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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 her ...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 her ...more
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Start your review of Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)
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
..............
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. No child should look like that.”Like realllllllly ugly.
Pale and sour, like a glass of milk that’s turned....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 ...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 ...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.
This is the best YA fantasy novel I've read since SABRIEL or THE GOLDEN COMPASS.
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
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
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
2.5 stars
It is alright, if you are into fantasy lite. I, on the other hand, am a little weary of this lightish, breezy and superficial entertainment. Give me something juicier, something more thoughtful, something more sophisticated.
Shadow and Bone is a decent book. Bardugo's writing style is easy and engaging. The plot is developed enough to masquerade the fact that the biggest chunk of it is the usual boarding school fare with makeovers, mean girl drama, petty rivalries, balls and a bit of ...more
It is alright, if you are into fantasy lite. I, on the other hand, am a little weary of this lightish, breezy and superficial entertainment. Give me something juicier, something more thoughtful, something more sophisticated.
Shadow and Bone is a decent book. Bardugo's writing style is easy and engaging. The plot is developed enough to masquerade the fact that the biggest chunk of it is the usual boarding school fare with makeovers, mean girl drama, petty rivalries, balls and a bit of ...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... ...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... ...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 ...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 ...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 ...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 ...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 ...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
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 ...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 ...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 ...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 ...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 love ...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. But ...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. But ...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 ...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 ...more
I loved it from page one. One incredible journey.
I’m going to tell you guys something: My first ever read in English was Throne of Glass and that was last September. I thought, with my knowledge of the English language (at that time) that picking a 400 page book up as a first read in English was going to work out well for me. ‘‘Piece of cake,’’ was what I told myself.
Well, not exactly…
I struggled with that book because of how the writing was, in my opinion, complex and all those new terms that ...more
I’m going to tell you guys something: My first ever read in English was Throne of Glass and that was last September. I thought, with my knowledge of the English language (at that time) that picking a 400 page book up as a first read in English was going to work out well for me. ‘‘Piece of cake,’’ was what I told myself.
Well, not exactly…
I struggled with that book because of how the writing was, in my opinion, complex and all those new terms that ...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 ...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 ...more
You're gonna question your moral compass, and you're gonna be happy about it.
UPDATE: ive just found out this got the greenlight from netflix to become a series. ahsljfldjaklfjdlajfl. i am deceased. RIP me.
___________________________________
'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
___________________________________
'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
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
“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,
...more
4.5 stars!
On reread in 2018: Still 4.5 stars for me! I’m so glad to be re-reading this.
On reread in 2018: Still 4.5 stars for me! I’m so glad to be re-reading this.
See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net!
Leigh Bardugo, you glorious, talented woman, you've done it again!
Six of Crows captured my heart when I read it back at the end of January, yet this book took any established expectations I had and blew them out of the water! I know it's kind of a weird opinion, but I ended up enjoying this slightly more than SoC. I do think this is entirely my fault, as I'm now convinced that I should have read this series first! If you're wondering where to ...more
Leigh Bardugo, you glorious, talented woman, you've done it again!
