Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo → Start Date: June 15, 2013

[Kathy]

Trisha, Jordan and I are reading book #1 The Grisha series so if you can, come join us!! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay!!! I've had my eye on this book for a while but wasn't willing to make the leap! I can't wait!

Thx for getting me to read it Kathy! LOL!

[Kathy]

Yep You're welcome! I have been eyeing it for a while too! lol :)

[Jordan]

This book has been on my tbr since it came out but I've never gotten around to reading it. can't wait for this now :)

[Vicki]

Haha! You convinced me. I have this book, so I'll be joining you. :o) June 15 will be my first day back home after we take our vacation. I live in FLAT land, no rolling hills, few trees, no mountains, :o( So I guess that's why we go to the ocean and mountains and fish and ride bikes on the ocean front trails. But it's also SO peaceful fishing out in lake at Big Bear...SO relaxing, even if we don't catch. I'm so excited. In Oceanside 2 of my daughters are going and 4 of my grandkids, but in Big Bear my son, 1 daughter (maybe 2), and at least 9 of my 19 grandkids will be there too. And my daughter-in-law LOVES to cook!!!! LOL So I just mainly get to reap the benefits of a beautiful daughter-in-law's generosity and skill in cooking. She's been "in the family" since she and my daughter Heather were 14, which is nearly 22 years ago. How blessed I am to have her. (Didn't mean to go off on this tangent.)

[Kathy]

Yay!!! Vicki, it sounds like you're going to have a really good time on vacation! :)

[Vicki]

Most definitely! I can hardly wait!

[Becky]

If I'm not totally exhausted and booked out I may hop on with you guys because I have heard such good things! But I feel I have way over scheduled myself, lol! :-)

[Kathy]

Ok Becky, hopefully you'll be able to make it!!:)

[Alexa]

I'm in!! :):)

[Ally]

Such an amazing book, have fun guys!!! I absolutely LOVED this one.

[Kathy]

@Alexa, so glad you're back!! :)

@Ally, Thanks!! I hope I like it too! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm so excited for this one!!!

alright, 22 chapters + an After....
almost 360 pages

are we okay with 7 chapters and then check in???
that's about 100 pages...

Or do we want to stick with 5 chapters?

[Vicki]

I'll go with the flow

[Alexa]

WOW, OMG WOW JUST WOW.
I just finished it...I literally read it in one sitting, I didn't even notice that I got halfway through or anything, the only thing I saw was the acknowledgements and..whaaaat!?! Sorry I just have a hard time believing this, IT WAS AMAZING!! I'll discuss with you guys, I didn't even stop to get a drink or anything so I didn't come on here and update..can't wait to discuss this.. especially the twist, WHY???!! (view spoiler)[I really liked the Darkling, so gutting that he's evil now. Oh well, he's an excellent bad guy!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

lol OMG read it in one sitting!?! I can't wait wait to start it!!

[Alexa]

ahh Trisha!! it was so good and what I loved the most has to be the world-building, I mean it's fantasy and it's expected but it was phenomenal and the last chapters were crazy!! I loved everything :)

So excited for you guys to start it and the discussion!!

[Kathy]

Wow! So now I'm really excited for this one! Thanks Alexa!! :D

7 chapters sounds good to me!! :)

[Vicki]

Alexa wrote: "WOW, OMG WOW JUST WOW.
I just finished it...I literally read it in one sitting, I didn't even notice that I got halfway through or anything, the only thing I saw was the acknowledgements and..whaaa..."

LOL I am just about to begin this one. How on earth did you read it so fast? I wish I could do that!

[Alexa]

Vicki wrote: "LOL I am just about to begin this one. How on earth did you read it so fast? I wish I could do that!"

We're in different timezones but when it was 6 AM here (in the morning) I woke up. For some weird reason I couldn't sleep, everyone at home were asleep and I had no intentions of waking anyone up so I just grabbed the book and started reading.

4 hours later, I was done!! So I didn't read fast or anything, I just began earlier today :)

[Vicki]

Lol 4 hours for a book that size is fast to me!

[Kathy]

Yes! 4 hours is fast!! lol! :D

I tried reading while I was out at my sister's house, I didn't get much done. So I'm getting back to it!! :)

[Kathy]

Ok I only got 4 chapters in, but I plan to do nothing but read tomorrow...or later today!! :D

I like it so far! Action packed right out of the gate!! I love this world, eerie and scary, but amazing!

Mal (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what to think of him. He seems like he likes Alina, but then does things to make me think...not! (hide spoiler)]

The Darkling! First I have to say that I love that that is what he is called! It's mysterious and enigmatic, also (view spoiler)[ how old is he? He is definitely not what he seems, but in a good way! (hide spoiler)]

Alina! I like her!!! She's very unassuming, but at the same time she's also brave and fearless!

Alexa, I can see how you couldn't put it down! I'm so tired and I don't want to go to bed, but it's almost 1 am here!! I can't wait to read more later!! lol :)

[Alexa]

There were so many words I'd never seen before/created by the author so it was a bit frustrating, but it's all explained along the way.

I agree Kathy about Mal, that was exactly how I felt about him to begin with!!
I'm still not COMPLETELY convinced after finishing the book but that's because of the plot twist LOL. Enjoy!!!

Vicki wrote: "Lol 4 hours for a book that size is fast to me!"
I was pretty surprised too, it usually takes me 5-6 hours to finish a 300+ pgs book.

but wow you guys are buddy reading 2 books that crave lots of attention, this and The Immortal Rules. Take your time ladies!! You're diving into two amazing worlds :)

[Alexa]

Oh and random: if any of you like Florence, (Florence + The Machine) I'd just like to say that No Light, No Light reminds me of this book!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay, lol I only made it 4 chapters too! Promise to read more tomorrow (wish I could read it all in one sitting! ;) but I got sucked into Les Misérables movie!)

:) I'll be back to chat more tomorrow!

[Kathy]

I know! When I was reading this I kept think about and I know while I'm reading that I'll be thinking of this one!!! lol! :D

[Ally]

YAY I'm so glad you guys are enjoying it! I'm obsessed with this book.

First of all, Kathy, you're very perceptive already ;) I won't say more than that but you're on the right track for something.

Alexa - I totally agree about the new words. It annoyed me to no end in the prologue/first chapter (I don't remember what they called it, but the part when Alina and Mal were young), but then the language became a lot more fluid and easier to read. I kept wondering whether they were Russian or made up, then cursed my Russian self for not knowing the language LOL

[Vicki]

Ally, haha, that's too funny!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay, I've just finished chpter 9 and ugh, I wish I was with you guys. The foreign words are still driving me crazy

and I'm getting information dumps... Lost languages, weird words, colors meaning rank, who sits by who by the dark one and heirarchy along with new pople.. I'm not memorizing any of it!... lol I hope I can keep up!

I really like Genya and I already miss Mal ;)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay, 14 chapters in and I'm so glad the lingo and colors and info overload has come down for me :)

Genya (view spoiler)[ I really like her. she is just the best best friend in here. I hope we don't find out she's been steering Alina wrong! (hide spoiler)]

Apparat (view spoiler)[ I want to think he's a bad guy but something tells me he might really be trying to warn her about something....I just can't quite tell (hide spoiler)]

Baghara (view spoiler)[ I kind of like her. She's spunky and pushy but doesn't seem to be cruel. Except maybe when she hits with her stick! lol (hide spoiler)]

Darkling (view spoiler)[ oooh buddy. That boy is something else. LOL "Can I come to you tonight?" WOW! Ignore her and then WANT TO VISIT HER?! AT NIGHT?!?! but the kisses in the room... EEE!!! :D (hide spoiler)]

Mal (view spoiler)[ he breaks my heart. I hate that he's angry she's with someone when he's been SHOVING his relationships with others in her face always. Now that she has anyone other than him....he's upset.
I wish he could just be happy for her...even a little. Or a little more gentle....so sad that they fought the first time they saw each other in months... (hide spoiler)]

I can't quite tell where this will go from here...
is there a cliffhanger?!?! LOL
I'll be done soon

[Alexa]

oh there's a plot twist coming your way, ha, watch out LOL

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

LOL!!! I think that plot twist is CHAPTER 15!!! Hilarious.
after I posted all that, it all got twisted around, didn't it!!!!?!!

[Ally]

LOL Trisha everything changed for you FAST! Shows how twisting and turning this book is!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

wow, amazing. just finished and I loved it! I didn't guess any of it and (view spoiler)[ because it was built up so well, I absolutely loved the brooding little Darkling. Even when she said he was bad, I didn't want to believe it! Until he actually did it, I was still holding out hope for him..... (hide spoiler)]

[Ally]

Trisha, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I was shocked too. I really thought that (view spoiler)[Alina would heal the brooding bad boy. It isn't that I don't like Mal, but the Darkling was... the Darkling! LOL too late on that front (hide spoiler)]

I'm guessing I have a reading buddy for ? ;)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

lol I'm so glad I'm not alone in this (view spoiler)[ when he kissed her in that room after Mal, her whole life, had looked beyond her - I wanted so much for the Darkling to be a good guy....I had hoped hoped hoped....

*sigh* oh well... (hide spoiler)]

Yes, you ABSOLUTELY have a buddy for book 2!!! LOL
I just got it so I'm ready when ever you are :D

[Kathy]

Finished chapter 9

Being Father's Day, I didn't get anywhere near the reading I wanted to get done today! But that's ok. :)

I like how honest and forthcoming Alina is with The Darkling, even though he intimidates her, she still tells him what is on her mind. Also (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure if her choosing to wear blue instead of black is really going to help wart off the attention she's getting. (hide spoiler)]

The priest guy! (view spoiler)[ I don't trust him! Is he a spy for one of the border countries? And the King! "She's plain." he said! Could he be more of a whinny baby! The Queen! What a harpy! I don't trust any of them!! (hide spoiler)]

Genya! I like her! At first she was a little harsh, but after that whole day, I could see why!

Also I don't know if I mentioned in my first comment that those monsters were gross! Creepy! And Yuck! And she has to go back there at some point to kill those things? *shudder*

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kathy wrote: "Finished chapter 9

Being Father's Day, I didn't get anywhere near the reading I wanted to get done today! But that's ok. :)

I like how honest and forthcoming Alina is with The Darkling, even thou..."

OMG LOL! What a harpy! I laughed AND snorted! Hilarious!!!

[Kathy]

lol Well she was! I was going to call her another name, but I don't like to use curse words! haha :)

[Alexa]

wooop Trisha! HAHA, I don't think anyone saw it coming!
I was actually hoping it wouldn't be true because (view spoiler)[I don't want him to be evil :( he makes an excellent bad guy though, have to give him credit for that (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

I didn't get to this one last night, but hopefully I'll get it done today or at least most of it! :)

[Kathy]

Finished chapter 12

The priest (view spoiler)[ He is so creepy!! What was he going to do to Alina that night in the infirmary? I can't figure him out! (hide spoiler)]

Zoya (view spoiler)[ I hate her! She has made it to top of my list of characters I want to B**** Slap!! I mean how petty and hateful, I'm glad the Darkling made her cry! B****! I save the worst curse words for the ones that really tick me off! lol :) (hide spoiler)]

Alina (view spoiler)[ Finally she had a break through! Although it took Mal not writing her to do it! What the heck is doing not writing her! I do think the Darkling asked her about his tracking skills and sent him to Tsibeya to find the stagg, but that doesn't excuse him for not writing her! He needs to pull his head out!! (hide spoiler)]

I only work 4 hours today so I'll get more reading time in later! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Ugh, Zoya! Don't you just want to shake that girl?? She's awful!

so much is about to happen :D enjoy!

[Kathy]

I'm the middle of chapter 15

I have to post!! I don't want to believe what I just read!!!!! (view spoiler)[ The Darkling is a bad guy???!!?? No! Nonononono! I think this is the first character that I have ever been really upset about them turning into a bad guy! :'( *crying* (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

OMG! I'm done!

That was so incredible!! I can't even believe it! I mean WTH!!! (view spoiler)[ Betrayal everywhere! Genya!!! The Darkling! When she punched Ivan in the face I was cheering her! I'm still not sure I trust the priest! He really creeped me out!! Genya!!!!! *crying* and *sniff* (hide spoiler)]

When are we reading book !!!!! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I have book 2, so I'm ready when you guys are LOL! :D

[Kathy]

I have my copy too! Can we start the first week of July? I'm not sure what you guys schedule is like then, but I can't wait!!! :)

[Vicki]

I feel like a loser! I haven't even started this one. I thought I was going to but just am so bogged down. Hoping I can fit it in somewhere, somehow!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

no worries Vicki. when you can, we'll be here :D

1st week of July?

how's 7/4 or 7/5??