Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

51 reviews

david_slack110507's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

About a year or so ago, I began reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy as a means to enter Leigh Bardugo's world of the Grishaverse, admittedly, the main reason why I had started to read that trilogy was to start reading this duology, the Six of Crows duology, as it had been so widely critically acclaimed, recommended, and well received that they were put on my radar but I decided I would read the Shadow and Bone trilogy books first, as while not necessary to read these books, I'm glad I did as not only did it allow me to appreciate the little nods and mentions to the aforementioned trilogy spread throughout this book, but it also meant that I wasn't going into this book blind when it came to the lore and the Grisha systems of the world. I also found that it allowed me to appreciate the overall upward shift in quality because while eventually, I did really enjoy the Shadow and Bone books, this one was just another level. 

One of the main enticements of this book for me was the characters and I'm glad to say that the characters, at least our main group of 6, all were incredibly well-written and developed. I think their connections as a group as well as intergroup connections with one another were so well done. I loved them all - Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias - and I found that I was never once bored when it shifted to either one of their perspectives which I'm really glad this book did as everyone had a unique character background which explained why they were doing what they were doing as well as having unique perspectives on the heist that lay ahead of them. 

Speaking of the heist, I found that the heist as the plot was actually really strong, and it helped move the book along at a brisk but nice pace allowing for moments to breathe before the next one arrived. I found the pre-planning and the constant shift in plan when something unaccounted for happened or when something wrong took place was extremely enjoyable and it was really good to see these characters constantly face change during their heist on the Ice Court and adapt the best that they could. 

I also really liked seeing the world beyond Ravka and the Grisha's perspective as that was something that, now looking back on it, was missing from the Shadow and Bone books so it was interesting to see what the Fjerdans/Fjerda thinks of Grisha and vice versa as well as seeing the story set in a place of less elegance and extravagance than Ravka with East Stave and the 'Barrel'. It also built upon Grisha magic with the introduction of Jurda Parem, a drug that allows Grisha to do unimaginable things that break the previous limits of their power; I do wish we had gotten to see more of it but I also think that what we saw did demonstrate well enough why it was so dangerous to the world and why it was imperative that this not fall into the wrong hands. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this even if it did take me a lot longer than I wanted to but I found it to be a huge step up from the Shadow and Bone books and the next book is rated even better so I can't even imagine how good of a treat that'll be which I'm hoping to get around to relatively soon as I try and finish up the other books I have on the go. I'm interested in seeing whether or not the next book, Crooked Kingdom, will resolve the cliffhanger off screen (or off the page in this instance, with explanations in the form of exposition spread throughout to explain it) or whether it will start the book and wrap it up relatively quickly to then go onto the actual plot of that book but I guess only time will tell.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Child death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Torture, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Ableism, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Abandonment, Addiction, and Rape

Minor: Classism, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Alcohol

izzysreading's review against another edition

I usually don't HATE characters and I don't think in this case the author intended that. But Nina... wow... I constantly rolled my eyes when she talked or thought. I just couldn't stand her. She always wanted that everyone did what she wanted and threw shade at everyone when she thought about them. Like why?

SPOILERS: She told the others or at least thought it, that Matthias hates her and kills Grishas, but she's still in love with him??? Plus, if I know that a person wants me dead, I won't go near them, so the end of her chapter was well deserved. She should've known better.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Blood

Moderate: Drug use, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual violence

johns6ka's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Rape, War, Police brutality, Racism, Child abuse, Animal death, Confinement, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Slavery, Classism, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Pedophilia

bashsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

OMG Six of Crows is incredible! I don't know why it took me so long to read it, but I'm glad I finally did. The character dynamics are so messy and fun; the heist keeps you on the edge of your seat; the worldbuilding is thorough (and you can see the cultural differences through the eyes of various characters). I can't wait to read the sequel!

I love Jesper so much he is like a blorbo to me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Drug abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Confinement, War, Murder, Grief, Trafficking, Slavery, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping

Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Gore, Body horror, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

-Many references to one character's history of forced prostitution when she was a young teen

sydneyluxford's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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? No

4.5

l have never felt so utterly transported into a universe, like I literally felt like I was alongside the characters throughout the heist. Like, I’m glad I wasn’t because I’d definitely die, but it was still fun. 

THE CHARACTERS. I JUST LOVED THEM SO MUCH. They’re so well developed and have the best personalities. I genuinely wish they were real. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Body horror, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Animal death, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

infjkiki's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Animal death, Gun violence, Slavery, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Gore, Trafficking, Blood, and Genocide

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Excrement, Grief, Misogyny, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders

lyrapollock's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Death, Addiction, Slavery, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Deportation, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Deportation, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Animal death

ana_maria5's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Death

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Child death, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Slavery, and Torture

Minor: War, Ableism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Racism, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Sexism

serendipity421's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Slavery, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Gore, Addiction, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder