Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Goldene Flammen by Leigh Bardugo

308 reviews

patheher's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Very fun and quick read! I'm looking forward to getting into the next book.

The Darkling is such a sleeze ball. I don't know how old Alina is exactly, but she's far too young for someone somewhere in the 120-500 age range.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

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 against another edition

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

innae's review against another edition

4.5

I want to know more about Alina, and I truly adore Mal.

  The Darkling is a deliciously evil villain.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death and Death

bexi's review against another edition

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

gabthebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Blood and War

meant2breading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

As a reader new to fantasy in adulthood over the last six months, this felt like a nice, quick entry level fantasy read to start with. I really love the concept of the various abilities and aspects of the world building, but wanted more explanation and detail of that within the story. I am sure I will learn more as I keep going. In all honesty, I am motivated to read through them all so I can get to the Six of Crows duology. 😆 I didn’t rate this higher stars as for me it doesn’t stack against some of the other fantasy books I couldn’t get enough of. 

Lastly, it’s hard for me to read about

animal death. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought it was a good book! I went into it knowing a ton of people like it, which I think was my problem - I was expecting exceptionality, and though the book definitely was, it didn't live up to the hype in my head. I still would definitely recommend it though!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism