Industry Reviews
This book really hooked me, I read it for hours on end just letting the magical story come to life in my mind, it was incredible and I LOVED IT!... The Gathering Dark is a very unique book which will leave you wanting more... it is one of the best books I've ever read. Read, Write and Read Some More Overall, I loved everything about this book, with there being some seriously unexpected plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I could hardly put this book down, and am thoroughly looking forward to reading the following books in the trilogy. My only slight complaint is that the book was too short, I wanted more to read! (5 stars) BOOK CHICK CITY I can use one word to describe this book and that is "powerful" powerful because its original. Powerful because its eye catching. Powerful because it makes you feel all the emotions that are mentioned in the English dictionary, And powerful because Its made me have a whole new out look and something to look forward to in the future of YA. DARKREADERS ...brilliantly written and truly spellbinding. MIGMAG The world building is slow, subtle and full. You get a really good idea of the court, and the way the magical society works. It's impossible to place exactly in time and location, but I still really enjoyed it. DEATH, BOOKS AND TEA There is so much to love about this book... Leigh Bardugo knows her stuff. The pacing is superb, the climax is faultless, and the immaculate blend of fantasy, action and romance really did make this book 'unputdownable'. REALM OF FICTION This engaging YA adventure takes a different and distinctly Russian approach to epic fantasy... Giving us a convincingly chilly and well-thought out world as well as a touchingly played romance, Leigh Bardugo's fantasy is effortlessly readable and sets up what looks like a potentially strong story for the rest of the upcoming Grisha Trilogy. SFX In this richly-imagined and beautifully-written novel, Leigh Bardugo has created a vivid fantasy world drawing on Russian traditions and folklore. With unexpected twists and turns, and plenty of action and romance, this is a pacy and exciting adventure, but also a multi-layered story of self-discovery, with an intelligent and compelling heroine in Alina. Booktrust It was just amazing; so rich and real and vivid and jump-off-of-the-page and unique... As for the writing: totally beautiful, but modern and funny. Everything was so wonderfully described so I could just see everything, but not heavy, not in the slightest. I really got into Alina's head and loved seeing the Grisha world for the first time through her eyes. While the world was breath-taking, the characters oh-so loveable and the writing amazing, this was just so much more than a fantasy novel. There were countless hidden themes and, unlike so many other hard-core fantasy novels, it was so human too... The Gathering Dark was an addictive, beautiful, fantastical and so very human for a fantasy. I really can't recommend it enough. Fantasy addicts will adore it, old-timey Russian lovers will adore it. People who love strong characters and amazing relationships will adore it. Magic lovers will adore it. It has something for everyone - including two gorgeous guys... I loved every second and can honestly say this is one if my favourite books from 2012. The Book Addicted Girl Blog I felt like I fell into this book and was lost from reality until the final page; a sign of a talented story teller who draws the reader in and sucks time away from them. Serendipity Reviews I picked up this book purposefully because I was looking for a nice chunky book that could last me a while. Despite being a big book I read this in one night a rarity for me especially with a book of this size. I literally could not put it down and refused to part with it until I was finished in the early hours of the morning. The Gathering Dark held me captivated from start to finish and has to be my favourite book of 2012 so far. Even if fantasy's not usually your thing I'd fully recommend giving this book a go. If you like books that transport you to richly imagined fantastical places, that introduces you to vibrant and warm characters, that has a gorgeous romance, and best of all an epic battle between good and evil then look no further. I loved every second spent with this book and thoroughly recommend it. Jess Hearts Books The Gathering Dark is a glorious read that I couldn't let go of for days after finishing. The characters kept on surprising me right up until the very last page and now I hate that I have to wait for the sequel. How will I cope waiting? I'll probably read The Gathering Dark again. Sister Spooky Fascinating characters, a captivating plot and a real page turner from beginning to end. THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN The Gathering Dark is the kind of book that I wish I could wipe from my memory just so that I have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time... I honestly can't recommend this book highly enough FEELING FICTIONAL I haven't felt this way about a high fantasy book since Trudi Canavan's The Magician's Guild... I was hooked from the beginning. I know we all make an image in our mind of the world that the author has created but the kingdom in The Gathering Dark is so richly imagined, I could picture it all... MY FAVOURITE BOOKS The Gathering Dark was an addictive, beautiful, fantastical and so very human for a fantasy. I really can't recommend it enough. Fantasy addicts will adore it, old-timey Russian lovers will adore it. People who love strong characters and amazing relationships will adore it. Magic lovers will adore it. It has something for everyone -- The Book Addicted Girl GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS