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mrsalexisrjones'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, War, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
hazeydaze24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
nonotyoshi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry
richardw2024's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was so nearly a 5* read for me but there were a couple of things that I didn't like. I think most of these were victims of the book being a YA. The two main things I disliked were:
- the romance - I'd be perfectly happy with no romance but well written romance I don't mind. The romance bits in this were just annoying. Maybe book 2 will change my mind on that point
- whilst there were many points where events went south for the characters, there never really felt like there was any great peril. Again, maybe that is because it is written as YA? But I personally would have liked a bit more tension.
EDIT - I have updated my rating to five stars. Thinking back in this book after a while, all I can remember is that I really enjoyed it and would recommend it (maybe that came after reading book 2) so I felt it fitting to update to five stars.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wise_old_fishie's review against another edition
- 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
Bardugo's writing is great and she builds a wonderful world that mixes magic and truths about the world we live in. She also creates an amazing cast of characters who are all so different and yet have something to fight for together as the bond, fight and help each other discover who they truly are.
I was personally instantly hooked within the first few chapters, where there were already captivating plot-twists and interesting world building that had me hungry for more, and the whole book pulls you in and makes you fall in love with the characters, and the world they live in! I think it has a good balance of plot and character, with interesting backstories that change how you view their positions, and make you see their actions and thought-processes differently. The characters are very lovable, and there is no 1 protagonist, as we see the story unfold from 5 very different points of view, through the lenses of different culture and backgrounds and also different traumatic experiences.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Drug use and Sexual content
undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and War
cnjg88's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
gaycatsand_books's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
axel_p's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
akane_readsyt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts