Reviews with content warning for Death - Shades of Shadows

*upping to five stars upon reread*

original review:

(4.5)

the first book read like a stand alone, but this one actually read like the middle book in a serious, with a cliffhanger ending that makes me want to reach for book 3.

also, kell and rhy’s relationship is amazing.

Content Warnings

trintrin's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

THAT ENDING!!!! ;-;

Okay so plot-wise pretty much nothing significant happens other than the Essen Tasch and it was quite slow and mostly felt like a filler book but MY GOD did I enjoy this more than I thought I would. The writing is beautiful as expected from Schwab, the characters are so loveable and relatable and I love that their personalities were so much more explored in this one.

Lila is a badass and I'm totally in love with her. Rhy is still a sweetheart and I wanna protect him with my life. Kell, oh, Kell, I still wanna give you a hug, you poor boy. I can't make up my mind if Alucard has an ulterior motive or not. I like him nonetheless. Absolutely adore Rhy and Kell's dynamic.

I was so proud of Holland's come back but then he had to go ahead and ruin it ://

Terrified but also excited to start the next one after that cliff hanger of an ending.

Spoilers for the Grishaverse:

I was thinking just how much Alucard reminded me of Nikolai Lantsov -- aka the prince turned ~~pirate~~ privateer -- what with how those two are so annoyingly charming but also how Alina/Lila describe how they wear different faces for different occasions. I really should've known Alucard would also be royal with the way he was so fluent in High Royal, but somehow I totally wasn't expecting that lol

Content Warnings

noveltay's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny 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

This series is so good. I loved the new characters and storylines. I loved every aspect of how this story played out, and how it ends with such a cliffhanger that you HAVE to grab the third book.

Content Warnings

asipofcozy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

You know that book that everyone loves, and you want to love just as much but then end up don't because you have weird expectations in life...yah that's this book for me.

I wanted to love this book so much but, in the end, it came down to pacing for me. And while things did happen in this book that kept the pages turning, it didn't really contribute to the main plot line. In fact, I felt like the plot finally got center stage in the last 70 pages or so. There was a certain situation (climax) that, I felt, could have happened at any point in time in the book.

When Holland plans to kidnap Kell. This really could have happened at any time. The entire book he had been sitting on his throne contemplating what to do just to keep the pacing slow.

It was put towards the end for that dramatic flair of what happens next?!

However, that doesn't mean I didn't like this book. What really pushed me through was the characters. I love our main characters Rhy, Kell, and Lila. As well as a certain new character who is all flare and dramatics. I loved the character development in this book and how all the characters progressed. Kell is a cinnamon roll and deserves all the hugs.

I am definitely going to be picking up the final book in the trilogy. I really believe it's going to be a great ending!

Content Warnings