raw, visceral and real to me, was literally shivering 😬
“That’s what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you’d been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.” 💭✨
whiterubys's review against another edition
5.0
“You couldn’t keep sidling up to death and dipping your toe in. Eventually it grabbed your ankle and tried to pull you under.”
I truly do not think there is a single book Leigh Bardugo can write that doesn't grab me by the throat and hurl me into moving traffic <3
This incredible novel follows Alex, a freshman at Yale who has the unique curse of being able to see the dead. Dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her mentor Darlington, a girl named Tara is murdered, and people seem determined to keep Alex away from it. When she looks closer into the mystery, she finds corruption from within the very halls of Yale itself.
Words cannot describe how much I love Alex. She's everything I look for in a female protagonist: badass, unapologetically outspoken, and there is a very real, human aspect to her. Apart from her, every other character is just as loveable (Dawes and Darlington my beloveds), and even if you hate a character with a seething passion, they're very real and very human. Apart from that, this sated my unending craving for dark academia in every way possible. Protagonists with sexual tension, a gothic feel, murder mysteries, and layers upon layers of mystery and intrigue.
I truly do not think there is a single book Leigh Bardugo can write that doesn't grab me by the throat and hurl me into moving traffic <3
This incredible novel follows Alex, a freshman at Yale who has the unique curse of being able to see the dead. Dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her mentor Darlington, a girl named Tara is murdered, and people seem determined to keep Alex away from it. When she looks closer into the mystery, she finds corruption from within the very halls of Yale itself.
Words cannot describe how much I love Alex. She's everything I look for in a female protagonist: badass, unapologetically outspoken, and there is a very real, human aspect to her. Apart from her, every other character is just as loveable (Dawes and Darlington my beloveds), and even if you hate a character with a seething passion, they're very real and very human. Apart from that, this sated my unending craving for dark academia in every way possible. Protagonists with sexual tension, a gothic feel, murder mysteries, and layers upon layers of mystery and intrigue.
athenenoctua's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
cari_mac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
having a hard time rating this one. i enjoyed the overall plot but whew was it a whirlwind.
i wish i had made some sort of plot chart to keep track of details while i was reading because it was so much to keep up with and i can’t decide if i hated that or not. it makes you feel the way Alex surely felt - overwhelmed, drowning in problems and possible connections, overall run ragged. as a girl certified in Trying To Do Too Much All the Time, i am nearly certain this is how Alex must’ve felt.
should that be the experience for the reader? i’m not sure it’s everyone’s cup of tea. i also don’t think so much was necessary. a few connections and plot ideas were definitely underdeveloped and felt like Bardugo was purposefully adding to the churning ocean of plot developments. i’ve heard the second installment is worse on this front which makes me nervous however i do NEED to know what happens next.
one thing about Bardugo though is she’s gonna make you FEEL like you were there. she delivers on place every time. she is also excellent at developing multifaceted characters. i really felt Alex could’ve been a real girl, angry and kicking and screaming at the world but tired, so so so tired of having to do it. she is a past version of me, which really makes me hope for some additional development for her in future books.
i wish i had made some sort of plot chart to keep track of details while i was reading because it was so much to keep up with and i can’t decide if i hated that or not. it makes you feel the way Alex surely felt - overwhelmed, drowning in problems and possible connections, overall run ragged. as a girl certified in Trying To Do Too Much All the Time, i am nearly certain this is how Alex must’ve felt.
should that be the experience for the reader? i’m not sure it’s everyone’s cup of tea. i also don’t think so much was necessary. a few connections and plot ideas were definitely underdeveloped and felt like Bardugo was purposefully adding to the churning ocean of plot developments. i’ve heard the second installment is worse on this front which makes me nervous however i do NEED to know what happens next.
one thing about Bardugo though is she’s gonna make you FEEL like you were there. she delivers on place every time. she is also excellent at developing multifaceted characters. i really felt Alex could’ve been a real girl, angry and kicking and screaming at the world but tired, so so so tired of having to do it. she is a past version of me, which really makes me hope for some additional development for her in future books.
emhinse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
amariej's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
owatt13's review against another edition
4.0
This took me forever to understand and I’m still not sure everything fully registered but wow this was wild. Amazing how Bardugo so creatively embedded magic into this already existing world. There was a major learning curve starting this, but I’m just picturing magic fraternities tbh. I think North was my fav character. But yeah wow my brain is melted in the best way.
hyukadune's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0