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illgiveyouahint's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
lizzie24601's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Pretty standard YA material. A little too much cheesy introspection from Alina. But I can never resist a lovestruck YA love interest (Mal <3)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Violence
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, and Death
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.5
This has been on my TBR forever, and now that it's going to be a Netflix adaptation, I couldn't put it off any longer. And I really enjoyed it! It's the nice fantasy-adventure ride that I can't help but lie. And that *twist* halfway through! That's where I felt that the book really came into its own and I couldn't put it down. I really loved Alina, and I loved her role in the subversion of the idea of a "chosen one" plucked out to "save" everyone. It's a really fun, lush magical world.
On the whole, I felt that my biggest gripe was that I felt that the characterization for the secondary characters could have been deeper. I felt this especially about Mal. I felt that I didn't care about him until nearly 2/3 of the way through when we actually got to see him spend time with Alina. Up until that point it felt like we were told that she liked Mal because she did. It's not until that 2/3 mark that you really feel their connection in my opinion. More insights into Alina's head, less exposition. But I don't know, in a book that's more plot-driven and action-y, I don't think that this is necessarily a detraction from the overall story, just something that I wasn't a fan of.
On the whole, I felt that my biggest gripe was that I felt that the characterization for the secondary characters could have been deeper. I felt this especially about Mal. I felt that I didn't care about him until nearly 2/3 of the way through when we actually got to see him spend time with Alina. Up until that point it felt like we were told that she liked Mal because she did. It's not until that 2/3 mark that you really feel their connection in my opinion. More insights into Alina's head, less exposition. But I don't know, in a book that's more plot-driven and action-y, I don't think that this is necessarily a detraction from the overall story, just something that I wasn't a fan of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Confinement, Slavery, and Violence
kenziewol's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent
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