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milliemarilyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked Alex Stern as a character, she is a strong yet imperfect young woman, I grew to really like her. I wasn’t expecting the book to be quite so eery. I also feel like a lot happened yet nothing actually happened.
rigale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ldillaway's review against another edition
2.0
I really like Bardugo’s YA novels so I was hoping to really like this as well but…it was just ok.
In general I liked the plot, I was interested in the mystery, the magic and secret societies, and I thought Alex was an interesting character and a fine narrator (although I kind of agree Darlington is the best character). But it felt like Bardugo added a lot of triggering content more to add shock to the book then to actually have something interesting to say. My biggest issue was the multiple sexual assaults, none of which I think were handled particularly well. The book used them as a way to move the plot forward or make sure the reader really understood that the traumatized character was, in fact, traumatized rather than engaging in any meaningful discussion about trauma, power or abuse.
In general I liked the plot, I was interested in the mystery, the magic and secret societies, and I thought Alex was an interesting character and a fine narrator (although I kind of agree Darlington is the best character). But it felt like Bardugo added a lot of triggering content more to add shock to the book then to actually have something interesting to say. My biggest issue was the multiple sexual assaults, none of which I think were handled particularly well. The book used them as a way to move the plot forward or make sure the reader really understood that the traumatized character was, in fact, traumatized rather than engaging in any meaningful discussion about trauma, power or abuse.
thelibrarycrow's review against another edition
4.0
Please, let Alex Stern have just one chill, happy day.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Dark Academia is a genre that, while it deeply interests me, I tend to be quite wary of. But I'm glad I allowed myself to be pulled into the fascinating, dark world of this book.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to buy the second book.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Dark Academia is a genre that, while it deeply interests me, I tend to be quite wary of. But I'm glad I allowed myself to be pulled into the fascinating, dark world of this book.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to buy the second book.
lilssssss's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.75
reading_phil2393's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.0
littlebookterror's review against another edition
I gave this book 182 pages (41%) but I don't care - Bardugo's writing is compulsively readable and others might enjoy the slow-burn plot. I am, however, bored by the endless descriptions of irrelevant things, the dragging backstory and Alex's POV chapters and I am not willing to wait another 200 pages to see if it actually gets good.
ebrocar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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