Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Shadow and Bone

Not my favorite of the series, but it’s definitely not bad. It just feels rushed in comparison; there isn’t enough development of characters, plot, or the world building. Also, I get shipping the Darkling and Alina in the tv show, but book him is flat.

Fantasy, Magic System, Romance Subplot

“I’d catch myself walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me.”

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giulianalb99'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).

Content Warnings

aliceloyallaleon's review

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challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense 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

4.0

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archaicrobin's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I feel it’s mediocre YA fantasy novels like this that cause me to avoid the genre entirely. I’d heard nothing but positives about the Shadow and Bone series, and I’d read Leigh Bardugo’s 1st installment in her adult dark academia fantasy series, which while I didn’t love I didn’t hate either, so I was really excited to start this series with friends, expecting to at least enjoy the ride.

There was no enjoyment on this ride. I don’t read a ton of fantasy but I feel like the world building in this book completely sucks. I have nothing but questions, what time period does this book take place? There is so much medieval talk of serfs, kings and queens, horses, tents, etc. that I thought ok this is classic high fantasy! But then the Fjerdans have rifles and not only rifles but assault rifles??? Ok so it’s not medieval maybe it’s early 1800s, 1900s? Who knows?!

This was just the first time I started questioning just wtf was going on in this world. Alina is a rare sun summoner who summons light, but the sun is just a giant ball of fire so honestly what is the difference between Alina’s light power and Grisha that can summon fire??

If the Grisha are so powerful than how the hell are HUMANS in power? What are volcra? They’re described as having leathery wings and sharp teeth so they’re bat demons?? And while we’re on that, what does anyone literally ANYONE that is not Genya look like?!! Genya is honestly the only character I remember that was actually described in detail.

In my opinion, there was so much potential here, but I feel like Bardugo chose to focus on her terrible “love triangle” than spend anytime at all crafting a well built world with engaging characters. I could care less about anyone in this book, Alina is bland and flip flops her personality traits throughout the entire book. Mal is an ignorant dick, The Darkling is an abusive, disgusting, pedophile considering he’s over 150 years old and sexually pursuing a 17 year old, the only mildly interesting character for me was Genya and she’s thrown aside halfway through the novel.

I kept waiting for the book to finish setting up for the “good stuff” to happen and instead it took a full tilt into the Alina x Mal x Darkling “love” triangle that I had to force myself to finish this book. I rolled my eyes so often the second half of the book I’m surprised they’re still in my head. Obviously I do not like this book, I will not continue the series, I will not be reading the six of crows, and honestly I don’t even know if I’ll finish Bardugo’s adult series at this point because I’m so underwhelmed by Shadow and Bone nothing else by this author seems worth it to me.

ALSO!! The frequency with which Bardugo has random men make less comments or unwanted sexual advances towards Alina is concerning and in poor taste. You don’t need rape or sexual assault to be introduced constantly to make things scary. I noticed this was another device Bardugo embraced in Ninth House and I find it distasteful.

I sat for a few days waiting for my anger at this book to pass but instead it’s intensified and I feel justified taking the one meager star away and giving Shadow and Bone the 0 it deserves.

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wickedgrumpy's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Decidedly on the okay to meh spectrum..

The world building and magic system is interesting (if not semi-lazy with the quasi-Russian culture) but the characters are flat and one dimensional. I was waffling on whether or not to continue the series but the idea of what comes next from the main character's POV doesn't thrill me so I'll probably look up what happens instead.

It's bizarre that the main character starts out as an orphan from war (roughly 8 years old), and seems mature beyond her 17 years by the time the main story arc starts (she is an apprentice cartographer in the army), and then regresses into angsty teenager drama full of petty, juvenile, and shallow plot points because of a chosen one trope?

Lastly, the romance was bad. Both dudes are controlling and manipulative, want to possess her, don't actually care what she wants. Think of any high school romance drama and you will understand the tropes thrown in this book. There's literally a glow up/makeover scene (multiple times actually because they want to emphasize how much she's changed from the 'skinny-but-not-in-a-hot-way' person she was before).

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jstarshine16's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-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

4.25

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rrovezzi's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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