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Shadow and Bone
(The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1)
by
▶
Alternative Cover Edition #1
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and h ...more
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and h ...more
Hardcover, 358 pages
Published
June 5th 2012
by Henry Holt & Company
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May 14, 2020
Sofia
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
No one
Recommended to Sofia by:
Grishaverse fans
Why Mal the Malfunction is the Worst Love Interest Ever: An Essay
This will be long.
Very long.
Also: MILD SPOILERS for Siege and Storm and Shadow and Bone.
EDIT: The reason I'm writing this review and not Why the Darkling is the Worst Love Interest Ever is because
A. He's the villain. He's supposed to be the worst. That's kind of the point.
B. Mal is supposed to be the hero, but he's so toxic and awful and I don't like how he's portrayed as some ideal man.
C. The Darkling was never really a love inte ...more
This will be long.
Very long.
Also: MILD SPOILERS for Siege and Storm and Shadow and Bone.
EDIT: The reason I'm writing this review and not Why the Darkling is the Worst Love Interest Ever is because
A. He's the villain. He's supposed to be the worst. That's kind of the point.
B. Mal is supposed to be the hero, but he's so toxic and awful and I don't like how he's portrayed as some ideal man.
C. The Darkling was never really a love inte ...more
The Actual Review![]()
Latest BookTube Video is up - a totally serious take on writing Young Adult Lit!
Whelp...that was horribly disappointing...![]()
IT WAS A COMPLETE DISASTER.
I cannot begin to explain how utterly...blah this one was.
SO many people recommended it, and I honestly feel a bit awful with the low rating - but ehhh, what's the point of goodreads if I can't rant?
How to Write a Hit YA Novel 101
(In 5 easy steps!)
1. Make your main character ugly
“She’s an ugly little thing....more
Feb 25, 2012
Tatiana
rated it
it was ok
Recommends it for:
fans of Divergent and Grave Mercy
Recommended to Tatiana by:
5 star reviews
Seeing a lot of traffic here, even though this review is almost 10 years old. Like everyone, I've watched the show, and I think it's twice better than this sad, mediocre book. Mixing up Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows was a stroke of genius to be sure. The cast was all marvelous (especially Jesper), Mal was surprisingly attractive, as was Darkling. Color me surprised.
I was hoping for some non-sensical Russian-like grammatical mistakes would be corrected, but nah, male Morozova, otkazat'sya were ...more
I was hoping for some non-sensical Russian-like grammatical mistakes would be corrected, but nah, male Morozova, otkazat'sya were ...more
Oct 08, 2012
Nataliya
rated it
it was ok
Recommended to Nataliya by:
the word 'Grisha'
Shelves:
2012-reads
The biggest issue with this book is actually NOT the utter fail at correctly incorporating the Russian elements into the story.
It's that I'd never be able to pick this book out of a generic YA book lineup.

It's like a ninja, perfectly blending into its surroundings, into that painfully generic landscape that plagues YA literature recently, the lackluster background against which few gems truly stand out. And gem this one is not.
I think at this point there is a formula that many YA writers view as ...more
It's that I'd never be able to pick this book out of a generic YA book lineup.

It's like a ninja, perfectly blending into its surroundings, into that painfully generic landscape that plagues YA literature recently, the lackluster background against which few gems truly stand out. And gem this one is not.
I think at this point there is a formula that many YA writers view as ...more
(If you think I’m not still watching the television show you are WRONG. Eyes on Six of Crows, babes.)
2 1/2 stars, but I have literally no clue at all how to rate this, because it is all over the place. The first half was actually terrible [like, awful] but the second half was Really Cool and I don't know how to reconcile these two emotions? But also I have like. fifteen books marked review to come. So let's go.
→ worldbuilding I pretend to care about ←
[I just… really don’t care about worldbu ...more
2 1/2 stars, but I have literally no clue at all how to rate this, because it is all over the place. The first half was actually terrible [like, awful] but the second half was Really Cool and I don't know how to reconcile these two emotions? But also I have like. fifteen books marked review to come. So let's go.
