Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo

14 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Bullying

Moderate: War

noxygens's review

dark mysterious tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Blood

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 be he 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 

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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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Child death

green_amaryllis's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder

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. 

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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-injury

aklovekorn's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Bullying

loonieslibrary's review

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It was very interesting to learn more about The Darkling’s tragic past. Leigh is not justifying his actions, but helping the reader understand them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Gore, and Murder

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood

tasteofcherrry's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment and Bullying