Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Page Number: 368
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: June 5, 2012
Publication Date: June 5, 2012
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.
My Review:
Before I start this review, I'd like to talk about some other things about this book.
I literally went into this book knowing completely nothing. The only thing I knew was that the author's name sounds super cool. I mean, what sounds cooler than Lei Bar-do-go?I'm not trying to tease, I swear. This book didn't really intrigue me, until I caught it. The magical words that caught my eye.
"Unlike anything I've ever read."
-Veronica Roth, BESTSELLING author of DIVERGENT
MY JAW FREAKING DROPPED.
HOLY MACINTOSH. I HAD to read it. So I picked it up, with high-ish expectations...and OMFG THIS IS AMAZING.
Characters:
I really find the main character, Alina, particularly interesting, euntil the ending, when she sort of mastered her epic Sun Summoner thingys. She's so stubborn and she learns from her mistakes, and therefore really grows as a character development. Ugh. I love seeing this kind of thing in YA lit. So rare, yet when done well, so incredible.
Dude, it's probably just me, but I didn't think there was anything special about the Darkling. He's probably the character I like the least, and that's not because he's a villain. I'm tired of sexy hot villains in YA novels. Seriously.
Mal was sweet, I didn't find anything special about him. He sort of reminded me of a less awesome version of Peeta from the Hunger Games trilogy. I don't feel like they're the same, I'm just saying that they look the same in my head.
Genya. Genya, Genya, Genya. Genya was my favorite character. Yup. I don't care if she's a supporting character. She's girly and bold, and she just adds a light to this dark book.
Finally, Baghra. I hated her in the beginning for reasons I won't tell, but as the story progressed, I really loved her.
10 Snowflakes
Plot:
The plot was certainly interesting, fast-paced, and lots of turns and twists! :)
10 Snowflakes
Writing:
The writing didn't particularly catch my eye, it wasn't special, but it wasn't that bad, either.
9 Snowflakes
World Building:
This book lacked a little world building. I was constantly second guessing myself at where everything was.
9 Snowflakes
Cover:
Pretty good cover, I'll admit. It has cool fonts, and the house thingy on the cover looks very mysterious!
10 Snowflakes
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.
My Review:
Before I start this review, I'd like to talk about some other things about this book.
I literally went into this book knowing completely nothing. The only thing I knew was that the author's name sounds super cool. I mean, what sounds cooler than Lei Bar-do-go?
"Unlike anything I've ever read."
-Veronica Roth, BESTSELLING author of DIVERGENT
MY JAW FREAKING DROPPED.
HOLY MACINTOSH. I HAD to read it. So I picked it up, with high-ish expectations...and OMFG THIS IS AMAZING.
Characters:
I really find the main character, Alina, particularly interesting, euntil the ending, when she sort of mastered her epic Sun Summoner thingys. She's so stubborn and she learns from her mistakes, and therefore really grows as a character development. Ugh. I love seeing this kind of thing in YA lit. So rare, yet when done well, so incredible.
Dude, it's probably just me, but I didn't think there was anything special about the Darkling. He's probably the character I like the least, and that's not because he's a villain. I'm tired of sexy hot villains in YA novels. Seriously.
Mal was sweet, I didn't find anything special about him. He sort of reminded me of a less awesome version of Peeta from the Hunger Games trilogy. I don't feel like they're the same, I'm just saying that they look the same in my head.
Genya. Genya, Genya, Genya. Genya was my favorite character. Yup. I don't care if she's a supporting character. She's girly and bold, and she just adds a light to this dark book.
Finally, Baghra. I hated her in the beginning for reasons I won't tell, but as the story progressed, I really loved her.
10 Snowflakes
Plot:
The plot was certainly interesting, fast-paced, and lots of turns and twists! :)
10 Snowflakes
Writing:
The writing didn't particularly catch my eye, it wasn't special, but it wasn't that bad, either.
9 Snowflakes
World Building:
This book lacked a little world building. I was constantly second guessing myself at where everything was.
9 Snowflakes
Cover:
Pretty good cover, I'll admit. It has cool fonts, and the house thingy on the cover looks very mysterious!
10 Snowflakes
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