#darkdawn by jay kristoff review | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

littlebookmeadow · 1 year

Photo

currently reading darkdawn by jay kristoff

book #3 of the nevernight trilogy.

i stayed for the unique world and badass fighter tropes but I’m literally 🤏 close to stopping. The author has a wonderful talent for words and storytelling, very vivid imagery and poetic form. However, the author is so clearly a man and blatantly exposes himself through cringey and objectifying writing. So be warned 🥲

The tropes done well:

- magic (shadow magic), daemon/familiar-- very endearing and satisfying!

- assassin school... need i say more? 🤌💋

- fantasy world building. An ancient rome inspired city built on the bones of an old god.

- pirates

- gladiator/battle arc, climbing her way up from the bottom underdog style

- bad ass fem anti hero!

The not so satisfying...

- lesbian relationship written by a man

- in the first book, the way the dweymeri are described (specifically their tattoos have been called out for having racist connotations regarding Maoiri culture. Like really dude? Couldn’t have done your research?

- intimate scenes written cringe

- objectification of a 16 year old girl

-some pacing issues here and there, particularly in the first book-- doesn’t pick up until page 100 or so. And in the third book there’s a lot of dragging chapters and then chapters where battles or big events happen are written wayyy too quickly.

Who would I recommend it to?

Those who love the aesthetic of assassins and dark anti heros. The school is often compared to if hogwarts was much, much darker...and for assassins.

If you enjoy a sapphic romance! I think it could’ve been written better but it’s still satisfying nonetheless.

Complex world building and lore. I really enjoyed learning about the inner workings of the government and society as well as it’s history! The different groups and organizations introduced were really well thought out.

There’s a lot of tropes, but I think they’re done pretty well! If you enjoy your main character always having to fight against all odds and watch them overcome obstacles that may seem impossible. There’s lots of underdogs and outcasts...albeit a lot of gore too 😩 but if you enjoy watching your main character earn something through blood, sweat and tears...this is for you.

You just have to tolerate the cringe smut lmao.

#currently reading #fantasy #bookish #booksbooksbooks #books #nevernight #jay kristoff #womenwrittenbymen #assassins #dark magic #dark fantasy #book recs #book reccomendation #reading #review #book review #darkdawn #female protagonist #sapphic romance

5 notes · View notes

manuscripts-dontburn · 2 years

Photo

Darkdawn

Author: Jay Kristoff

First published: 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A satisfying enough ending to an elaborate revenge story, that I enjoyed but there is no denying this is hardly quality literature. In any case, I was more interested in this than the second volume, which just dragged. What cuts the book in its knees especially is the unnecessary, artless baseness with which the physical love, as well as physical suffering, is treated throughout. I do love Mr Kindly though. Also, all the points to the book designer.

The Dutch House

Author: Ann Patchett

First published: 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

A book about relationships, familial loyalty, hurts and the possibility of forgiveness. Beautifully written, but one should beware there is not much of a plot. An ideal book for a quiet, calm afternoon as you sip a large cup of delicious tea.

The Book Smugglers

Author: Anna James

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★★★★

Yet more delightful goodness from Anna James. This is the ultimate book-loving series for kids to fall in love with reading! Every volume is just lovely and I feel like falling into it likeinto a comfortable blanket.

Katia: Wife Before God

Author: Alexandre Tarsaïdzé

First published: 1970

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The main strength of this publication is the many letters, presented without shortening, that were exchanged between Alexander II and his beloved "Katya". that said the author made some maddening decisions of inserting a million footnotes which should never have been footnoted, but information incorporated into the main text. The rest of the footnotes are often so random and unrelated that they baffled me (what good is it to me to know a distant relation of a random courtier mentioned in the book was living in the US in the 60s?). Add to it that there are some inaccuracies regarding names and ages, and all that remains is my ardent wish that this should have been just a published correspondence.

The Betrothed

Author: Alessandro Manzoni

First published: 1827

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I am in two minds about this one. On the one hand, the whole thing is incredibly slow, the characters rather superfluous and their plight left me cold. On the other hand, when the author decides to leave those characters behind and instead focuses on the historical events and general populace, I was hooked and truly impressed and felt both compassion as well as horror. The parts dealing with the war and plague were actually incredible. (And oh gosh! The parallels of the populace reacting to it were too similar to our own experiences with covid it just hit me right in the face how unchanging humans are throughout the ages!) I understand the characters are needed for us to travel with them, but in the end, this is the story of a region, not the two lovers and their friends/enemies.

Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of King Edward Longshanks

Author: Kelcey Wilson-Lee

First published: 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Fantastic, immensely readable family portrait from the depth of the medieval age! Stands to show that even though their voices are often so muffled by the male censure of history, the women of the past centuries (even if only the ones born into privilege) were very much present during pivotal moments, wielded influence and claimed their own spaces.

The Last Graduate

Author: Naomi Novak

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

*deep sigh* The whole idea of this is great. The characters all have potential. It is definitely something that just deserved a tighter approach or a merciless editor. The amount of pages where the main character just goes on and on and on about things we already know is just devastatingly high. I love Naomi Novik´s previous books and I really was intrigued by Scholomance, but unfortunately reading should not feel like a chore and this book felt exactly like one.

The Pillars of the Earth

Author: Ken Follet

First published: 1989

Rating: ★★★★☆

There is absolutely no better review of this book than THIS ONE.

The Nature of Witches

Author: Rachel Griffin

First published: 2021

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Look, there is nothing particularly wrong with this book, but I was bored out of my mind for most of it. This is a great pity because the idea of "seasonal" witches definitely struck me as new and original and the writing itself was not half bad either. And the shallow me loved the cover. However, there really is no plot unless you count a very vanilla and done-to-death romantic relationship.

999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz

Author: Heather Dune Macadam

First published: 2020

Rating: ★★★★★

Why would anyone ever be content with any fictional book about Holocaust, when there are nonfiction books like this out there? Beautifully, and sensitively put together to commemorate a specific group of young women who suffered in Auschwitz, this is a dignified tribute to those who died and those who survived.

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Author: Carlo Collodi

First published: 1883

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A wild trip of imagination that somehow did not make me feel like I was on drugs (looking at you Alice in Wonderland), had some genuinely laugh out loud moments and delicious sarcasm sprinkled on top. Is it the best children´s classic I know? Not, but I would choose Pinocchio over Peter Pan any day.

#booklr #may 2022 #wrap up

7 notes · View notes

profmorbius · 1 year

Text

Posted a review of The Nevernight Chronicle #3: Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff on my blog. Read it here.

tl;dr – Excellent

#review

0 notes

loopstagirl · 3 years

Link

#icymi #book review #book #review #darkdawn #darkdawn review #jay kristoff #jay kristoff review #darkdawn by jay kristoff #darkdawn by jay kristoff review #book blog #book blogger #original writing #loopstagirl

1 note · View note

oracleofmadness · 4 years

Text

WOW! The ending of The Nevernight Trilogy was incredible. I'm not going to give anything away, but I have to say this last book held quite a few amazing surprises. The thing I love about Mia that holds true to the end is her grip on being human. Or, to say it another way, her ability through all this rage and awful to not completely become a cold-hearted killer. She stays warm and real. She keeps part of herself soft instead of turning to stone.

I love this series so much and definitely recommend it!

7 notes · View notes

literatureaesthetic · 4 years

Text

I still can't believe this series is over 😭 I need more Mia in my life. Out of all the series I've finished this year, I think the Nevernight Trilogy has to be my favourite ❤ I loved the ending to Darkdawn, I actually cried a LOT whilst reading the last book. I haven't read anything else by Jay Kristoff, but you can bet I'm buying the Illuminae books asap 😂

63 notes · View notes

bigdreamsandwildthings · 4 years

Photo

Review: Darkdawn (Jay Kristoff, The Nevernight Chronicle #3)

Rating: ★★★★★/5

“She looked into the sky, the suns falling slow toward the horizon. Another might have been afraid, then, to consider what was coming. Turned around and run back. But ever and always, Mia Corvere walked on.” Holy gods do I have emotions. I don't know if I'll ever NOT feel suffocated by the reality that this series is over. This final instalment made me laugh, bawl, SOB, smile, gasp, and everything in between. Mia Corvere has been on the hunt for revenge for eight years. After thinking her journey over, her quest fulfilled, in the sands of the Gladiatii, she now knows just how wrong she was - and the price of what she wants more than anything may be higher than she could ever know. With her familia by her side, she's to face the most intense war she's ever waged, on a scale of gods and goddesses, suns and moons, life and death. I was so ready for answers with this last book. I spent Godsgrave wondering how the hell everything was going to fit together, but then also just so flabbergasted at the twists and turns that I almost forgot to wonder at the same time. Going into this one, even just at the prologue/recap, I knew that we were in for it this time. Everything was going to be revealed. And let me tell you, it really goddamn was, and those revelations start right at the beginning of the novel and literally never stop coming. I feel like these characters are my family. I feel like I know Mia better than I know almost all of the people I talk to on a daily basis, and I love her more than about 99% of those people. She is so fierce, brutal and broken but so steadfast in her resolve. I absolutely adored her journey with Ashlinn, who I also have grown to absolutely LOVE so much more than I thought I would. I feel like I can't discuss a lot of characters here without spoiling it, so I won't, but just know this: every single one is wonderful. Complex, ever-changing and growing, always multi-faceted and so real-feeling. Jay has a knack for creating characters who I want to ride with into battle, and I wish I knew these ones in real life. Again, plot-wise, I won't discuss much, because I went into this knowing nothing and expecting everything and that's exactly what I got. This final book is full of twists and turns just like the rest of the series has been. I will say that the scope of these novels is intensified here; in book one, Mia's world was expanding so fast, and so it felt smaller. Here, the fate of Godsgrave is at stake, and the scale has become gargantuan, playing with forces of nature and gods and goddesses. Sometimes that turns me off of a series, but here, it just felt right. I think that's what I adore about these books more than anything: they feel so utterly thoughtful. Bursting with love and creativity and a heroine who spits daggers and will never settle for anything less than what she wants most. There's such a beating heart in these pages, and I will never not love them. I feel like there is a hole inside my chest now that can only be filled by rereads and forcing this series on everyone I can.

#booklr #book photography #book review #darkdawn #jay kristoff #the nevernight chronicle #nevernight #godsgrave #fiction #fantasy #badass reads #bookworm #bibliophile #my photos #my reviews #mine

22 notes · View notes

freshlybrewedbookreviews · 4 years

Photo

Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) by Jay Kristoff

Ah, and so it was, the end of the trilogy I have loved so much. I laughed, per usual, but I also cried (and in unexpected places, at that). The ending sticks the landing, and I can't say enough how much I love Mia Corvere. She's another badass woman that I will admire for the rest of my days, and emulate when I need to be tough.

I won't say much more, because if you're reading this review, you already love The Nevernight Chronicle, and nothing I write will get you any more excited about this final installment, but I will say: you have EVERY right to be excited about this final installment.

#book review #freshly brewed #Darkdawn #The Nevernight Chronicle #Jay Kristoff #books #reading

1 note · View note

mistwraiths · 4 years

Text

5 stars

This is the third and last book of the Nevernight series. After a cliffhanger of an ending, this book picks right back up seconds later. Mia has always had a mission but now fate seems intent on giving her a different one.

Unlike the second book, this one wasn't as predictable which was nice. This book had all the questions finally answered and the ending was very well done. I loved all the similarities in the two stories in the book of the past and present and the side characters really shine through this book.

There seems to be less footnotes here which is fine. The book in a way gets to break its own fourth wall which was unique and fun. The author even seems to poke fun at his obsessive remarks on beauty of his characters.

I would definitely recommend this series if you like dark adult fantasy that doesn't shy away from death or sex.

#darkdawn #jay kristoff #steph reads #steph's book review #book review

2 notes · View notes

tometalk · 5 years

Text

Read 9/3-9/3

Five Stars

Hmm, my feelings on this are so conflicted. I think there are a couple of reasons for that. First, I decided to reread Nevernight and Godsgrave the day before Darkdawn released. Then I devoured Darkdawn as soon as I woke up to it in my mail. Becoming that absorbed in a series of books I think affected me a bit. The goal was to refresh my memory (even though there is a nice refresher at the beginning of both Godsgrave and Darkdawn) of events and hopefully pick up some new clues. I think the reread only heightened my expectations of a book that I already had sky-high expectations for. I think it also made me a little more aware of the types of twists that were likely to happen. I'm also worried in the wake of finishing this book if maybe Jay was concerned with the very high expectations of readers. There is a lot in the book that felt to me a little like he was trying to please instead of the dark brutal book that this really should have been. That said I enjoyed the vast majority of it so, eh what're you gonna do?

There weren't a lot of new characters in this, because come on, it's the final book it's time to wrap everything up. However, we got to meet Jonnen and he's such a perfect brat. I loved all of his interactions with Mia. We also got to meet some amazing pirates, which I thought was a lot of fun. I struggled a bit with the romantic relationships in this book which is a shame because they were some of the strongest bits of the last two books. I know there was a lot going on in the book but I wanted more discussion and feelings. There were some moments that I'm not sure felt earned like they were missing a scene before that would have lead to that big emotional payoff feeling more organic. The ending was satisfying enough. I had a thought midway through the final battle that would have been emotionally awful but I think would have lead to a more satisfying ending. But maybe I just really wanted my heart torn out, stomped on, and burned to bits. The reality is this is probably more of a four star read for me but I've loved this series for so long that my sadness over it ending is bumping it up to a five star read.

#booklr #review #book review #darkdawn #nevernight #jay kristoff #reading #tometalk #5 stars

17 notes · View notes

resist-the-fear · 5 years

Text

Series Review: The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff

Series Review: The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff #stabstabstab #darkdawn

**This blog post will have spoilers!

The Nevernight Chronicles is a beloved adult fantasy trilogy by Australian author Jay Kristoff. I’ve always heard about these books and how much people love them, but I didn’t pick them up until July of 2019, and I ended up reading all three (thank you to Edelweiss for an earc of Darkdawn) in five days. Epic fantasies usually take me much longer but I could…

View On WordPress

#adult fantasy #Ashlinn Järnheim #book review #book series #darkdawn #epic fantasy #fantasy series #godsgrave #jay kristoff #mia corvere #nevernight #series review #tric

20 notes · View notes

literaryleisha · 5 years

Text

Review: Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff | WHAT A LETDOWN.

“When all is blood, blood is all.”

* SPOILERS for Nevernight and Godsgrave!* Click on the titles for my reviews of them!

Synopsis: The greatest games in Godsgrave’s history have ended with the most audacious murders in the history of the Itreyan Republic. Mia Corvere, gladiatii, escaped slave and infamous assassin, is on the run. Pursued by Blades of the Red Church and soldiers of the Luminatii…

View On WordPress

#Book Blog #Book Blogger #Book review #Books #Darkdawn #Nevernight by Jay Kristoff #The Nevernight Chronicles

4 notes · View notes

mintmentos · 5 years

Text

Book Review

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff

Darkdawn is the last book in the Nevernight Chronicle and follows Mia, a girl with dark powers out for revenge on the people who killed her family. Everything seems to be going as planned but it is not what it seems...

My thoughts

My expectations were really high and it didn’t meet them

Loved the writing style - Jay Kristoff has such a unique voice in these books, I’ve honestly never read anything like them

Didn’t care that much about the main characters (Mia and Ashlinn) but LOVED the minor characters (Jonnen, Mercurio, the gladiatii) and their relationships. They brought so much to this book that I loved

I found the plot way too convoluted - it got to a point where I was like this is where it ends and there was still another 150ish pages in which it completely changed direction

Like I know in the first book we’re told it all gets crazy but it just felt unnecessary? Like Mia always wanted to know more about her powers but I don’t think it had to get as big as it did

I wasn’t emotionally attached or involved in any way in this book, like I literally didn’t have any emotional responses to most of the big things that happen (if you know you know). Think the most it got out of me was a laugh when the gladiatii are comparing how badly their first times went

Despite all this I did still enjoy it, I just wasn’t as invested as I was in the first two books

3/5 stars

#booklr #book review #review #darkdawn #nevernight #jay kristoff #monday review #mine

5 notes · View notes

petrichorsmemory · 5 years

Text

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff

Disclaimer: This review contain spoilers.

This was a really good end to this series. For a little context I’ll say that I’m not a hardcore fan of this series. I liked it good enough I do think that it gets better with each book. The last is definitely the best.

What makes me a little bit uncomfortable is the amount of sex, not because of sex itself, but because it’s clear that, even though in this book we see mostly w|w, written by a man, at least in this book they are no longer teenagers. The author must be aware of this because him makes fun of it in this book. Which takes me to another thing that I don’t know how to feel about is the fact that he put the previous two books in this one, as in they exist in this universe. When I saw it the first thing I thought was: WHAT THE FUCK!?

But overall this book was pretty brilliant. We met few new characters that may not be the best people but were written very well and even when they were the bad guys were very fun to read about. Jay Kristoff is an author that very talented in creating compelling and believable people. A Special place in my heart will from now on belong to BigJon.

In general the character development was its biggest point. Specially Mia’s, she is the main character so it shouldn’t be surprising.

In this book we also saw more about the origins of the “magic” and how it works, which is always interesting.

What surprised me the most is the ending, because I wasn’t expecting it be so… happy. But it was good. I won’t say that I will definitely read anything else from this author, as I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing style but we will see.