Reviews

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

sedskeletony's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

claracalymayor's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

3.75

jeanreadstherealgoodbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

aabravanel32's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

Into the crooked place 

raemo's review against another edition

3.0

What I liked: I enjoy the Grishaverse. Nicholai may vary well be one of my favorite characters of all time. The magic system is interesting.

What I didn’t like: typical YA tropes. Didn’t enjoy the romance at all. Wished that it was not first person perspective or at least alternated to other characters because let’s be honest, Alina is annoying af most of the time.

Overall I did enjoy this read, it was fun. However as the story progressed I found I had more “wtf” moments where I literally had to put the book down and stare blankly ahead to process what I had just read (and not in a holy-shit-that-was-great kind of way). I would have loved to have the Darklings perspective and really get a better understanding of his motives and his thought process.

I think I just have to remember that the intended audience for this trilogy was probably not a married 26-year-old mom, and if I was an angsty teenager again I probably would have been fawning over all the stereotypical tropes and the predictable “love wins all” story line. (Also, after just reading the ACOTAR series, if I have to read “like calls to like” or the equivalent again I most likely will go insane.)

Also Mal was the absolute worst

jasminezammit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Loved the plot twists, the characters were described very well. Leigh’s writing style is pretty good. I just found the ending too good to be true, even for a fantasy series.

epohlig's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

This trilogy was absolutely amazing and I’m so glad I chose to try it again when I wasn’t as preoccupied! I mostly do the written parts of reviews for myself, and I already wrote about the first two books in my personal notes, so this will just be about the last one…

Ruin and Rising was definitely my favorite of the three books, since it was not only the culmination of everything the characters had been through previously, but I also loved how it was more action-focused (as opposed to the second book), and there was also just the right amount of background romance. Also, the character development was fabulous. 

I especially liked the way the storyline with the Darkling and everything ended. I don’t want to spoil, but everything just made sense in the end, and (possible slight spoiler here) I really loved how Alina stayed true to herself. The Darkling kind of reminded me of the Phantom (from the Phantom of the Opera) in the way he was portrayed at the end; in the end, he was (kinda slightly) just human. Don’t mistake me for a Darkling sympathizer, though; that’s not what I’m saying. 

Anyway, I really loved this trilogy, and I’m so, so glad I read it! 5 stars for sure!!

barss29's review against another edition

The main character got to be to whiny.

fienomtezien's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

spikerball96's review against another edition

5.0

Great trilogy. Didn't shy away from hard choices or hard deaths.