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I feel so weird writing a review for this because there is so much I want to say but not enough that I can put into actual words. This is definitely a polarizing book- I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. Actually, I would only recommend it to people who've been in academia, really, I think that's the only way to fully get what's going on. And that's not because I think you need to be a ~superior intellectual~ to understand the ~deep literary complexities~ of the novel, I just think that because the narrator is in academia, that's really what the root of the novel is about, and you just probably won't like it.
I loved what this had to say about gender and love all amidst the world of academia. I think it really encapsulates how all-consuming academia is - specifically academia that deals with theory and literature. Being academia is like being in this weird bubble where you know there is more to life but also it is your - and everyone else's - ENTIRE life. By being taught critical thinking, you suddenly are critiquing everything. And this is where love and academia intersect.
So, I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who has ever felt that way about academia, and I would highly not recommend this to anyone who has no clue.
I loved what this had to say about gender and love all amidst the world of academia. I think it really encapsulates how all-consuming academia is - specifically academia that deals with theory and literature. Being academia is like being in this weird bubble where you know there is more to life but also it is your - and everyone else's - ENTIRE life. By being taught critical thinking, you suddenly are critiquing everything. And this is where love and academia intersect.
So, I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who has ever felt that way about academia, and I would highly not recommend this to anyone who has no clue.
I'm not gonna rate this, because it's not what I thought it was and I don't think a collection like this can be rated. I thought it might be a collection of short poetry from Brand, but its actually excerpts from her longer works. I still absolutely loved it, and I think it's motivated me even more to pick up other works of poetry from her. But seeing that this isn't any one full piece of work, I'm not gonna rate it.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Re-read February 2021:
Some time apart from this book has really changed my view on it. Overall I felt this book kinda of boring. What is DOES do for the series: introduce more insight into the political structure and context, answer questions from the first book left like how the Darkling got away with what he did, and we see a *bit* of character development from Mal and Alina as they get their shit together and figure out their goals.
Other than that, I don't see a lot in this book. Obviously I love the introduction of Nikolai, though the end left me a little uncertain how I feel about Toyla and Tamar, I guess Ill have to see the kind of roles they play in the last novel, which I literally remember nothing about except the ending's "big reveal."
Alongside my re-read of the first book a year ago, I also think this one felt a little outdated with it's fatphobia and overall stress on the importance of everyone's physicality and if they're typically beautiful or ugly. Something that we don't get in Bardugo's novels anymore.
First read:
4.25 because I have to account for the slowness of this book.
Thinking back on this book (because it felt long) I remember the big scenes and important plot points, but I also remember the slow stuff that felt unnecessary. However, I still seriously enjoyed this book and OMG THE ENDING I DIDN'T SEE COMING! I love the way Leigh Bardugo does that I almost never knew what was going to happen, and when I did try to guess, my guesses were off.
I was also a little annoyed because the love triangle was still VERY present (if you could call it a triangle), and like a couple other aspects of this novel, unnecessary.
I loved the new characters Sturmhond, Tolya, and Tamar. They were really cool!
Okay, I have to go read the next one now...
Discussion of the trilogy on my YouTube channel!
Some time apart from this book has really changed my view on it. Overall I felt this book kinda of boring. What is DOES do for the series: introduce more insight into the political structure and context, answer questions from the first book left like how the Darkling got away with what he did, and we see a *bit* of character development from Mal and Alina as they get their shit together and figure out their goals.
Other than that, I don't see a lot in this book. Obviously I love the introduction of Nikolai, though the end left me a little uncertain how I feel about Toyla and Tamar, I guess Ill have to see the kind of roles they play in the last novel, which I literally remember nothing about except the ending's "big reveal."
Alongside my re-read of the first book a year ago, I also think this one felt a little outdated with it's fatphobia and overall stress on the importance of everyone's physicality and if they're typically beautiful or ugly. Something that we don't get in Bardugo's novels anymore.
First read:
4.25 because I have to account for the slowness of this book.
Thinking back on this book (because it felt long) I remember the big scenes and important plot points, but I also remember the slow stuff that felt unnecessary. However, I still seriously enjoyed this book and OMG THE ENDING I DIDN'T SEE COMING! I love the way Leigh Bardugo does that I almost never knew what was going to happen, and when I did try to guess, my guesses were off.
I was also a little annoyed because the love triangle was still VERY present (if you could call it a triangle), and like a couple other aspects of this novel, unnecessary.
I loved the new characters Sturmhond, Tolya, and Tamar. They were really cool!
Okay, I have to go read the next one now...
Discussion of the trilogy on my YouTube channel!
While this definitely wasn't a perfect book for me, I still highly enjoyed it. It's fast-paced, and full of plot and characters. I love a book that just never stops, and this was IT. I was a bit disappointed in some aspects; often i found that there wasn't enough political background explained (and I hope the finished copy comes with a map!), and I found at times the characters weren't doing what they should've based on their development so far in the story.
I'm not sure that I'd call it steampunk, because we don't see enough technology for that, and there's no magic system to really call it an epic fantasy, but it's like a Ace of Shades meets Six of Crows type of book, and apparently it's a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, but I've never read that so I couldn't tell you how close it comes.
But other than that, there's sailing (yes!), dark casino dealings (heck yes!), and some steampunk-ish, fantasy-ish fun (triple yes!).
We'll see when the sequel comes out (likely is 2021?) if I remember this one enough to read the sequel, the ending definitely warrants a sequel to wrap up basically anything, as we're left with very few answers, but only time will tell how memorable this is for me.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Disney Hyperion for an e-arc in exchange for honest review!
I'm not sure that I'd call it steampunk, because we don't see enough technology for that, and there's no magic system to really call it an epic fantasy, but it's like a Ace of Shades meets Six of Crows type of book, and apparently it's a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, but I've never read that so I couldn't tell you how close it comes.
But other than that, there's sailing (yes!), dark casino dealings (heck yes!), and some steampunk-ish, fantasy-ish fun (triple yes!).
We'll see when the sequel comes out (likely is 2021?) if I remember this one enough to read the sequel, the ending definitely warrants a sequel to wrap up basically anything, as we're left with very few answers, but only time will tell how memorable this is for me.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Disney Hyperion for an e-arc in exchange for honest review!
reread 31/12/22 - I feel much better about this book after some time away to hype it less in my head. I loved revisiting jack and jill and their relationship and I would still love more from them. In this it does feel like their story has come to a close so I doubt we'll see more from them, but a girl can dream! 5/5
Not my favourite of the series, I think with Down Among the Sticks and Bones being my favourite, I hyped this up too much in my head. I wanted there to be more action, considering this is set around a quest, but I found there was a lot of standing around talking, especially for a novella.
I still really loved it though, and I'd love to go and re-read this series in chronical order for Jack and Jill's story (Down Among, Every Heart, Come Tumbling).
4/5 stars!
Not my favourite of the series, I think with Down Among the Sticks and Bones being my favourite, I hyped this up too much in my head. I wanted there to be more action, considering this is set around a quest, but I found there was a lot of standing around talking, especially for a novella.
I still really loved it though, and I'd love to go and re-read this series in chronical order for Jack and Jill's story (Down Among, Every Heart, Come Tumbling).
4/5 stars!
THIS GOT ME FUCKED UP
I don't even know what to say because I feel like I can't do this justice. It was so beautifully written (I'm so glad I read this as an ebook because I can more easily access my highlights). Like, I mentioned this in a % read update, but the writing is so beautiful and luxurious I want to make bed sheets out of it and lay in them all day. I can't wait to read this knowing how it ends, to further take in the words without focusing as hard on the plot.
This like an f/f cross between Doctor Who and Romeo and Juliet. So, hello, do you want to read it yet???
I don't even know what to say because I feel like I can't do this justice. It was so beautifully written (I'm so glad I read this as an ebook because I can more easily access my highlights). Like, I mentioned this in a % read update, but the writing is so beautiful and luxurious I want to make bed sheets out of it and lay in them all day. I can't wait to read this knowing how it ends, to further take in the words without focusing as hard on the plot.
This like an f/f cross between Doctor Who and Romeo and Juliet. So, hello, do you want to read it yet???
Edit: February 2020:
After sitting on my re-read, I'm bumping my star rating down to a 4/5. For me, this book felt really unique because it was the first YA fantasy book I truly loved. Though Leigh Bardugo has really evolved as a writer, this is very much feels like a debut novel. It actually fat-shames a couple times, and theres some weird comments about the value of beauty, and this all couples with what went on in YA fantasy at the time this was published. Though Bardugo has grown since, I was kinda using that as an excuse to keep my rating high, and I decided I'm not gonna do that!
so 4/5, but maybe a 3.5/5.
Re-read: Jan 4th, 2020:
I really loved this! I was a little bit scared going into ti, just because it's been so long since I've read it. I'm actually feeling a similar way to 2014 Emily in the review below. I love it a lot, which warrants a 5 stars, but there were a few things that left me feeling unsatisfied. I could give examples, but most of them are spoilers. I can also really tell this is a debut; there are things that I've now come to expect from Bardugo, and this didn't really do all of them.
The thing I've changed my mind the MOST about this series, though, is the Darkling. Mal stans, I'm so sorry you've felt this way the whole time. The Darkling is actually manipulative and abuse as FUCK.
I'm gonna settle again for another 4.5/5 stars. I think this will always be one of my faves <3
July 27th, 2014:
I'M NOT GOOD AT THE STARS
SHOULD IT BE 5?
MAYBE 4?
OKAY HOW BOUT A 4.5?
OKAY SURE 4.5
BUT GOODREADS DOESN'T DO HALF STARS
SO IT LOOKS LIKE 4
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY 4.5
BUT I REALLY LOVED IT
MAYBE I SHOULD GIVE IT 5
AHHHHHH
Review on my blog!
Discussion of the trilogy on my YouTube channel!
After sitting on my re-read, I'm bumping my star rating down to a 4/5. For me, this book felt really unique because it was the first YA fantasy book I truly loved. Though Leigh Bardugo has really evolved as a writer, this is very much feels like a debut novel. It actually fat-shames a couple times, and theres some weird comments about the value of beauty, and this all couples with what went on in YA fantasy at the time this was published. Though Bardugo has grown since, I was kinda using that as an excuse to keep my rating high, and I decided I'm not gonna do that!
so 4/5, but maybe a 3.5/5.
Re-read: Jan 4th, 2020:
I really loved this! I was a little bit scared going into ti, just because it's been so long since I've read it. I'm actually feeling a similar way to 2014 Emily in the review below. I love it a lot, which warrants a 5 stars, but there were a few things that left me feeling unsatisfied. I could give examples, but most of them are spoilers. I can also really tell this is a debut; there are things that I've now come to expect from Bardugo, and this didn't really do all of them.
The thing I've changed my mind the MOST about this series, though, is the Darkling. Mal stans, I'm so sorry you've felt this way the whole time. The Darkling is actually manipulative and abuse as FUCK.
I'm gonna settle again for another 4.5/5 stars. I think this will always be one of my faves <3
July 27th, 2014:
I'M NOT GOOD AT THE STARS
SHOULD IT BE 5?
MAYBE 4?
OKAY HOW BOUT A 4.5?
OKAY SURE 4.5
BUT GOODREADS DOESN'T DO HALF STARS
SO IT LOOKS LIKE 4
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY 4.5
BUT I REALLY LOVED IT
MAYBE I SHOULD GIVE IT 5
AHHHHHH
Review on my blog!
Discussion of the trilogy on my YouTube channel!
