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ta2dlibrarian'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
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
lngoldstein's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
20sidedbi'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Vomit
ceruleanshelves'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
βGalaxy Stern,β Darlington said, his eyes flashing gold, βI have been crying out to you from the start.β
nothing makes me happier than when the second book lives up to the first book. and when it's even better?? π©π€πΌ
βBut I like this life better.β
βBetter than what?β
βBetter than what I was living before. Better than a world without magic.β
this is one of those series i read and can't help but feel envious of both the characters and the author. the characters for getting to live this life, and the author for having been able to dream it up.
βLife is cruel. Magic is real. And Iβm not ready to die.β
one character that i really came to adore was mercy. i feel like she was all of us readers, wishing so badly to find a way in to live magic and leave the real world behind. tripp was also a very endearing character who brought some lighthearted comic relief in as well. i did not care for hellie after this book, esp bc the babbit rabbit story.
βFuck off.β
βI did miss you, Stern.β
the agonizing slowburn of alex & darlington is SO DELICIOUS oh my god i just know the pay off is going to be well worth it.
βCome on, Darlington,β she said. βLet's give them hell.β
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Classism
leexpen'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
4.75
I love you to Hell and back. Immersed in a world of occult magic, Alex vows to return her mentor from Hell with the help of her friends and a magical gift that is hers alone.
π©βπ«βͺοΈπ»πππππ§ββοΈπ©
ππ» RECOMMENDATION:
π READ it!
π¬ FAVORITE QUOTES:
[PENDING]
π FORMAT:
π§
π COMMENTS:
β’ Um, this is a sequel? LOL I jumped in here, and it works fine.
β’ In the contemporary fantasy setting, Bardugo captures the dark academic aesthetic well. When it comes to the real-life setting, the northeast and California are believable (but I haven't spent enough time in Connecticut specifically to judge that). The magic system is convoluted, but the loose logic does fall apart at the end.
β’ The characters are complex, three-dimensional, and flawed. Their races and genders influence them in meaningful ways. Some are more lovable than others, but they are all understandable. Mercy & Turner are my personal favorites! The antagonists are rounded, too.
β’ Apt imagery and metaphors flow into the prose. There's plenty to dissect if that's your thing. (It's mine!) I'd love to see it on the page, particulaely to see the tome excerpts.
β’ Why did they switch audiobook narrators so late into the story? It was jarring, and it pulled me out of the story! The character's voice is defined, but I also hate it. It adds nothing to the story. Overall, Part Two lags.
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Self harm, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Colonisation
lancemama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
adrienreads'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
This book is dark, but if the first book was too explicit/intense for you, this one definitely felt "lighter", more-or-less. Still dark and horrific, but there was far less (on-screen at least) sexual violence, and overall I had a much easier time with this one. Again, still not "light reading" by any means, but worth noting.
If you've loved Bardugo's other books, this one scratches that same itch, and more.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, and Slavery
elysianemily'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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
alexijai98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
clareehebert'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment