trintrin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The character dynamics somehow seems to have improved? I didn't even know that was possible considering how amazing they were from the start. Every single one of their interactions add more years to my life, I'm not even kidding. Be it Adam and Ronan's relationship slowly taking root, or Adam and Gansey finally not fighting, or Ronan showing he does have affection for Blue, or even Blue pulling the plug on Noah, they all seem so real and so wonderful and I feel like a part of their group.
<blockquote>Blue and her boys were <I>all</I> in love with one another. She was no less obsessed with them than they were with her, or one another. analysing every conversation and gesture, drawing out every joke into a longer and longer running gag, spending each moment either with one another or thinking about when next they would be with one another.</blockquote>
I want to childishly believe they will all remain this way until they grow very old and die peacefully, but oh well :D
Plot wise, this book turns its focus back to Glendower (who I still don't care much for) but oh boy were there some mind-blowing plot twists. And worse, some characters I hold very dear to my heart had to go and die. And possibly even worser, some characters who give me the creeps had to make a reappearance. I genuinely don't want to read the next book because 1) that means I officially have to say goodbye to the raven squad, and 2) I really don't want to see Gansey die, even if they do end up successfully resurrecting him. Now that we've had the taste of a major character death, I do not want to go through the same with Gansey.
Adam's character development was great, and so was Ronan's many subtle improvements. Gwenllilian was a nice touch. Not enough Noah scenes. Blue is such an inspiration. Gansey is as loveable as ever. Jesse Dittley is a man with a heart as huge as him. Mr. Gray must be cherished. Calla's strength is amazing. Persephone is one of a kind. Malory, however, I don't know what he brought to the plate, but that seems very fitting to his character, so whatever.
The only thing that this book, or rather, this series lacks is a strong overarching villain. It's all just very villain-of-the-week; not to worry, just a minor inconvenience, and <I>boom</I> he's gone now. Neeve was very unnerving, but she just disappeared. Whelk gave me the creeps, but then he just got trampled over by a magic forest. Mr. Gray was a cool and badass villain who looked like he would definitely get the job done, but he had to fall in love (in the span of a few weeks? days??) and did a full 180°. Kavinsky was a strong candidate but he blew himself up. And now,
Spoiler
Greenmantle, who was genuinely scary, turned out to be a coward and ran away because of a few papers (and they never even properly revealed what was actually inside it)Graphic: Death, Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
anni_swanilda'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexism
zoiejanelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mirrors, caves, curses, cars, almost-kissing, blackmail, self-acceptance, friendship, old men and their dogs, college admissions, bisexuals, witches, school drama, MAGIC.
what really shocked me was the Greenmantles. every conversation between them had me cackling. i actually looked forward to their POVs.
fuck Maggie Stiefvater for being so good at her job, and for making me love these characters as if they were real. everything about them is palpable and consuming. i just want to live inside this dark and fantastical world forever.
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, Medical content, and Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Animal death, and Child abuse
thesunreads'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Animal death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Confinement
Minor: Domestic abuse
Also contains: ghosts, spirits, and necromancy; possession (of a bird and a spirit); allusions to child sexual assault/pedophilia and child murder (these are only vaguely implied and part of a plot toSpoiler
frame somebody for these crimes, but they did not commit them.Spoiler
Adam’s father comes to intimidate Adam into withdrawing his charges against him.izypup's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Confinement, Gun violence, Classism, and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Death of parent
sabinehunter'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: Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Gun violence
jenarae's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual content
fanboyriot's review
- 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: Gun violence, Violence, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, and Mental illness
grimmdark's review
- 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
3.5
THAT SAID, out of the three books in this series that i've read thus far, this is my least favorite. again, it was really good! just not my favorite. there's so much happening everywhere all the time with everyone and everything felt kind of scattered? so all the elements of the story kind of just... float aimlessly towards the ending? i don't know. i felt i was kind of grabbing at too many strings at the same time, and it made the story feel perhaps longer than it was. could be because this is also the book that's taken me by far the longest to finish cause i've been busy!
can't wait to dig into trk!
Spoiler
i'm beyond heartbroken about persephone and jesse dittley. i loved them both so muchalso, i was half expecting neeve to make a comeback sooner or later, but i wasn't expecting that ending! she knew piper's name but the latter hadn't ever told her what it was. so either she guessed it with her powers somehow, since she's such a powerful psychic, or she was there the whole time and overheard it when blue, the gray man, etc... were still there. creepy. why does she even make an appearance such a long time after they escape? like did she just stand there watching piper fading in and out of consciousness for however long that was???
i don't know how i feel about gwenllian! and i'm having trouble believing the guy blue found with maura actually is THEE artemus???? guess we'll see.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
onefineelephant's review
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Child death