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fionaross's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
The story itself is masterfully crafted. It’s more ingenious than Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, which I loved. There are amazing, well-developed characters and profound themes. I am excited to dive into the sequel.
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Violence, Drug use, Rape, Excrement, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Medical content, Sexual violence, Racism, Addiction, Antisemitism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Classism, Terminal illness, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Gore, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, Grief, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Racism, Addiction, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual violence, and Stalking
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Minor: Vomit and Racism
themdash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Trafficking, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Self harm, Stalking, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual assault, Classism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
subtlyfurious's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
1.0
The first few chapters are excellent (and the only reason I’m giving this book any stars). Bardugo weaves the character’s personalities and worldviews and backgrounds into the action flawlessly while also setting up a number of compelling topical themes.
It’s all downhill from there.
To me this feels like a YA book made “adult” by throwing in a bunch of disturbing content in for shock value alone. At first, I tried to give Bardugo the benefit of the doubt, believing she’d be able to give us a reason for why things weren’t just graphic, but borderline (or maybe fully) pornographic. But no. She fails to explore anything on a deeper level, speaking about complex issues such as classism, racism, and sexism without doing any work to ever dip below the surface. In fact, her ability to swerve away from actually choosing a side and stating an opinion is almost impressive.
Still, I pressed on thinking “surely Bardugo will find a way to wrap this up in a somewhat satisfying way.”
No.
The last 15% is a slog and (spoilers) the who that dunnit turn out to be both the most boring who-you-expect and the most throwaway character.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Excrement, Death, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Medical trauma, Murder, and Classism
megbar15's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Racism
mylazybones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying and Murder
Minor: Classism and Racism
abbeyyyrosee's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Trigger warnings: rape, gore, violence, death, microaggressions, racism.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Gore, Addiction, Blood, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
hwildy'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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Vomit, and Rape
Minor: Blood and Racism