Scan barcode
deerlybeloved'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
You'll be on the edge of your seat, wanting more, and desperate to see how it all pans out for our beloved characters by the end of it.
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Classism, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Ableism, and Trafficking
Moderate: Trafficking, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, War, and Slavery
Inej, one of the main characters, has a backstory HEAVILY rooted in discussion of pedophilia, child trafficking, sex trafficking, slavery, sexual slavery, rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping, and so much more. While handled with beautiful tact and insight, the depictions of flashbacks and Inej's feelings of these things can comfort survivors of similar things as much as it destroys us. Go with caution. As well, religious bigotry, ableism, trauma, emotional neglect, horrid things happening to children, war, racial fetishization, and so much more is dealt with in tactful ways, but ever presently used as reminders that the world is as imperfect and dark as it is beautiful.ghostlyprince'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
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Child death, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: War, Ableism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Racism, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Sexism
aliyachaudhry'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
3.75
Graphic: Xenophobia, Death, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Violence, Body horror, Murder, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Racism, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Blood, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Gore, Child death, Sexual violence, Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Genocide
Moderate: Torture, Sexism, Addiction, Death of parent, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Rape
Minor: Ableism
joxibrat'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? No
5.0
Dinamic and fight sence actually feel as if you are there and the adrenaline is overcoming you, a tense sences of negotiation feel like your standing in the middle of it and anticipating an escalting while the clock is thicking.
The characters are so comlex and it feels almost as if they are real. Everyone has their own unique set of characteristics and non of them are defined just by one (even though the book blurb would suggest other wise). For example, all of the characters are around 16-17 y/o who are thrown into very serious situation and so they had to mature much faster, but trough clevery placed remarks or thoughts you still see that at the end of the day they are still kids.
The dynamic between characters is so realistic and relatable, not to mention how organic the romsnce feels.
An easy 5/5 stars book that I would recommend to any (epic?) fantasy lover or anyone who wants to get into it.
Minor: Trafficking, Murder, Sexism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Drug use, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
laedyred's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Slavery, Murder, Violence, Trafficking, Gun violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
mayicka11'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
4.5
I found it a little bit pretentious at first, but I got over it in the first twenty pages (maybe it was just Kaz's introduction. And well. He is a pretentious motherfucker.)
Both the plot and characters stand out to me, the plot was gripping, fast faced but fluid. It's one of my fave tropes, too (delinquents and heists). While our characters do incredible things, it doesn't read as too much, or make you roll your eyes. The characters are charming and well rounded, the relationships between them feel natural and the dynamics suck you in.
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Drug abuse, Classism, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Physical abuse, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Rape, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Slavery, and Sexism
falling4fandoms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Murder, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Trafficking, and Child death
Minor: Physical abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment
seren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Classism, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Racism, Drug abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Ableism, Torture, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Drug use, Death of parent, and Cursing
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual violence
_forestofpages'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
4.25
I absolutely adored the crew. Yes, even emo boy Kaz Brekker.
One thing I cannot excuse are the ages. I had to age up all of these characters while reading because I'm sorry, but these people are not teenagers. It's not believable in any context. I have never been the greatest fan of Leigh Bardugo's prose or melodrama, but in a heist novel with wildly different characters and the banter (which I loved), I think it fits quite well. I do wish for a world that feels well built and rich, that the writing/prose would have reflected that with more immersive descriptions of the locations. I admit sometimes, I was a little lost on what was happening or where we were because of the lack of description of locations. Then other times, she did a great job setting a scene. It felt inconsistent.
Again, the biggest issue with this book is the pacing. It's slow to start, so slow that it takes 100 pages to really get into the plot. After that however, it's quite good. Great characters, especially when they are together. I laughed, and even teared up there near the end. I felt pretty meh about the original Shadow and Bone trilogy, but this one is much more my taste. I can't wait to pick up Crooked Kingdom.
Graphic: Body horror and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Trafficking, Blood, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
This is a young adult book, however it does have a handful of scenes with graphic violence and injuries. It does detail the blood and injuries in at least two of these scenes. There are several mentions of sex-trafficking as well, though thankfully there are no sexually violent scenes.dinacatharina'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence