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Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone, #1)

Leigh Bardugo

Start date: January 1, 2016

Finish date: January 31, 2016

Discussion: Book/Genre of the Month

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* The System
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What Members Thought

Jan 22, 2018 Ivy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, favorites, published-in-2017

5 🌟

The Grisha World is very interesting. Glad that we were introduced to Alina and the other characters. Also glad that Alina was able to discover her Sun Summoner powers. The different Grisha were very cool as well. The Darkling seems very ambitious and motivated. Wonder about just how old he is. Hope Alina will be able to stop the Darkling. Also happy that she was able to be with Mal again.

So overall, this was an awesome book that I would recommend to fans of fantasy and YA novels.

Can't wait t ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

May 26, 2013 Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) rated it liked it

Shelves: audio

Quick review:

Cover:Okay
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 3.5
Overall: Interesting
Characters: Good job
Plot: With power comes great responsibility
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Sure
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Mal

SUMMARY (50 words or less)
The trouble with this story is that it’s the same tale with a different spin. There is nothing really unique except the setting and the naming convention. Otherwise, I’ve read this type of story a hundred times over. Still, I will most likely read the next book.

For a full ...more

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May 15, 2018 Carla Simoes rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own-english, favorites-5-stars, 2018

The first book in the Grisha series and i love love love it!

First i need to confess that i did not know about this trilogy and only see it because i want to read Six of Crows and see that there are books before it. I debate with myself if i should or not read this one first because i see some opinions that say it is not needed and some that say it was best, now i'm so happy that i choose to read it.

I really like the writing style and the chapter's for me have the perfect length (i'm really rea ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 13, 2017 Elena Love rated it really liked it

I've had Shadow and Bone on my shelves for ages. Literally! And I've actually picked it up a couple of times and was in the process of starting it but, for some stupid reason, I always put it back on my shelves. Huge mistake! But I guess everything happens for a reason, right?

I absolutely adored this! I did not expect to love it this much, even though I've always found the idea behind it more than intriguing. It's just that, it's been a very long time since I've read a fantasy book and fell in l I've had Shadow and Bone on my shelves for ages. Literally! And I've actually picked it up a couple of times and was in the process of starting it but, for some stupid reason, I always put it back on my shelves. Huge mistake! But I guess everything happens for a reason, right?

I absolutely adored this! I did not expect to love it this much, even though I've always found the idea behind it more than intriguing. It's just that, it's been a very long time since I've read a fantasy book and fell in love with it.

I found the first couple of chapters to be quite slow but, after I pushed through them, I was hooked and could not stop reading. I guess it makes sense since, this is the first book in a series and the author had to introduce the world and the characters so, I would definitely recommend to keep on reading if you feel the same way! It's not that they weren't enjoyable or anything. On the contrary, they were very interesting to read, but I guess I'm too much of an action/adrenaline junkie for my own good.

With that being said, after I really got into the story, I had to know what would happen next. It was almost impossible for me to put this book down and if it weren't for the countless assignments I have to complete, I would've have finished it way sooner than I did. Just getting that out there because I'm feeling quite frustrated and overwhelmed right now.

Shadow and Bone was also one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. I loved the world building and the way it added so much more into the story! The way the plot developed was completely unpredictable and I loved every single twist and turn the author decided to throw my way! The world of the Grisha was more than fascinating to enter and learn about! Leigh Bardugo did an amazing job at creating a world full of magic, mystery and adventure!

Moving on to the characters, I loved every single one of them. Well, except from the Darkling of course, who I will get to later on in this review. Let me start by saying that, Aline was a very misunderstood character. In her mind, she never had a bright future and was perfectly fine with being a mapmaker - at least that's what she kept telling herself - but fate had other plans for her. I also felt very bad for her because she kept suppressing who and what she truly was, without even realizing it. I really enjoyed reading this story from her perspective and was able to connect with her as a character, which is something I'm always looking forward to when starting a new book. I really got invested in her character as I kept reading and immensely enjoyed watching her grow into herself, becoming more confident and embracing her true self and powers. She really developed throughout the story but, she was far from perfect. She had her flaws and still struggled with herself but, she fought so hard to become a better person and do the right things which is admirable!

Moving on to Mal. I liked him but, I didn't connect with him as much as I had hoped. He was a very likable character and played a big role in the ending of the book itself but, I feel like I didn't get to know him as much as I did the rest of the characters. He was introduced as Alina's childhood friend - her only real friend - who she basically had a huge crush on but, he was to ignorant to realize it. I couldn't really form a complete picture of him inside my head but, I'm definitely getting there.

Which brings me to the Darkling. I feel like he's one of those characters you absolutely hate upon realizing he's actually super evil and wants to destroy the world but, secretly, you can't help but fall in love with him. Yes, at the beginning, I fell in love with the Darkling. He's exactly the kind of guy I would have been attracted to. He comes of as a mature and tortured soul, who is extremely tired of watching the world fall apart. He's also sick of watching from the side lines and not being able to change anything, even though he's the most powerful person on earth. But, he obviously has huge plans in order to turn things around and make everything better.

He's so convincing and likable from the very beginning of the book, even though deep inside you know for sure that, something very fishy is going on with him. He knows what he wants and he sure as hell knows how to go after it and make it his. That's what he basically does in Alina's case. She falls for his charms and the fact that someone like him, would notice someone like her.

I don't know whether he's honest or if he truly has feelings for her but, at the beginning I actually shipped them as a couple. The ending obviously changed my mind and I really wish justice will be served sometime during the rest of the books in the series!

Overall, Shadow and Bone was an immensely enjoyable read that had me hooked. It has its flaws but, it's definitely worth reading. And, it's definitely perfect for fans of YA Fantasy! I truthfully regret not picking it up sooner! ...more

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