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delvie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
My feelings on this book are extremely similar to my feelings on Holly Black's debut adult novel: the critiques hold up. It IS slow. It IS boring.
I called the first half of the twist shockingly early along; I don't think that's due to me being clever so much as it being obvious. That being said, the second half of the twist wasn't so much of a twist as it was a lore dump. Books with mysteries that don't give the reader everything they need to solve them aren't mysteries so much as messy. And the plot threads that are left after the initial murder is solved are tied up by some piece of lore neither you or the main character had an idea about. It's supposed to be this mic drop "oh shit" moment that puts you onto the sequels, but I was left feeling annoyed that I had wasted energy trying to solve something that I couldn't have solved. It's not clever; it's not a trick question- it's annoying and poor writing.
Alex is extremely dry as a character. I couldn't tell you a thing about her that isn't her aesthetic or her trauma. Same goes for every other character in this book, unfortunately.
Check the trigger warnings; I don't think having to read/listen to the graphic scenes were worth what I got out of this book in ANY stretch of the imagination. I won't be reading the sequel.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Excrement, Racism, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol and Vomit
nenya'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: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, and Gun violence
mcczaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, and Trafficking
fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Trafficking
Minor: Forced institutionalization
renikajw'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: Rape, Murder, Trafficking, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Gore
queenstaves's review against another edition
Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Rape, Trafficking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
The author uses rape, date rape, sexual assault, sexual trauma, etc. in a way that reads as trauma being a character flaw/trait instead of a part of an emotional arc. It is used in a way that reads as "edgy flavor" and not the horrifying things they are. They are used to position the protagonist as an edgy savior. She "gets revenge" for women being date raped by forcing the men to eat shit (literally), and it's used as this "I really showed them!" kind of moment. It is a gross use of the content.elthechameleon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I have heard people say that Legendborn did this dark academia niche better and after finishing, I agree. Spoiler for both Legendborn and Ninth House:
There was always something about this book that felt off in representation. I can't put a finger on it exactly. Maybe it was because Alex's life felt so violent without any positive joy? Or that her background was so non-specific - especially in comparison to the overly descriptive trauma Alex went through? I will say that I was glad that Alex's background with food insecurity was explored, but there were just other problems, too. (Also - there is still food scarcity for some students at prestigious universities. Food isn't automatically solved after admission). It felt like Bardugo was unwilling to commit to Alex having a distinct ethnicity out of nervousness of having poor representation. And then her indecision made that happen anyway.
There were upsides. Dawes is an incredible character, and the ending is intriguing.
This just was such a step down after the King of Scars duology. I had high hopes, and it just didn't deliver.
Maybe it is someone else's perfect book, though!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Death, Grief, Rape, and Trafficking
orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The ending came out of nowhere with little to no setup for the reveals. As a mystery novel, this is terrible.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Rape, Addiction, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Medical trauma
Minor: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Cancer, Car accident, Classism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Murder
siannn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Gun violence, Gore, Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, Medical content, Infidelity, Excrement, Cursing, Classism, Blood, Torture, Suicide, Sexism, Rape, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Self harm, Drug use, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Trafficking, Racial slurs, and Racism
erikaj_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Saved only by the last few chapters where the pace picked up significantly and it became much more the fantasy/magic book it is sold as, but still not amazing. I will probably read the next book, but I won’t be rushing to get it.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Death, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Trafficking, Vomit, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Medical content