solaris_zip's Reviews (198)

Crooked Kingdom

Leigh Bardugo

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Although I absolutely love and adore the crows and six of crows, crooked kingdom is a bit slower than soc and at some parts a bit “complicated “. There are a lot of big words used, which is Leigh writing style and can be found in all of her books, in some parts it makes the book hard and almost boring to read. I feel that in both books I always struggled (doesn’t matter how many times I re read the books) to fully comprehend what the plan is. Although, I cannot recommend this book enough. Aside from the writing style which can be a bit difficult to get into, once the story picks up you enter in such a complex and layered world. You crave for more and more. Love the friendship between Nina and Inej, but in general the whole dynamic of the six crows with one and other is to die for. Yes, even Kaz, who pretends he doesn’t care but he would sacrifice himself for his crew. Reading this duology will always bring me back home.

Content Warnings

A Touch of Darkness

Scarlett St. Clair

2.0

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Now, im a big fun of Greek mythology. This book doesn’t follow the “canon” events. More or so takes some of these events, and uses stereotypes about the gods personalities, to create a fictional story. The book flows fast because it’s written like it’s a fan fiction. Which is something I didn’t particularly mind, but it portrays Persephone as the “good/pure girl next door” and Hades’s “bad boy/mysterious” persona. It a cliché and it’s not even done right. Persephone is being portrayed as this almost fragile, small thing that has no experience of the real world, and needs someone mature and strong to save her. And I must say, she comes across as insufferable at times. Stubborn, doesn’t listen and always wants to have it her own way and then complains when things go wrong even tho people advice her against it.
Throughout the book there was so much miscommunication on both sides, most arguments could have been avoided with talking rather than having sex. It feels flat, like a Harry styles fanfic on wattpad. Their relationship was rushed, we went to them arguing and then you blink and suddenly they are making out. It feels the smut was there to distract the reader from the poor plot.

Content Warnings