seforana's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Murder, Addiction, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, and Violence
3crowsinatophat'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? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Violence, War, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
journeywithrosie's review against another edition
- 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
I typically only rate books based on how they made me feel – did I enjoy it? Was it exciting? This is one of the rare times that the writing of a book completely blew me away. Bardugo’s writing style was inspiring to me as an aspiring author.
It’s also rare for me to like every single main character in a story, but this one did it for me. No matter how morally grey, how many mistakes they made, I loved every single one of the six crew members.
It took me over a week to get through the first section – not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because it was a lot of information to take in (and I’m in a very busy season of life at the moment). Even though there was a lot of world building I highly enjoyed it, it didn’t feel heavy handed or forced like other books I’ve read.
Once I got past that first section I could hardly put the book down. The suspense was constant, yet there were so many calm character moments throughout, so it felt very well paced.
Sometimes heist stories leave me feeling disappointed and wondering what the point was. But here the motives were clear, every choice the characters made was logical to the story as a whole, and even though it ended a bit on an open ending, the payoff was so, so satisfying.
Can’t wait to read Crooked Kingdom, I just hope it’s as good as the first book!
Graphic: Violence
lostinwater'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Ableism, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual violence and Injury/Injury detail
violet_viper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Genocide
nalirosey's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug use, Death, Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Violence
nxssistr'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? Yes
4.5
Leigh Bardugo erzählt eine Geschichte von sechs Außenseitern mit eigenen Motiven, Bedürfnissen, Traumata und Zielen. Jede Figur durchläuft ihre eigene Geschichte, kämpft gegen innere Dämonen und wird mit Schwächen konfrontiert. Dabei verliert das Buch nie an Spannung. Jedes Kapitel beginnt interessant und lässt die Lesenden mit dem Wunsch zurück, umblättern zu wollen.
Das Beziehungsgeflecht ist unheimlich interessant gestaltet, ebenso die Art wie die Charaktere Vertrauen zueinander entwickeln oder auch verlieren.
Obwohl die Kapitel von Er-Sie-Erzählperspektiven getragen werden, hat jede Figur eine eigene Erzählstimme, die zu der jeweiligen Person passt.
Ich liebe außerdem die Art der Repräsentation, die dieses Buch abbildet. Da ist der Roman ein tolles Beispiel dafür, wie gute und organische Repräsentation aussieht.
Die Handlung ist klug konzipiert. Dabei muss ich jedoch sagen, dass ich manchmal die Orientierung verloren habe, wer nun wie involviert ist und welche Aufgabe hat. Alle waren hin und wieder verwirrt, mich eingeschlossen. Am Ende haben mich die dichten Dialoge und fesselnden Szenen aber immer wieder schnell zurückgezogen.
Jetzt, wo wir die Figuren und ihre Fähigkeiten kennen (und lieben), habe ich die Hoffnung, dass Band 2 noch eine Schippe drauflegen kann. Ich bin gespannt, wo es die Figuren jetzt hinführt, nachdem sie damit konfrontiert wurden, dass das was sie immer wollten nicht zwangsweise dem entspricht, was sie tatsächlich brauchen. Es gibt neue Ziele, gelernte Lektionen und brenzlige Hindernisse und ich freue mich darauf zu erfahren, wie die Autorin diese in Crooked Kingdom verarbeitet.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexism, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Racism, and Torture
kiwisandtea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, Violence, Murder, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gun violence
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Grief
Minor: Classism, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Kidnapping, Ableism, and Child abuse
leelaamanda's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Death
atsuanna's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Trafficking, Slavery, and War