Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
I definitely enjoyed the first two more, but
there were plenty of little nuggets in this one that were pretty solid. Nikolai is such a good character throughout this series and really shines here.
The scenes in the mountain settings were my favorite I’m curious to see how he other spin offs handle things.
there were plenty of little nuggets in this one that were pretty solid. Nikolai is such a good character throughout this series and really shines here.
The scenes in the mountain settings were my favorite I’m curious to see how he other spin offs handle things.
i am going to SWALLOW MY PHONE
or turn my book mushy with my tears, we’ll see.
all I know! Is that ! This book ! Got me fUCKED up!!!! In the best possible way and also worst! Genuinely it’s been so long since I’ve been this woOOOOAHHHH over a series. Going into this trilogy I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the six of crows duology (high standard from that) but honestly this last book had me equally in awe. To the point where every couple of pages I was stopping to scream into my pillow and cry for a bit before continuing.
This was everything I needed for the end of the trilogy and more, genuinely I am at a loss for words. The fear with fantasy series is that the author becomes unnecessarily repetitive, particularly with conflicts and it can seem like it dragggggs out a lot (red queen for example, just end it after 3 books) but this was not the case at all. I loved the dynamic between all the characters and I think that’s something that Leigh Bardugo is particularly gifted at- she has a way with navigating through seemingly meaningless interactions or even tense ones, in a way that really enhances your understanding of who the people are and how you imagine the book. I adored the conflicting dynamic between The Darkling and Alina for example, not to mention Nikolai and Alina.
Side note: Nikolai has my entire heart and soul. A second smooth prince who gets inhabited by a demon and is scarred by it (Dorian havilliard ye).
Putting this aside, the ongoing theme of faith throughout the book was such a great touch to the book, the sanctity of Alina was such an interesting perspective to take and I loved reading about how faith drove the devote to follow her.
And of course how could I forget the darkling. This boy. Tore. My.heart. Out and throat-punched by corpse. Call me dramatic, I may be so, but I am also 100% darkling trash. How deep down he was just a lonely young boy, ambitious and head strong - this dark “abomination”. for so long there was no one like him and while he may have clung to inflicting pain and suffering deep down he always wanted the love and acceptance of the ravkan people, to not be seen as an “otherly” being, to find someone like him. but overtime, over so many years he begins to forget that, and he turns into this “monster” (make me your villain), who doesn’t know how to stop himself - and he forgets this until Alina comes along. Just thinking about how long it’s been since he felt something as raw and painful as losing his mother.
in essence, I feeling so damn sorry for the darkling and I’m also in love with him. Also the fact that we get Ben Barnes as him in the series has me so damn ready.
But I digress, I must admit I wanted Alina to end up with Nikolai and I’m torn that Mal survived. But eh, small things only. I cried pure tears of joy at the final after chapter, it was so beautiful, truly, and now I require domestic grisha squad scenes thank u very much.
Basically, I just loved this book. The plot, the ending, the characters, the arcs, the background, setting. You name it, I loved it. 5 STARS.
or turn my book mushy with my tears, we’ll see.
all I know! Is that ! This book ! Got me fUCKED up!!!! In the best possible way and also worst! Genuinely it’s been so long since I’ve been this woOOOOAHHHH over a series. Going into this trilogy I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the six of crows duology (high standard from that) but honestly this last book had me equally in awe. To the point where every couple of pages I was stopping to scream into my pillow and cry for a bit before continuing.
This was everything I needed for the end of the trilogy and more, genuinely I am at a loss for words. The fear with fantasy series is that the author becomes unnecessarily repetitive, particularly with conflicts and it can seem like it dragggggs out a lot (red queen for example, just end it after 3 books) but this was not the case at all. I loved the dynamic between all the characters and I think that’s something that Leigh Bardugo is particularly gifted at- she has a way with navigating through seemingly meaningless interactions or even tense ones, in a way that really enhances your understanding of who the people are and how you imagine the book. I adored the conflicting dynamic between The Darkling and Alina for example, not to mention Nikolai and Alina.
Side note: Nikolai has my entire heart and soul. A second smooth prince who gets inhabited by a demon and is scarred by it (Dorian havilliard ye).
Putting this aside, the ongoing theme of faith throughout the book was such a great touch to the book, the sanctity of Alina was such an interesting perspective to take and I loved reading about how faith drove the devote to follow her.
And of course how could I forget the darkling. This boy. Tore. My.heart. Out and throat-punched by corpse. Call me dramatic, I may be so, but I am also 100% darkling trash. How deep down he was just a lonely young boy, ambitious and head strong - this dark “abomination”. for so long there was no one like him and while he may have clung to inflicting pain and suffering deep down he always wanted the love and acceptance of the ravkan people, to not be seen as an “otherly” being, to find someone like him. but overtime, over so many years he begins to forget that, and he turns into this “monster” (make me your villain), who doesn’t know how to stop himself - and he forgets this until Alina comes along. Just thinking about how long it’s been since he felt something as raw and painful as losing his mother.
in essence, I feeling so damn sorry for the darkling and I’m also in love with him. Also the fact that we get Ben Barnes as him in the series has me so damn ready.
But I digress, I must admit I wanted Alina to end up with Nikolai and I’m torn that Mal survived. But eh, small things only. I cried pure tears of joy at the final after chapter, it was so beautiful, truly, and now I require domestic grisha squad scenes thank u very much.
Basically, I just loved this book. The plot, the ending, the characters, the arcs, the background, setting. You name it, I loved it. 5 STARS.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
My first 5 star read of 2023!
THIS BOOK!! It had me angry, in tears, longing, squealing, EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE!!
I was nervous for this book not having an ending I could agree with because there were so many unknowns going into it! How would Mal's storyline play out? What would happen with the fold? Where is Nikolai during all this chaos? The Darkling in general!
But I can say that every question you have going into this will be answered! The journey that Alina had to go through, the heartbreak you follow along with her, it was so beautifully written.
It had me in tears because the people she lost, I felt her pain in some sense because we have grown so attached in this trilogy.
(SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS from here on out!)
I really wanted The Darkling (Aleksander) to have a redemption arc. From the first moment he said in book 1 "make me your villain" - I wanted him to come back to that little boy he once was. And how Alina knew deep down he loved Ravka and just wanted it's love in return broke me a little. I rooted for him from the beginning but if he had to go I think this was the most beautiful way it could've been done.
I guessed at the end of book 2 that Mal had to have some kind of power in him because of his ability to track like no one else! But I never guessed he was apart of Morozova's line! I knew deep down he couldn't die because there was so much build up and unresolved tension with him and Alina so I'm glad we at least go to see their happy ending!!
My heart breaks a little for Nikolai, I wanted more for him but I feel like he would need his own side storyline to truly heal how much pain he went through for this story. The ever charming prince <3
Harshaw!!! Why would she do that to us!! Just when I actually liked him she stole him away!! UNDESERVED AND UNNECESSARY.. poor Oncat.
Side note: I love Zoya's redemption arc! She had the most character development in this series by far!
I will miss this series with all my heart, I didn't know going into these books that I would fall this hard for the world and these characters but I'm so glad I gave it a chance!
THIS BOOK!! It had me angry, in tears, longing, squealing, EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE!!
I was nervous for this book not having an ending I could agree with because there were so many unknowns going into it! How would Mal's storyline play out? What would happen with the fold? Where is Nikolai during all this chaos? The Darkling in general!
But I can say that every question you have going into this will be answered! The journey that Alina had to go through, the heartbreak you follow along with her, it was so beautifully written.
It had me in tears because the people she lost, I felt her pain in some sense because we have grown so attached in this trilogy.
(SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS from here on out!)
I really wanted The Darkling (Aleksander) to have a redemption arc. From the first moment he said in book 1 "make me your villain" - I wanted him to come back to that little boy he once was. And how Alina knew deep down he loved Ravka and just wanted it's love in return broke me a little. I rooted for him from the beginning but if he had to go I think this was the most beautiful way it could've been done.
I guessed at the end of book 2 that Mal had to have some kind of power in him because of his ability to track like no one else! But I never guessed he was apart of Morozova's line! I knew deep down he couldn't die because there was so much build up and unresolved tension with him and Alina so I'm glad we at least go to see their happy ending!!
My heart breaks a little for Nikolai, I wanted more for him but I feel like he would need his own side storyline to truly heal how much pain he went through for this story. The ever charming prince <3
Harshaw!!! Why would she do that to us!! Just when I actually liked him she stole him away!! UNDESERVED AND UNNECESSARY.. poor Oncat.
Side note: I love Zoya's redemption arc! She had the most character development in this series by far!
I will miss this series with all my heart, I didn't know going into these books that I would fall this hard for the world and these characters but I'm so glad I gave it a chance!
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok here’s the verdict. Fantasy is just not for me. In saying that I’m still glad I read this series cause it was fun. Even though the start to each book was a snoozfest for like literally the first half.