Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

40 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

sydoodle's review

adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-paced

3.5

I couldn't take The Darkling seriously bro his name is THE DARKLING LMAOOOO

But this wasn't bad, I didn't love it but didn't hate it. I don't think Alina is a super great protagonist and I don't particularly love any characters but Genya to be honest. I am going to read the whole trilogy because I have faith. We'll see!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Body shaming and Blood

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

emilywemily6's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

I loved this book and need to continue the series asap! I read the Six of Crows duology first and so far think I enjoyed those books slightly more because they really sucked me in; this book didn’t fully immerse me in the world. I love the characters, loved seeing Alina grow as a character, and I love the twist at the end! I also appreciated that the ending wasn’t such a huge cliffhanger that I had to start the next book immediately. I feel like there is more nuance and depth to the Darkling too, so I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series goes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood

Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gaslighting, Sexual content, War, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol

noras_library's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

This book made me feel more than any book has made me feel in a long time. The idea of the book is amazing and the execution is perfect. I loved the writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Violence, Death, Gore, Slavery, Murder, Blood, and Animal death

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Child death, and War

Minor: Sexual content

lovejasmine's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, and Physical abuse

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• 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? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, War, Abandonment, Body horror, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Death of parent, Racism, and Xenophobia

Relationship (explicitly unhealthy/abusive) between teenager and character who appears around the same age, but is 100+.

cecinamo's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

It was a very good book! I loved the Darkling and Alina banter. xD It was a very easy and fast read. I was done with it in a few hours. :> 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

emohell's review

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

enjoyed this a lot more than i thought i was going to!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

Moderate: Grief, Death, Blood, Violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Alcohol