Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

299 reviews

caitsreadingcorner's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this book. Bardugo does a great job setting up the political and societal system that comprises the plot and the explanations about the different powers that characters possess is pretty seamlessly woven into the plot. However, I still found myself getting lost at times and referring back to the map and hierarchy. Kudos to her for creating such an expansive universe, with myriad of cultures and people but the Grishaverse definitely takes some getting used to. 

That isn’t why I struggled so much with this book but rather, the characters were the issue for me. I just did not care for Alina at all. She is strong willed in terms of having been through some very hard experiences but a lot of her thoughts were too meek, over modest and whiny. I don’t think she’s a very strong main character and she was extremely (and predictably naive) in thinking the Darkling was romantically interested in her though she is rather plain. I did respect some of the decisions she made in the book but her back and forth feelings towards Mal and uncertainty made her a bit emotionally unstable. She’s not a very grounded or certain individual. She grew on me slightly towards the end but I still wouldn’t consider her badass. Mal is likeable enough but still, I wasn’t much enthralled by him either.

The most well written character in the book is the Darkling. There is a cunning duality to him that makes him mysterious and intriguing. At times he makes you want to root for him and at others, you’re reminded just how powerful and deceitful he truly is. The other characters lack depth in comparison. Overall, decent read. I will continue the series but I don’t have high expectations. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Blood, and War

katasaurus's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual content

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Classism

abby_can_read's review

adventurous medium-paced

• 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

📱
I can see why this book was popular. I liked it. The worldbuilding and the lore were good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, and War

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

I think I had a vague idea of how this would be and ended up being a different thing. People praise these books so much but for my taste this is too YA with a very foolish chosen one who made me feel a bit angry by the end so I was considering if I wanted to even continue with the trilogy... 

I never saw this thing the author wanted to do between Alina and The Darkling, it felt so stupid and forced and well she's clearly an hormonal teenager because girl I need you to use your BRAIN and realize how you don't know shit about him except for all those darks stories?? I'm sorry but insta love is not my thing, I need building in the relationship, I need for them to get to know each other. 

She had this crush on Mal for so long and when it is finally clear that he also has feelings for her it feels weird, as if she doesn't love him anymore (or more like she doesn't deserve him in my eyes) 

This started with what felt like a big and crazy world building, and I ended up disliking everything because I absolutely thought Alina was so freaking stupid by the end omggg she made me so mad! and if Mal died because of her I think I would've DNF the trilogy (although she still has a chance to kill him with her stupid decisions lol) 

So yeah maybe this will be just a 3 ⭐ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death

- Injury details: There’s so many injured from the attack of these creatures.

- Death: There’s so many deaths too because of these creatures and because of the Darkling.

- Violence: And so there’s violence clearly because of all of this.

- Animal Death: Someone kills a stag by the end of it.

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The world and magic systems are creative yet also rooted in reality without holes that leave me asking logic questions. I love the complexity of Alina and the surrounding characters who bring the story together. Book 1 is as much about sacrifice and belonging as it is becoming who you are meant to be. Many of the shocking moments felt half expected for me because of my consideration of the characters. One event that should have been predictable took me off guard, having thought I understood the Darkling's motivations and calculations. Ravka is a country I would not want to live in, because it is very dark and deadly. Those qualities are what I love about the book, though, along with the Russian influences of the world. Starting this series took me entirely too long. Most of the book I read in 2 days. I would have liked more flashbacks of Mal early on to bring forth more sympathy about him and Alina's loss of her friend, but their present time together feels reminiscent of the past in a weird way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

torturedreadersdept's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

bexi's review

adventurous dark emotional

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Sexism, and Death of parent

junglejelly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sped through it. I really enjoyed the simple but effective world building. 

While there are many things to like about the book, there were a few things that didn't make it quite perfect. I wanted more:
* Grisha lore;
* location descriptions;
* and connection with the prologue and epilogue.

While not perfect, I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, War, and Injury/Injury detail