david_slack110507'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
4.25
Normally, I don't often finish book series that I start, or I take a while to do so (Like with these books) usually due to being interested in other books or just not wanting to continue the series right away but I'm very happy that I persevered after the first book because for me at least this trilogy kept on getting better and better with each instalment and each one managed to hold together my interest a whole lot better whether that was because what was happening was more interesting in each book or that when reading the 2nd and 3rd books I mainly read those and no other ones at the same time I don't know but I feel like this is one of the rare times that I read a series/trilogy that increased in quality with each instalment.
The characters are at their strongest in this book with formally side characters such as Zoya and David getting their own developments that make them just as endearing as our main characters. I feel like the plot twists and turns were interesting and unexpected and I actually quite liked the ending even if it did have a happy ending that felt kind of YA. I do wish that Alina had somehow ended up with Nikolai who for me was the much more interesting and endearing love interest but it was obvious that with their shared history, Mal and Alina would be the ending place in terms of relationship wise but I do feel like each relationship while they did not have an air about them with it being unpredictable about who Alina would end up with, they did have their own dynamics unique to them.
The action was actually pretty good even if the ending battle was a little short and I do like that the book for me was actually pretty fast-paced and engaging throughout. I am very much looking forward to reading the other books in the Grishaverse, particularly the Six of Crows duology soon-to-be trilogy which I will unashamedly admit was the main reason as to why I read these books so that I would have the background context for those books however I'm glad that I read these because not only did I really enjoy this story overall but it also introduced me to Nikolai and his character who has his own spin-off duology which will most likely end up on my tbr list soon.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and this series as a whole and I'm glad that I stuck through with it when reading the 2nd and 3rd books. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the Grishaverse books and also finally watching season 2 of the Netflix show soon without spoilers for the ending of the trilogy.
Graphic: War, Death, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gore
Moderate: Cursing, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gun violence, Genocide, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Child death, and Death of parent
themiscyra_anna'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, War, Self harm, Violence, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
Rape / sexual violence is in the past but discussed at length featuring the aggressor and the victim in a small court-like settingrose_88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
like the Darkling’s relation to MorozovaSpoiler
like Mal being the third and final amplifierSpoiler
One thing I liked was how Nikolai was portrayed. This book showed how he was willing to step up, even though he shouldn’t have never to. I absolutely adored how the King’s actions against Genya were handelnd and how Nikolai was ready to persecute him for them. I thought his fate of becoming one of the Darkling’s monsters was so sad, and wished there was more of him in the later parts of the book. I liked how he addressed the fact that he is actually a bastard, and in turn has no real claim to the throne, I’m really excited to see how that is handled and what he does in his own series, Rule of Wolves, especially because I know we get to see more of Zoya, who was just an absolute mood and girlboss during the whole series.Spoiler
I thought it was a bit fast and could have been drawn out more, like their time at the Spinning Wheel, and then them running from the Darkling. I felt that Baghra was severely underused, as was Nikolai and Genya. I really didn’t see as much of them as i would have liked, and am still really curious about Baghra, her life, and The Darkling’s life before he created the Fold, and even before he met Alina.Spoiler
I will say, I loved Mal and Alina’s relationship in this book, definitely more so than in the last one. They actually talked to each other, granted it took them a very long time to get their heads out of their asses, and they were able to confess their love and u der stand how much they felt for each other. I loved how after the battle they were able to just leave and go back to where they grew up with Micha and the cat and live a simple life. And j was SO HAPPY that Nikolai, Genya, David and Zoya still came to visit them.Graphic: Death, War, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Rape, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Genocide
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
genette'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence and Suicide
Moderate: Gaslighting, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
angelsfw'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Murder, Death, Gore, and Violence
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Violence, War, Death, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Gun violence, Grief, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Toxic relationship
sammymilfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lish_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“Someone to mourn me. (…) Don’t let me be alone.”
Still, I didn’t like the way it ended. Also, I would have liked more appearances from the Darkling and from Nikolai. Both characters had more potential and carried a lot of scenes for me.
Despite that it had intriguing moments that made me continue to read and it was easy to get into it.
As a whole the trilogy was a pleasant read and overall, I enjoyed it.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, and Grief
fierymoon'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
ghostofthegallows'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: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, and Stalking