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illgiveyouahint'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
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, Infidelity, Medical content, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Vomit
cleo_wylde'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence
readwithde's review against another edition
- 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
Six of Crows was so focused, so linear on the one big job; very much like Ocean's Eleven. Crooked Kingdom had several schemes within schemes, like Russian nesting dolls. I was worried I would get lost in all the twists, but it was surprisingly easy to follow.
I really appreciated how each character had to face their weaknesses, their blind spots and traumas, in order to succeed. I loved how this talented crew faced failures and betrayals and literally had nothing left. Despite how good the team is, they felt like underdogs.
My one biggest complaint
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, Grief, Slavery, Torture, and Trafficking
megsg'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, and Trafficking
just_a_reader17'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault and Chronic illness
luluslittlelibrary'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence
gracepark'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? No
5.0
Minor: Chronic illness and Grief
myarae'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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Grief
ufollowbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is possibly one of the best books I've ever read.
It's got it all - great language, a gripping plot, which balances action with important deep moments, characters you believe in and who _actually_ develop and it's an absolute logical progression, romantic relationships that don't make you want to puke and that aren't for show-offs.
There are important topics here - addiction, disability, hatred of the 'unnatural', father-child relationships, sex trafficking and slavery, trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ+ (and not one tiny skit, but a full and gradual unfolding!), dyslexia, women's rights, interethnic couples... The list is endless.
And it doesn't spoil the book one bit, just adds nuances. Not yellow, but ochre. Sometimes it's the little things, but so perfectly integrated that without them the whole thing would collapse
.
I honestly can't remember the last time I highlighted quotes so much. I can't remember the last time I thought, "This is it, they're not going to make it now." — and they did make it out. And I can't remember the last time I exclaimed WHAT that much over a book!
Oh, and did I mention the humour? Wonderful, relatable humour that dilutes all the horror!
And yes, this book will break your heart. So that you'll be lying in tears and sobbing hysterically, with face in your pillow. And yet you'll want to reread it. Gosh, I've only just finished it and I already want to!
I'd say it's the best of all Leigh Bardugo's books I've read so far. The contrast with The Six of Crows is enormous - it's like everything has been oved from 2D to 3D, so the characters are revealed in much more depth and there are dozens unexpected twists and turns. It's better not even to compare it to Shadow and Bone - defeat would be too bitter XD By the way, there are spoilers for it, but generally pretty obvious, at least to me it was clear after the first book what it was coming to and the references here were absolutely not surprising.
So, after all. My grade?
12/10 and I highly recommended it! Don't repeat my mistakes, don't put it off for no reason
(This text was translated with DeepL from Russian, sorry if there are any mistakes!)
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, Ableism, and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Sexism, Murder, and Kidnapping
__hel__'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Panic attacks/disorders