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itsnour's review against another edition
3.0
It was slow and it took a while for the plot to actually start. The last quarter made me bump up the rating, since the story finally gets darker.
kalie_universe_pristineprose's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iceboundreader's review
4.0
This book shows how far people go when overcome with grief. I am not sure that it is the path that most people would take but it was a great read. I thought that Grey was a perfect match for her and I hope that things work out better in the next book.
emleemay's review
4.0
“If you do this, Nedra, if you choose necromancy . . . I will not follow you into that darkness.”
“Oh, Grey,” I said, shifting my bag on my shoulder. “What do you know of darkness?”
Well. This book's darkness certainly creeps up on you. In the best kind of way.
While reading the first half of Give the Dark My Love, I thought it was a decent YA fantasy. It checked a number of boxes that appeal to me - "magic" alchemy school with mysterious tutors, political intrigue, some diversity
Spoiler
at least of sexuality, but race is unclearThis first half features Nedra Brysstain - a poor country girl from the northern territories of Lunar Island - receiving a scholarship to attend Yugen Academy, a prestigious school that trains students in the science of medicinal alchemy. Most of the other students look down on the scholarship student, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Romance blooms alongside Nedra's growing alchemy skills.
But Nedra is most interested in the plague that is spreading through Lunar Island. Her search for a cure is buoyed by her volunteering at a local hospital and seeing the horrific painful results of the disease. Behind the plague is a world of intricate politics - where it seems almost everyone is out for themselves and may even be using the plague to further their own political ambitions.
It's quite fun, but it isn't until around the halfway point that this book goes from "fun" to nail-bitingly horrific. If you're the right kind of person, that will be a good thing.
I couldn’t be a human in this moment. I had to be an alchemist. An alchemist sees the skin that must be sliced apart. The arteries that must be tied off. The bone that must be sawed through. An alchemist knows to hold the arm down so it doesn’t wiggle too much.
Just a warning, though: it gets very dark. There are some gory bits in the first half and yet that doesn't really prepare you for what's to come. The story takes a very emotional and disturbing turn, but I can't deny it-- I was on the edge of my seat, wide-eyed and racing through the pages to find out what happens.
The ending wraps up this chapter but it still left me excited (and a little terrified) to see what happens in the sequel. Those who regularly seek out dark reads should love this; everyone else proceed with caution.
CW: graphic violence; graphic surgery; animal cruelty
Spoiler
It's sort of necessary, I guess(?) More like animal testing.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
other_worlds_than_these's review
5.0
4.5/5
This was really really really good! At first I wasn't sure where the story was going and it dragged a little, but then it picked up and I read the majority of this within a day. I really liked Nedra and Nessie and I have warmed up to Grey, though I didn't really like him at first. I'm shocked at the ending and can't wait for the sequel!!
This was really really really good! At first I wasn't sure where the story was going and it dragged a little, but then it picked up and I read the majority of this within a day. I really liked Nedra and Nessie and I have warmed up to Grey, though I didn't really like him at first. I'm shocked at the ending and can't wait for the sequel!!
kerrycat's review
5.0
Personally, I think this was perfect as a standalone, no sequel necessary.
If you love the [b:Stalking Jack the Ripper|28962906|Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1)|Kerri Maniscalco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471010109s/28962906.jpg|47434536] series but can go darker - think [b:This Dark Endeavor|9779094|This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1339610786s/9779094.jpg|14668834], which gives me chills JUST thinking about it - this is for you. This was like a film unfolding behind my eyes, lovely and terrifying to the very end. You want nightmares? Here they are.
I didn't know I was going to cry until I read the acknowledgements - the entire time I was reading I thought of Fullmetal Alchemist, because equivalency exchange, and lo and behold, the author is a fan. Commence crying over a couple of adorable kids who just want their mom back, and a little girl with a dog who never had a chance.
If you love the [b:Stalking Jack the Ripper|28962906|Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1)|Kerri Maniscalco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471010109s/28962906.jpg|47434536] series but can go darker - think [b:This Dark Endeavor|9779094|This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1339610786s/9779094.jpg|14668834], which gives me chills JUST thinking about it - this is for you. This was like a film unfolding behind my eyes, lovely and terrifying to the very end. You want nightmares? Here they are.
