You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
4⭐️ it ended up being the same as the graphic novel but still enjoyed it, and a quick read.
I haven’t read The Shadow & Bone trilogy for which this is a prequel —and I have heard from other readers (with whom I have similar preferences) that it’s not that great—but I loved this author’s Six of Crows duology. Six of Crows and The Shadow & Bone trilogy are all are set in the Grishaverse.
This story was ok... Having some knowledge of that world is a must, as this really has no world-building but rather jumps right in. This was so short, I don’t feel like I got an understanding of the Darkling’s backstory, and it didn’t compel me to read more. Half of the Kindle version is actually 2 chapters from Six of Crows.
This story was ok... Having some knowledge of that world is a must, as this really has no world-building but rather jumps right in. This was so short, I don’t feel like I got an understanding of the Darkling’s backstory, and it didn’t compel me to read more. Half of the Kindle version is actually 2 chapters from Six of Crows.
[read for my book club, My Idea of Therapy]
Just another little slice of "heaven" focusing on The Darkling and his past. The e-book said it was 60 pages long, but it's really only 28; the rest is a preview for Six of Crows, so I was a little disappointed it wasn't as long as I thought it would be, but I still loved it, even though it just made me want a spinoff prequel type thing. I would absolutely read a spinoff prequel type thing detailing The Darkling's life up until the beginning of The Grisha Trilogy. I'd read the fuck out of that.
Just another little slice of "heaven" focusing on The Darkling and his past. The e-book said it was 60 pages long, but it's really only 28; the rest is a preview for Six of Crows, so I was a little disappointed it wasn't as long as I thought it would be, but I still loved it, even though it just made me want a spinoff prequel type thing. I would absolutely read a spinoff prequel type thing detailing The Darkling's life up until the beginning of The Grisha Trilogy. I'd read the fuck out of that.
"I would burn a thousand villages, sacrifice a thousand lives to keep you safe."
*READ AFTER RUIN & RISING* Even though this chronologically before S&B, this story definitely has spoilers up until the last book, so, beware.
This short is set way back when the Grisha were still outcasts labeled as witches and the Darkling was still a child. The Darkling is one of the most charismatic villains I've ever encountered so this was super interesting.
*READ AFTER RUIN & RISING* Even though this chronologically before S&B, this story definitely has spoilers up until the last book, so, beware.
This short is set way back when the Grisha were still outcasts labeled as witches and the Darkling was still a child. The Darkling is one of the most charismatic villains I've ever encountered so this was super interesting.
“The Grisha lived as shadows did, passing over the surface of the world, touching nothing, forced to change their shapes and hide in corners driven by fear as shadows were driven by the sun. No safe place. No haven.”
I loved this look into the early life of the Darkling! Please Ms. Bardugo, give us more!
adventurous
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:
No
4 stars
It was really short but I got to read more about my precious Darkling
It was really short but I got to read more about my precious Darkling
Look, I am not a fan of the Darkling or Darklina, and I will not try to explain his motives or apologize for his mass genocide, all I can do is to understand where his motivation comes from, and see if the story Leigh gave him is a justifiable one. If I hate the Darkling, then I despite Baghra. In Shadow and Bone, she’s portrayed as a mean old lady but that was it. She has good intention, right? No, she’s the one that put the dark thoughts into the Darkling’s head, she puts the whole “Grisha / Dark and Light summoners are more superior than any others and will pull to each other” idea into the Darkling and Alina’s heads. So in this book, I hate her even more. She’s not just a mean old lady, she’s a self-absorbed, entitled, mean, old lady.
The story itself is a very fitting one. A Grisha Ravkan in Fjerda. A nice touch to the history between Matthias and Nina in Six of Crows series. In this story, readers learn that the Darkling isn’t born evil (refers back to the reason I hate Baghra), and for a moment, I feel bad for the Darkling. Like any boys, he just wanted to fit in, and not travel too often. I think the situation that shaped his personality and motivation is very justifiable: “But I cannot hate that boy and girl for what they tried to do. The way we live, the way we’re forced to live—it makes us desperate.” And “There is no safe place. There is no haven. Not for us.” The Darkling doesn’t need you or me to feel sorry for him, he knows perfectly well that he’s a bad guy, and that’s why he’s a good villain.
I suspect Leigh wrote this one after Ruin and Rising (you know, after the whole name reveal thing) because her choice of words is much more mature (compared to the ones used in Shadow and Bone). It’s great to see the growth in her writing. It’s obvious if one reads the three big six books (Shadow and Bone series, Six of Crows series and King of Scars) in order, but the prequels and sequels are harder to tell when she published them. Here is my final order of the storyline (NOT the order of when she wrote these books)
- The Language of Thorns (folktale mostly so happen long before Shadow and Bone)
- Shadow and Bone
- The Tailor
- Siege and Storm
- Ruin and Rising
- The Demon in the Wood
- Six of Crows
- Crooked Kingdom
- King of Scars
- I am the monster, and the monster is me
The story itself is a very fitting one. A Grisha Ravkan in Fjerda. A nice touch to the history between Matthias and Nina in Six of Crows series. In this story, readers learn that the Darkling isn’t born evil (refers back to the reason I hate Baghra), and for a moment, I feel bad for the Darkling. Like any boys, he just wanted to fit in, and not travel too often. I think the situation that shaped his personality and motivation is very justifiable: “But I cannot hate that boy and girl for what they tried to do. The way we live, the way we’re forced to live—it makes us desperate.” And “There is no safe place. There is no haven. Not for us.” The Darkling doesn’t need you or me to feel sorry for him, he knows perfectly well that he’s a bad guy, and that’s why he’s a good villain.
I suspect Leigh wrote this one after Ruin and Rising (you know, after the whole name reveal thing) because her choice of words is much more mature (compared to the ones used in Shadow and Bone). It’s great to see the growth in her writing. It’s obvious if one reads the three big six books (Shadow and Bone series, Six of Crows series and King of Scars) in order, but the prequels and sequels are harder to tell when she published them. Here is my final order of the storyline (NOT the order of when she wrote these books)
- The Language of Thorns (folktale mostly so happen long before Shadow and Bone)
- Shadow and Bone
- The Tailor
- Siege and Storm
- Ruin and Rising
- The Demon in the Wood
- Six of Crows
- Crooked Kingdom
- King of Scars
- I am the monster, and the monster is me
