Shadow and Bone
Ratings987
Average rating3.7
Not my favorite addition to the Grisha saga. After working my way through Six of Crows and Crooked & Crooked Kingdom I thought that the first book of the shadow and bone trilogy would be up to par with the characterization and charm that the Crows duology had. Turns out I was mistaken, Alina and Mel are a terrible couple, there are scenes where I want to pull my hair out listening to them speak to each other. Hopefully Siege and Storm pulls through.
3.5 stars
YA has been really hit or miss for me lately, but I actually enjoyed this one. The world is pretty interesting, but not enough world building. I think this would have been much better with more of it.
I really liked the different Grisha magics.
Even though I enjoyed most of it, there were still a few eye rolling moments that brought my rating down (fawning over the darkling).
I still plan to continue the series.
I had read this because it received glowing excitement from many people I know and they were excited for the show, so I figured I'd give it a go. I bought all the books, including Six of Crows, anticipating to love it and very quickly was underwhelmed and disappointed. There is a glaring issue with fat people in this book and the first chapters especially do NOT let you forget it. Nearly EVERY vaguely unpleasant character, or person we're supposed to hate, is described with some derogatory way of being fat or chubby or filled out while simultaneously emphasizing how skinny the protagonist is. First time or two, I was trying to convince myself it was a fluke, just a one or two time mistake, but it just kept happening. I finished the book and was underwhelmed with the story in general and didn't feel engaged enough to continue, so I returned them all.
Honestly enjoyed the show more than I expected based off of reading the book, and might pick up Six of Crows one day because I hear it's much better in pretty much all ways.
This has been on my Currently reading for almost a year. Time to DNF it even though I've read them already.
I read this after I read the quite excellent Netflix adaptation, so I went into it expecting good things but I felt.. underwhelmed? I'm not sure if it's because I knew what was going to happen, but the first person writing style didn't really grip me, it felt a bit dry and the main character Alina was a little bit annoying too (well, just like a real snarky teenager to be fair).
3.5⭐️
Well, well I read this because it was on my library and I said why not? But I guess it was ok? Like the world is awesome but TRUST ME I ACTUALLY SHIP the Darkling and Alina? That for me was the best ship ever tbh. But it totally broke my heart that I wasn't going to actually work out. But overall it was good. That's it good lol. Mmmmmm but i think I've read better fantasy ya
I loved it and I've already started reading the second book in the series. I know there's a lot of critics out there, but for me, this book was great.
I started reading this trilogy after viewing the first episode of the Netflix series. While watching it, I couldn't quite catch why I was having a feeling of déjà-vu, until I realized that Shadows & Bones is in the same universe as Six of Crows!
I really enjoyed discovering this extended universe: Grisha's powers and myths. The characters are well elaborated, but I couldn't quite figure out why Alina has such a crush on the Darkling.
Can't wait to get to the next one!
sadly my first read of the year was not good. the whole book was boring to me and i didint care about anyone or anything. will i still read the whole series? yes coz i desperatly want to start six of crows
I breezed through this book. Super easy to read and a Russian based fantasy story so it was a nice change of pace from the usual medieval England type fantasy books. It's definitely a book written by a woman because EVERYTHING is about beauty. Every single character is going to be described as “the most beautiful girl I've ever seen” or every guy is going to be very good looking. I want to picture what he looks like not how good looking he/she is. What's he wearing? Does he have facial hair? Does he have a scar? Etc.
Shadow and Bone impressed me throughout, and I'm very glad I gave it a chance. Overall, on the YA quality spectrum from Twilight on the low end to Harry Potter on the high end, this one rates somewhere in the “very good to excellent” range between Hunger Games and HP.
Pros: Truly unique setting, in a Russian-inspired landscape. So many books in this vein just choose a vaguely European/British setup, so I was very happy to see something different. This also lends itself well to a fascinating overlap between the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition of Russia and the book's fantasy elements, which is unlike anything I've ever come across and I hope gets more attention in future books.
There's also a good use of controlled information (reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson a bit), as well as thoughtful interactions with questions of mercy and necessary evils. It's no “Game of Thrones,” but the villain(s) here have a lot of motivations to pull from, and readers can genuinely see why some people support the “bad guy.” That's always welcome, especially in books for this age group. I'll keep reading for sure.
Cons: ?
I watched this show and hated every second of it. I'm really glad that I decided to read this because the development felt much better, and I was more readily able to get into the story. With the show, I let my attention drift in and out. It's possible that the multitudes that were in this book were there too and I was just so checked out I didn't see.
I'm very excited that there are still two other books in this series, as the show itself, it seems, only encompasses this one?
