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aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, War, Xenophobia, Classism, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Cursing, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
const_elle_ations's review against another edition
4.0
So this was actually better than the first one? Idk why, I think the plot just worked better for me. Also, Nikolai lol.
Every is IN LOVE with Nikolai and I already knew he was Sturmhond because I've read Crooked Kingdom, and boy this kid is actually so cool I think I'm a Nikolai stan too?? Idk if i'd want him to end up with Alina, but I like him as a character.
Okay but WHY does everyone ship Alina with the Darkling? The Darkling is so toxic and just...no. Alina is genuinely scared of him and why do people ship them?? unless something crazy happens in the last book ig?? Idk this series has strong phantom vibes in the sense of ships?? Like no one likes Raoul/Mal but imo they’re better than the toxic guys everyone stans for some reason?? Idk but I refuse to be a darkling stan lol I didn’t really like mal but I mean idk I don’t ship Alina with Nikolai either
Mostly I read this bc of the tv show but...i'm actually looking forward to reading the next book?
Moderate: War, Gore, Death, and Sexual assault
nisha_27's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Cursing
faitherslibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcohol and Animal death
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault
tiramisuandpasta's review
- 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
Leigh Bardugo, you’re a master of words (and fantasy).
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Violence
jonsnowsmanbun's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and War
earth2kiki's review
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
bettysbookshelf's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture
the darkling basically sa's alina, mentions of genyas r wording in her short story, and brief mentions of genyas mutilationtheirgracegrace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Confinement, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, and War
angelsfw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
”she would rise.”
honestly, this book surprised me with how enthralled it had me, especially with the plot. i went in expecting to hate it because everyone else did, but its only proven to be another favorite of mine. i really loved the character growth in the book. the progression of the plot never felt too slow or too fast to me. it was so easy to read and i loved it.
of course, my favorite part of the whole book was nikolai. he’s simply the perfect book character and i fell in love.
i was a fan of mal for most of the book; however, at the end he started acting selfish when it came to alina. she carried so much ok her shoulders during the whole book and he never even stopped to consider how she felt.
and the darkling - i simply hate him. he’s disgusting, gross, vile, and manipulative. he spent most of the book tormenting alina and making her think she was losing her grip on sanity. i have no clue how people continue to ship them together, especially after he SAs her ?!?!?!?!?!?! nasty gross vile man.
my main take away from this book really was: men should shut up (not nikolai) and alina should girlboss more.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Torture and Violence