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bubbly_lara's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Interesting insight into one event that shaped the Darkling as a person. This short story makes you feel sympathy for a child who had to run and hide all his life, never truly being able to make friends and trust anyone other than his mother and himself.
The incident in this story planted the seed for him to want to create a Ravka in which Grisha did not have to hide and live in fear.
The incident in this story planted the seed for him to want to create a Ravka in which Grisha did not have to hide and live in fear.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: War
infjkiki's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Gore, and Child death
Moderate: Bullying
trintrin's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fear is a powerful ally, but feed it too often, make it too strong, and it will turn on you.
Should’ve listened to your mother’s advice mate.
I’m not a Darkling stan, I never will behe does make a great villain though but it’s amazing how one short story could make me empathise with one of the darkest characters in the Grishaverse
I’m not a Darkling stan, I never will be
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death
dawntin's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Child death
emily_mh's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an atmospheric and entertaining short story. It was interesting seeing a more in-depth view of the Darkling's backstory. However, the narrative seemed confused as to what it was trying to say. The resolution and "character development" was supposed to be about Grisha being persecuted, but the narrative itself backgrounded this topic in favour of showing Grisha infighting and the danger the Darkling was in due to being an Amplifier.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Sexism, Bullying, and Physical abuse
Minor: loss of a loved one, eugenics, drowning, self-injuryalltimelion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
nikkileyman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shorter than i expected, but i appreciated some action happening right away in something leigh wrote :D
very cool backstory, this gives more insight into how alexander came to be who he is.
although i hate alexander more than any other character, i cannot help but wonder what would´ve happened to him had the people in his life been kinder to him. what fate would´ve met him then?
very cool backstory, this gives more insight into how alexander came to be who he is.
although i hate alexander more than any other character, i cannot help but wonder what would´ve happened to him had the people in his life been kinder to him. what fate would´ve met him then?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, and Death
mindsorceress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
mirelg6's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I hate so much the Darkling, but this short story makes me undersand him so much better, even when anything that he does is slightly acceptable it has so much sense, and that's why i love him as character. He's one of the best "villians" i had read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood
chaptersonapage's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Violence