Shadow and Bone interessou-me pela mesma razão que muitas pessoas que o foram ler pela primeira vez em 2021: porque saiu a série, tem o Ben Barnes, e parecia um universo interessante.
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Portanto, essa foi a proposta que me levou a pegar neste primeiro livro da trilogia. Mas o que me fez continuar a ler, e dar por mim chocada com o quanto estava a gostar dele, foi a relação qualidade-fama (vamos fingir que isso é um conceito real) dele. Shadow and Bone não é o típico livro de fantasia jovem, de “baixa” qualidade e que procura apelar ao máximo possível de adolescentes. Shadow and Bone tem todo um universo, que a autora nos pinta de forma gradual e nos introduz de uma forma que não se sente pesada.
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Os personagens podem ser um pouco típicos, mas o plot certamente não é. Os plot twists não são assim TÃO previsíveis assim, e há toda uma mística neste universo que simplesmente agarra. Talvez porque eu sou naturalmente atraída para fantasia mais obscura.
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Há anos que não lia high fantasy desta qualidade e fiquei surpreendida pela positiva. E imaginar o Darkling com a cara do Ben Barnes definitivamente ajudou o caso dele.
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The book was amazing, intriguing, different and unexpected. The plot twist gave me chills and also made me really sad, because I had expected Alina to have something with the Darkling.
I am currently reading the second one and I'm hoping that there is some dark twisted romance between Alina and the Darkling.
Generally, I like the story and I like how the writer has transitioned from one story to another, how she portrayed each character and the climax was really good.
However, I find Alina and Mal's relationship too bland, forced and something they have because they have always been together. Like they had no other option but to he together. They could have been friends, too. It wasn't necessary for him to be a lover. Mal hadn't even noticed her until she was enhanced by Genya, he only assumed he loves her because he noticed that she was gone. He still doesn't appreciate her, the way the Darkling said that he doesnt know how powerful she is (in the second book) and he didnt seem so fond that she had become powerful and stronger.
The Darkling and Alina had more chemistry and intensity in their shortlived romance for god's sake!!!!
So, the only thing that would be disappointing for me is that the writer would carry out this boring af ship until the end of the trilogy because i really want to see the Darkling and Alina together, even if it's twisted and dark and terribly unethical.
Contains spoilers
“And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”
rating- 3.5/5
okay I'm not going to lie, i didn't intend to read these books. i almost picked up six of crows and only later decided I'm going to read the grisha trilogy first. (solely because I've heard the grishaverse is a tad bit complicated to understand at first, + i just like reading things chronologically, it's just one of those things, don't ask)—and honestly? I'm glad i did—most of my friends have read six of crows and have absolutely loved it, but they don't really like the grisha trilogy or don't even plan on reading it? this made me a little sceptical at first and i even considered skipping these books and moving on to six of crows, as I'm aware most people have done. Naturally, my expectations weren't very high going into it. But, to it's credit it did take me by surprise and i liked the book a lot.
PREMISE
(i don't understand why this is a thing since it's literally in the synopsis thing of the book and also people who read detailed reviews are people who've already read the book, right?)
it follows Alina Starkov - an orphan who is a cartographer in the first army, in a world where the common people- who work in the armies and people with powers - the grisha, live together. She discovers dormant powers that are the only way to save Ravka from its downfall due to the dark barrier called the shadow fold dividing it into two. we follow her journey and development as she discovers lies and secrets that change everything.
my views on the book
Shadow and Bone is a very straightforward and uncomplicated book with few plot twists. (to the point where most readers find it plain and boring), but in my opinion this makes it a fast, enjoyable read. If you want a light, breezy read after a complicated book, then this might be for you. Leigh Bardugo's writing is simple, engaging and flows really well, that makes you want to keep reading. The first half of the book was comparatively slower, while the second half distinctively fast, that put me off a little bit, but not enough to stop reading. The plot had a few drawbacks and was a little tropey. but if you can look past the cliches, then it's definitely something you should pick up.
WORLD BUILDING
The world building is something that stood out to me and although, it does feel like we're thrown into the world. (In most fantasy books, the character whose point-of-view we read the book from, is also as clueless as the readers; either because they were unaware or less informed about the workings of the world. In that case, both the characters and the readers learn about this new fantasy world together. In shadow and bone however, that was not the case. Alina already knew about the grisha and their orders, how everything works, etcetera. So there was little explanation of the world for somebody who knows nothing about it. It did feel a tad bit abrupt, but it wasn't something that bothered me.)
