Scan barcode
antoniav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
jabberwalky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
courtneypaigea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lovestory26's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
imcourtneymarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Excrement, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Pros:
- my favourite part of the book was definitely Alex. Her characterisation is brilliant, she felt so fleshed out and real, it was almost uncanny in itself. I could picture her really well (unusual for me), and while many books and shows I think try to show a damaged, wild girl, Bardugo really hits it. How Alex acts and reacts to everything in the book, everything she says alongside her past and her abilities - it all perfectly made up her characterisation as a feral survivor. Her vulgarity isn't overused but perfect for hitting a punch, her emotions are all over the place and complex, she hardly knows who she really is but we get a clear sense of her absolute determination, its all so well done. Some MCs can be a bit dull, not really fleshed out and always reacting to the plot, but Alex comes into herself massively and finds her feet, and i love how she becomes a force to be recognised.
- the characters overall were great, from Darlington's charm to Dawes' awkward care. Hellie's gentle but damaged sunshine, Belbalm's promises and grotesquely awful Blake.
- the worldbuilding, though complex, was also fabulous. I felt like the brilliant details were lost a bit in the maybe too complex overall fabric, but it was great overall. The prognostications were gory but fascinating, the hell hounds, all the lore around the Greys and Alex's abilities, the compact mirror, the magic nexuses, portals and all the rest. The big magic was great but the details, like the library's summoning charm, were brill too.
- I also enjoyed the sharp tang of social commentary. Dawes calling out Sandow's victim blaming, Alex fiercely advocating for the town girl and how the book never condemns Tara - she came from nothing and had some ambition. Alex generally being a champion for the oppressed, because she understands exactly what its like, and how it feels to be the outcast, the forgotten, the mad one, the addict and the desperate.
- Bardugo's writing just felt like a big glow up. I don't think I could ever hope to write with such maturity and poetry, let alone with such an ambitious plot. One of those books I feel sick with envy when I'm reading it, but love it all the same.
- I also loved the depth of Alex's past. Her mother loves her, but her all over the place ways hurt Alex, even though it wasn't the same as the trauma from the ghosts. Alex clearly has issues with food now she's in college, and her mother didn't help her with the basic, practical things, like buying clothes, life skills and making lunch boxes. This was another part of how Alex was fully fleshed out - she doesn't leave Len when she could've with Hellie and she's never blamed for that, but she doesn't have other options. She's a survivor but her experiences with school, adults, her mom, friends, the ghosts, abusers like Ariel and others all stopped her from thriving and making a life - not until she got some power. Power and money, she says.
Cons:
- slow to start and complicated. I struggled to follow all the names, places and worldbuilding being thrown at me and I'm not sure we really jump into Alex's story at the right time (or maybe we do... im not sure). either way, I did have to struggle to follow the early bits, trying to remember who everyone was.
- and the book does continue this way. i forgot who Michelle was near the end and other characters got confused in my head too. A character list alongside the map might've been good.
(- i am bumping it up to 5 stars i've decided, because despite it's flaws it was overall brilliant and i want more so badly)
Despite a slow start, very good, very gripping, very enjoyable. Cannot wait for book 2.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Antisemitism
the main character doesn't have an eating disorder but there's some food insecurity for her and her eating habits are unusual.maiadunleavy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
heuteschongekurtet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
siannn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Trafficking
gabbadabbadoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content