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A review by lizziepurpleserenity
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Reread, Jan 2021
When I first read this in Sept 2018, it was my introduction to YA Fantasy (so I wasn't properly aware of all the tropes) and I also hadn't read much adult fantasy either. So it was really interesting to reread it again having read a whole lot more since then. My feelings haven't changed all that much, but I feel much more critical this time around, e.g. about the magic system (there is something a bit lacking in this first book in terms of detail, I don't have a good grasp of all there is to know about Grisha powers, plus the magic is too soft for my liking), and the worldbuilding too is a bit vague, though the setting is pretty cool. I also have issues with the romance that I didn't have beforeMal is way too over the top when they're finally together and like I said last time, Alina's arc in terms of her feelings towards the Darkling, and what she wants in general too is a bit inconsistent.
But, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's fun, and it manages to make 4 stars instead of 3.5. (My rating system gives it a 3.8).
1st read, Sept 2018
I love the unique way this story is told - given that the first half could've been a "girl goes to magic school" type trope, it is not told in that way at all. I've read the whole trilogy by the time I'm writing this, and had a lot to say, but at the time of reading the book, I was fresh from the Six of Crows duology for which 5 stars is honestly not enough! So my reading of this book was unavoidably marred by comparison. However, yet again Leigh's characters are fleshed out so believably, and I absolutely trust her handling of romance.
Towards the end, a few times Alina (as narrator) writes about having wanted to be by the Darkling's side etc, but the funny thing is, I never felt that throughout the book. I always did feel her draw to him was reluctant and untrusting. Similarly, she realises her feelings for Mal. Perhaps that was due to too much foreshadowing, alongside the first person narrative (meaning, Alina herself has already told us throughout the book the stuff she 'realises' at the end). So I'm not sure her arc worked that well in this book, as if Leigh was wanting us to view it as a journey, a turn-around on Alina's part, when as far as I could tell it wasn't really.
But, overall, this book and the trilogy as a whole are definitely on my top reads of 2018!
When I first read this in Sept 2018, it was my introduction to YA Fantasy (so I wasn't properly aware of all the tropes) and I also hadn't read much adult fantasy either. So it was really interesting to reread it again having read a whole lot more since then. My feelings haven't changed all that much, but I feel much more critical this time around, e.g. about the magic system (there is something a bit lacking in this first book in terms of detail, I don't have a good grasp of all there is to know about Grisha powers, plus the magic is too soft for my liking), and the worldbuilding too is a bit vague, though the setting is pretty cool. I also have issues with the romance that I didn't have before
But, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's fun, and it manages to make 4 stars instead of 3.5. (My rating system gives it a 3.8).
1st read, Sept 2018
I love the unique way this story is told - given that the first half could've been a "girl goes to magic school" type trope, it is not told in that way at all. I've read the whole trilogy by the time I'm writing this, and had a lot to say, but at the time of reading the book, I was fresh from the Six of Crows duology for which 5 stars is honestly not enough! So my reading of this book was unavoidably marred by comparison. However, yet again Leigh's characters are fleshed out so believably, and I absolutely trust her handling of romance.
But, overall, this book and the trilogy as a whole are definitely on my top reads of 2018!