A review by the_paperbackprincess
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

"You cannot claim what was not given to you. The stag chose me."-Okay, this is technically a quote from the show but it's such a good line.

I first read this book back in 2020 and I didn't remember much before I started rereading it. However, when I started, I was immediately taken back to the first time I read it and how much I enjoyed it.

Alina's growth is my favourite part of this book. Seeing her being pushed and tested and still coming out on top was so amazing to me, especially because it shows how much she's learnt from training and how much she's grown from the start. Even when the rug was pulled out from under her feet and she had to adapt to a new reality, she still fought (she is a soldier after all).

I love how this book ends off and how it shows that even though Alina has learnt a lot and she knows how to use her power, it's not the end of her growth period. There are still things about herself and about her relationships that she needs to figure out now that almost all of the pieces have been revealed.
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