Reviews

Mroczna wiedza by Naomi Novik

pamplemousse65's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

chris_allen's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-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? No

3.5

mayling23's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

samunky's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

23_nikki_23's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book. I think it is a good introduction to the series and the characters and plot kept me engaged the entire time

luciscae's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

juliceogando's review against another edition

3.0

Took some time to get into this book and get used to the magical lexicon slowly introduced but the characters were memorable, El especially. The ending was a bit anticlimactic for me but the last line of the book does make me want to pick up the second book.

mfajax's review against another edition

2.0

Extremely info dumpy. Great concept but nothing was happening

24shawks's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

fairycakes666's review against another edition

3.0

For some reason I can't quite figure out, I didn't much like the authors earlier books (his majestys dragons), so I've been hesitant about this one. It's been recommended to me so I though I'd give it a go anyway.
And well.. it's not that I didn't like it. Some parts I actually liked a lot. The dialogues were amusing and the whole "grumpy teenager" thing felt rather relatable.

However: where are the emotions in this book? It's all about fear and monsters and a very weird building. I didn't FEEL anything. I feel like even though I theoretically learned some things about the main character and her fellow students, I don't actually know her (and them) at all.

Also - but maybe that's just me - I found it sometimes difficult to follow, especially in instances where a conversation between two characters was started and then interrupted by the inner monologue of the main character which theeeen went on and filled PAGES of information that the reader needs to have. First of all: not an elegant way to build a whole world. But also - I had a hard time remembering the conversation that started all of this after the whole "this is how the world works" was finished (for the moment).

The whole book was entertaining enough, though. I read through it rather quickly so for all the things I didn't much like there were still enough reasons to continue reading. Also, the whole idea seems new to me; it's not something I've read before. I already got started on book two, I'm just to intrigued by this weird world.