Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

31 reviews

creolelitbelle's review

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

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

Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Death of parent

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

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

meant2breading's review

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

3.25

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 and it’s hard for me to read about

animal death

. 

However, due to the author’s recent lack of solidarity and dismissal of genocide, I will not be continuing her books at this time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, War, and Violence

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

sunflower7skull's review

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

quarters's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood and Classism

mckiheather's review

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: Classism and Toxic relationship

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

sginnaw's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Genocide, Gun violence, Animal death, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Emotional abuse

fadingmoths's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship and War

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Classism

mythicsage's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Animal death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Slavery

Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Rape, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, War, and Xenophobia

natyourusual_'s review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

2.5

It was a fun book. I think the biggest disappointment was in the characterization of the Darkling

(I really wanted him to just be a misunderstood antihero or to have a better goal overall to make him a justifiable villain but he’s just evil for evil’s sake and I don’t like that for him)

and I just don’t like Mal at all as a character, but it’s a solid YA fantasy book with a very interesting magic system and world. I devoured the first 3/4 of the book (it almost fooled me into thinking it’s adult fantasy very briefly because it was that good) but the final stretch was not what I wanted. The writing is very beautiful and I am excited to see where it goes anyways!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Gore

Moderate: Death and Violence

Minor: Classism, Sexual assault, War, and Chronic illness