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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Le chant des ronces: Contes de minuit et autres magies sanglantes by Leigh Bardugo, Anath Riveline
26 reviews
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have had this book on my TBR for years, and finally made the time to read it.
“The Language of Thorns” is an anthology that is made up of six short stories. The stories are a mix of fairy tale retellings and some original stories from Leigh Bardugo.
This novel was so beautifully done and my only regret is that I did not pick it up sooner! Despite being an anthology, each story felt amazingly crafted, and each story could have been an independent book on its own.
My favorite story in this collection was the first, “Ayama and the Thorn Wood”. Ayama is a young peasant girl who everyone thinks is expendable. When she is sent into a labyrinth to negotiate with a monster, she is not expected to survive, but she does.
This story has a great message about how everyone has value and sometimes people will try to take advantage of you in their own greed. I have not been able to stop thinking about this story since I finished my book.
If you have been waiting to pick up this collection, I highly encourage you to stop putting it off and enjoy it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you are looking for dark, gothic fairytale retellings that feel both familiar and unexpected, this is for you. I enjoyed every story, though I definitely had a hard time staying awake at night to read them. The stories that stick with me the most are probably the fox, the fabrikator, and the mermaid stories. I like the Grishaverse flair these stories have. I especially loved the Darkling’s cameo in the last story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I like that fact that the stories are from different nations, it brings a variety which is not that common.
The first story is a zemeni one: Ayama and the Thorn Wood. It started quite slow and I didn't quite liked it at first, but as the story progressed it began to enjoy it. Each short story is a fairytale so they all have a moral, they all teach you a lesson. In Ayama and the Thorn Wood, there are several teachings and there are actually multiple tales within the story that are connected with the reality of our mcs. Some of the morals are that family isn't always blood, you can choose your family, that beauty isn't everything and to always look beyond appearances, the power of forgiveness, mercy and how humans are sometimes worse than animals. I didn't really liked the ending with that weak plot twistthat the father was the villain all along, which was obvious , but I would still give this story 2.5/5 stars.
The next three short stories are all ravkan, The Too-Clever Fox, The Witch of Duva and Little Knife.
The Too-Clever Fox was interesting, but again I didn't like the ending. I guess that's not going to change because fairytales mostly have happy endings in which the hero wins and the villain is defeated. I liked the plot twistthat the girl was the hunter , but the little hints were a bit obvious and I knew it before she showed her hand. I would this story teaches the importance of friends and family, again that appearances can be false, that loneliness is people's greatest failing, that humans cannot survive alone and that even the smartest person can be fooled. I would say a 2.5/5. I still liked it, but not that much.
The Witch of Duva is a retelling of the story of Hänsel and Gretel. This was very sad. It is supposed to make you sick to your stomach, uncomfortable. It is a good twist to the original story and I think that it again shows that not everything it as it seems, the power of sacrifice, that people sometimes need to do bad things for the greater good. Maybe a 2.75-3/5.
Little Knife is a story that criticizes the greed of men. I didn't really liked, it was quite boring. 2-2.5/5
The next story, The Soldier Prince is kerch and it is a retelling of the Nutcracker. It showcases and criticizes the selfishness of people. It was fine. 2.5/5
When Water Sang Fire is a fjerdan story. It is a retelling of The Little Mermaid and an Ursula origin story. I really enjoyed this and it's critique of the greed of people. It was good, the best story in the book. 3/5.
In the author's note there are all the inspirations that Leigh Bardugo took to create this novel. A decent short story collection, but nothing spectacular.
The first story is a zemeni one: Ayama and the Thorn Wood. It started quite slow and I didn't quite liked it at first, but as the story progressed it began to enjoy it. Each short story is a fairytale so they all have a moral, they all teach you a lesson. In Ayama and the Thorn Wood, there are several teachings and there are actually multiple tales within the story that are connected with the reality of our mcs. Some of the morals are that family isn't always blood, you can choose your family, that beauty isn't everything and to always look beyond appearances, the power of forgiveness, mercy and how humans are sometimes worse than animals. I didn't really liked the ending with that weak plot twist
The next three short stories are all ravkan, The Too-Clever Fox, The Witch of Duva and Little Knife.
The Too-Clever Fox was interesting, but again I didn't like the ending. I guess that's not going to change because fairytales mostly have happy endings in which the hero wins and the villain is defeated. I liked the plot twist
The Witch of Duva is a retelling of the story of Hänsel and Gretel. This was very sad. It is supposed to make you sick to your stomach, uncomfortable. It is a good twist to the original story and I think that it again shows that not everything it as it seems, the power of sacrifice, that people sometimes need to do bad things for the greater good. Maybe a 2.75-3/5.
