karelidz's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Honestly better than I expected. I was expecting it to be very distopian and maybe "hunger games-esque", and I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that it wasn't. It reminded me a bit of Six of Crows a bit at times, in the sense of being a "band of outcasts" and being in a type of secret society.
I liked the magic aspect of it and the tiny bit of romance that we got. I also LOVE that it's basically a villain's origin story, it's so tragic - it's so good. It makes me excited to see what happens in the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 will be continuing the series
I liked the magic aspect of it and the tiny bit of romance that we got. I also LOVE that it's basically a villain's origin story, it's so tragic - it's so good. It makes me excited to see what happens in the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 will be continuing the series
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
lizzyc_16's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
i finished this like 1 minute ago and...
what the frick.
what the frick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gore, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Xenophobia, War, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Genocide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship
oliviaferlazzo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book did not turn out like I expected. I kept thinking, “oh she’ll overcome that cause like, she’s the main character… oh wait… so no? But wait, yeah she will right?” Basically just like that throughout the whole book.
But yeah, Marie Lu did an amazing job at expressing the fear of darkness and what you could do to people. This personally is the first book I’ve read like where you see that darkness firsthand— the actions and consequences and the sad humanness of it all. Really it reminded me of when I was a child and I didn’t know how to control my emotions or thoughts and everything was just roiling around.
I had to close the book and weep at the turn of events and the way things ended up.
But yeah, Marie Lu did an amazing job at expressing the fear of darkness and what you could do to people. This personally is the first book I’ve read like where you see that darkness firsthand— the actions and consequences and the sad humanness of it all. Really it reminded me of when I was a child and I didn’t know how to control my emotions or thoughts and everything was just roiling around.
I had to close the book and weep at the turn of events and the way things ended up.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
itshardizzy's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a refreshing take on the usual book that goes for the hero journey trope. Our MC Adelina is not a hero, she fits more as villain actually. she is rage driven and the one thing that she wants is revenge. her powers do not come from the stuff people consider good, she actually have powers that comes from fear and anger two dark feelings.
The book isn't focus on romance which I personally like. We are focus on Adelina facing her own fears and her own self, and as she experience things we start to understand more what she feels. Adelina has deep trust issues and a deeper problem with her self esteem – she personally doesn't think that she is loveable and she doesn't think someone will ever love her.
We also have the point of view of three other characters throughout the book: Enzo (the usual hot, powerful leader), Raffaelle (my personal favorite, a very attractive men) and Teren (our villan and antagonistic mal who is the floor where the queen steps on). Their POV are not 3rd person while Adelina's 1st person, which do clarify who is the true protagonist.
We have a plot twist in the end that kinda of shocked me, and honestly it felt very good for the plot and for our character. The hook in the end made me a little confused and interested to see what that was all about, and what the author has reserved for the continuation.
The book didn't really made me that interested but I want to read the other 2, only to know what will happen to Adelina and Raffaelle (please I need more of him).
The book isn't focus on romance which I personally like. We are focus on Adelina facing her own fears and her own self, and as she experience things we start to understand more what she feels. Adelina has deep trust issues and a deeper problem with her self esteem – she personally doesn't think that she is loveable and she doesn't think someone will ever love her.
We also have the point of view of three other characters throughout the book: Enzo (the usual hot, powerful leader), Raffaelle (my personal favorite, a very attractive men) and Teren (our villan and antagonistic mal who is the floor where the queen steps on). Their POV are not 3rd person while Adelina's 1st person, which do clarify who is the true protagonist.
We have a plot twist in the end that kinda of shocked me, and honestly it felt very good for the plot and for our character. The hook in the end made me a little confused and interested to see what that was all about, and what the author has reserved for the continuation.
The book didn't really made me that interested but I want to read the other 2, only to know what will happen to Adelina and Raffaelle (please I need more of him).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, and Violence
rekilluv's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
I've only read this book one time in 7th grade, and since I'm a high school junior I forgot a lot of detail. I will be re reading this book soon and updating my review but I remember enjoying this book a lot so I recommend it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Xenophobia
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