Reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Only show reviews with written explanations

cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition

2.0

So this is reread and Goodreads deleted my review (thanks for that), I just want to start with Darkling and say he is genocide fuck boy.
He isn't complex, you can find frat boy with more complexity. His and Alina first kiss is so disturbing, he kissed her out nowhere and I can go on and on with mess up stuff he does like collar... fuck him.

I liked Alina when she wasn't with genocide fuck boy but she was being manipulated and she is 17.
Zoya, Genya, David got crumbs but best scene was when Baghra told Alina she was being dumb bitch for believing anything what Darkling said it felt like Leigh was talking to Darkling stans.

Anyway there wasn't much of story and just meh.

archvillain's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

It's hovering right there between 4 and 4.5 stars, but the very existence of Six of Crows in all its glory is what's keeping me from officially giving it 5 stars. Truth be told, I'd tried reading this before Six of Crows and got only as far as my willpower would take me, which is not very far at all - mostly because I found Alina somewhat annoying. So it's funny that reading Six of Crows is exactly what made me give this a whirl (because I can't live without this universe apparently), and it is also what makes me realise how far Bardugo has come in terms of her writing in general - from world and character building, to the writing style, and just the general ability to grip you. This is why it's 4 stars, it's just not as good as books she wrote after the trilogy, which is not to say it didn't grip me and make me constantly want to reach for my Kindle to get another fix.

msaenger's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted 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? Yes

4.25

aga_paw's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

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

3.75

ashdwy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.5

angiehk's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

3/5 Reread
Definitely not as good as my other 3 stars reads. I just can't let myself give it lower than 3 stars because I really liked this the first time I read it years ago.

- I didn't really care about the characters or the story. I thought a good portion of the book was boring, but thankfully not enough for me to dnf it.

Spoiler

- Don't understand the romance between Alina and the Darkling.
- The romance with Mal makes sense because of their past but doesn't mean I love them together.

I will continue the series and am still hopeful that it will get better, but I can't wait to finish it so I can move on to Six of Crows.