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hjb_128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: War, Death, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Classism, and Torture
Minor: Genocide, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
av0universe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: War, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War and Misogyny
david_slack110507's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found that this book was much more gripping that the previous one which very much felt like the first book in a trilogy (Not a bad thing but it definitely had that feeling) whereas while the long chapters remain in this one (And I'm assuming in all of Leigh Bardugo's work) I found it much easier and enjoyable to get through as well as it taking me less time. I liked a lot of the new characters the obvious being Nikolai who I feel brought a lot of charm to the novel and his back and forth with Alina was probably one of my favourite parts of the novel. Speaking of Alina, this time around while she still doubts herself and has her insecurities she felt a lot more involved in the action and getting to see her utilise the Cut and her power was nice to see throughout the novel.
I also really liked that we got to see more of the military-type operation and world of the Grishaverse/Ravka and Alina coming into control of the Second Army was really cool to see as it was a nice change of pace to have her decide to fight back against the Darkling (As briefly mentioned above). Tolya and Tamar were also a pretty good addition to the ensemble of characters even if they don't get a lot of backstory or much to do besides protecting Alina.
I can definitely see how some may not like this book as like how I feel with the first book feeling like the first book in a trilogy the same could be said for this one which can definitely feel like the second book and middle-point in a trilogy with its main goal being to set up the 3rd book/conclusion and filling out the rest of time with character dramas and a larger focus on dialogue and development that action (E.g the main real conflicts only come at the beginning and the end and The Darkling remains out of the picture for nearly all of the book aside from the final confrontation and appearing physically to Alina throughout after her nichevo'ya bite)
Overall, I might have the unpopular opinion that I preferred this book to the first and found it to be much more engaging (Perhaps due to the first book having set up everything that the second book could easily and comfortably ease back into the world). I'm planning on trying to finish this series as soon as possible rather than taking a couple of months break in between like I did with this book and the first.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: War, Gore, Grief, Stalking, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child death, Sexual harassment, and Animal cruelty
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, War, Xenophobia, Classism, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Cursing, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
anielabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Classism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gaslighting, Self harm, Xenophobia, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt
matild_o'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
<PS, the ending of this book really reminded me of the end of catching fire and mockingjay>
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Murder, Sexual harassment, Child death, Blood, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Genocide
jonsnowsmanbun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and War
safety_pin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, War, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lish_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While the pacing felt a little off sometimes it was still an okay read and I got through it quickly.
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Grief
Minor: Alcohol