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nellsir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence and Stalking
jackacj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Writing this review in the middle of Ruin and Rising because I was too lazy to do it earlier.
I liked this book! It was a good continuation of Shadow and Bone. I loved Sturmhond's character, he was such a strong addition to the series. I liked the plot and the ideas of this book. However, I have issues with the execution.Alina is at the Little Palace for a while in the book. This is mostly glossed over. I believe this was a mistake. The side characters, specifically the ones who survive the battle at the end of the book, are painfully underdeveloped. Like, seriously. Zoya is a bully. David is basically a stereotypical autistic person (I'm sorry but it's true). Nadia exists. Genya is great and all but she's in the book for like 2 minutes. These characters desperately need some depth . Also, I am not sure how I feel about what this book did to Mal. I really like him in the first book where he is, well. I dunno. I am feeling ambivalent about - on one hand, it makes sense, on the other, it all feels too needless . Finally, merzost is sick as fuck.
I liked this book! It was a good continuation of Shadow and Bone. I loved Sturmhond's character, he was such a strong addition to the series. I liked the plot and the ideas of this book. However, I have issues with the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Torture, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
gracemegredy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault
e_emmaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
mckiheather's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
klsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
midnightcomets's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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? No
3.5
Ι love these characters and this story, but I really couldn't handle that amount of romantic drama, at least not currently. Of course I will continue with Ruin and Rising at some point!
P.S I could write an entire essay on Alina's journey and its connection to trauma
P.S I could write an entire essay on Alina's journey and its connection to trauma
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Stalking, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
brekker_by_brekker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
toastyghosty13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
rant incoming
i found the majority of this book to be extremely boring. there were parts like when sturmhond was introduced that were interesting and exciting, but a lot of it was weird political and bureaucratic filler.
i also found the lack of real flirting and the overkill on sexual harassment to be annoying and unenjoyable. sturmhond came off as creepy, in fact most men in this book did besides tolya. at least sturmhond is still an interesting character with the fact that he is the prince and an infamous privateer, but his character is written as if he is a real ladies man but then defaults to being a creeper. i barely registered the fact that alina was interested in him romantically until it said she blushed at him touching her leg when she kicked him?? a weak watery lackluster attempt at enemies to lovers fit into one page.
mal had an existential crisis that could have been solved if he and alina had just slept together. i’m not sure what age range this book is meant to be for if there is no intimacy but one of the main characters can plunge deeply into alcoholism for a majority of the book. mal was so unbelievably jealous by 2 guys who were both repulsive in different ways, and alina should have trusted him enough to tell him the truth about her visions given the fact that they have known each other since they were children.
genya was done dirty imo and she would have fought for what is right, especially given that she is literally best friends with alina and would have had a much better quality of life at her side when this is all inevitably over. genya chose to follow the darkling because she wasn’t seen as a real person even though he literally gave her away as a gift to the queen. alina would never, but of course for some reason genya chooses to be on the darklings side of this war and then gets used as an object again shocker.
overall a pretty big disappointment for a sequel. i’m still invested in whatever the backstory is about saints and amplifiers, plus i already own the box set so i might as well finish it out. i’ve heard six of crows is a lot better thankfully so i’m holding out hope for that one.
i found the majority of this book to be extremely boring. there were parts like when sturmhond was introduced that were interesting and exciting, but a lot of it was weird political and bureaucratic filler.
i also found the lack of real flirting and the overkill on sexual harassment to be annoying and unenjoyable. sturmhond came off as creepy, in fact most men in this book did besides tolya. at least sturmhond is still an interesting character with the fact that he is
mal
genya was
overall a pretty big disappointment for a sequel. i’m still invested in whatever the backstory is about saints and amplifiers, plus i already own the box set so i might as well finish it out. i’ve heard six of crows is a lot better thankfully so i’m holding out hope for that one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Torture
tays_books's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault