Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Varjo ja riipus by Leigh Bardugo

39 reviews

evelynnnn33333's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Grief, and Alcohol

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

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Classism

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. 

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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

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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

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought it was a good book! I went into it knowing a ton of people like it, which I think was my problem - I was expecting exceptionality, and though the book definitely was, it didn't live up to the hype in my head. I still would definitely recommend it though!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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.”

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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

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

emmysforeverbooked's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

The amount of different emotions I experienced reading this silly lil children's book is astounding. Like tell me why I was on the brink of tears when Alina and Mal were in the dungeon? Tell me why I nearly threw the book when the Darkling started his shenanigans? Tell me why my jaw hit the floor when Genya warned Alina to be careful of powerful men?

I genuinely don't think I can give a real review of this book because I am simply experiencing every emotion listed in the English dictionary. All that I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I cannot wait to pick up the next one. I'm actually so upset that I got a job in the middle of reading this so I couldn't finish it sooner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

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

Minor: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

mckiheather's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and War