Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)

by Leigh Bardugo

“Look at me,” he instructed. I tried to focus on his face, but all I could see was the assassin’s severed body, his blood pooling in the damp leaves. “What … what did you do to him?” I asked, my voice quavering. “What I had to do. Can you stand?” I nodded shakily. He took my hands and helped me to my feet. When my gaze slid back to the corpse, he took hold of my chin and drew my eyes back to his. “At me,” he commanded.

Yo he kinda hot tho

“It’s called the Cut.

Would’ve picked a different name tbh

Sankt Ilya in Chains.

:3

“Nervous?” asked Genya. “A little. I don’t know why.” “Maybe because a few hundred nobles are waiting to get their first look at you.” “Thanks. That really helps.” “You’re very welcome,” she said, giving my hair a hard tug.

I do like their banter

“You should be used to being gawked at by now.” “And yet I’m not.” “Well, if it gets too bad, give me a signal, and I’ll get up on the banquet table, toss my skirt over my head, and do a little dance. That way no one will be looking at you.”

Genus rocks

He did not anticipate them, did not think to wonder what power of that magnitude might do to mere men.” My stomach turned. “The volcra were men?” “Oh yes. Generations ago. Farmers and their wives, their children.

Ouch

“All those years ago,” she said softly. “Before he’d ever dreamed of a Second Army, before he gave up his name and became the Darkling, he was just a brilliant, talented boy.

Throne of Glass has taught me that a character with just a title and no name is SUS AS FUCK

Mal and I were refugees, born to the wars that had raged at Ravka’s borders for so long. What if the Darkling and the terrible power of the Shadow Fold could stop all that? Could silence Ravka’s enemies and make us safe forever? Not just Ravka’s enemies, I reminded myself. Anyone who stands against the Darkling, anyone who dares oppose him. The Darkling would make the world a wasteland before he ceded one bit of power.

Are we surprised? This used to be megavillain behavior and now it’s just politician behavior

“I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”

Honestly, not convinced Mal

The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.

and he’s the one we’re rooting for? I’m not sold

I’m the one who will give them power over their enemies. I’m the one who will free them from the tyranny of the King.” “And give them your tyranny in return.” “Someone has to lead, Alina. Someone has to end this. Believe me, I wish there were another way.” He sounded so sincere, so reasonable, less a creature of relentless ambition than a man who believed he was doing the right thing for his people. Despite all he’d done and all he intended, I did almost believe him. Almost.

“I wish there were another way” is NEVER TRUE in this circumstance bro