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107 reviews
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Rape, Murder, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, and Racism
Minor: Vomit
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
1.0
I am being kind giving this book a one star review.
*inhales sharply*
You really asked for this.. well ok if you say so...
*Warning: Book rant incoming*
This book reads like a badly put together fanfiction. The ending was so funny just because it's quite clearly so rushed and the author did not seem to understand her own world or characters. I feel like the author realised that she had got 400 pages into the story and noticed that she somehow needed to save Ravka from a war they clearly were losing badly. Hence, we now enter Zoya transforming into a way too op dragon. I legit had to put the book down for a solid 30 minutes this was so cringe. Next we soon find out her new name is none other than: 'dragon queen', I am sorry but istg what about this doesn't scream IM NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS FANFICTION. I found Zoya absorbing Saint Juris' power in King of Scars low-key weird to begin with, RIGHT she's making Zoya a saint isn't she? I found it odd that Leigh was dismantling a major plot point in earlier books about how Grisha power is not unlimited but proceeds to turn Zoya into an unbeatable dragon witch lady. However, I confess that I may have liked this plot idea more if Zoya had actually explored and figured out what she could do with her newly acquired dragon power herself rather than just taking it for granted and why did she not share this knowledge, think how this info could have been used in strengthening the second army??
The plot was so chaotic with multiple storylines occurring at once, I was so close to dnfing the entire book several times. It was fine with simply just switching between zoya/nikolai chapters, they were together mostly and hence held the plot together. Adding Nina's was bad enough as it would completely threw the plot out of place since her journey had minimal linkage to the main plot and don't get me started about halfway through the book when Leigh decided to add random side characters POVs to the story who honestly idngaf about. The darkling subplot was just plain stupid, if she had to resurrect one character why couldn't it have been Matthias, but no instead we hear about how the darkling comes back to life to stick himself in a tree.
Furthermore, in the end when Nikolai gave his crown to Zoya made absolutely no sense, sure she's powerful and yes Feminism Girl-Boss moment woohoo but I hate to say it Zoya is just not built for being a royal, at least not on her own. I would have accepted both Nikolai and Zoya ruling Ravka together but why can't they be together as a King/General. Again it contradicted another major plot point of them spending the whole duology fighting to keep the throne regardless of his 'bastardity' but no instead he gives it up because he's in love with a girl, yeah s&b Nikolai would definately not do that! It did not make sense why they couldn't both rule together or even be together, sure I understand that it was ideal they needed to strengthen Ravka's alliances so a political marriage with another royal would've been more suitable but its not like Nikolai was adverse to the idea of marrying a Grisha (shadow and bone trilogy hello?). Not to mention Nikolai felt like a different person than he was in S&B, although Zoya's characterisation and arc was probably some of Leigh's best work and is what got this dreaded nightmare of a book up from a 0 stars.
Overall, disappointed although Zoyalai was cute so good Zoyalai fanfiction anyways bestie!
*inhales sharply*
You really asked for this.. well ok if you say so...
*Warning: Book rant incoming*
This book reads like a badly put together fanfiction. The ending was so funny just because it's quite clearly so rushed and the author did not seem to understand her own world or characters. I feel like the author realised that she had got 400 pages into the story and noticed that she somehow needed to save Ravka from a war they clearly were losing badly. Hence, we now enter Zoya transforming into a way too op dragon. I legit had to put the book down for a solid 30 minutes this was so cringe. Next we soon find out her new name is none other than: 'dragon queen', I am sorry but istg what about this doesn't scream IM NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS FANFICTION. I found Zoya absorbing Saint Juris' power in King of Scars low-key weird to begin with, RIGHT she's making Zoya a saint isn't she? I found it odd that Leigh was dismantling a major plot point in earlier books about how Grisha power is not unlimited but proceeds to turn Zoya into an unbeatable dragon witch lady. However, I confess that I may have liked this plot idea more if Zoya had actually explored and figured out what she could do with her newly acquired dragon power herself rather than just taking it for granted and why did she not share this knowledge, think how this info could have been used in strengthening the second army??
The plot was so chaotic with multiple storylines occurring at once, I was so close to dnfing the entire book several times. It was fine with simply just switching between zoya/nikolai chapters, they were together mostly and hence held the plot together. Adding Nina's was bad enough as it would completely threw the plot out of place since her journey had minimal linkage to the main plot and don't get me started about halfway through the book when Leigh decided to add random side characters POVs to the story who honestly idngaf about. The darkling subplot was just plain stupid, if she had to resurrect one character why couldn't it have been Matthias, but no instead we hear about how the darkling comes back to life to stick himself in a tree.
Furthermore, in the end when Nikolai gave his crown to Zoya made absolutely no sense, sure she's powerful and yes Feminism Girl-Boss moment woohoo but I hate to say it Zoya is just not built for being a royal, at least not on her own. I would have accepted both Nikolai and Zoya ruling Ravka together but why can't they be together as a King/General. Again it contradicted another major plot point of them spending the whole duology fighting to keep the throne regardless of his 'bastardity' but no instead he gives it up because he's in love with a girl, yeah s&b Nikolai would definately not do that! It did not make sense why they couldn't both rule together or even be together, sure I understand that it was ideal they needed to strengthen Ravka's alliances so a political marriage with another royal would've been more suitable but its not like Nikolai was adverse to the idea of marrying a Grisha (shadow and bone trilogy hello?). Not to mention Nikolai felt like a different person than he was in S&B, although Zoya's characterisation and arc was probably some of Leigh's best work and is what got this dreaded nightmare of a book up from a 0 stars.
Overall, disappointed although Zoyalai was cute so good Zoyalai fanfiction anyways bestie!