4 stars, accounting for the story and illustrations.

this is a graphic novel so rating it is a little different to how i usually rate books, especially since condensed this book is essentially one chapter.

we get an insight into the darklings past, and as we know the darkling is my favourite character in the shadow and bone trilogy (besides nikolai who i still believe we were robbed of). i enjoyed reading this, especially after reading the prequel at the end of ruin and rising. having the illustrations made it entertaining to flick through and visualise the events as they happened.

it’s definitely nothing too crazy, but it sums up the way he grew up, the origin of his ambition, his fears, and his mistakes. i still don’t believe he was truly evil