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read_n_wright's review against another edition
3.0
MC not taking action with the stag situation almost ruined everything for me. Luckily she redeemed herself.
Book was good, I enjoyed it for the most part but really it was just the author addressing all the fantasies young women wanting to be loved might experience- best friend who's in love with you, 2 hot men fighting over you, epic glow up, suddenly getting dropped in a wealthy lifestyle, having the respect and adoration of many, etc.
Will continue the series most likely and will enjoy the few seasons of the TV adaptation, I imagine.
Book was good, I enjoyed it for the most part but really it was just the author addressing all the fantasies young women wanting to be loved might experience- best friend who's in love with you, 2 hot men fighting over you, epic glow up, suddenly getting dropped in a wealthy lifestyle, having the respect and adoration of many, etc.
Will continue the series most likely and will enjoy the few seasons of the TV adaptation, I imagine.
hilkemohr399's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
andrea4's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hermione_7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this book, one of my favourite book series are The Prison Healer. In many ways I found Shadow and Bone to be similar to it, while still having an entirely unique plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend!
jessica_z's review against another edition
5.0
I give this book five stars because I loved it so much, and I don’t know why it took me so long to finally read it. I’ve heard only great things about it, but nothing about the plot. The book felt like a quick read based on the writing style, but that didn’t bother me at all because I was so immersed in it. The concept was great, the characters were fantastic, especially the Darkling because he felt so complex. And I can’t forget the plot. Though it has the cliché main character discovers they have powers that are meant to save the world, but I feel this book has so much more to offer in the way of storytelling, and character development.
The first question that I kept asking myself after finishing the book was did the darkling really like Alina or was he just manipulating her? As I think back in the book I say yes he does like her. I have reasons, but they contain spoilers and I dislike spoilers so I don’t wish to bring them upon anyone that is thinking or reading this because for some reason they haven’t yet. Though I have to say that the romance between the Darkling and Alina felt a little forced or insta-lovey just a touch, but opposites attracted and those two are very opposite. I love the Darkling. (*Swoon*) His character is amazing. He’s twisted, but he thinks what he is doing is right for his people. He likes Alina against his better judgment and tries to use it to his advantage in a way. Moving on Alina was great, she really wanted to fit in somewhere and even though she didn’t fit with the army she still had Mal. She becomes a little girly, but is still a very strong and brave person. And I don’t care that her thoughts were clouded with the Darkling because she’s only had a crush and finally there is some one that likes her back, I would get a little starry eyed if I were her. Mal was a great. He’s good for Alina, but I still like the Darkling better. Even in the end. Tangent over, Mal is a strong, self assured guy that I would probably fall for in real life, but don’t really care for in the fiction realm. That’s the only way I would describe him at the moment.
I liked how there really wasn’t an antagonist throughout the book. I figured that the Darkling was going to be the bad guy, based on his title, but it did really lead that way in till you wished he wasn’t going to be. The book felt like a training montage that leads into the next book, but I loved it either way. I can’t wait to see how this goes. I really want to get the second book and third because I have a feeling that I will be reaching for it after the second one. Read it because it is amazing.
The first question that I kept asking myself after finishing the book was did the darkling really like Alina or was he just manipulating her? As I think back in the book I say yes he does like her. I have reasons, but they contain spoilers and I dislike spoilers so I don’t wish to bring them upon anyone that is thinking or reading this because for some reason they haven’t yet. Though I have to say that the romance between the Darkling and Alina felt a little forced or insta-lovey just a touch, but opposites attracted and those two are very opposite. I love the Darkling. (*Swoon*) His character is amazing. He’s twisted, but he thinks what he is doing is right for his people. He likes Alina against his better judgment and tries to use it to his advantage in a way. Moving on Alina was great, she really wanted to fit in somewhere and even though she didn’t fit with the army she still had Mal. She becomes a little girly, but is still a very strong and brave person. And I don’t care that her thoughts were clouded with the Darkling because she’s only had a crush and finally there is some one that likes her back, I would get a little starry eyed if I were her. Mal was a great. He’s good for Alina, but I still like the Darkling better. Even in the end. Tangent over, Mal is a strong, self assured guy that I would probably fall for in real life, but don’t really care for in the fiction realm. That’s the only way I would describe him at the moment.
I liked how there really wasn’t an antagonist throughout the book. I figured that the Darkling was going to be the bad guy, based on his title, but it did really lead that way in till you wished he wasn’t going to be. The book felt like a training montage that leads into the next book, but I loved it either way. I can’t wait to see how this goes. I really want to get the second book and third because I have a feeling that I will be reaching for it after the second one. Read it because it is amazing.
alexanicole1128's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book is a very standard fantasy with a subplot of romance. Mal was my favorite character and I enjoyed the world and the magic system. There wasn't anything that I hated but it just wasn't very engaging and didn't keep my attention. I had to push through to finish it which is not a feeling that I want when I read.
happycrafter207's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, in the past few years I have not read a lot of fantasy novels. And I have heard/seen a lot about this novel so I thought I would give it a shot and it was so so. There are a few main points/themes in this book which I guess seems typically
1) Plain Jane heroine
2) Finds out that she has the most super-special power of them all.
3) Makeover.
4) Bitchy, super-attractive rival.
5) Power Struggle
6) Love triangle.
For the record, Shadow & Bone contains everything on that list. And for about a quarter of the book, I actually was pretty interested. The magic system is very standard, but I liked the characters, the setting, and the overall darker tone. I really enjoyed the Russian spin.
Unfortunately as this book progressed, I liked it less and less. The main character seemed so passive. She seems to do every single thing based on someone else’s urging, often without seeing any evidence or considering any other options. She just goes along, even in life or death situations!
I would have liked a bit more details about the main character and the childhood friend -I guess that could come in future books but I am unless I will read them
1) Plain Jane heroine
2) Finds out that she has the most super-special power of them all.
3) Makeover.
4) Bitchy, super-attractive rival.
5) Power Struggle
6) Love triangle.
For the record, Shadow & Bone contains everything on that list. And for about a quarter of the book, I actually was pretty interested. The magic system is very standard, but I liked the characters, the setting, and the overall darker tone. I really enjoyed the Russian spin.
Unfortunately as this book progressed, I liked it less and less. The main character seemed so passive. She seems to do every single thing based on someone else’s urging, often without seeing any evidence or considering any other options. She just goes along, even in life or death situations!
I would have liked a bit more details about the main character and the childhood friend -I guess that could come in future books but I am unless I will read them
mlkelly14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kelp_sometimes_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
literallyilliterate's review against another edition
3.0
*sigh*
where do i even begin?
i was SO FREAKING EXCITED to read this book. i had heard so many good things about the grishaverse, particularly the six of crows series, plus the shadow and bone tv show came out recently, so i had incredibly high expectations. unfortunately, this did not live up to the hype whatsoever.
this book was honestly just MEH. the writing was meh, the characters were meh, the world was meh, etc. this lead me into a bit of a reading slump and caused me to take nearly 20 DAYS to read this book.
i found the worldbuilding to be sort of vague. i still don't really understand how the grisha works and the different types of them and whatnot.
also the characters weren't very good. you have alina, who was incredibly frustrating at times, and who made some decisions that just made me go, "are you kidding me?" out loud at multiple points in the story. you also have mal, alina's main love interest, who was super douchey in the beginning, and then he just suddenly was in love with alina. their romance wasn't the best, and the chemistry often felt forced at times.
alina's second love interest, the darkling, wasn't any better. although he was a fascinating character, he was a horrible person. you could tell he only wanted alina for her power, and that he was just seducing her to make her become attached and loyal to him, which is awful.
the darkling also confused me SO MUCH. i could never tell if he was supposed to be a good character or a villain, until the point in the story where baghra (his mother) told alina about his true motivations.
the only character i liked in the story was genya. all the others were just meh.
anyway, the plot. there were only really three interesting parts in the story, in my opinion.
1. when alina nearly got run over by the darkling's carriage in the beginning.
2. alina getting acquainted with the grisha lifestyle and training at the palace.
3. just anything the darkling did in general. although he's a terrible person, he still intrigued me a lot.
i honestly just wanted more of the fold. you only got to see it at the beginning and end of the book, nothing more.
there were also many things that frustrated me or just didn't make sense in general. for one thing, i didn't understand how after the darkling obviously had complete control over alina using the stag, she just SUDDENLY happens to realize she can control her own actions? but then she bases her actions on what the darkling taught her??? man that was so weird.
also the ENDING. WHEN SHE LEFT EVERYONE ON THE SKIFF TO DIE JUST SO SHE COULD SAVE MAL. DAMN ALINA THAT WAS SO ANNOYING.
anyway, i have a lot of opinions on this book most of which are bad. it honestly doesn't deserve 3 stars, but i'm feeling generous today, so...
i am going to continue reading the trilogy bc i would like to read six of crows as well. and i also have an interest in watching the show since that may give me a little more respect for the book. all in all however, this does NOT deserve the hype. at all.
where do i even begin?
i was SO FREAKING EXCITED to read this book. i had heard so many good things about the grishaverse, particularly the six of crows series, plus the shadow and bone tv show came out recently, so i had incredibly high expectations. unfortunately, this did not live up to the hype whatsoever.
this book was honestly just MEH. the writing was meh, the characters were meh, the world was meh, etc. this lead me into a bit of a reading slump and caused me to take nearly 20 DAYS to read this book.
i found the worldbuilding to be sort of vague. i still don't really understand how the grisha works and the different types of them and whatnot.
also the characters weren't very good. you have alina, who was incredibly frustrating at times, and who made some decisions that just made me go, "are you kidding me?" out loud at multiple points in the story. you also have mal, alina's main love interest, who was super douchey in the beginning, and then he just suddenly was in love with alina. their romance wasn't the best, and the chemistry often felt forced at times.
alina's second love interest, the darkling, wasn't any better. although he was a fascinating character, he was a horrible person. you could tell he only wanted alina for her power, and that he was just seducing her to make her become attached and loyal to him, which is awful.
the darkling also confused me SO MUCH. i could never tell if he was supposed to be a good character or a villain, until the point in the story where baghra (his mother) told alina about his true motivations.
the only character i liked in the story was genya. all the others were just meh.
anyway, the plot. there were only really three interesting parts in the story, in my opinion.
1. when alina nearly got run over by the darkling's carriage in the beginning.
2. alina getting acquainted with the grisha lifestyle and training at the palace.
3. just anything the darkling did in general. although he's a terrible person, he still intrigued me a lot.
i honestly just wanted more of the fold. you only got to see it at the beginning and end of the book, nothing more.
there were also many things that frustrated me or just didn't make sense in general. for one thing, i didn't understand how after the darkling obviously had complete control over alina using the stag, she just SUDDENLY happens to realize she can control her own actions? but then she bases her actions on what the darkling taught her??? man that was so weird.
also the ENDING. WHEN SHE LEFT EVERYONE ON THE SKIFF TO DIE JUST SO SHE COULD SAVE MAL. DAMN ALINA THAT WAS SO ANNOYING.
anyway, i have a lot of opinions on this book most of which are bad. it honestly doesn't deserve 3 stars, but i'm feeling generous today, so...
i am going to continue reading the trilogy bc i would like to read six of crows as well. and i also have an interest in watching the show since that may give me a little more respect for the book. all in all however, this does NOT deserve the hype. at all.