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folkofthebook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
βGalaxy Stern,β Darlington said, his eyes flashing gold, βI have been crying out to you from the start.β
nothing makes me happier than when the second book lives up to the first book. and when it's even better?? π©π€πΌ
βBut I like this life better.β
βBetter than what?β
βBetter than what I was living before. Better than a world without magic.β
this is one of those series i read and can't help but feel envious of both the characters and the author. the characters for getting to live this life, and the author for having been able to dream it up.
βLife is cruel. Magic is real. And Iβm not ready to die.β
one character that i really came to adore was mercy. i feel like she was all of us readers, wishing so badly to find a way in to live magic and leave the real world behind. tripp was also a very endearing character who brought some lighthearted comic relief in as well. i did not care for hellie after this book, esp bc the babbit rabbit story.
βFuck off.β
βI did miss you, Stern.β
the agonizing slowburn of alex & darlington is SO DELICIOUS oh my god i just know the pay off is going to be well worth it.
βCome on, Darlington,β she said. βLet's give them hell.β
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Grief
Minor: Rape, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
leexpenandpages's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I love you to Hell and back. Immersed in a world of occult magic, Alex vows to return her mentor from Hell with the help of her friends and a magical gift that is hers alone.
π©βπ«βͺοΈπ»πππππ§ββοΈπ©
ππ» RECOMMENDATION:
π READ it!
π¬ FAVORITE QUOTES:
[PENDING]
π FORMAT:
π§
π COMMENTS:
β’ Um, this is a sequel? LOL I jumped in here, and it works fine.
β’ In the contemporary fantasy setting, Bardugo captures the dark academic aesthetic well. When it comes to the real-life setting, the northeast and California are believable (but I haven't spent enough time in Connecticut specifically to judge that). The magic system is convoluted, but the loose logic does fall apart at the end.
β’ The characters are complex, three-dimensional, and flawed. Their races and genders influence them in meaningful ways. Some are more lovable than others, but they are all understandable. Mercy & Turner are my personal favorites! The antagonists are rounded, too.
β’ Apt imagery and metaphors flow into the prose. There's plenty to dissect if that's your thing. (It's mine!) I'd love to see it on the page, particulaely to see the tome excerpts.
β’ Why did they switch audiobook narrators so late into the story? It was jarring, and it pulled me out of the story! The character's voice is defined, but I also hate it. It adds nothing to the story. Overall, Part Two lags.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Classism, Blood, Sexism, Racism, Murder, Rape, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Gun violence, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Colonisation, Body shaming, Drug use, Alcohol, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Slavery, and Vomit
lancemama's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Drug abuse, Death, Gore, Murder, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
adrienreads's review
- 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
This book is dark, but if the first book was too explicit/intense for you, this one definitely felt "lighter", more-or-less. Still dark and horrific, but there was far less (on-screen at least) sexual violence, and overall I had a much easier time with this one. Again, still not "light reading" by any means, but worth noting.
If you've loved Bardugo's other books, this one scratches that same itch, and more.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Addiction, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
Minor: Slavery, Misogyny, and Racism
elysianemily's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Mental illness, Racism, and Misogyny
alexijai98's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
clareehebert's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Violence, Grief, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, and Drug abuse
gphemsley's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Animal death, Gore, Drug abuse, Police brutality, and Vomit
Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
paduckling's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Drug abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Classism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Vomit
imaginaryalchemist's review
- 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
One of my favorite aspects is the characters. They all play off each very well in my opinion. It's always entertaining to see Alex banter with everyone, I love how much of a smart ass she is. My favorite character would probably have to be Mercy, I'm glad she got more screen time and development in this novel.
I also enjoyed the murder mystery aspect, just like I did in Ninth House, and how it blended in with the overall story. I do wish the societies had played more of a role, they're very interesting and I'd like to know more about them.
I'll be eagerly awaiting the third installment in the Alex Stern series, and I plan on checking out Leigh Bardugo's YA series. I enjoy her writing style
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Addiction, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
There are frequent mentions of rituals that often involve body horror. Murder is a major plot point. The main character's past, (which involves drugs, an abusive relationship, death, s*xual assault, forced institutionalization, and murder) is frequently brought up.