Scan barcode
livaausma'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: Bullying, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
robin_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I always knew I’d like this book I just didn’t know I’d love it as much as I do.
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping and Grief
deep_sea_fishie'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
4.75
I really liked this book because I found that there was a lot of pretty interesting 'world-building' where we just got to kind of see jude's day to day life without too much BIG changes and wild plot-twists (well compared to the other 2 books especially. Though I kind of found Jude to be another boring mc (though bearable enough). I kind of liked cardan despite his actions, he is a silly (but mean) guy.
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
andlovetoowillruinus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The problem with this book is that there are over 200 pages of exposition. The inciting event— ie, when the plot actually starts— is two-thirds of the way through the book. I can appreciate dedicated world-building, but this is just sloppy writing. It’s like an editor didn’t even touch this book to cut out the redundant nonsense that fills the first half of it. The plot picks up and you think, ’Finally, I’ll be rewarded for slogging through hundreds of pages of teen drama and boring lore!’ only for the book to abruptly end. This book does not have enough substance or story to stand on its own, and it’s absurd any publisher or editor thought otherwise.
I guess the reason this book is so widely lauded is because of the protagonist, Jude, though I can’t imagine why. From what I had seen before reading the book myself, everyone described Jude as this cunning powerful woman able to meet the fae blow for metaphorical blow. After reading the book, I’m confused as to how anyone reached that conclusion. I think people just saw a protagonist who could wield a sword and immediately designated her as a “strong female character.” Despite the book being in first person, Jude is inconsistent, far beyond being an unreliable narrator. She rarely acts in ways that match how she describes herself or her own worldviews and philosophies. She is the worst strain of YA protagonist— one who completely lacks depth, but hey, she can fight, so that makes her a badass role model for teenage girls!
Like some other reviewers pointed out, this book struggles to engage its readers with its characters or plot in any meaningful way. If you like generic edgy YA love interests who bully others, then maybe Cardan’s your cup of tea and that’s what gets you through this book (though don’t expect him to get any significant characterization or development. He is, after all, just a trope disguised as a character). Maybe if you really like fairy lore and don’t mind inconsistent and vague world-building, that will get you to care about the half-baked plot. Maybe if all you look for in a protagonist is someone who can throw a punch, then you’ll be inclined to root for Jude. Me personally, I look for a riveting story or at least interesting characters, and this book failed to deliver on both fronts.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
spatterson7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
noellegrace8'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That being said, I really like the main characters. Some of the side characters are a bit flat, but Jude, Cardan, Maddoc, Vivvie, Dain, Taryn, Oriana... none of them are "good" or "bad." They just are. They make decisions, they have instincts and natures that make those decisions difficult. I love the complexity! I also think this book set up a series (trilogy) well, so I'm hoping to like the next two even more! The worldbulding is awesome. Holly Black has created a very interesting mix of "fae" and "mortal," complete with rich history and quirks and physical descriptions.
I don't factor audiobook reader into my overal star rating, but I give Caitlyn Kelly 3.5/5⭐️. Honestly, I think she was part of the reason I struggled to get into this book, but there's no telling for certain. She oftentimes doesn't seem to read with the same cadence that the words on the page suggest. She also has a cheesy tone when voicing male characters and over-acts when it comes to emotional (and even sometimes non-emotional!) scenes.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Excrement, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and War
yasaman'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism
hematthews'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
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Slavery
elisabethstre'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
THE DARK MYSTERIOUS FANTASY? THE POLITICS??? i ate that shit up!! alterrrr die intrigen und plotttwists, das war alles SO GEIL, ich habe so viel nicht kommen sehen!!!! war geschockt
die ganze welt war so magisch und brutal; ich war so froh, nicht von einer heilen schönen feenwelt zu lesen, sondern von dieser abgefuckten grausamkeit und diesen komischen gestalten?? geil
jude war ganz anders, als ich sie mir vorgestellt hab! SHE WAS AN ICONIC, MORALLY GREY ANTIHERO and i love that for her!!!
ihr charakter war manchmal leider nicht soo richtig greifbar; ich hab es aber so gedeutet, dass sie die meiste zeit selbst noch nicht richtig wusste, was sie will und sich noch sucht; wenn das in den folgeteilen besser ist, hab ich nichts gesagt. i love her already!!
wirklich keine person in diesem buch ist ein guter „mensch“, alle waren irgendwie SO BÖSE und haben irgendwelche geheimen schemes gehabt, i ate that uppppp omg. jude auch nur bedingt sympathisch (bin mir nicht so sicher, ob ich sie mag?), but i was rooting for her, she was a queen and she was the moment!!!
das buch war fr 80% fantasy politics, es erinnerte mich stark an game of thrones, aber das hats auch so geil gemacht. it kept me guessing, wer der wahre feind ist und ich LIEBE DAS!! brauche sofort den zweiten teil
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
dlsmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail