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black_cat_iiix'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
4.0
I did find some of the plot-twists becoming predictable and found some of the writing tactics used to keep the reader in the dark both a little lazy and once purposely misleading which was frustrating.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
oliverreeds'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: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
gayghostprince'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: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
safety_pin'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
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Medical content, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Police brutality
memi14's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
knifewifestan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Gaslighting
ufollowbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is possibly one of the best books I've ever read.
It's got it all - great language, a gripping plot, which balances action with important deep moments, characters you believe in and who _actually_ develop and it's an absolute logical progression, romantic relationships that don't make you want to puke and that aren't for show-offs.
There are important topics here - addiction, disability, hatred of the 'unnatural', father-child relationships, sex trafficking and slavery, trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ+ (and not one tiny skit, but a full and gradual unfolding!), dyslexia, women's rights, interethnic couples... The list is endless.
And it doesn't spoil the book one bit, just adds nuances. Not yellow, but ochre. Sometimes it's the little things, but so perfectly integrated that without them the whole thing would collapse
.
I honestly can't remember the last time I highlighted quotes so much. I can't remember the last time I thought, "This is it, they're not going to make it now." — and they did make it out. And I can't remember the last time I exclaimed WHAT that much over a book!
Oh, and did I mention the humour? Wonderful, relatable humour that dilutes all the horror!
And yes, this book will break your heart. So that you'll be lying in tears and sobbing hysterically, with face in your pillow. And yet you'll want to reread it. Gosh, I've only just finished it and I already want to!
I'd say it's the best of all Leigh Bardugo's books I've read so far. The contrast with The Six of Crows is enormous - it's like everything has been oved from 2D to 3D, so the characters are revealed in much more depth and there are dozens unexpected twists and turns. It's better not even to compare it to Shadow and Bone - defeat would be too bitter XD By the way, there are spoilers for it, but generally pretty obvious, at least to me it was clear after the first book what it was coming to and the references here were absolutely not surprising.
So, after all. My grade?
12/10 and I highly recommended it! Don't repeat my mistakes, don't put it off for no reason
(This text was translated with DeepL from Russian, sorry if there are any mistakes!)
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
gothicmoon'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Slavery
megplant'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: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Death of parent