Apart from the straight-off nature, the world building was pretty commendable. it was gradual and not rushed. i really liked the concept of the Russian inspired - Ravka. (I'm aware of the numerous linguistic mistakes in the Russian that was incorporated, as many reviews have pointed out. However, as somebody who doesn't know Russian, this is not something i found out until after i read other reviews and therefore it did not influence my views)
CHARACTERS
Alina Starkov is a strong female lead and definitely stood out to me. Most people don't like her (mostly because of the 'not like other girls' trope) and find her to be whiny and self deprecating. but then again, I'm someone with low self esteem and that's how our thought processes work. it doesn't necessarily mean she was ugly or skinny, that's how SHE views herself, which is completely okay. And I think this makes her character more real and endearing.
“The thought filled me with grief, grief for the dreams we'd shared, for the love I'd felt, for the hopeful girl I would never be again.”
Malyen Orestev (mal) is also one of my favourite characters and although his absence in the first half of the book is very noticeable, he almost makes up for it in the second half. the reviews about Mal did shock to me, to say the least. i honestly don't understand why everybody hates him so much. I'm not sure if we read the same thing? because i remember him being a little rude to Alina only once and he also apologizes for this later. Again, like Alina he has his flaws, but to me was different from the typical love interest which again helped him to stand out.
"I love you, Alina, even the part of you that loved him.”
The darkling's character is extremely well developed. I'm sure he has a backstory and motivations that set him apart. I'm yet to read The Demon in the Wood, and he already intrigues me. In the first half, i almost thought there was going to be a redemption arc but after the stag bit— i almost cried. animals dying is just:(— i knew there was no going back. I'm curious to see how the author develops the darkling's character- throughout the next two books in the series.
“The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”
A few setbacks:
first off, something that bothered me was the way Alina's powers were said to have been dormant for many years. she clearly remembers feeling her powers when she got tested by the grisha examiners and yet she's constantly surprised she has them. also, i think that her powers suddenly appearing in the fold was a little far-fetched. In my opinion, it would have been nicer to have a few displays of her power throughout the years. for example, a little sun-ray or a sudden burst of light when she's very angry or something along those lines.
Moreover, instead of making her completely oblivious to those powers, the book should have portrayed her to having some idea that she had powers but being afraid to embrace them. This would have been easier to believe. Alina being a little confused as to what those rays of lights were, that only got more and more frequent with the years, would have given us more time to get accustomed to the change from the cartographer Alina in the first army to grisha Alina, THE sun summoner- who's the only one who can save Ravka. This would've made the transition smoother (although i do understand that the point of the sudden display of her powers was to bring an element of surprise, i believe an easier to digest plot is more important than the occasional surprise plot twist.)
secondly, i thought maybe a few Mal or the Darkling point-of-view chapters would have made it a more interesting read. Despite liking Alina, the single point of view does get a little plain.
what i loved:
definitely the plot twist. it wasn't something i was expecting. the book like i said, is very simple and most issues resolve easily. The plot twist involving the darkling definitely saved the book. it's not something most readers would expect considering the first half of the book was quite predictable. It makes the darkling so much more interesting and your whole view and whatever you have gathered so far, suddenly changes.
The ending also stood out to me. After the morozova's collar was put on Alina, i wasn't sure the book would have anything else to offer and i thought the plot would continue in Siege and Storm. what happened in the fold in the end, again, wasn't something i was expecting and took me by surprise.
"I had spared a life. The power of that life belonged to me as surely as it belonged to the man who had taken it."
“They are orphans again, with no true home but each other and whatever life they can make together on the other side of the sea.”
Overall, Shadow and Bone is a decent read. there are quite a few tropes at play, but as long as you don't let this divert you from the world and plot, you'll be fine. the writing is way better than i expected and more importantly, extremely good for a debut novel. it flows very well and nothing feels forced. The magic system is unique, well thought out and i loved the science point of view being involved instead of making it seem like pure witchcraft/magic as most fantasy books do.
The characters are definitely flawed, but this is what makes them seem real and easier to connect with.
You should definitely give this book a chance, if you haven't already :)
I read the Six of Crows duology before this series and fell completely and utterly in love with Leigh's characters, world, and writing. I was a little nervous to read this series because I was worried I wouldn't enjoy it as much (especially with the new show on Netflix, which I have yet to watch). While I could definitely tell that this was Leigh's first book (the writing is not nearly as explosive and intricate as it is in Six of Crows and a lot of the world and characters still need fleshing out) I enjoyed it immensely and am excited to plunge into the next book in the series (where I'm assuming Leigh will start to get more confident and comfortable sharing her incredible world and characters with us. Also can't wait to see more of Zoya and Genya because <333333!
