Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Varjo ja riipus by Leigh Bardugo

68 reviews

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Blood, and Vomit

orchidlilly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Fantasy not-quite-Imperial-Russia with weird magic people is a pretty neat premise. I really appreciate the world building, which feels realistic but not so overtly 'just Russia' that it pulls you out. The magic is fun, even though it isn't very in-depth, and the plot as a whole is very gripping. Mostly, the characters are the biggest issue. Insofar as they don't have much personality. Alina is just a bland YA fmc, the Darkling is just broody hot and evil, Mal is good and also hot, and I can smell the love triangle from a mile away. It's not terrible, though, just very full of the standard YA cliches. I also don't generally love first person, but the writing is good enough that I can overlook it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Slavery

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• 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

4.0

I love Leigh Bardugo’s writing and was excited to dive into the Grishaverse because I’d heard so much good about it. 
This book was a straightforward and easy to understand dive into a magical realm heavily influenced by Tsarist Russia. The plot is fun, adventurous, and fast paced as the main protagonist quickly comes to terms with her newfound power and how to use it. It’s not overly complex but Bardugo does a good job in these books of setting up what is sure to be epic battles to come. There is a romance side plot that is fairly predictable but harmless and doesn’t interfere too much with the main storyline. 
While it’s not the most epic or interesting fantasy series I’ve started, I am looking forward to continuing the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Colonisation

marayzex's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Minor: Cursing and War

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

pooxs's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

sharu901's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Slavery

jaydeecepticon's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Slavery, and Violence

justcallmeemily's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.0

I continue to not understand why people dislike this book so much. I had so much fun reading it and I can't wait to read the rest of this series. 

I didn't want to put it down at all. I felt so immersed into the world that at times I genuinely felt like I was there. 

The only reason it's not a 5 star is because I didn't feel like anything in the plot was surprising. Of course I was very happy when I guessed the plot twist but I shouldn't have been able to guess everything that was going to take place throughout the book. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it was a little too predictable for my tastes. Even when I was actively trying not to guess where it was going to go.

Thankfully, predictablility doesn't mean I can't thoroughly enjoy a story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and War