Six of Crows captured my heart when I read it back at the end of January, yet this book took any established expectations I had and blew them out of the water! I know it's kind of a weird opinion, but I ended up enjoying this slightly more than SoC. I do think this is entirely my fault, as I'm now convinced that I should have read this series first! If you're wondering where to ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1557144778p2/15335689.jpg)
#0.1 The Demon in the Wood
#1 Shadow and Bone
#1.5 The Tailor
#2 Siege and Storm
#3 Ruin and Rising
reread update: December 2017
This book was so much better the first time I read it. No, scratch that - I think my standards were so much lower the first time. It's not a bad book, but you can definitely tell it's from before Leigh found her groove, and the characters are mostly not enjoyable at all (aside from the Darkling, Genya, and Botkin). The "twist" still feels bad, and it's mostly incredibly ...more
Oct 02, 2019
♡ ᴅ ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴍ ♡ (semi-hiatus)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-physical
3 / 5 stars
I already tried to convince myself that this book was great and I loved it like others did but I’m so sorry. I failed. This book was just an another 3-star read for me. It wasn’t only because I found other characters more interesting than the main characters (if you saw my status update about this book, you might know this already) but about 75% of the book was relatively bland and boring for my liking and as a result, I was bored. :(
I know I shouldn’t have expected it too much but ...more
I already tried to convince myself that this book was great and I loved it like others did but I’m so sorry. I failed. This book was just an another 3-star read for me. It wasn’t only because I found other characters more interesting than the main characters (if you saw my status update about this book, you might know this already) but about 75% of the book was relatively bland and boring for my liking and as a result, I was bored. :(
I know I shouldn’t have expected it too much but ...more
Dec 01, 2018
✨ A ✨
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
four-stars,
read-in-2018
You’re the first glimmer of hope I’ve had in a long time.
I don't know why it has taken me this long to start this series. But I'm actually kind of grateful that I'm reading it now that the Throne of Glass series is complete. I'll now have this world to obsess over.
This book was a really good start to a series. It lays the ground work for what's to come and I'm really excited to continue on.
There were times where I found the main character, Alina, irritating. Plus I'm not particularly fond of ...more
I don't know why it has taken me this long to start this series. But I'm actually kind of grateful that I'm reading it now that the Throne of Glass series is complete. I'll now have this world to obsess over.
This book was a really good start to a series. It lays the ground work for what's to come and I'm really excited to continue on.
There were times where I found the main character, Alina, irritating. Plus I'm not particularly fond of ...more
There was only one part in the book I didn't care for and took a star off so there you go.
The rest of the book was pretty good. I enjoyed the characters and the different story lines. It seemed like it ended too soon or maybe I have been reading too many BIG books lately.
Alina and Mal had been orphans together for years until it was time for them to do their own thing. But, there is a secret about Alina and she goes from ordinary to extra-ordinary in the blink of an eye. < -- blink of an ...more
The rest of the book was pretty good. I enjoyed the characters and the different story lines. It seemed like it ended too soon or maybe I have been reading too many BIG books lately.
Alina and Mal had been orphans together for years until it was time for them to do their own thing. But, there is a secret about Alina and she goes from ordinary to extra-ordinary in the blink of an eye. < -- blink of an ...more
Im IMPRESSED, is what i am!!!!!!
I've had this book sitting on my book shelf for ages now, and just hadn't had the time to pick it up. after seeing all the fuss over Leigh Bardugo's new book, (which i also have idly sitting on my shelf), i decided i should read shadow and bone, and as mentioned previously, I'm impressed! This is an instant YA attraction. It's a typical fantasy YA with just enough action, the perfect romance, dancing around a fast paced plot and smooth eloquent writing. The ...more
I've had this book sitting on my book shelf for ages now, and just hadn't had the time to pick it up. after seeing all the fuss over Leigh Bardugo's new book, (which i also have idly sitting on my shelf), i decided i should read shadow and bone, and as mentioned previously, I'm impressed! This is an instant YA attraction. It's a typical fantasy YA with just enough action, the perfect romance, dancing around a fast paced plot and smooth eloquent writing. The ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Shadow and Bone (The Grishaverse #1) by Leigh Bardugo - Restarting December 14th 2019 | 406 | 513 | 1 hour, 51 min ago | |
| The Procrastinato...: Shadow and Bone (December 2019) Group Read Discussion | 39 | 32 | 4 hours, 59 min ago | |
| A Place For Anyone | 1 | 2 | Dec 06, 2019 10:21AM | |
| All the Books!: Shadow and Bone | 1 | 2 | Dec 02, 2019 07:24AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over three million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. (To hear about new releases, tour dates, and giveaways first, sign up for Leigh's newsletter here.) Her short
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Other books in the series
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
(3 books)
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“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.”
—
1581 likes
“The problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak.”
—
1284 likes
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