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emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I adored this book. While I like the idea of the multiple POV’s, I didn’t like Isaak’s perspective because I knew something bad would happen (call it foreshadowing). I also didn’t feel like Nina’s perspective was as needed in the entire plot. I still enjoyed all of the perspectives and seeing where the story went- lots of twists and turns so I didn’t know where the story was going, which was fun. And man, that cliffhanger!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
3.5
"Most of us can hide our greatest hurts and longings. It’s how we survive each day. We pretend the pain isn’t there, that we are made of scars instead of wounds."
I really ended up enjoying this book! It was nice to see where all the characters ended up after Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. The only thing is that this book felt a bit slow in parts and Nina's plot was disconnected from Zoya and Nikolai's plot. All the Six of Crows references made me so happy though. AND THAT ENDING. OH MY GOSH. That ending was so surprising.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
koiolee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
As i grow older, i stray away from fantasy novels/series. This series (and Six of Crows duology) bring me back to my fantasy days. I adore the magic system and the writing that brings this world into the real world. The grief every character fights is palpable, as if you yourself lost that person.
Spoilers
My opinion on characters
Nikolai: i really like him as a king. Also live how he keeps his wits around him like a protective slime layer.
Zoya: i think my favorite character with so much depth. I loved learning more and more about her.
Nina: probably the character i relate to the most. Her chapters were hard for me to read because i imagine my own partner and that loss as my own. I was mad after crooked kingdom when she didn't lose her cool over her loss (literally my only critique was that she didnt go absolutely feral), but after reading this, i understand it so much more.... but i still think she should've gone feral. Or as feral as she could during recovery.
Spoilers
My opinion on characters
Nikolai: i really like him as a king. Also live how he keeps his wits around him like a protective slime layer.
Zoya: i think my favorite character with so much depth. I loved learning more and more about her.
Nina: probably the character i relate to the most. Her chapters were hard for me to read because i imagine my own partner and that loss as my own. I was mad after crooked kingdom when she didn't lose her cool over her loss (literally my only critique was that she didnt go absolutely feral), but after reading this, i understand it so much more.... but i still think she should've gone feral. Or as feral as she could during recovery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Confinement
justinekorson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Leigh Bardugo has done it again. My compliments to the chef for this great dish I've been given.
I always loved Nikolai and couldn't fathom why Alina didn't choose him over LITERALLY EVERYONE. I LOVE MAL (and loathe the Darkling) AND I WOULD'VE DROPPED EITHER OF THEM THE MINUTE THAT NIKOLAI OFFERED ME HIS HAND IN MARRIAGE. LIKE ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?! HE WAS FUNNY AND SWEET AND CHARMING IN THE SHADOW AND BONE SERIES AND WAS EVEN MORE SO YEARS LATER IN KING OF SCARS. Needless to say, I love this man to death.
Zoya isn't a character I loved when she was first introduced (though I can agree her confidence and her strength is top tier) but I grew to love her immensely in this novel. She was so funny and melds so well with Nikolai that I'm surprised they AREN'T fucking in the novel like ???? Girl... please. But also... I get it, beware of men with power Zoya.
Nina was a character I ADORED in Six of Crows but during her POV I kept finding myself tryign to rush through her story to try and get to Zoya and Nikolai (and later Isaak). I really liked Leoni (and the fact that she's the girl Jesper's mom saved) and Adrik but... seeing Nina without the other Crows was a little heart breaking. She's a great character on her own but I think I loved her more within the context of the heists in the Six of Crows duology. Which is not to say that I hate her in this novel in any capacity it's just that I found the other POV's more interesting and relevant to the plot. I'm sure in Rule of Wolves Nina's plans will make more sense but this is how I feel for now.
ISAAK!!!! MY POOR BABY BOY!!!! HE DESERVED SO MUCH MORE. He was so much smarter than he gave himself credit for. Not anyone could mimic someone (let alone a King) for SO LONG and not have anyone notice. Since he was friends with Nikolai he was able to adopt his mannerisms so well and I WISH THAT HE COULD HAVE SURVIVED HIS WOUNDS JUST LIKE THE FAKE EHRI DID. His gut wound should not have killed him that fast! If they had managed to save the False Princess, it should have been easy for them to save him too...
Yuri... I wanted to wring his neck from the moment he appeared... and they should have done that too.
What I don't like (and the reason why this book is a 4 and not a 5) is that the Darkling was resurrected AGAIN. I think I would have preferred if Elizaveta was the one who had survived/escaped the fold and had entered Yuri's body (if that's what happened at the ned). It would have been more fun in my opinion. I'm tired of the boring, dusty, old Darkling. Elizaveta's motivations were similar to the Darkling's anyways and it would have been fun to know that, even if part of the Darkling had escaped as well, that Elizaveta would admit that she killed what was left of him in favor of escaping. *sigh*
Anyways, I'm excited for Rule of Wolves.
