sophiesticazion's reviews
318 reviews

head empty just full of resurrected darkling *fawns endlessly*

a lot of leigh bardugo's fans preferred this duology over the grisha trilogy and i discovered numerous of reasons why. first, it was the exhilaration. with all the schemes, conniving, and contriving of the crows, ofc lead by kaz, you can't help but to be thrilled on all those plans kaz has been stashing on every pocket of his coat and brain, he's literally a stash. the world building and narration is incredibly flawless, i flew over it in like three or four days? well if i haven't been busy i could finish this book within a day because i just can't help but to read and lap on all the words it contain. great story, great character, and great plot twists. it might not be as deep as the shadow and bone, i know it left a special nook in my heart.

it was a good story with good narration, nice storyline, but lacks the pull i am finding for a book. jude and cardan could have more interactions but the story was like slow paced at the beginning then fast forwards sporadically. it's quite confusing and left a lot of blanks, though i'm sure it will be filled on the second book. the angst i am expecting was not there, so i am bit disappointed.

the beginning is quite alright, it was a direct to the point approach to the story, so i thought it will come about well written. but when the story goes on, it becomes pointless, useless, and worthless. other reviewers were right, it doesn't have a plot. if it may have at some point, then the story failed to traverse a concrete and distinct path. events other than the sensual scenes come out just like a lousy impromptu, no twists and excitement, all cringe and cliche. the sexual scenes might have an aberrant approach, which made it a little interesting, but they're not even seem too amazing. the steamy seems are the only ones who gave life to this story but it consist more of the prompt rather than the sex itself, which is a bore. i swear this is the corniest novel i have ever read, which truly depicts the creation of a story born out of wattpad. if i had read it in there, then it might have my slightest appreciation being on the realms of teenage wildest imagination.

I'm so ashamed I made myself promise that I'll read this again after 5 years because I want to drink this blood-red wine of a novel without remembering any scenes but when I read it again, I was subjected in a state of, "wow that happened?" Reading this again was so painful in a beautiful way. It is the kind of beauty a thorn has, you can only admire it from afar, because the more you yearn it, the more it hurts. And I think that's the best feeling I ever had in almost 6 months of no reading. This book is so full of angst, and I like hurting myself. With that, I conclude that we have the greatest ship dynamic, the sadist and the hurting.

i just hope alina sacrificed herself to the darkling and end all of the wars. yes, darkling may only want her power but as long as she has it, the darkling would probably realized how imp she is more than her power. he already developed a sense of belongingness with her, and i believed, if two alone and lonely people like them will be together, they will find home. and with that, nothing can tore them apart.

Throughout the years of my reading journey with sailing through words, flying along pages, and fighting against time, I thought this is what I love about reading. Right it may be, it's not entirely the truth. I do like the feeling accompanying me while I dove down and break the surface of real world and swam along the waters of the fantasy, but those were not love. It's my illusionary affection and comfort. Reading shadow and bone, siege and storm, and ruin in rising, five days never felt so good and painful. The world leigh bardugo had conjured is something i wanted to be a part of, not just in my head but i want it to feel in my own being. The hunger for the impossible, the need to belong in a world i am fairly aware non-existent. Grishaverse brought me exhilaration, elation, and trepidation. All combined into one book, i would never have to wish for a story of more angst and deliberate sexual tension. I love that kind of feeling. The feeling of torture and pain, in sings in my heart, deeply resonating. The beauty of this world is so profound there's no words enough to describe it, emotions is all that left. I ached for the Darkling, i ached for Alina, i wept on how much tragic their life became, on how their path are meant to meet and diverged, between them a yawning nothingness. Grishaverse has made me an emotional mess, but i love every part of it. Perhaps i love this for the intricate story and storytelling. But i know my love extends farther than that. Reading is my first love, but i'm still not sure if it is my true love. I believe i haven't found that yet, but the longing i feel whenever i think of the Darkling, i think it's close as to the true meaning of ruthlessly undeniable love. He may be an unloving, brutal, and the most cruel being on the universe, but he made me realize what true love is. Love is not about breaking the surface, it is about diving deeper, seeking for the bottomless depths, and having the findles of abyss closed over you, wrapped around you, painful but secure, an emphasis of surety and surrender. I do not know love, but i believe that if love is a sacrifice, then i'll be willing to be a sacrificial goat, surrendered and martyr, just to be in the world i am yearning to be in.