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jocelyntaylor1's review
funny
sad
fast-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
4.5
alexandra_ninelives's review against another edition
2.0
This almost took me a month, it was so boring. How the hell was this written by the same author as Six of Crows??
blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
April 6, 2021
[reread in anticipation of the release of Rule of Wolves as well as the Netflix adaptation, Shadow and Bone]
I'll be perfectly honest, I did not recall the plot of this book from the first time I read it. I recalled things as they came up, but other than The Darkling's dramatic return and Nina's adventures as a spy in Fjerda, I would have been hard-pressed to give anyone a full summary of the plot before this reread.
It was a really great feeling though, because I thought I had retained more of it than I actually did, so it was fantastic to rediscover all the other plots within the book such as Nikolai and Zoya's disappearance into the twilight fold, Isaak posing as Nikolai because of that disappearance, and everything to do with the saints. Again, I'm not sure how I forgot about all this good good stuff, but it was cool to be able to experience it twice.
That said, I really enjoyed rereading this to prepare for Rule of Wolves, but everything I said in my first review for this book still stands! It's a fantastic sequel to both The Grisha Trilogy as well as The Six of Crows Duology and I'm incredibly excited to see how everything wraps up in Rule of Wolves! Catch you on the flip!
February 5, 2019
I am screaming. Okay, not literally, because I'd probably get fired from my job if I actually screamed the way I want to scream right now, but figuratively, inside my head, I am screaming very loudly, trust me.
With that out of the way, I'm going to try to get past the screaming in my head, but it won't be easy, because and I'm losing my mind about it.
Um, okay, shit. This book is a sequel to both Ruin and Rising as well as Crooked Kingdom, and while I was expecting the direct sequel to Ruin and Rising, what with how I've colloquially referred to this as nothing but "The Nikolai Book," so it was an unexpected treat when Nina fucking Zenik not only showed up, but then proceeded to have a whole third or so of the book all to herself. If you read my reviews for Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, you'll find that I didn't enjoy Nina all too much there, but the reason I didn't was because I found Matthias incredibly boring and, since they were love interests, he really dragged down Nina, in my opinion. I wasn't glad when but it was a good choice in hindsight because now Nina is free to seek the happy ending all her comrades got but that she was robbed of.
The only thing about Nina's presence that I didn't like so much (and don't get me wrong, I liked her story very much) was that we didn't get to spend nearly as much time with Nikolai and co. as I would have liked. I loved the conflict he was going through, all the political hoops he had to jump through by day while hiding the fact that he turns into his Darkling-patented personal nightmare by night. That was the shit. I loved it and, while my internal screaming has quieted somewhat, I'm still just freaking out because I cannot goddamn wait to find out how this all comes crashing down in the next book.
Write the next book super duper fast, Leigh, pretty please? I don't want to wait another year for more Grisha delights. Please, Leigh, I beg of you. I beg of you. Make the screaming in my head stop. Please.
[reread in anticipation of the release of Rule of Wolves as well as the Netflix adaptation, Shadow and Bone]
"I am the monster and the monster is me."
I'll be perfectly honest, I did not recall the plot of this book from the first time I read it. I recalled things as they came up, but other than The Darkling's dramatic return and Nina's adventures as a spy in Fjerda, I would have been hard-pressed to give anyone a full summary of the plot before this reread.
It was a really great feeling though, because I thought I had retained more of it than I actually did, so it was fantastic to rediscover all the other plots within the book such as Nikolai and Zoya's disappearance into the twilight fold, Isaak posing as Nikolai because of that disappearance, and everything to do with the saints. Again, I'm not sure how I forgot about all this good good stuff, but it was cool to be able to experience it twice.
That said, I really enjoyed rereading this to prepare for Rule of Wolves, but everything I said in my first review for this book still stands! It's a fantastic sequel to both The Grisha Trilogy as well as The Six of Crows Duology and I'm incredibly excited to see how everything wraps up in Rule of Wolves! Catch you on the flip!
February 5, 2019
I am screaming. Okay, not literally, because I'd probably get fired from my job if I actually screamed the way I want to scream right now, but figuratively, inside my head, I am screaming very loudly, trust me.
