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completed : 25 may 2021 rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟 | 🌶 there is kissing and making out lol tw⚠️ : abuse, animal death/killing, attempted rape, bullying, death, dubious consent, genocide, gore, kidnapping, murder, orphan, profanity, suicidal ideation, violence, war themes
chapters : 24 age group : young adult genre : fantasy
representation : -
summary : surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of ravka has been torn in two by the shadow fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
alina starkov has never been good at anything. but when her regiment is attacked on the fold and her best friend is brutally injured, alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. wrenched from everything she knows, alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious darkling.
yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. with darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, alina will have to confront the secrets of the grisha ... and the secrets of her heart.
my notes : i wrote down "for some reason i couldn't put this down. i finished it so quickly so i can watch the series. i really enjoyed it, because it isn't just a romance novel. can't wait to read the next. even though the darkling is the 'baddie' i still like him, sue me. tbh i don't like mal (he is better in the series tho). the only thing i found annoying is that alina's story is a bit unoriginal. the orphan, the weakling, the undiscovered powers, the chosen one. ugh, i personally hate that trope now. but i still love the book." -luca's notebook
any other opinions with 🚨spoilers🚨 : •mal isn't he so possessive? "you belonged with me" and doesn't want her wearing black *eye roll* and emotionally manipulative "you don't want me, so why do you care if she does?" ugh i don't wanna talk about him anymore
•love triangle its a no for me •light vs dark good vs evil "you and i are going to change the world" alina, the humble orphan, the secret weapon it's getting old and why is alina "ugly" and in love with her best friend? she's a weak and shy damsel in distress type of vibe
•the darkling doesn't that sound so sexy? he's dangerous most interesting character forsure questions ran through my head like is he in love with alina or not is he telling the truth or is he lying is he good is he bad i do ship them, but i don't think it's going to happen
•love the alternate russia inspired world - ravka •well written, very straightforward book, not really many plot twists
reading through everything it almost sounds like i didn't like the book. i would just like to clarify it's mal that i don't like. the book is great!
quotes : ❝the darkling slumped back in his chair. "fine," he said with a weary shrug. "make me your villain ❞
❝the problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak ❞
❝and there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. unless you were born to be a hawk ❞
❝you're shaking," he said. "i'm not used to people trying to kill me." "really? i hardly notice anymore ❞
❝mal," I whispered into the night. "what?" "thanks for finding me." i wasn't sure if i was dreaming, but somewhere in the dark, i thought i heard him whisper, "always ❞
