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A review by thebookishmel
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
Reread 1/30/2019: 4 star to a 4.5 star
Wow am I still so captured by Leigh Bardugo’s writing style. I’m so in love with Alina’s character arc in this first installment and really seeing her vulnerability through her growth is such an insane development that matters SO much. I still love the Darkling as a villain, he’s manipulative, and vindictive, and willing to do whatever he needs to get what he wants. He makes you think he’s good, allowing you to sympathize with him, fall in love with him even, and UGH ITS JUST SO GOOD. Having read the entire series and the Six of Crows duology, the kefta system and rankings system makes a lot more sense so no longer an issue for me. ONTO THE NEXT
First Read:
When I started this, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did. I think part of it was knowing just about nothing in terms of the plot line and the overall world. The only thing I did know was that its set in the same world as Six of Crows and I thought it would be good to read the Grishaverse before going into SoC.
There's something so special about Alina that I just really love. Her background gives her this fragile yet so incredibly strong persona. The conflict she has within herself and in trusting others she meets is so well done and so important to herself as a character. She has this initial trust in these new people, something so naive, but you can really see her dynamic change once her trust is broken. Its really compelling to see the emotion that comes out of her to see the story unfold before her.
I think my biggest problem with the book was not the plain old Jane turned into someone important trope, I can deal with that. It was just so incredibly difficult for me to keep up with all of ranking systems and colors of the keftas. Maybe that was just me and my lack of close attention to it, but it would've made it easier to understand their importance if it was reinforced more as to who these people are and why they're important to the rankings.
Wow am I still so captured by Leigh Bardugo’s writing style. I’m so in love with Alina’s character arc in this first installment and really seeing her vulnerability through her growth is such an insane development that matters SO much. I still love the Darkling as a villain, he’s manipulative, and vindictive, and willing to do whatever he needs to get what he wants. He makes you think he’s good, allowing you to sympathize with him, fall in love with him even, and UGH ITS JUST SO GOOD. Having read the entire series and the Six of Crows duology, the kefta system and rankings system makes a lot more sense so no longer an issue for me. ONTO THE NEXT
First Read:
When I started this, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did. I think part of it was knowing just about nothing in terms of the plot line and the overall world. The only thing I did know was that its set in the same world as Six of Crows and I thought it would be good to read the Grishaverse before going into SoC.
There's something so special about Alina that I just really love. Her background gives her this fragile yet so incredibly strong persona. The conflict she has within herself and in trusting others she meets is so well done and so important to herself as a character. She has this initial trust in these new people, something so naive, but you can really see her dynamic change once her trust is broken. Its really compelling to see the emotion that comes out of her to see the story unfold before her.
I think my biggest problem with the book was not the plain old Jane turned into someone important trope, I can deal with that. It was just so incredibly difficult for me to keep up with all of ranking systems and colors of the keftas. Maybe that was just me and my lack of close attention to it, but it would've made it easier to understand their importance if it was reinforced more as to who these people are and why they're important to the rankings.