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imsalsay's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
thero159's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lisafrdd's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
harmonygracie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
cbleyer's review
3.0
Alina and Mal escape to Novyi Zem. But, they are quickly found and captured by the Darkling.
The Darkling can now summon new creatures.
"It was a creature wrought from shadow, its face blank and devoid of features. Its body seemed to tremble and blur, then form again: arms, legs, long hands ending in the dim suggestion of claws, a broad back crested by wings that roiled and shifted as they unfurled like a black stain."
But, summoning these creatures takes away from the Darkling, draining him. This creature can also bite, which is extremely painful to the recipient. The Darkling brings Mal and Alina far North on a whaler ship with Sturmhond as captain.
Sturmhond aka. Nikolai Lantsov (Prince of Ravka)- I LOVE HIM- sarcastic, funny
"'I work for the fattest purse.' 'So you'd sell your country to the Darkling for a little gold?' 'No, for a lot of gold.'"
The Darkling is chasing after another amplifier- another Morozova amplifier- an amplifier created by Ilya Morozova- an incredibly powerful Grisha who is revered by Ravkans as a saint
The second amplifier- Rusalye- the sea whip- another creature from myths and fairytales- the ice dragon
"In the stories, the sea whip was a cursed prince forced to take the form of a sea serpent and guard the frigid waters of the Bone Road."
Sturmhond rebels against the Darkling and escapes to another boat with Alina and Mal in tow and Alina conquers the sea whip
With the sea whip- Alina gains great power.
"Then the light was blazing through me and the night came apart. The sky exploded into brilliant gold."
They also discover the identity of the third amplifier- the firebird "The firebird didn't belong to one story, but to a thousand. It was at the heart of every Ravkan myth."
"The firebird was Ravka."
When Alina enters the Fold again, she feels different.
"I'd been on the Unsea twice before, and both times I'd felt like a stranger, like a vulnerable interloper in a dangerous, unnatural world that did not want me there. But now it was if the Fold was reaching out to me, welcoming me."
This is because Alina and the Darkling are bonded by the Stag collar- this also accounts for the change in Alina during this book. Their bond reminds me of the bond Harry Potter and Voldemort share in a way.
Sturmhond wants to gain control of Ravka and needs Alina's help. Alina agrees if she can gain control of the 2nd army- the Grisha army.
The Apparat- the King's former advisor has started a riotous following of Alina- the Sun Summoner- people believe Alina is a living saint- follow her around- crowd her- even sell her "Relics" even though she isn't dead
Tamar and Tolya- twin heartrender Grisha who have served Sturmhond are extremely powerful and strong- they become part of Alina's personal guard as well as Mal
Also- unbeknownst to Alina- Tamar and Tolya are part of the Sun Summoner's pilgrims
Due to the change in Alina- Mal and Alina struggle with their relationship.
Due to Nikolai's older brother, Vasily's stupid decision- the Darkling is able to easily attack the palace, which is unprepared
Less than ten members of the Second Army survive
"The hall was bathed in blood. The walls were smeared with it, the stone floor was wet with it. There were bodies everywhere, little heaps of purple, red, and blue."
It is revealed that beautiful Genya has been ruined under the Darkling's tourture-
"The bites were everywhere, raised black ridges of flesh, twisting lumps of tissue that could never be healed, not by Grisha hand or by any other, the unmistakable marks of the nichevo'ya."
Alina decides to use her bond with the Darkling to drain him completely of his power as well as her in order to kill the Darkling- but also her. But, Mal prevents her from doing this and with the help of the Sun Summoner pilgrims- they are able to escape away from the palace underground.
Due to her attempt to kill the Darkling- Alina is very weak and can't even use her power.
Quotes
"As long as the Darkling lives, you'll never be free. And neither will your country. You know that."
The Darkling can now summon new creatures.
"It was a creature wrought from shadow, its face blank and devoid of features. Its body seemed to tremble and blur, then form again: arms, legs, long hands ending in the dim suggestion of claws, a broad back crested by wings that roiled and shifted as they unfurled like a black stain."
But, summoning these creatures takes away from the Darkling, draining him. This creature can also bite, which is extremely painful to the recipient. The Darkling brings Mal and Alina far North on a whaler ship with Sturmhond as captain.
Sturmhond aka. Nikolai Lantsov (Prince of Ravka)- I LOVE HIM- sarcastic, funny
"'I work for the fattest purse.' 'So you'd sell your country to the Darkling for a little gold?' 'No, for a lot of gold.'"
The Darkling is chasing after another amplifier- another Morozova amplifier- an amplifier created by Ilya Morozova- an incredibly powerful Grisha who is revered by Ravkans as a saint
The second amplifier- Rusalye- the sea whip- another creature from myths and fairytales- the ice dragon
"In the stories, the sea whip was a cursed prince forced to take the form of a sea serpent and guard the frigid waters of the Bone Road."
Sturmhond rebels against the Darkling and escapes to another boat with Alina and Mal in tow and Alina conquers the sea whip
With the sea whip- Alina gains great power.
"Then the light was blazing through me and the night came apart. The sky exploded into brilliant gold."
They also discover the identity of the third amplifier- the firebird "The firebird didn't belong to one story, but to a thousand. It was at the heart of every Ravkan myth."
"The firebird was Ravka."
When Alina enters the Fold again, she feels different.
"I'd been on the Unsea twice before, and both times I'd felt like a stranger, like a vulnerable interloper in a dangerous, unnatural world that did not want me there. But now it was if the Fold was reaching out to me, welcoming me."
This is because Alina and the Darkling are bonded by the Stag collar- this also accounts for the change in Alina during this book. Their bond reminds me of the bond Harry Potter and Voldemort share in a way.
Sturmhond wants to gain control of Ravka and needs Alina's help. Alina agrees if she can gain control of the 2nd army- the Grisha army.
The Apparat- the King's former advisor has started a riotous following of Alina- the Sun Summoner- people believe Alina is a living saint- follow her around- crowd her- even sell her "Relics" even though she isn't dead
Tamar and Tolya- twin heartrender Grisha who have served Sturmhond are extremely powerful and strong- they become part of Alina's personal guard as well as Mal
Also- unbeknownst to Alina- Tamar and Tolya are part of the Sun Summoner's pilgrims
Due to the change in Alina- Mal and Alina struggle with their relationship.
Due to Nikolai's older brother, Vasily's stupid decision- the Darkling is able to easily attack the palace, which is unprepared
Less than ten members of the Second Army survive
"The hall was bathed in blood. The walls were smeared with it, the stone floor was wet with it. There were bodies everywhere, little heaps of purple, red, and blue."
It is revealed that beautiful Genya has been ruined under the Darkling's tourture-
"The bites were everywhere, raised black ridges of flesh, twisting lumps of tissue that could never be healed, not by Grisha hand or by any other, the unmistakable marks of the nichevo'ya."
Alina decides to use her bond with the Darkling to drain him completely of his power as well as her in order to kill the Darkling- but also her. But, Mal prevents her from doing this and with the help of the Sun Summoner pilgrims- they are able to escape away from the palace underground.
Due to her attempt to kill the Darkling- Alina is very weak and can't even use her power.
Quotes
"As long as the Darkling lives, you'll never be free. And neither will your country. You know that."
isi130400's review
3.0
Nikolai is in this one and I love the man however I don't really like mal he's kinda gaslighting her and Idk how I feel about this entire ship even if it is canon
horseboss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
steflovesbooks's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75