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oliwixt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
meyrathedreamer's review against another edition
3.0
So, it was not as good as I remember but it did not surprise me, I mean, of course, 17-year-old me and 22-year-old me would think differently. If I hadn't read this all these years ago I would probably give it 2 stars because there were so many amateur mistakes, so much telling, so little plot, and honestly, the revealing of the evil side of the Darkling. Yeah, let's tell everything and call it a book.
Another new thing I realized while rereading this that I might have developed an unhealthy attachment for villains. Darkling became so much attractive in those years somehow. But... I still love Mal. Because there are two wolves inside me, one is howling a sexy villain with good intentions but the corrupted mind and dark, sexy powers and the other one is howling childhood best friend, the yearning, the seemingly unrequited love.
I am not going to change the rating. I still, somehow love this series, probably nostalgia plays a big role here and I am excited about the tv show, which will be aired tomorrow. Tomorrow!!
Also, I deeply respect Leigh Bardugo for improving herself that much.
Another new thing I realized while rereading this that I might have developed an unhealthy attachment for villains. Darkling became so much attractive in those years somehow. But... I still love Mal. Because there are two wolves inside me, one is howling a sexy villain with good intentions but the corrupted mind and dark, sexy powers and the other one is howling childhood best friend, the yearning, the seemingly unrequited love.
I am not going to change the rating. I still, somehow love this series, probably nostalgia plays a big role here and I am excited about the tv show, which will be aired tomorrow. Tomorrow!!
Also, I deeply respect Leigh Bardugo for improving herself that much.
julietbourke's review against another edition
5.0
Very enjoyable easy entry into the series. Quick read.
maialr's review against another edition
5.0
♾/5
Worth every single amount of hype ever. I love it so much I’m in love with the characters and idk what to do with myself anymore.
LITERALLY A NEW FAVORITE AND IMA ORDER THE COLLECTORS EDITION FOR MY BIRTHDAY <3
Worth every single amount of hype ever. I love it so much I’m in love with the characters and idk what to do with myself anymore.
LITERALLY A NEW FAVORITE AND IMA ORDER THE COLLECTORS EDITION FOR MY BIRTHDAY <3
krisjenner'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? No
3.0
daniness101's review against another edition
4.0
“Fine. Make me your villain” - yes sir! This was a reread of this book, and I forgot how fantastic the Darkling is. Truly one of the best book villains. The world building is great, as is common with Leigh Bardugo, and all of the characters are different and fleshed out really well.
I like that Alina isn’t a Mary Sue type character - she’s not immediately perfect at anything, it all takes time. Which is how things should be. She can be a bit annoying at times, but nothing too bad.
The only reason this book doesn’t get a 5 star rating from me is Mal - holy hell is he annoying; he takes unnecessary offence at everything Alina says or does, and is so whiny and condescending
I like that Alina isn’t a Mary Sue type character - she’s not immediately perfect at anything, it all takes time. Which is how things should be. She can be a bit annoying at times, but nothing too bad.
The only reason this book doesn’t get a 5 star rating from me is Mal - holy hell is he annoying; he takes unnecessary offence at everything Alina says or does, and is so whiny and condescending
ngregg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
revanchists's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok, at least it's not a complete waste of time. It was just nothing remarkable.
-The characters were fine, I guess. Although Alina the MC, the plain orphan with extraordinary power, bugged me sometimes when she complained and ignored social protocol. There were archetypal beautiful but eeevil girls, bullies, a token woman friend, an unnatural, dark, handsome guy, and a childhood best friend.
-The setting was unique (in the YA genre anyway), but it failed to be a living, dynamic place you can see yourself in. There were Russian words and talk of tsars here and there, but overall it felt like generic fantasy. Taverns, kings, and vague references to the government and military, made only slightly interesting with the inclusion of the Grisha. But since 40% of the book is held in court, we never truly see how they work and how these 'Masters of the Small Science' came to be and how they affect everyone else. The Darkling wasn't much of a help either. I just see them as color-coded people with a specific magic ability. I've also read here in GR that the author didn't bother having a 10-second google search when it comes to names and liquor and such. So that's sad.
-I already said that 40% of the book is about Alina looking pretty, going to parties, talking with the guy, thinking about the guys, with the occasional anxiety about saving the world. She attended classes I think. I literally finished this book a few minutes ago and I can't remember most of it anymore.
-The plot was ok, but I wish it was more 'spiced up' because a lot of its elements have been seen before. A plain-looking orphan/street kid/nobody that has extreme power has to fight for it lest she becomes a weapon by someone powerful already? Then along the way she's swept away by extravagant balls and baths and library domes? Yeah okay. There are many novels like that, but once in a while a book ([b:The Final Empire|68428|The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437254833s/68428.jpg|66322]) punches its way out of the said template and becomes something awesome.
-Thank goodness it was easy to read, because I don't want to endure pretentious prose if it's not conveying anything meaningful.
Overall, I just didn't get excited the whole time I was reading it. It wasn't horrible, just disappointing. 2.75-3/5
-The characters were fine, I guess. Although Alina the MC, the plain orphan with extraordinary power, bugged me sometimes when she complained and ignored social protocol. There were archetypal beautiful but eeevil girls, bullies, a token woman friend, an unnatural, dark, handsome guy, and a childhood best friend.
-The setting was unique (in the YA genre anyway), but it failed to be a living, dynamic place you can see yourself in. There were Russian words and talk of tsars here and there, but overall it felt like generic fantasy. Taverns, kings, and vague references to the government and military, made only slightly interesting with the inclusion of the Grisha. But since 40% of the book is held in court, we never truly see how they work and how these 'Masters of the Small Science' came to be and how they affect everyone else. The Darkling wasn't much of a help either. I just see them as color-coded people with a specific magic ability. I've also read here in GR that the author didn't bother having a 10-second google search when it comes to names and liquor and such. So that's sad.
-I already said that 40% of the book is about Alina looking pretty, going to parties, talking with the guy, thinking about the guys, with the occasional anxiety about saving the world. She attended classes I think. I literally finished this book a few minutes ago and I can't remember most of it anymore.
-The plot was ok, but I wish it was more 'spiced up' because a lot of its elements have been seen before. A plain-looking orphan/street kid/nobody that has extreme power has to fight for it lest she becomes a weapon by someone powerful already? Then along the way she's swept away by extravagant balls and baths and library domes? Yeah okay. There are many novels like that, but once in a while a book ([b:The Final Empire|68428|The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437254833s/68428.jpg|66322]) punches its way out of the said template and becomes something awesome.
-Thank goodness it was easy to read, because I don't want to endure pretentious prose if it's not conveying anything meaningful.
Overall, I just didn't get excited the whole time I was reading it. It wasn't horrible, just disappointing. 2.75-3/5
bunny_herondale's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 actually
I WAS FINISHING MY REVIEW AND GOODREADS DELETED IT, IT'S OFFICIAL I HATE THE PHONE APP.
SPOILER ALERT.
Well, actually I saw maaaany people hating this book so when I started reading it I thought this would be bad, but it's actually pretty good.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it still has the cliché of every single YA novel written between 2005 and 2014, but it has plots and very interesting stuff and characters.
One thing I saw that many people hated was the romance between Mal and Alina, I actually liked that part, many people don't believe it but this stuff actually happens, that you notice you're in love with your closest friend only when your closest friend is somewhere else.
I wouldn't say I exactly liked the Darkling, I mean, I like him but not in a literary boyfriend way, more in a oh damn this character is interesting as hell way.
So now that I spoiled something that happens in the second half of the book, let's get started.
What is Shadow & Bone about?
Well, we have the story of this girl, Alina, who is an orphan and his only family is Mal, a sexy, strong, tall and a little womanizer guy that is an orphan too and Alina's best friend. Of course Alina is in love with him and Mal is oblivious to it.
So, one day in their life as members of the First Army, they're about to die, so Alina shows her true power hidden deep inside her and saves their lifes and few others more, yay!
But what is that power? Well, I'm glad you asked! Alina is a Grisha, the Grisha are people that do stuff that seems like magic but isn't actually magic, is manipulating nature and all that stuff to make other stuff, fire, darknes or sunlight in Alina's case.
Of course because Alina is our main character her power has to be unique! She is the Sun Summoner... THE ONLY ONE, amazing, right?
But obviously she doesn't found it amazing, she wants to return home, to Mal, even when she has everything in the Little Palace, everything but Mal, of course.
So now she has to get trained and try not to get to much involved with that amazing misterious dark haired hot man that is also one of the most powerful and ancient men alive.
Want to know what happens next? Well, read the book, is actually pretty good and I don't think you want to be spoiled in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.
I WAS FINISHING MY REVIEW AND GOODREADS DELETED IT, IT'S OFFICIAL I HATE THE PHONE APP.
SPOILER ALERT.
Well, actually I saw maaaany people hating this book so when I started reading it I thought this would be bad, but it's actually pretty good.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it still has the cliché of every single YA novel written between 2005 and 2014, but it has plots and very interesting stuff and characters.
One thing I saw that many people hated was the romance between Mal and Alina, I actually liked that part, many people don't believe it but this stuff actually happens, that you notice you're in love with your closest friend only when your closest friend is somewhere else.
I wouldn't say I exactly liked the Darkling, I mean, I like him but not in a literary boyfriend way, more in a oh damn this character is interesting as hell way.
So now that I spoiled something that happens in the second half of the book, let's get started.
What is Shadow & Bone about?
Well, we have the story of this girl, Alina, who is an orphan and his only family is Mal, a sexy, strong, tall and a little womanizer guy that is an orphan too and Alina's best friend. Of course Alina is in love with him and Mal is oblivious to it.
So, one day in their life as members of the First Army, they're about to die, so Alina shows her true power hidden deep inside her and saves their lifes and few others more, yay!
But what is that power? Well, I'm glad you asked! Alina is a Grisha, the Grisha are people that do stuff that seems like magic but isn't actually magic, is manipulating nature and all that stuff to make other stuff, fire, darknes or sunlight in Alina's case.
Of course because Alina is our main character her power has to be unique! She is the Sun Summoner... THE ONLY ONE, amazing, right?
But obviously she doesn't found it amazing, she wants to return home, to Mal, even when she has everything in the Little Palace, everything but Mal, of course.
So now she has to get trained and try not to get to much involved with that amazing misterious dark haired hot man that is also one of the most powerful and ancient men alive.
Want to know what happens next? Well, read the book, is actually pretty good and I don't think you want to be spoiled in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.