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jenarae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Classism, Gun violence, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The plot is much more interesting than the first book, but honestly I can't sympathize with Alina no matter how hard I try, and as she's the one telling the story it's torture to listen to her rationalizing her stupid-ass decisions and how "everyone at this farmer's market palace wants me carnally". She kept rationalizing all of her dumb decisions, deciding they were dumb and going through with them anyway... ugh.
At one point I honestly just stayed for Nikolai, as Alina and Mal seemed to have given all of their braincells to him, the one person with a functioning neural network
At one point I honestly just stayed for Nikolai, as Alina and Mal seemed to have given all of their braincells to him, the one person with a functioning neural network
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
bettysbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
I finally finished it !! I'm going to be honest this book was sooo slow like things definitely happened, but also nothing happened at the same time? It bored me to no end and the moments that I did enjoy/found interesting was when it had to deal with Nikolai or The Darkling. (fuck him for what he did to Genya tho) Anyway I hope that the next book in the series is way better than this was
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture
the darkling basically sa's alina, mentions of genyas r wording in her short story, and brief mentions of genyas mutilationtheirgracegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Confinement, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, and War
safety_pin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, War, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hazychapters's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
I loved this second book! Leigh focused much more on the political and strategic side of the plot, I think, and I loved it! It's true that before Rule of Wolves, I didn't realize this was something Leigh worked on a lot, but now I realize it a lot more, and it's a delight! I also really liked Alina who asserts herself a little more. She has to measure herself against the desire for power, must prevent herself from succumbing. It made her come a little closer to the Darkling (like calls to like), and it was very interesting to follow her in this internal fight in which she was engaged.
The appearance of Nikolai was quite spectacular, but I tried, for this rereading, not to be fooled by his beautiful manners. What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men. And Nikolai is no exception. He too wants the power. And it's interesting to analyze the approach he has. A real politician. I tried to give Mal more credits, but it was quite complicated just looking at Alina's point of view. I understood her distress, and I just wanted to slap Mal sometimes. But then I said to myself: "but he isn't in her head, he does not understand her unhappiness". The Darkling is less present, or at least in an intangible way. I find it even more threatening! But shit then, he is so toxic and manipulative! I was glad that Alina has measured herself against him, it will bring him back down to earth!
The appearance of Nikolai was quite spectacular, but I tried, for this rereading, not to be fooled by his beautiful manners. What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men. And Nikolai is no exception. He too wants the power. And it's interesting to analyze the approach he has. A real politician. I tried to give Mal more credits, but it was quite complicated just looking at Alina's point of view. I understood her distress, and I just wanted to slap Mal sometimes. But then I said to myself: "but he isn't in her head, he does not understand her unhappiness". The Darkling is less present, or at least in an intangible way. I find it even more threatening! But shit then, he is so toxic and manipulative! I was glad that Alina has measured herself against him, it will bring him back down to earth!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Gun violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, and Physical abuse
angelsfw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
! SPOILERS !
”she would rise.”
honestly, this book surprised me with how enthralled it had me, especially with the plot. i went in expecting to hate it because everyone else did, but its only proven to be another favorite of mine. i really loved the character growth in the book. the progression of the plot never felt too slow or too fast to me. it was so easy to read and i loved it.
of course, my favorite part of the whole book was nikolai. he’s simply the perfect book character and i fell in love.
i was a fan of mal for most of the book; however, at the end he started acting selfish when it came to alina. she carried so much ok her shoulders during the whole book and he never even stopped to consider how she felt.
and the darkling - i simply hate him. he’s disgusting, gross, vile, and manipulative. he spent most of the book tormenting alina and making her think she was losing her grip on sanity. i have no clue how people continue to ship them together, especially after he SAs her ?!?!?!?!?!?! nasty gross vile man.
my main take away from this book really was: men should shut up (not nikolai) and alina should girlboss more.
”she would rise.”
honestly, this book surprised me with how enthralled it had me, especially with the plot. i went in expecting to hate it because everyone else did, but its only proven to be another favorite of mine. i really loved the character growth in the book. the progression of the plot never felt too slow or too fast to me. it was so easy to read and i loved it.
of course, my favorite part of the whole book was nikolai. he’s simply the perfect book character and i fell in love.
i was a fan of mal for most of the book; however, at the end he started acting selfish when it came to alina. she carried so much ok her shoulders during the whole book and he never even stopped to consider how she felt.
and the darkling - i simply hate him. he’s disgusting, gross, vile, and manipulative. he spent most of the book tormenting alina and making her think she was losing her grip on sanity. i have no clue how people continue to ship them together, especially after he SAs her ?!?!?!?!?!?! nasty gross vile man.
my main take away from this book really was: men should shut up (not nikolai) and alina should girlboss more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Torture and Violence
tessahartman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Stalking
Moderate: Torture
maryjames's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: War, Torture, and Stalking
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
therobinjoyce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Once again, Leigh Bardugo has done it and produced a fantastic and gripping piece of fantastical fiction for the world to enjoy.
The action definitely heats up in this one with the introduction of Sturmhond and the whole Pirates, nichevo’ya, and Rusalye arcs.
It’s so wonderful to dive back into the mind of Alina Starkov as she tries to escape the dark forces after her and her strained relationship with her old friends. While it was a little slower pace-wise than Shadow and Bone it was still wonderfully written and I absolutely loved the new characters we got to meet in this novel.
The ending also was insane and I cannot wait to finish Ruin and Rising and find out what happens!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Torture, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death