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juliaaaaaa's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and War
katievallin's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
saucywench813's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and War
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The world building and magic system is interesting (if not semi-lazy with the quasi-Russian culture) but the characters are flat and one dimensional. I was waffling on whether or not to continue the series but the idea of what comes next from the main character's POV doesn't thrill me so I'll probably look up what happens instead.
It's bizarre that the main character starts out as an orphan from war (roughly 8 years old), and seems mature beyond her 17 years by the time the main story arc starts (she is an apprentice cartographer in the army), and then regresses into angsty teenager drama full of petty, juvenile, and shallow plot points because of a chosen one trope?
Lastly, the romance was bad. Both dudes are controlling and manipulative, want to possess her, don't actually care what she wants. Think of any high school romance drama and you will understand the tropes thrown in this book. There's literally a glow up/makeover scene (multiple times actually because they want to emphasize how much she's changed from the 'skinny-but-not-in-a-hot-way' person she was before).
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
_piercingwords_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It was... Fine. But it felt like a typical YA fantasy book and I read the Six of Crows duology first, which caught me a lot more. One who expects an equal to it may be a bit disappointed. Also not a huge fan of first person narrated stories.
Overall still an enjoyable read, if I get the chance I will read the other parts, the storyline has potential.
Graphic: Kidnapping and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Death of parent
junenoble's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
a_tiny_crow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
World building is great, but the characters are a little simplistic and tropey. Also I just can't take the Darkling seriously with a name like that. Like a 10-year-old's idea of a badass name for their online goth avatar.seren's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
jstarshine16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
ana_belen_herrera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and War