Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Shadow and Bone

The amount of different emotions I experienced reading this silly lil children's book is astounding. Like tell me why I was on the brink of tears when Alina and Mal were in the dungeon? Tell me why I nearly threw the book when the Darkling started his shenanigans? Tell me why my jaw hit the floor when Genya warned Alina to be careful of powerful men?

I genuinely don't think I can give a real review of this book because I am simply experiencing every emotion listed in the English dictionary. All that I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I cannot wait to pick up the next one. I'm actually so upset that I got a job in the middle of reading this so I couldn't finish it sooner.

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wishyouweresober's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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mythicsage's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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giulianasbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS⚠️

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is a YA fantasy that takes place in the kingdom of Ravka. It is a world at war inhabited by Grisha, people who have the ability to manipulate elements such as fire and wind. This book follows Alina Starkov as she discovers she is a rare Sun Summoner, destined to bring down the Shadow Fold, a band of living darkness dividing Ravka. Treachery and danger wait at every turn, and Alina must use all of her wits and power to stop those who would use the Fold as a weapon.

➵What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.

I have a lot to say about this book, so buckle up because THIS IS MY RANT OF THE DAY!

First of all, let's talk about the characters, shall we?
I don't like Alina too much, to be honest. Throughout the whole book, I just couldn't connect with her. I felt like she was just a pick me girl and I hate when women are written like stupid and naive characters who need men to save them. Even though she knew some of her actions were wrong, she kept on making mistakes to later on realizing she fucked up, like please girl grow tf up. Also, instead of worrying about what might happen to the world, she only cared about Mal (someone who I felt didn't care about her at all) and about the fucked up Darkling, because after she found out his secret intentions, she let him kiss her... sorry, what???? I hope in the next books she develops a huge character development, cause if not, I will go mad.
Am I mentally ill and in need of a therapist if a say I liked The Darkling? probably yes, but I
don't care because I just kept imagining Ben Barnes and that man has my entire permission to run me over, period. I would've liked to know more about his past (and I know there's a graphic novel about him, but I was told I couldn't read it until I read the second book of the series) and how he became who he is, but I guess I'll just have to wait. His dark aura and how mysterious he is I think is what I liked the most about him, but I didn't like how he treated Alina (the gaslighting was huge). Also, I'm 100% sure he's not dead.
Now... Mal is horrible, I'm sorry. Why does he blame Alina for HIS actions?? Shut up, dude! And I have these weird vibes because I think he's hiding something from Alina. This man being the love interest is just a fucking crime.
I liked Baghra, but I don’t understand why she kept on bullying Alina. I know se was preparing her to something huge, but the bullying was unnecessary.
I think the only character that I loved since the very first second she appears is Genya. Again, I think it would've been so much better if I knew a little bit of her, but I think Bardugo just doesn’t like you to know more about the characters she writes.

➵The problem with wanting is that it makes us weak.

Okay so my sincere opinion on this one I would say it’s kind of neutral. I didn’t have any kind of expectations before diving into it so that was much better considering my disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, the book is good, but it felt bland to me.
1. The worldbuilding is not the best, and I know it’s a YA but believe me when I say I’ve read other YA books that the worldbuilding was a freaking masterpiece, so I’m sorry but that’s not an excuse. I don’t know if this was the author’s first ever written book, but it’s just meh.
2. The amount of times I’ve read the word kefta it’s insane. Has anyone ever told Bardugo that a dictionary of synonyms EXIST???? And yes, I know it’s the Grisha’s outfits, but she could’ve said COAT of ANY OTHER WORD, but not kefta a billion times!!!
3. I was really excited of knowing that it was inspired by Russian culture, but it was like any other fantasy book, the only thing that changed was that there were a few words in Russian and that’s it. I was expecting to read at least a glint of their culture but nope, zero.
4. Regarding n3, it would’ve been SO much better if at the end of the book there was a glossary with the meaning of the words because girl, I👏🏼DON’T👏🏼KNOW👏🏼SHIT👏🏼ABOUT👏🏼RUSSIAN👏🏼.
5. There wasn’t any huge character development, and I hope we get a GOOD one out of Alina, because so far I can’t stand her. PLEASE GIRL STOP GOING WITH MEN THAT DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU (that’s why you need to listen to You’re on your own, kid by Taylor Swift, please girl).
6. I couldn’t wait to finish it, istg the last chapters were longer than my fucking existence.
7. Why is there a king in the fucking palace if you’re not going to say ANYTHING about him??? Like, why is he there? What does he exactly do? Why is there a monarchy to start with?
8. Why didn’t the author explain just A LITTLE of the world they all live in, the magic, the traditions, etc.? This book had such a wasted potential, and I’m 100% sure it would’ve been so much better if it was LONGER.
9. I probably have more stuff to say but I tend to forget everything so yeah, bare with me and just be content with all I said👍🏼.

➵Fine. Make me your villain.

Now, the good things, YAAAAY!!!
1. I think this is a great book to start with fantasy, so if you’re new to the genre, give this book a try!
2. I read it really fast actually, it is short so that’s a good point.
3. Ben Barnes.
4. The 3rd point.
5. It is entertaining.
6. The 0.25 extra was because of the ending, btw. It was kinda good(?).
7. Did I read this so I can read Six of Crows after finishing the trilogy? Yes.
8. I will read the other books! My kindle is ✨prepared✨ (I don’t thing I will buy them though, sorry not sorry).

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livi74's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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david_slack110507's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I feel highly conflicted about this book, it has its good and bad aspects. I really liked the journey we get with Alina throughout the book, her character development is excellent, and I hope she'll only get better in the next two books in this trilogy. I also found the main plot to be interesting and the mythology/lore of the world was extremely interesting.

However, my negative thoughts outweigh the positive ones I have such as the formatting or more specifically the chapters. The chapters in this are mostly 15-20 pages long each which makes it difficult if I want to go and read for a few minutes as I prefer to complete the whole chapter to avoid any confusion as to where I am the next time, I pick up the book. The first half of the book is excruciatingly slow and difficult to read on through because it focuses heavily on setting up the enormous world of the Grishaverse and that was why this took me nearly 2 months to complete, alongside it not being as interesting compared to the other books I was reading at the same time (which may have been an issue on my part tbh)

Another issue I had was that despite the extremely in-depth and fascinating lore and mythology of the Grishaverse, it can be very daunting, confusing, and sometimes hard to understand/remember what was what which made me struggle to continue the book at parts. I also didn't feel too strongly about many of the characters in the book with probably Baghra, The Darkling (Disregarding the kind of boring romance between him and Alina), Alina herself and possibly the real MVP: Genya being the standouts but nearly everyone else just didn't capture my interest and/or enthusiasm.

Overall, a mixed start to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. A start that I can only hope improves as it continues as I do feel invested enough to want to continue reading the trilogy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ Good but not great

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rose_88's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Knew some things about it from social media, wanted to read before watching the show, but only really heard about ‘Six of Crows’, but I really enjoyed this book. I felt there could have been more about Alina’s dynamics with people other than the Darkling, like more about her time with the other Grisha and her time in the army, but i did like how the author portrayed the Darkling and Alina’s relationship/dynamic.

I liked how the relationship was first portrayed as one where he had been searching for her for ages and so fell in love with her due to his longing for someone to help fix the Fold, but then when you find out more about him and realised ‘oh shit he played her, he SEDUCED her’ which was really really shit on his part, just to get her to trust him.

I also really loved Bahgara, just everything abiut her. How she was this mean and scary teacher who was the one person not pulled towards or enamoured by the Darkling, then you find out SHES HIS MOTHER!?!?! And everything just gets more sad cause she still loves him but knows he may be too far gone. But also wtf? Like we know barely anything about her? How’s she get her powers? How did she birth the most powerful Grisha minus the literal Sun Summoner? Was she just as powerful as him, but just chose not to show it? ANSWERS I NEED ANSWERS!!

I thought there could have been more about Mal, it was him who found the stag and he was so concerned about Alina, even thought he never got her letters. He’s so much better than the Darkling

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vixenreader's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

There are a lot of familiar troupes, but there are also a lot of good subversions in the plot as well.

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