Little Knife is a story that criticizes the greed of men. I didn't really liked, it was quite boring. 2-2.5/5
The next story, The Soldier Prince is kerch and it is a retelling of the Nutcracker. It showcases and criticizes the selfishness of people. It was fine. 2.5/5
When Water Sang Fire is a fjerdan story. It is a retelling of The Little Mermaid and an Ursula origin story. I really enjoyed this and it's critique of the greed of people. It was good, the best story in the book. 3/5.
In the author's note there are all the inspirations that Leigh Bardugo took to create this novel. A decent short story collection, but nothing spectacular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rarely am I disappointed by the Grishaverse and this is no exception. Bardrugo's magnificent talent for worldbuilding is exhibited full force in all six of these stories, each a deliciously dark twist on a classic fairytale. Her characters had me gripping the book, my nose barely an inch from the page, as I read on in disbelief, in worry, in vindication.
To speak of this book without praising Sara Kipin's glorious illustrations would be a crime of the highest order. With every turn of the page, the margins bloom with colour, coming further and further to life. I would often catch myself skipping ahead for a glimpse of the final picture, only held back by the spoilers it would contain. Kipin's bright and bold work brings these stories, their characters and the setting to a new level.
Whether you're new to the Grishaverse or long-time fan, this book is a must-read for all. Its beautiful pages and enthralling tales shed spectacular light on a world of powerful sorcerers and terrible monsters.
To speak of this book without praising Sara Kipin's glorious illustrations would be a crime of the highest order. With every turn of the page, the margins bloom with colour, coming further and further to life. I would often catch myself skipping ahead for a glimpse of the final picture, only held back by the spoilers it would contain. Kipin's bright and bold work brings these stories, their characters and the setting to a new level.
Whether you're new to the Grishaverse or long-time fan, this book is a must-read for all. Its beautiful pages and enthralling tales shed spectacular light on a world of powerful sorcerers and terrible monsters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Classism
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you are a Grishaverse lover, nothing in here will be more shocking than what you have already read in the other books. If you’re not as familiar with the works of Leigh Bardugo, I would advise greatly that you review content warnings. Grishaverse books may be Young Adult reading, but I would strongly argue it is not, and I feel similarly here with this text. It is beautifully written an illustrated with stories that do not offer happy endings. I find this to actually be it’s greatest strength, but it is entirely preference. As an anthology, it is not necessarily curated with a single vision or message. More than anything it offers lore that shapes the greater Grishaverse. If you enjoy Grimm Fairytales and Poe, you could enjoy this in isolation from the entirety of the series. It is in that same arena for vibes and style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Details will be graphic and intense and they will come without warning. This is definitely the kind of read you should be feeling mentally strong when reading, and weary of if any of the content warnings upset you because they will not be alluded to - they will be described viscerally.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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
It's absolutely fantastic! The plot twists are AMAZING, unforeseen and just so much fun! In this book you also get to explore the magical Grisha-world a little bit further, which is so fascinating. The characters are extremely cool and all of these hints at fairy tales are so interesting. It's very dark, moody, dramatic and so mysterious. I highly recommend reading this, it was so so so much fun! Leigh Bardugo is simply a genius. And so is Sarah Kipins, the illustrator of this book - because yessss there are magnificent decorations on all of the pages, which turn into these gorgeous artworks at the end of every story!!!
GO READ IT
GO READ IT
Here is also my rating for each story:
Ayama and the Thorn Wood 4/5
The Too-Clever Fox 4/5
The Witch of Duva 5/5
It's so gross. I LOVED IT!!!!
Little Knife 4/5
The Soldier Prince 3/5
When Water Sang Fire 5/5
Thrilling, dark and twisted. AMAZING.
Ayama and the Thorn Wood 4/5
The Too-Clever Fox 4/5
The Witch of Duva 5/5
It's so gross. I LOVED IT!!!!
Little Knife 4/5
The Soldier Prince 3/5
When Water Sang Fire 5/5
Thrilling, dark and twisted. AMAZING.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
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:
No
Leigh Bardugo never disappoints with the Grishaverse, and the delightful and subversive takes on classic fairytales she gives in this book are underrated by her fans. The stunning descriptions give wonderful visuals that any reader will enjoy. Not to mention the beautiful illustrations throughout. Overall, highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Incest, Sexual assault, Blood
Minor: Bullying, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
One of my favourite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War