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goodgraces's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting
safety_pin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Abandonment, Colonisation, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Slavery
therobinjoyce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Genocide, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Death, Body horror, Animal death, and Abandonment
shaylee_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I know a lot of people don't like this book because they don't like Alina the main character and they just didn't really connect with any of the others but I was the exact opposite. I loved Alina yeah she could make some stupid chooses and was very easy to manipulate but honestly the reason I liked her so much is because she reminds me alot of myself… like seriously we are pretty much the same person. I also really loved Gyna and found her to be a really good character that I just loved and want to know more about.
I went into this book fully expecting to fall deeply in love with the darkling like everyone else and well… I did. He's just so dark and amazing! I just can't help but love a villain and he was just… something else and I can't wait to learn more about him.
I still don't 100% understand the magic system and everything but hopefully that will change once I read the next books but I don't think me not understanding it affected me enjoying the book.
There is one thing that I didn't enjoy and that was her relationship with Mal….
Another then that all together I really enjoyed this book and felt like it was a great introduction to this world and story. It has definitely done its job and has me hooked.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
greenapplescented250's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault
rayne_1906's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Adult/minor relationship
gay_wizard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Minor: Body horror and Adult/minor relationship
nadiana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Many years back, this book made me fall in love with reading as well as the entire genre of fantasy romance. As far as I was concerned, it was a guilty pleasure, and even after this re-read, I must say, it still is.
Not a lot of strong feelings are connected to this first book but I don't know if that's going to change once I re-read Siege and Storm. However, having watched the Shadow and Bone netflix trailer previous to re-reading this made the whole experience way better, especially concerning the book's main ship which I felt more connected to than ever before.
Leigh's writing obviously isn't the best this early in her career, but all-in-all it was an easy and quick read, just a tad bit below average considering the story, plot, execution and pace. The ending felt very rushed as well, and honestly, this book could've been longer for more developed plots and character arcs which would've probably made the story a whole lot better.
However, I'm still searching for that perfect guilty pleasure book, and quite honestly, I'm getting obsessively desperate at this point...
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, and Body shaming
earthtonesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
manarnia'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Violence, and Sexual harassment