To be completely honest, I really didn’t like this one all that much. The beginning and the ending were so incredibly good, fast paced, and intense, but the middle was extremely boring and slow. The only thing that kept me going were the introductions of Nikolai, Tamar, and Toyla! The book still had enjoyable moments, but it really was the middle portion of the book that had me struggle with this one.

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zoemaleah's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

A solid continuation of Shadow and Bone. Alina experiences some serious challenges as she learns to be a leader and has to decide what she's going to do with her powers and who's side she's on. You meet some really fun new characters and the ending left me excited to read the final book. I did get a little annoyed with the romance subplot but alas it is a young adult fantasy and a romance is part of the formula. Overall a good read though.

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bridget986's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

2021 Challenge: 5/24

My feelings on this book are complicated. While I enjoyed the story as a whole, the pacing and plot were a little off for me. This book was very clearly a set-up for what happens in the third installment, but that's kind of what made it drag a little. I knew things that were happening would be important later on, but it got a bit tedious sometimes getting so much set up for things to come. It was interesting seeing Alina grapple with her power and how that impacts her other relationships. Also, I took MAJOR issue with the Darkling literally *SPOILER* sexually assaulting Alina. That was just so gross to read. Overall though, I'm looking forward to seeing how everything ends, but this book definitely could've been shorter.

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sushmita's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

TW: sexual harassment, assault, abuse & pedophilia

It’s beyond me why anyone would ‘stan’ The Darkling. After reading how he treated Genya, Baghra & Alina, I was fuming with anger. Where is the complexity that everybody speaks of? because I don’t see it. There is nothing complex about a 500 year old pedophile who abuses & enslaves people, who shape-shifts into a teenage boy so he could touch & kiss his vulnerable teenage girlfriend mid-sleep.

The Darkling is not a good villain. He is just your regular old bad guy who does atrocious & unspeakable things in his hunger for power. Good villains, on the either hand, make you want to side with them despite their gray sense of morality. The Darkling’s morality wasn’t gray. It was pitch dark & swirling in shadows with the volcra & the nichevo’ya.

According to me, Mal’s human insecurities about being surrounded by powerful royals & even more powerful Grisha who belittled, spoke down to & spread rumours about him, was more understandable and complex than The Darkling’s entire arch [Being othered as a child, is no excuse to feel emboldened enough to abuse & enslave people]

In this series I find myself to not be that big a fan of The Darkling, Alina or Mal. My heart is more swept by Genya, Nikolai, Zoya, Tolya & Tamar. Their characters seem more rich & interesting for me to read & enjoy.

Overall, this book is a three star book for me as even though it took me on an emotional roller coaster ride, it managed to leave me underwhelmed. I don’t see myself ever re-reading this series or recommending it.

Content Warnings

megplant's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

burgundy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-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

3.0

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