I always loved Nikolai and couldn't fathom why Alina didn't choose him over LITERALLY EVERYONE. I LOVE MAL (and loathe the Darkling) AND I WOULD'VE DROPPED EITHER OF THEM THE MINUTE THAT NIKOLAI OFFERED ME HIS HAND IN MARRIAGE. LIKE ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?! HE WAS FUNNY AND SWEET AND CHARMING IN THE SHADOW AND BONE SERIES AND WAS EVEN MORE SO YEARS LATER IN KING OF SCARS. Needless to say, I love this man to death.
Zoya isn't a character I loved when she was first introduced (though I can agree her confidence and her strength is top tier) but I grew to love her immensely in this novel. She was so funny and melds so well with Nikolai that I'm surprised they AREN'T fucking in the novel like ???? Girl... please. But also... I get it, beware of men with power Zoya.
Nina was a character I ADORED in Six of Crows but during her POV I kept finding myself tryign to rush through her story to try and get to Zoya and Nikolai (and later Isaak). I really liked Leoni (and the fact that she's the girl Jesper's mom saved) and Adrik but... seeing Nina without the other Crows was a little heart breaking. She's a great character on her own but I think I loved her more within the context of the heists in the Six of Crows duology. Which is not to say that I hate her in this novel in any capacity it's just that I found the other POV's more interesting and relevant to the plot. I'm sure in Rule of Wolves Nina's plans will make more sense but this is how I feel for now.
ISAAK!!!! MY POOR BABY BOY!!!! HE DESERVED SO MUCH MORE. He was so much smarter than he gave himself credit for. Not anyone could mimic someone (let alone a King) for SO LONG and not have anyone notice. Since he was friends with Nikolai he was able to adopt his mannerisms so well and I WISH THAT HE COULD HAVE SURVIVED HIS WOUNDS JUST LIKE THE FAKE EHRI DID. His gut wound should not have killed him that fast! If they had managed to save the False Princess, it should have been easy for them to save him too...
Yuri... I wanted to wring his neck from the moment he appeared... and they should have done that too.
What I don't like (and the reason why this book is a 4 and not a 5) is that the Darkling was resurrected AGAIN. I think I would have preferred if Elizaveta was the one who had survived/escaped the fold and had entered Yuri's body (if that's what happened at the ned). It would have been more fun in my opinion. I'm tired of the boring, dusty, old Darkling. Elizaveta's motivations were similar to the Darkling's anyways and it would have been fun to know that, even if part of the Darkling had escaped as well, that Elizaveta would admit that she killed what was left of him in favor of escaping. *sigh*
Anyways, I'm excited for Rule of Wolves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
sloan_emmi92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I put off reading this for too long, but now that I actually finished it, I REALLY liked it. It was exciting and funny and I had no idea I missed these freaking characters so so much. I love Nikolai, Nina, Zoya, Genya, Tamar, Nadia, Tolya, David, and literally everyone so muchhh.
This book was just so much fun, like the best way to describe it was just a wild ride that I enjoyed, it wasn’t on Six of Crows level, but I truly enjoyed the action and everything the characters endured in this.
I also LOVED being able to see more into the back story of the characters, especially Zoya and Nina.
Leigh Bardugo, you did it again, thank you so much for being an author I can count on for having a good time while reading a book and absolutely falling in love with these characters all over again!<3
This book was just so much fun, like the best way to describe it was just a wild ride that I enjoyed, it wasn’t on Six of Crows level, but I truly enjoyed the action and everything the characters endured in this.
I also LOVED being able to see more into the back story of the characters, especially Zoya and Nina.
Leigh Bardugo, you did it again, thank you so much for being an author I can count on for having a good time while reading a book and absolutely falling in love with these characters all over again!<3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: War
oceana_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I think this book fits into the Grishaverse pretty well and it was super fun to read. It took a lot longer to get into than most of the other books but was still really good! Overall I’m so excited to read Rule of Wolves!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
nils_0's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
madisonstarkov's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Trafficking, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny
audlittlebookshelf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed this so much! This one is more political drama with a touch of espionage. We also got to see characters dealing with grief and PTSD. Leigh Bardugo is a master at writing stories with multiple perspectives and giving each character a unique voice. There was a portion in the last half of the book that felt a bit hard to follow and didn’t flow as smoothly as the rest. In all fairness, that could have been intentional, given the context, but it made that section less enjoyable to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
shelbyrodger's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Grief