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lucy16_'s review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
anotherbooklady's review against another edition
5.0
I tried to restrain myself to not finish this book too quickly, I wanted to really savor this story. It was just really difficult to stop myself!
I’m just loving this universe and these characters. Once again the author doesn’t overwhelm the reader with too much detail of the world of the Grisha; just enough to let your imagination fill in the blanks. Several new and interesting characters are introduced in this book and I’m quite fond of a few of them!
I don’t know how I’m going to restrain myself to not completely devour the third book in this trilogy.
I’m just loving this universe and these characters. Once again the author doesn’t overwhelm the reader with too much detail of the world of the Grisha; just enough to let your imagination fill in the blanks. Several new and interesting characters are introduced in this book and I’m quite fond of a few of them!
I don’t know how I’m going to restrain myself to not completely devour the third book in this trilogy.
j_b00nes's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
read_n_wright's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read but didn't really interest me. Wasn't really invested. I guess I like a bit more depth.
zoriandr's review against another edition
1.0
I had to summon the power of the di Blique Panta to keep turning the page. Didn't care for Alina. Didn't care for Mal. Didn't care for the Darkling. Didn't care for the fate of the realm. All I cared for was the wave of relief I felt when I finally put this series/book DOWN.
xhexagonx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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
4.0
jessica_z's review against another edition
4.0
This book was amazing. In the beginning I thought I knew what was going to happen, but none of that happened, and from there I just held on tight. This book was a lot more political, and I was okay with that. I really wasn't expecting what happened in the book to happen so props to Leigh Bardugo. I do of course have a few issues, hence the four star rating.
Okay characters, Alina definitely grew in this book, whether is was in a good way is yet to be seen. She knows that with all her power she has to do something with it, and she just can't run away. This choice is a brave one, but it takes it's effect on her. She wants to be with Mal, but she can't because she has to save her people. Alina is a perfect example of a flawed character and I really feel for her, but sometimes it was a little annoy how she really just thought of Mal, and because of this and other reasons I gave it four stars. Alina's power struggle was great to her character development. She would say something in the moment and it would sound evil, and she regrets it instantly. I feel like the Darkling had a hand in that. I mean he visited her, they have that connection, could he be slowly corrupting her? Back to the Darkling showing up, I thought that was great. He was getting in her head, and proving everything he said to her. The Darkling is in love with her, that I don't doubt and I feel like he is giving her the amplifiers because he wants them to have more in common, power.
The other reason I mentioned for giving it four stars would be Mal. He is so selfish. He can't see what Alina is giving up in order to fight the Darkling, because of what happened in the beginning of the book she knows she can't run from him. Mal just wanted to get away and have everything go back to the way things were before. Well if you look back at what things were before Mal didn't know that he loved her. In this book, Mal got too hung up in the politics of court, but also he was like a puppy starving for attention from Alina. She's got enough problems to worry about. Also Mal doesn't want Alina to have more power because he is afraid of her, and Darkling said he would.
Okay so the princes, lets talk about them. The oldest, whatever his name is, was a jerk and an obstacle in the way, and in the end he messed up everything. Nikolai, well I don't really trust, but he would be a good king. I don't trust him around Alina and thank goodness she doesn't either. The twins I liked, but I figured there was something going on. They just seemed too loyal, and in the end you figure out why. I liked them both, I hope they don't die in the next one.
So plot, it was really about bringing the Second Army back together and joining what was left of the First Army, and trying to get ready for the Darkling to attack. (Yeah, that went well.) Also finding the location of the Firebird. I really wouldn't be surprised if there was a prophecy the Darkling was hiding somewhere. I'm a little weary of this religious thing going on. Saying Alina's a saint because then there is some crazy foreshadow going on, and I don't like that. I have so many questions I want answered! This book was about building something, and then having one persons choice destroy all of that.
I really wish I owned the final book because then I would be reading that and not writing this. Make no mistake once that book is in my hands it's on the top of my TBR list. I would guess what's about to happen, but as I've seen there really is no use. Definitely reading Ruin and Rising the first chance I get.
Okay characters, Alina definitely grew in this book, whether is was in a good way is yet to be seen. She knows that with all her power she has to do something with it, and she just can't run away. This choice is a brave one, but it takes it's effect on her. She wants to be with Mal, but she can't because she has to save her people. Alina is a perfect example of a flawed character and I really feel for her, but sometimes it was a little annoy how she really just thought of Mal, and because of this and other reasons I gave it four stars. Alina's power struggle was great to her character development. She would say something in the moment and it would sound evil, and she regrets it instantly. I feel like the Darkling had a hand in that. I mean he visited her, they have that connection, could he be slowly corrupting her? Back to the Darkling showing up, I thought that was great. He was getting in her head, and proving everything he said to her. The Darkling is in love with her, that I don't doubt and I feel like he is giving her the amplifiers because he wants them to have more in common, power.
The other reason I mentioned for giving it four stars would be Mal. He is so selfish. He can't see what Alina is giving up in order to fight the Darkling, because of what happened in the beginning of the book she knows she can't run from him. Mal just wanted to get away and have everything go back to the way things were before. Well if you look back at what things were before Mal didn't know that he loved her. In this book, Mal got too hung up in the politics of court, but also he was like a puppy starving for attention from Alina. She's got enough problems to worry about. Also Mal doesn't want Alina to have more power because he is afraid of her, and Darkling said he would.
Okay so the princes, lets talk about them. The oldest, whatever his name is, was a jerk and an obstacle in the way, and in the end he messed up everything. Nikolai, well I don't really trust, but he would be a good king. I don't trust him around Alina and thank goodness she doesn't either. The twins I liked, but I figured there was something going on. They just seemed too loyal, and in the end you figure out why. I liked them both, I hope they don't die in the next one.
So plot, it was really about bringing the Second Army back together and joining what was left of the First Army, and trying to get ready for the Darkling to attack. (Yeah, that went well.) Also finding the location of the Firebird. I really wouldn't be surprised if there was a prophecy the Darkling was hiding somewhere. I'm a little weary of this religious thing going on. Saying Alina's a saint because then there is some crazy foreshadow going on, and I don't like that. I have so many questions I want answered! This book was about building something, and then having one persons choice destroy all of that.
I really wish I owned the final book because then I would be reading that and not writing this. Make no mistake once that book is in my hands it's on the top of my TBR list. I would guess what's about to happen, but as I've seen there really is no use. Definitely reading Ruin and Rising the first chance I get.
hmin13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sm_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the boundaries of the world. With the help of a stuck up prince, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
Rating - 4/5 stars
This is the second book in the 'Shadow and Bone' series, and I have very mixed feelings on it. Some of the main characters are turning out to be a little intolerable, and this book just felt like an extension of the first with more indecisiveness and development. This book ends on a major cliffhanger, which is something I don't usually like in books, but still it was big enough to keep me intrigued and want to keep going. I will still read the last book in the series, Ruin and Rising, and hope it is better.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the boundaries of the world. With the help of a stuck up prince, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
Rating - 4/5 stars
This is the second book in the 'Shadow and Bone' series, and I have very mixed feelings on it. Some of the main characters are turning out to be a little intolerable, and this book just felt like an extension of the first with more indecisiveness and development. This book ends on a major cliffhanger, which is something I don't usually like in books, but still it was big enough to keep me intrigued and want to keep going. I will still read the last book in the series, Ruin and Rising, and hope it is better.