→ worldbuilding I pretend to care about ←
[I just… really don’t care about worldbu ...more
Nov 07, 2013
Rick Riordan
added it
So many YA fantasy romances out there these days. You would think it would be hard to put a fresh spin on the concept, but Leigh Bardugo makes it look easy. Her debut Shadow and Bone takes Russian folklore and mythology and creates an alternate tsarist Russia (Ravka) where magic and military might coexist uneasily. Imagine a cross between Cashore's Graceling and Westerfeld's Leviathan . . . and yet Shadow and Bone is unique.
Our main characters, Alina and Mal, grow up as orphans at the estate of ...more
Our main characters, Alina and Mal, grow up as orphans at the estate of ...more
(3.5)
I really enjoyed this and I'm definitely going to be continuing on with this trilogy, but I did have a few issues with it. While I was fascinated by the world, but at the same time, I didn't feel like the world was fleshed out enough. We don't really get much world building, you're just kind of thrown into the world, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for me there were things that I needed to be explained more for me to be able to fully visualize the setting. I also just wasn't a hug ...more
I really enjoyed this and I'm definitely going to be continuing on with this trilogy, but I did have a few issues with it. While I was fascinated by the world, but at the same time, I didn't feel like the world was fleshed out enough. We don't really get much world building, you're just kind of thrown into the world, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for me there were things that I needed to be explained more for me to be able to fully visualize the setting. I also just wasn't a hug ...more
[2021]
4.5 stars
2021 me is laughing at my 2016 review because rereading this changed everything I felt about this book. I love it so much more now and for completely different reasons. Honestly an all time favorite 💗
(can’t believe I was a darkling stan 💀)
[2016]
3.5 Stars
I honestly had no intention of reading this series, but after loving Six of Crows I decided that I had to give The Grisha Trilogy a chance. And I am SO happy that I did!
While I felt that the plot and romance were somewhat tropey, ...more
4.5 stars
2021 me is laughing at my 2016 review because rereading this changed everything I felt about this book. I love it so much more now and for completely different reasons. Honestly an all time favorite 💗
(can’t believe I was a darkling stan 💀)
[2016]
3.5 Stars
I honestly had no intention of reading this series, but after loving Six of Crows I decided that I had to give The Grisha Trilogy a chance. And I am SO happy that I did!
While I felt that the plot and romance were somewhat tropey, ...more
How excited are you that this is becoming a Netflix show?! :D
I went into this book with pretty low expectations. Everyone seemed to not love it and I wanted to read it just so I could get to the Six of Crows duology. Well turns out I really liked it. Even more than Six of Crows!
Not a fan of the romance/love triangle ish but the world is interesting and the magic system is awesome.
The first book is my favorite of the trilogy!
I recommend you read this before reading Six of Crows. I know everyone ...more
I went into this book with pretty low expectations. Everyone seemed to not love it and I wanted to read it just so I could get to the Six of Crows duology. Well turns out I really liked it. Even more than Six of Crows!
Not a fan of the romance/love triangle ish but the world is interesting and the magic system is awesome.
The first book is my favorite of the trilogy!
I recommend you read this before reading Six of Crows. I know everyone ...more
I don't think words can properly describe how much I adored SHADOW & BONE. The characters, the world-building...it completely blew me away. There were moments when I was so stunned by the beauty and the brilliance that I had to stop reading. I never wanted this book to end.
This is the best YA fantasy novel I've read since SABRIEL or THE GOLDEN COMPASS. ...more
This is the best YA fantasy novel I've read since SABRIEL or THE GOLDEN COMPASS. ...more
'fine. make me your villain.'
oh, my darling darkling. i would do soooo much more than that. you can put your collar on me any day. is… is this what love feels like?
↠ 5 stars
...more
oh, my darling darkling. i would do soooo much more than that. you can put your collar on me any day. is… is this what love feels like?
↠ 5 stars
...more
Jul 28, 2018
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-series
”I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are going to change the world.”
Leigh’s cooking receipt for “Shadow and Bone”:
1 naïve and rather plain looking heroine
1 handsome childhood friend
1 dark, mysterious and irresistible villain
1 close friend that’s kind of an outsider as well
A pinch of magic
A hint of insecurity
A handful of unexpected events
And half a teaspoon of scheming and betrayal
To get the full effect you have to mix up all the ingredients and let the dough rise f ...more
Leigh’s cooking receipt for “Shadow and Bone”:
1 naïve and rather plain looking heroine
1 handsome childhood friend
1 dark, mysterious and irresistible villain
1 close friend that’s kind of an outsider as well
A pinch of magic
A hint of insecurity
A handful of unexpected events
And half a teaspoon of scheming and betrayal
To get the full effect you have to mix up all the ingredients and let the dough rise f ...more
Please note: this is not really a review. In fact, this may be my most useless non-review to date (there have been a few) and is actually better described as a random mish-mash of my thoughts and feelings on this book. "Aren't all your reviews like that, Emily?" I hear you cry, but alas, the random incoherentness is somewhat even more pronounced in this one.
You know, I've wondered ever since Shadow and Bone was released last year whether I would fall into the camp of gushing, never-ending lo ...more
Damn you, Leigh Barduga. Damn you for tricking me.
Leigh Barduga is like some kind of literary crouching tiger, hidden dragon or something.
You would be forgiven, upon commencing this novel, for thinking Shadow and Bone is redundant, cliched piece of tripe book with poor story-telling, average writing and a predictable plot. People who haven't read countless Young Adult novels probably wouldn't notice the trends, but I did. This is what I thought and Leigh led me down the primrose path until... BO ...more
Leigh Barduga is like some kind of literary crouching tiger, hidden dragon or something.
You would be forgiven, upon commencing this novel, for thinking Shadow and Bone is redundant, cliched piece of tripe book with poor story-telling, average writing and a predictable plot. People who haven't read countless Young Adult novels probably wouldn't notice the trends, but I did. This is what I thought and Leigh led me down the primrose path until... BO ...more
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this, and I can't remember a single character name except for The Darkling. Whoops.
This was a run-of-the-mill YA fantasy book. It wasn't bad, just bland. The characters, romance, and (most of) the plot were quite generic and almost forgettable. I think 2014 Zoë who loved Throne of Glass would also have loved this, but my tastes have evolved since then. Also, I've realized that fantasy written in first person is not my cup of tea.
However, in the sea of ...more
This was a run-of-the-mill YA fantasy book. It wasn't bad, just bland. The characters, romance, and (most of) the plot were quite generic and almost forgettable. I think 2014 Zoë who loved Throne of Glass would also have loved this, but my tastes have evolved since then. Also, I've realized that fantasy written in first person is not my cup of tea.
However, in the sea of ...more
Feb 26, 2012
Steph Sinclair
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Everyone!
Recommended to Steph by:
Myself, because I'm cool like that
Check out the interview with Leigh Bardugo where she saves Kat Kennedy and I from Ninjas. True story. Also, there's a giveaway of a finished copy of Shadow and Bone!
If I could wrap up my emotions about how I felt after reading Shadow and Bone and send them to you through my computer screen, I totally would. Instead, I'm afraid you'll have to settle for my words: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I wish I could unread it just so I can go back and re-read it again for the first time.

Yes, I loved it that much ...more
"The usual. Life. Love. The melting point of iron ore."
Having read Six of Crows first, I was a little worried about reading Shadow and Bone. Based on a lot of reviews, I thought this will fall way behind SoC, resulting in a dull read. Turns out all that anxiety was not necessary at all. This might not be as conniving or eventful as SoC, but things turned out way better than I had hoped. I know it's not fair to compare the two, with Shadow and Bone series coming first, so I'm going to stop myself ...more
Having read Six of Crows first, I was a little worried about reading Shadow and Bone. Based on a lot of reviews, I thought this will fall way behind SoC, resulting in a dull read. Turns out all that anxiety was not necessary at all. This might not be as conniving or eventful as SoC, but things turned out way better than I had hoped. I know it's not fair to compare the two, with Shadow and Bone series coming first, so I'm going to stop myself ...more
3.5/5 stars.
I can't believe I finally found time to write this review. I finished the book a while ago but I'm so busy, my God.
So let's start by saying that, despite the low number of stars, this book was a good book overall. I will explain later why I took down 1.5 stars.
Let's start with the good stuff.
For a while now this series has winked at me from my bookshelf. I know the high around the writer Leigh Bardugo and I have long wanted to see what and why people love her books so much. now I ge ...more
I can't believe I finally found time to write this review. I finished the book a while ago but I'm so busy, my God.
So let's start by saying that, despite the low number of stars, this book was a good book overall. I will explain later why I took down 1.5 stars.
Let's start with the good stuff.
For a while now this series has winked at me from my bookshelf. I know the high around the writer Leigh Bardugo and I have long wanted to see what and why people love her books so much. now I ge ...more
Dec 28, 2016
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Bentley ★ Bookbastion.net
Shelves:
favorites,
audiobooks
Yep, I still love this book. <3 Also, for those asking, the audio version is fabulous. Highly recommended!
*************************
Am I going to be crucified if I admit I may love this more than the Six of Crows duology? I think this may be due to the fact that I should have listened to everyone and started with these first. I was so confused initially in SoC that it took a lot longer than it should have for me to get sucked in. So far the grisha trilogy feels darker and more serious than SoC as ...more
*************************
Am I going to be crucified if I admit I may love this more than the Six of Crows duology? I think this may be due to the fact that I should have listened to everyone and started with these first. I was so confused initially in SoC that it took a lot longer than it should have for me to get sucked in. So far the grisha trilogy feels darker and more serious than SoC as ...more
You're gonna question your moral compass, and you're gonna be happy about it.
...more
...more
4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my first dive into Leigh Bardugo's magical and mysterious Grisha universe. I acquired all the books in the The Grisha Trilogy and the The Six of Crows Duology Boxed Set, but never bothered to start off with them. Mostly due to the great book slump I have been experiencing for the last 6 months, but also because I knew these were big and many books and the commitment to finish them all off would be grand ...more
“I'm sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”
This is my first dive into Leigh Bardugo's magical and mysterious Grisha universe. I acquired all the books in the The Grisha Trilogy and the The Six of Crows Duology Boxed Set, but never bothered to start off with them. Mostly due to the great book slump I have been experiencing for the last 6 months, but also because I knew these were big and many books and the commitment to finish them all off would be grand ...more
4 Stars
So confession:
I originally snagged this book after waiting so long to read it, because I was able to snag it on sale for $1.99 on amazon kindle.
Halfway through reading it, I realized I was really enjoying it...
And I knew I would want to read the rest of the series...
And then I saw how pretty the covers were...
AND they were cheaper than the kindle versions at the time of this review.
So, of course, I bought the last two books in the physical.
And of course, God forbid I have an unfinishe ...more
So confession:
I originally snagged this book after waiting so long to read it, because I was able to snag it on sale for $1.99 on amazon kindle.
Halfway through reading it, I realized I was really enjoying it...
And I knew I would want to read the rest of the series...
And then I saw how pretty the covers were...
AND they were cheaper than the kindle versions at the time of this review.
So, of course, I bought the last two books in the physical.
And of course, God forbid I have an unfinishe ...more
People have been throwing 4 and 5 stars at this book left and right, and I wonder what I missed. I was prepared to give this book 2 stars, maybe even 3 if I was feeling generous on the day I wrote the review, but as I pushed myself through the first half of this book, I encountered increasingly more things that irritated me, until the one that pushed me over the edge and convinced me that I’d be okay with not ever finishing SHADOW AND BONE.
It started out strong: atmospheric and engrossing. Past ...more
It started out strong: atmospheric and engrossing. Past ...more
YOU GUYS WE ARE GETTING A NETFLIX TV SERIES AHHHHHHHH
https://deadline.com/2019/01/netflix-...
I CAN'T BREATHEEEEEE.
If I could give this series 6 stars.. or 7... or 8.... I would. One of my ALL time favorite series. I get so sad when I see people totally skipping this to go to Six of Crows (which I loved, don't get me wrong.) True, it isn't for everyone.. but my gosh it is a work of art. I love everything about this series. (Ps... I'll say it again, but I HIGHLY recommend the audiobooks for enhanc ...more
https://deadline.com/2019/01/netflix-...
I CAN'T BREATHEEEEEE.
If I could give this series 6 stars.. or 7... or 8.... I would. One of my ALL time favorite series. I get so sad when I see people totally skipping this to go to Six of Crows (which I loved, don't get me wrong.) True, it isn't for everyone.. but my gosh it is a work of art. I love everything about this series. (Ps... I'll say it again, but I HIGHLY recommend the audiobooks for enhanc ...more
OMG! I don’t know if you’d feel the same with me but I just finished the series and entire time ogled Darkling who played by ultra charismatic British actor Benjamin Barnes ! It was amazing to see prologue of Six of Crows ( I intended to bingeread them on weekend) being introduced to Matthias and Nina who also belong to Six of Crows universe! Am I wrong or series absolutely nailed it and is absolutely better than the trilogy!
Why the hell I read this book now? Why did I wait too long? If not for ...more
Why the hell I read this book now? Why did I wait too long? If not for ...more
It took me exactly two chapters to get invested in the story, but after that I literally gobbled this book. The characters were all well portrayed and watching Alina develop through the course of the story was amazing. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Alina and the Darkling even if it lasted for a very short span of time. I did think that the Darkling was cunning and transparent but I had a glimmering hope that he would eventually come around. But I guess I was wrong.
The terminologies wer ...more
The terminologies wer ...more
“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, a
...more
Oct 08, 2018
Maryam Rz.
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
no one, just watch the show
me: the book is always better than the adaptation
shadow and bone tv show: *exists*
me:
me: am i dead or what
—★—
To the gods of adaptations, I thank you for this gem but—whyy. Every chat with people who’ve only watched the show now be like:
—★—
Now, allow me to tell you why the Shadow and Bone TV series did everything I wanted and did not get from the trilogy, fixing all the annoying underdeveloped/problematic parts.
See, the extent to which the Netflix adaptation left this book in the dust ...more
shadow and bone tv show: *exists*
me:
me: am i dead or what
—★—
To the gods of adaptations, I thank you for this gem but—whyy. Every chat with people who’ve only watched the show now be like:
—★—
Now, allow me to tell you why the Shadow and Bone TV series did everything I wanted and did not get from the trilogy, fixing all the annoying underdeveloped/problematic parts.
See, the extent to which the Netflix adaptation left this book in the dust ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WYLAN CULT: shadow and bone | 2 | 8 | Aug 08, 2022 01:19PM | |
| Fantastical Fanta...: Shadow and Bone: Book Discussion | 23 | 11 | Aug 04, 2022 11:33AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 4 stars | 2 | 9 | Aug 01, 2022 12:54PM | |
| Order of reading series | 2 | 9 | Jul 31, 2022 06:02PM | |
| ya fantasy bookclub: Grishaverse | 13 | 14 | Jun 26, 2022 08:27AM |
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Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an assoc
...more
Other books in the series
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(3 books)
Articles featuring this book
Hollywood has a long (if uneven) tradition of raiding the Young Adult pantry for stories and series to adapt for the screen. Some books wind up...
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“The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”
—
2285 likes
“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don't tell me why we don't belong together," he said fiercely.”
—
2111 likes
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