Scan barcode
sailorqwn's review against another edition
3.0
minus one star for super cringey jealousy scenes that not at all contribute to the concept of a romantic and healthy relationship and minus another one for no less cringey parts of the lore that were based off the slavic culture, cause i, as a slavic person, couldn’t help but snort at times
other than that, it was a pretty easy and interesting read. i could’ve finished it in two days if didn’t keep choosing playing genshin over reading
other than that, it was a pretty easy and interesting read. i could’ve finished it in two days if didn’t keep choosing playing genshin over reading
ellywt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
4.0
I just want Genya and Alina to be reunited and then get married tbh. Or Alina and the Darkling to basically destroy the world together.
myngerrys's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
sierra_n's review against another edition
5.0
My first book by [a:Leigh Bardugo|4575289|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534446099p2/4575289.jpg] and I am not disappointed by it. This was such a quick read and I had no idea where it was going to take me. I loved that it was so unpredictable. Can't wait for the next read!
Detailed Rating:
Characters | 10
Atmosphere | 10
Writing | 10
Plot | 10
Intrigue | 10
Logic | 10
Enjoyment | 10
Detailed Rating:
Characters | 10
Atmosphere | 10
Writing | 10
Plot | 10
Intrigue | 10
Logic | 10
Enjoyment | 10
akookieforyou's review against another edition
4.0
*3.75*
“The problem with wanting, is that it makes us weak.”
I've been hearing people rant and rave about this book and it's series for years now, and I'm starting to understand why. The story, while simplistic, is really engaging and it keeps your attention the whole time you're reading it. I also really liked and enjoyed the "magic system" as well; it reminded me a bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but in a good way.
The love triangle (we all know how much I love that trope) managed to be pretty decent. It definitely wasn't the best, but it didn't annoy me and make me want to give up reading this, so that's always a plus. The two leading guys both had their charms (one more than the other), but I feel like I have a pretty good idea of who she's going to end up with, and I'm not sure if I'm happy about it or not.
My biggest gripe with this book, is the last quarter of it. It felt a bit weaker than the rest of the novel, and I wasn't as into it. The ending also isn't my favorite, mainly because of how sick I am of the runaway-refugee trope in YA Fantasy/SciFi books.
All of that being said, I'm really excited to continue this trilogy, and hopefully read the other GrishaVerse series!
“The problem with wanting, is that it makes us weak.”
I've been hearing people rant and rave about this book and it's series for years now, and I'm starting to understand why. The story, while simplistic, is really engaging and it keeps your attention the whole time you're reading it. I also really liked and enjoyed the "magic system" as well; it reminded me a bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but in a good way.
The love triangle (we all know how much I love that trope) managed to be pretty decent. It definitely wasn't the best, but it didn't annoy me and make me want to give up reading this, so that's always a plus. The two leading guys both had their charms (one more than the other), but I feel like I have a pretty good idea of who she's going to end up with, and I'm not sure if I'm happy about it or not.
My biggest gripe with this book, is the last quarter of it. It felt a bit weaker than the rest of the novel, and I wasn't as into it. The ending also isn't my favorite, mainly because of how sick I am of the runaway-refugee trope in YA Fantasy/SciFi books.
All of that being said, I'm really excited to continue this trilogy, and hopefully read the other GrishaVerse series!
aliferuz's review against another edition
4.0
I'm enjoying my time reading this book in the first chapters, tapi setelahnya berasa semakin menjemukan. Kalau ditilik kembali, rasanya world-buildingnya belum terlalu detail dan memuaskan. Oke, there's Grisha and their simple science practice, tapi eksekusi dalam mendeskripsikan para Grisha masih minim. Bahkan tentang Alina-Sang Kelam-Bragha ini terkesan terburu-buru. Selain itu, narasinya monoton dan terlalu to the point in terms of portraying sad scene. Emosinya jadi kurang sampai ke para pembaca. Misal, salah satu scene saat Mal didatangi Alina di penjara sebelum mereka ke Selubung dan saat Mal dilempar dari perahu di Selubung, it's supposed to be sad scene! Like, they're always together since they were kids. Berasa cuma punya satu sama lain akhirnya dua-duanya protektif. But!!! Scene yang seharusnya bisa bikin pembaca terenyuh, malah biasa saja. Ibaratnya, kita sudah tahu kalau hal tersebut akan mengundang kesedihan, tapi saat kesedihannya sudah terlihat, malah langsung hilang begitu saja. Untuk karakter, menurut saya Alina kurang kuat karakterisasinya. Tidak ada suatu hal yang berkesan dan membekas dari dia. Malah, Genya yang hanya pemanis di cerita ini lebih menarik dan kuat karakternya. Sang Kelam di awal-awal bab berhasil mencuri perhatian, tapi semakin lama semakin biasa saja. Keberingasan dan kekejamannya dia belum tergambar dengan epik. Kalau Mal, di buku ini memang Mal hanya muncul di awal-awal dan akhir-akhir. Tapi, surat yang ditulis Mal di akhir buku left a deep impression on me. His bravery is so darn cool!
I hope the second book will not be as boring as this one.
I hope the second book will not be as boring as this one.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
4.0
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.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: Intriguing world; endearing characters; a strong, humble protagonist (who has a strange obsession with everyone's looks); a sexy villain I couldn't help but love (I'm doomed); unseen foreshadowing; heartbreaking plot twists
I read this book in one sitting. It took most of my day...but I just couldn't bring myself to put it down!
I was hooked from page one. The "Before" section shed light on the protagonist and her childhood friend in a way I don't see in most books; it was intriguing to see them then, and to see them grown older as Chapter 1 began.
I admit it: I was drawn almost instantly to the Darkling. He's got this sort of sexy, mysterious aura to him, even through written words, I couldn't help but want MORE of him despite knowing practically nothing about him. Now, don't get me wrong here: I'm usually the FIRST one, especially lately, to pick apart a character's motives and question exactly what it is they're seeking. But...the Darkling. I just... I don't know what to blame it on. I liked him. Immediately. And I shouldn't have. I guess I'm doomed to a life of consistently seeing more in “bad” people; of loving characters who are FAR beyond redeemable. I'm sorry. He's just so damn sexy!
I was a BIT disappointed in the world-building overall, however. We're thrown almost immediately into the midst of the action, but we aren't really told WHAT Grishas are (I mean, aside from the obvious). We don't know hardly anything about the ways they're separated; it's made to seem like each Grisha's power comes from their personal interests and tastes—for instance, David must have always enjoyed making things—but we aren't given the finer details. Where did their powers come from? Why are only a select number of people born with powers? Why is Alina's power hidden for so long? (we ARE given a reason for this about halfway through the book, but it seemed like a huge cop-out on the author's part)
Overall, I enjoyed this read—again, I read it in one sitting, so obviously it held my interest! While there were some elements I didn't like—Darkling, my darling, you hurt me!--and some of the world-building elements seemed to fall through the cracks, the read was quick and the writing gorgeous. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series; I MUST know what happens next! Highly recommended!
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.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: Intriguing world; endearing characters; a strong, humble protagonist (who has a strange obsession with everyone's looks); a sexy villain I couldn't help but love (I'm doomed); unseen foreshadowing; heartbreaking plot twists
I read this book in one sitting. It took most of my day...but I just couldn't bring myself to put it down!
I was hooked from page one. The "Before" section shed light on the protagonist and her childhood friend in a way I don't see in most books; it was intriguing to see them then, and to see them grown older as Chapter 1 began.
I admit it: I was drawn almost instantly to the Darkling. He's got this sort of sexy, mysterious aura to him, even through written words, I couldn't help but want MORE of him despite knowing practically nothing about him. Now, don't get me wrong here: I'm usually the FIRST one, especially lately, to pick apart a character's motives and question exactly what it is they're seeking. But...the Darkling. I just... I don't know what to blame it on. I liked him. Immediately. And I shouldn't have. I guess I'm doomed to a life of consistently seeing more in “bad” people; of loving characters who are FAR beyond redeemable. I'm sorry. He's just so damn sexy!
I was a BIT disappointed in the world-building overall, however. We're thrown almost immediately into the midst of the action, but we aren't really told WHAT Grishas are (I mean, aside from the obvious). We don't know hardly anything about the ways they're separated; it's made to seem like each Grisha's power comes from their personal interests and tastes—for instance, David must have always enjoyed making things—but we aren't given the finer details. Where did their powers come from? Why are only a select number of people born with powers? Why is Alina's power hidden for so long? (we ARE given a reason for this about halfway through the book, but it seemed like a huge cop-out on the author's part)
Overall, I enjoyed this read—again, I read it in one sitting, so obviously it held my interest! While there were some elements I didn't like—Darkling, my darling, you hurt me!--and some of the world-building elements seemed to fall through the cracks, the read was quick and the writing gorgeous. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series; I MUST know what happens next! Highly recommended!
elegion's review against another edition
1.0
I don't tend to write reviews, however I couldn't let go of the need to express how annoyed this book made me. Right from the start of Shadow and Bone, I found Alina to be incredibly useless and unlikable. As I prefer third person pov in books, I thought that perhaps I was being too harsh and taking a while to get into the first person pov, but no. She is useless and unlikable. As a character, Alina is defined by an inability to make a decision and is simply blown along by the winds of fate, while complaining continuously about the whole process instead of taking charge in any way, shape or form. Her thought show her as rude and condescending to the people around her, seeing herself as both better than them (because she's not in the power play like everyone else) and at the same time as worse than everyone else (because she has zero self confidence).
I'm aware that this series is quite old now, but if I can save anyone the sheer irritation of dealing with this character, then I will have done some good.
Give this one a miss.
I'm aware that this series is quite old now, but if I can save anyone the sheer irritation of dealing with this character, then I will have done some good.
Give this one a miss.