I didn't know I was going to cry until I read the acknowledgements - the entire time I was reading I thought of Fullmetal Alchemist, because equivalency exchange, and lo and behold, the author is a fan. Commence crying over a couple of adorable kids who just want their mom back, and a little girl with a dog who never had a chance.
dannywithaygreenlikethecolor's review
5.0
I am so excited to for the sequel!
I asked Beth Revis how could she end a book in the middle of the conversation and she said Nedra said her peace and BAM! LIKE A LADY BOSSS. That's a cliffhanger y'all.
I asked Beth Revis how could she end a book in the middle of the conversation and she said Nedra said her peace and BAM! LIKE A LADY BOSSS. That's a cliffhanger y'all.
thebookberrie's review
2.0
This was... a book. I really tried to like this one but it just isn't there for me.
Give the Dark My Love is about a girl named Nedra who has been picked to travel to Yugen Academy, to train to be an alchemist. Nedra doesn't fit in with the other students at school who look down at her for being a scholarship student. That is except for Grey who quickly takes an interest in her and her stubbornness. There is a plague spreading across the North and with Nedra's family at stake, she'll do anything to find a cure for it. Even the forbidden practice of necromancy.
This book is dark and gory and I sleep. Half the book is just talk of rotting flesh, amputated limbs, plague plague plague, death and it felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy and shocking. Most of the book was just, "oh my god look at that pile of dead bodies and amputated limbs on the street!"
I'm not squeamish and I wasn't completely grossed out (even though ew), I was just tired of random amputations getting thrown at my face. I just don't find endless plague stuff interesting and this book really loved that plague. There were politics too but what? Sorry I can't hear that over the dEAD BODIES and amputated body parts laying in a pile on the street.
The setting is bleak but it also wasn't built upon enough. (I'm not still bitter because I saw "Lunar Island" and thought this would be a scifi only to learn I got played, not bitter at all.)
This book begins like any other YA fantasy but then just seems to half-ass most of the plot and characters to focus on one thing. There is a romanceless romance that exists for some reason, and Grey in general is just some dude. He had his own POV that added nothing and was completely pointless. And his audiobook narrator SUCKED.
After sitting through so much boring paced book, at 70% some neat stuff happens but at that point, it was just too late. I appreciate another character like Adelina from [b:The Young Elites|20821111|The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)|Marie Lu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407318399l/20821111._SY75_.jpg|25217978] and how this book is her journey there but god damn I'm still mad. The ending and the necromancy was what I wanted all along and I really wish this book had more of that instead of random plague gore.
If you like plague stuff though... highly recommend.
Give the Dark My Love is about a girl named Nedra who has been picked to travel to Yugen Academy, to train to be an alchemist. Nedra doesn't fit in with the other students at school who look down at her for being a scholarship student. That is except for Grey who quickly takes an interest in her and her stubbornness. There is a plague spreading across the North and with Nedra's family at stake, she'll do anything to find a cure for it. Even the forbidden practice of necromancy.
This book is dark and gory and I sleep. Half the book is just talk of rotting flesh, amputated limbs, plague plague plague, death and it felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy and shocking. Most of the book was just, "oh my god look at that pile of dead bodies and amputated limbs on the street!"
I'm not squeamish and I wasn't completely grossed out (even though ew), I was just tired of random amputations getting thrown at my face. I just don't find endless plague stuff interesting and this book really loved that plague. There were politics too but what? Sorry I can't hear that over the dEAD BODIES and amputated body parts laying in a pile on the street.
The setting is bleak but it also wasn't built upon enough. (I'm not still bitter because I saw "Lunar Island" and thought this would be a scifi only to learn I got played, not bitter at all.)
This book begins like any other YA fantasy but then just seems to half-ass most of the plot and characters to focus on one thing. There is a romanceless romance that exists for some reason, and Grey in general is just some dude. He had his own POV that added nothing and was completely pointless. And his audiobook narrator SUCKED.
After sitting through so much boring paced book, at 70% some neat stuff happens but at that point, it was just too late. I appreciate another character like Adelina from [b:The Young Elites|20821111|The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)|Marie Lu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407318399l/20821111._SY75_.jpg|25217978] and how this book is her journey there but god damn I'm still mad.
Spoiler
Though Nedra picking her power over some dumbass boy. Not like it was hard because that romance was so lame but LOVE THAT.If you like plague stuff though... highly recommend.