Spoiler
I mean fuck guys she brought The Darkling back. She brought The Darkling back! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH I am so distressed for Nikolai but I'm so fucking pumped that my boi is back from the actual dead holy shit, fam. Holy shit.With that out of the way, I'm going to try to get past the screaming in my head, but it won't be easy, because
Spoiler
The Darkling is backUm, okay, shit. This book is a sequel to both Ruin and Rising as well as Crooked Kingdom, and while I was expecting the direct sequel to Ruin and Rising, what with how I've colloquially referred to this as nothing but "The Nikolai Book," so it was an unexpected treat when Nina fucking Zenik not only showed up, but then proceeded to have a whole third or so of the book all to herself. If you read my reviews for Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, you'll find that I didn't enjoy Nina all too much there, but the reason I didn't was because I found Matthias incredibly boring and, since they were love interests, he really dragged down Nina, in my opinion. I wasn't glad when
Spoiler
he died at the end of Crooked KingdomThe only thing about Nina's presence that I didn't like so much (and don't get me wrong, I liked her story very much) was that we didn't get to spend nearly as much time with Nikolai and co. as I would have liked. I loved the conflict he was going through, all the political hoops he had to jump through by day while hiding the fact that he turns into his Darkling-patented personal nightmare by night. That was the shit. I loved it and, while my internal screaming has quieted somewhat, I'm still just freaking out because I cannot goddamn wait to find out how this all comes crashing down in the next book.
Write the next book super duper fast, Leigh, pretty please? I don't want to wait another year for more Grisha delights. Please, Leigh, I beg of you. I beg of you. Make the screaming in my head stop. Please.
malimoth64's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
autogeek's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best fantasy books I've read in recent memory.
The book was just the right balance between "fluffy and fast-paced" vs "detailed and heavy on the description". The story and world-building was quite thorough and never felt wasted. The story was great with some interesting twists and turns and no obvious cliches.
In short, the story felt fresh and I'm looking forward to continuing this series and reading more from Leigh Bardugo.
The book was just the right balance between "fluffy and fast-paced" vs "detailed and heavy on the description". The story and world-building was quite thorough and never felt wasted. The story was great with some interesting twists and turns and no obvious cliches.
In short, the story felt fresh and I'm looking forward to continuing this series and reading more from Leigh Bardugo.
hellobookbird's review against another edition
3.0
We pretend the pain isn’t there, that we are made of scars instead of wounds.
I feel like I'm being generous in my rating. [b:King of Scars|36307634|King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525110825l/36307634._SY75_.jpg|57978319] wasn't bad. Bardugo is a master of witty dialogue, snarky conversations, and deep characters but this one just couldn't keep my interest. I have never worked so hard to keep reading a book that I didn't hate.
I think my main problem is that there was a real lack of focus. To quote another reviewer: "Nikolai's efforts to rid himself of his monster seemed to get lost somewhere, and Nina's mission to find grisha felt open-ended and directionless." I didn't know why I was reading because I didn't know where it was going and why.
"The public may forget how handsome I am."
"I doubt it. Your face is on the money."
The last quarter really saved the novel. It was packed with epic growth, intrigue, and a romantic direction I'm highly interested in following.
"Don’t argue, David. Makes me want to blow something up to assert my authority."
I'll have to wait for the next installment for a recommendation on this one.
randobrando112's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
cupiscent's review against another edition
I gave it longer than I ordinarily would, because a couple of reading friends had recommended it, but it just wasn't working for me. I haven't read all the preceding material - only the first book in each cycle - and for me, this didn't stand alone. It's constantly filling in what's happened since the end of one or the other part (which plays havoc with the pacing, especially because it's framed as a catch-up, rather than essential backstory-to-the-present information) and it's leaning far too hard on the reader's willingness to spend time with these characters while the author slowly unfurls tantalising hints that there will one day be a driving plot. (This is especially egregious in the Nikolai / Zoya storyline; the Nina storyline doesn't seem to be related at all, which is another annoyance.) Nikolai and Zoya seem like fantastic characters, but the ratio of banter to them actually struggling with things is way out of whack for me. And I like banter. But I like characters struggling a lot more.