Leigh BardugoFiction · Fantasy·b. 1975
Shadow and Bone & Siege and Storm
Synopsis
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swathe of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters that feed on human flesh. Alina Starkov, an orphaned junior cartographer in the First Army, has never been remarkable at anything — until her regiment is attacked crossing the Fold and a dormant power erupts out of her, a light strong enough to save them all.
Torn from everything she knows, including her lifelong friend Mal, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, Ravka's magical elite.
There she comes under the wing of the Darkling, the enigmatic and dangerous leader of the Grisha, who believes Alina's gift as the Sun Summoner may finally be the key to unmaking the Fold.
But as she is drawn deeper into a glittering world of luxury and intrigue, Alina begins to realise that nothing at court is what it seems — and that the fate of a nation may rest on her shoulders alone.
The opening book of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy and the gateway to the sprawling Grishaverse, this is Russian-influenced young-adult fantasy rich with magic, court politics, and a fraught love triangle.
How it reads
Prose complexity 4/10
Content warnings (1)
Violence
- When I first started this book, I completely understood the negative reviews I’ve seen. But the further I got the more I found it was hard to put down. I started really enjoying it. Very rarely does a book make me go from wanting to DNF and scream in frustration, to ooo I can’t put this down 😂 Initially I thought the writing style was almost child like. Like in my head I was picturing Alina as a child just from how the story was being told. But that childlike style improved as I went on and seemed more “grown up”. This may even be worthy enough of a reread later on down the line! The second book is currently not in at my library but I can’t wait to read it, then move on to trying six of crows again since I just could not force myself to finish that one before. Maybe I’ve found myself a new go to author!
- This book kept me on my toes with twists and surprises at every turn. While I wouldn't say it was the best book I have ever read, I did enjoy the story. The characters were interesting, I actually like Alina as a character - she may be too trusting cough the darkling cough but I think that makes her character somewhat relatable. She came from nothing and was thrust into a unknow world of lavishness and power - can you blame a girl for getting in over her head? This book was engaging and easy to read, the storyline was interesting and I really liked the universe and setting laid out within.
- 3.5 <br><br>maybe it's because I got used to more detailed writing but this felt too fast paced. I wish the characters were more complex as well, but at least Alina was funny and a good human being in general. I was also intrigued by that shadow and I liked the plot and all, even if for the larger part of the book she just... doesn't do anything. <br><br>I am ALSO really pissed because I was developing a crush for this darkling asshole and he did THAT. I knew he was the bad guy, but hey! I can't wait to read the 2nd one to know more about him and why he's such an ass.
- I liked Shadow and Bone overall, but it didn’t fully hit for me. The world-building is honestly great. Ravka, the Fold, the whole Grisha system felt really cool and immersive. But I just didn’t feel the stakes as much as I wanted to, even in big moments. And I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially Alina. I didn’t dislike them, I just didn’t feel super invested.
- 4.5