Shadow and Bone

This was my second time reading this book and I liked it a lot more than i did the first time. The first time I read Shadow and Bone it was my first introduction to the Grisha verse and I was 11 years younger. I had less empathy and understanding for younger protagonists even though i was closer to their age back in 2009 then I am now. It's strange how maturing does that. When I first read this book I didn't care for Alina or Mal and their relationship and I thought the Darkling was a creepy old man in a young man's body. Re-reading the book now I understand Alina and Mal and care more for their relationship even though I still think Mal could have done better before he and Alina were separated but he's a teenage boy and didn't know what he had until it was gone and I can understand being that young and having little to no self-awareness. Honestly the two of them being separated was good for Alina's well being. I still think the Darkling is a creepy old man and honestly even more so, this man is ancient (according to his mother) and he is out here making out with a teenager and asking if he can come to her bedroom later. Ew i don't care if he looks like a teen or is hot. Just ugh. Anyway another reason I enjoyed this book more now is because I have already read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom and I knew what the words Suli, Shu Han, Fjerdan and Kerch meant, they weren't meaningless words to me that went over my head so having that knowledge helped me understand what i was reading better. This time i might actually read the next book.