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adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I knew a book series centering Nikolai would be great but I did not know Nina was here too and that made it so much better
I really liked the storylines in this- they were all interesting, and I didn’t really have any specific POV that I hated reading so that’s good
Overall very good, a few slow spots at the beginning, but other than that it was great :)
I really liked the storylines in this- they were all interesting, and I didn’t really have any specific POV that I hated reading so that’s good
Overall very good, a few slow spots at the beginning, but other than that it was great :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
In my humble opinion, this was Zoya’s Book. I love Nikolai and Nina as much as the next Grishaverse fan, but Zoya absolutely stole the show in this story. This is a reread for me— I first read in March 2022, and I’ve been daydreaming about Zoya’s story until now, in January 2023.
I loved her strength, her anger, her fear, her sorrow. I loved seeing every range of emotion from her and watching her grow. Learning Zoya’s backstory is one of my favorite things to come from the Grishaverse, even more than Nikolai Lantsov (the best book boyfriend of all time). That’s saying something.
I will also say that I love Hanne and wish she got more love because she’s a really interesting character. Give me more stubborn, headstrong characters. I love the blossoming romance between Zoya & Nikolai as well as Hanne and Nina.
Zoya of the garden. Zoya of the lost city. She is strong enough to survive the fall.
I just love how badass she is—especially how she summons other elements and fabrikates her own new amplifier. . I need more love for Zoya. Especially after this book where she works hard and pours herself into her power.
This is possibly my favorite book of all time, and I can’t wait to reread Rule of Wolves next so I can get more of their stories.
I loved her strength, her anger, her fear, her sorrow. I loved seeing every range of emotion from her and watching her grow. Learning Zoya’s backstory is one of my favorite things to come from the Grishaverse, even more than Nikolai Lantsov (the best book boyfriend of all time). That’s saying something.
I will also say that I love Hanne and wish she got more love because she’s a really interesting character. Give me more stubborn, headstrong characters. I love the blossoming romance between Zoya & Nikolai as well as Hanne and Nina.
Zoya of the garden. Zoya of the lost city. She is strong enough to survive the fall.
I just love how badass she is—
This is possibly my favorite book of all time, and I can’t wait to reread Rule of Wolves next so I can get more of their stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage
adventurous
emotional
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
leigh bardugo uve done it again. the first half is painful to read, SO BORING. But then... it gets good. it gets do GOOD. I love how i never see anything coming. n the ending doesnt seem forced as in the S&B trilogy or six of crows. you can tell she's getting better. i love it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Abortion
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Murder, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Abortion, Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ugh. Leigh Bardugo, why do you write such amazing books?!
After reading (and loving) the other Grishaverse series, the first book of this duology did not disappoint.
Like all of Bardugo’s books (at least in my opinion), I found the beginning a bit slow, but as soon as you move past the first 100-150 pages, the story picks up in such a dramatic fashion. To Bardugo’s credit, this is an entirely new story, separate in its own right from the previous books. Establishing the current state of Ravka and where each character is at mentally does take time.
But god, I loved Nikolai’s sarcasm and humour which filled the book (A particular favourite of mine is a stint about a spider in a suit). The characters developed in this book are exactly what I needed, and what I believe the Grishaverse needed.
Readers, do be warned, you do need to read ALL of the Grishaverse books (Shadow and Bone series and Six of Crows series, at the very least), as the plot and various events will most likely not make sense, and you will also spoil major elements in both series. I also read the collection of Grishaverse short stories prior to this, and I will say it was a nice addition, but I don’t feel it necessary. I can also imagine the Lives of Saints book might give you additional information, but I have not yet read it, but the elements were explained in an easy to comprehend manner.
This book reminds me more of Six of Crows, fast-paced and intricate, with such an amazing story. I’ve had to immediately pick up the sequel, Rule of Wolves.
After reading (and loving) the other Grishaverse series, the first book of this duology did not disappoint.
Like all of Bardugo’s books (at least in my opinion), I found the beginning a bit slow, but as soon as you move past the first 100-150 pages, the story picks up in such a dramatic fashion. To Bardugo’s credit, this is an entirely new story, separate in its own right from the previous books. Establishing the current state of Ravka and where each character is at mentally does take time.
But god, I loved Nikolai’s sarcasm and humour which filled the book (A particular favourite of mine is a stint about a spider in a suit). The characters developed in this book are exactly what I needed, and what I believe the Grishaverse needed.
Readers, do be warned, you do need to read ALL of the Grishaverse books (Shadow and Bone series and Six of Crows series, at the very least), as the plot and various events will most likely not make sense, and you will also spoil major elements in both series. I also read the collection of Grishaverse short stories prior to this, and I will say it was a nice addition, but I don’t feel it necessary. I can also imagine the Lives of Saints book might give you additional information, but I have not yet read it, but the elements were explained in an easy to comprehend manner.
This book reminds me more of Six of Crows, fast-paced and intricate, with such an amazing story. I’ve had to immediately pick up the sequel, Rule of Wolves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infertility, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll start off with this: I've devoured the rest of the books in the Grishaverse and thoroughly enjoyed them. KoS left much to be desired. There were parts of it I enjoyed, and spots where I was surprised, but for the most part I was kind of bored. These are all characters that have been fabulous in previous books but, except for Zoya, they all felt forced.
There's one part in particular that was kind of frustrating.The likeness to the Harry Potter "Voldemort coming back from the dead" plot is kind of an eye roll. I both groaned because "oh no!" and rolled my eyes because "I'm getting deja vu..."
I will say that I did remain engaged, but it wasn't with the same hunger or passion that has existed in both the S&B and SoC stories.
There's one part in particular that was kind of frustrating.
I will say that I did remain engaged, but it wasn't with the same hunger or passion that has existed in both the S&B and SoC stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Torture
Minor: Gore, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
funny
sad
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:
Yes
OH MY GOD
i read the first four chapters in september, sat on my ass for almost three months, and then read the rest of the book in one day. zoya remains the most badass woman ever and nina holds me entire heart in the palm of her hand.
i read the first four chapters in september, sat on my ass for almost three months, and then read the rest of the book in one day. zoya remains the most badass woman ever and nina holds me entire heart in the palm of her hand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Miscarriage