Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Varjo ja riipus by Leigh Bardugo

108 reviews

bookishdreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and War

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Death of parent

evemlacey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.25

I'm usually someone who reads a lot of classics, so I was unsure about the rating I was going to give this book. I can admit, I enjoyed it, so I will be giving it 3.25 stars. That's still a great score according to me.

This book did have me gasping, giggling, and scowling as a reaction to the plot.

I wasn't sure if she was going to end up with Mal or The Darkling, for a brief point I shipped them. I feel like Mal could be more fleshed out because, in all honesty, The Darkling was more interesting. Alina and Mal are not a great couple. There's little chemistry between them and in all honesty, I'm hoping a new love interest will be introduced in the sequel. Let's just say I'll be busy reading The Darkling x Alina fanfiction on AO3 this next week.

I enjoyed this book. I had just finished reading a heavy novel and this acted as a palate cleanser for me. If you're a fan of romantasy and YA, you'd enjoy this. Go give this book a read. It's a light and easy read. The pacing was a little off, but I didn't mind. 

Fortunately, I own the next two books, so I'll settle in with Siege and Storm, chocolate, and a cup of tea for the night. Can't wait!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Death of parent

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.0

📱
I can see why this book was popular. I liked it. The worldbuilding and the lore were good. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, and War

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• 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

5.0

The world and magic systems are creative yet also rooted in reality without holes that leave me asking logic questions. I love the complexity of Alina and the surrounding characters who bring the story together. Book 1 is as much about sacrifice and belonging as it is becoming who you are meant to be. Many of the shocking moments felt half expected for me because of my consideration of the characters. One event that should have been predictable took me off guard, having thought I understood the Darkling's motivations and calculations. Ravka is a country I would not want to live in, because it is very dark and deadly. Those qualities are what I love about the book, though, along with the Russian influences of the world. Starting this series took me entirely too long. Most of the book I read in 2 days. I would have liked more flashbacks of Mal early on to bring forth more sympathy about him and Alina's loss of her friend, but their present time together feels reminiscent of the past in a weird way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

bexi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Sexism, and Death of parent

meant2breading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

As a reader new to fantasy in adulthood over the last six months, this felt like a nice, quick entry level fantasy read to start with. I really love the concept of the various abilities and aspects of the world building, but wanted more explanation and detail of that within the story. I am sure I will learn more as I keep going. In all honesty, I am motivated to read through them all so I can get to the Six of Crows duology. 😆 I didn’t rate this higher stars as for me it doesn’t stack against some of the other fantasy books I couldn’t get enough of. 

Lastly, it’s hard for me to read about

animal death. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

So I read the Six of Crows duology first because I loved the Crows in the TV series. But I want to now read the King of Scars duology and was told that in order to fully understand the next 2 books, I must read the trilogy. Plus the show got cancelled and I need to know how it ends 😅

Very true to the Netflix show, which is maybe why I got so bored with the book because I knew what was coming! A little too much telling over showing especially in the middle when it’s less action packed. There was a lot of good world building without info dumping right away which I always appreciate!

Entertaining enough, the first third was good but by the halfway point I was ready to be done 😩

The last couple of chapters were good and back to action packed, it really slumped in the middle. Alina is the typical YA “chosen one” in that she constantly points out how she’s not pretty which got annoying.

I need to read book 2 soon simply because it is a library book otherwise I wouldn’t be in any rush to continue the series. Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom are waaay better and I’m hoping the King of Scars duology is better too 🤞🏻

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Animal death and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent

bergha1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Not my favorite of the series, but it’s definitely not bad. It just feels rushed in comparison; there isn’t enough development of characters, plot, or the world building. Also, I get shipping the Darkling and Alina in the tv show, but book him is flat. 

Fantasy, Magic System, Romance Subplot

“I’d catch myself walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me.”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment

jstar1's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent