Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

41 reviews

wickedgrumpy's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Decidedly on the okay to meh spectrum..

The world building and magic system is interesting (if not semi-lazy with the quasi-Russian culture) but the characters are flat and one dimensional.  I was waffling on whether or not to continue the series but the idea of what comes next from the main character's POV doesn't thrill me so I'll probably look up what happens instead.

It's bizarre that the main character starts out as an orphan from war (roughly 8 years old), and seems mature beyond her 17 years by the time the main story arc starts (she is an apprentice cartographer in the army), and then regresses into angsty teenager drama full of petty, juvenile, and shallow plot points because of a chosen one trope?

Lastly, the romance was bad.  Both dudes are controlling and manipulative, want to possess her, don't actually care what she wants.  Think of any high school romance drama and you will understand the tropes thrown in this book.  There's literally a glow up/makeover scene (multiple times actually because they want to emphasize how much she's changed from the 'skinny-but-not-in-a-hot-way' person she was before).

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Classism, Dysphoria, Blood, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Murder, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, War, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

thesecretsapphic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, War, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Rape

_piercingwords_'s review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Now I wanna say that I watched the show before reading this book, so I was spoilered which took the fun out of it a bit. (The show is a very good adaption thoug and stayed pretty close to this storyline, even though it is combined with Six of Crows duology)

It was... Fine. But it felt like a typical YA fantasy book and I read the Six of Crows duology first, which caught me a lot more. One who expects an equal to it may be a bit disappointed. Also not a huge fan of first person narrated stories.

Overall still an enjoyable read, if I get the chance I will read the other parts, the storyline has potential.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Violence, War, Animal cruelty, and Death

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Death of parent

faitherslibrary's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death, Gore, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt

astoryofpages's review against another edition

fast-paced

• 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

This rereading was incredible! I'm just in love with Leigh's universe and her characters. I really have something with this book! I find it powerful and meaningful. It's the fourth time that I read it, and I have the impression to rediscover the whole story each time. 

What struck me the most were the characters (of course!). I found them so real: I admire Alina who is a strong woman, and I'm proud of how she fights during the whole book. I identify myself to her as the one who doesn't really know who she is, nor with who she has to travel with to discover herself. I think she is, at first, a lonely girl who doesn't understand the world around her, nor the aims of the others. She just wants to help others. And this is why she is manipulated by them because her heart is pure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Abuse, attempted rape, dubious consent, orphan, profanity, suicidal ideation

tessahartman's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, and Kidnapping

annaluisa0802's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Cursing, and Murder

chloevienna's review

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

this was a really solid start to the series!! :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, War, Death of parent, and Cursing

maryjames's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent and Rape

readwithde's review

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

Ravka. A country torn in half by darkness, the Fold -- a thick wall of night full of death and monsters -- with most of its people cut off from the sea, from imports and goods needed to survive, and from weapons to defend from their enemies. To the north, Fjerda, which views the Grishas as witches to be burned; to the south, Shu Han, where Grisha are experiments to study. Across the Fold, west Ravka has become New Ravka, and has begun to pull away from the "old country" in order to fend for themselves. 

In the midst of war, politics, and chaos, Alina rises to power as the first known Sun Summoner, a bringer of light that can allow many to be able to cross the Fold, or perhaps destroy it all-together.

While the book reminded me of many YA series (Hunger Games particularly), it felt fresh and distinct in telling this similar story. The war and politics reminded me of Firefly and Serenity, especially the volcra as surrogate reavers. Despite the fact that the story seemed familiar, I was hooked and delighted all the way through, and genuinely surprised by some of the events that happened. 

My one biggest complaint is the lack of chemistry and romantic tension between Alina and most other characters.

It is easier to understand her love for Mal given their strong bond and history, but the story between Alina and The Darkling came out of nowhere and ended just as abruptly; it is never fully explained or addressed, and while it could have been his attempt to manipulate her, we're given very little knowledge as to why it may work. They don't flirt, they barely talk, and no reason is developed for her to like him at all or even see him as a possible relationship. It just came across as very odd to me.

Despite that blip, the worldbuilding is spectacular, the characters seem very grounded in the world, and I'm excited to jump into Siege and Storm soon.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic relationship