Shadow and Bone (The Grishaverse #1) by Leigh Bardugo - Restarting November 29th 2021

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

Yes, it was really weird, but having read a lot, I think I know why.

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

100%
I actually finished this, and.....I don't know what to say

It went waaaaay off track from what I thought.....like completely different from what I expected,.....but in a good way?

(view spoiler)[I genuinely didn't suspect the Darkling, not even once, of having anything less than innocent motives. And I was confused and just along for the ride in the last 50% or so of this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[I' wondering why Grishas are always so beautiful and wouldn't that be boring if everyone is flawless... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I feel sorry for he, she is so alone :/ That "priest" who is with the king seems really interesting person, I'm quite sure he is a bad person. I hope that Alina can change things: it's awful that there are groups that doesn't be friends with the people in the other groups... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[I think there is something really sweet in Genya's feelings toward David (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[It's like Darkling would guess something about Mal. Has Mal always known about Alina's power and suppressed it somehow so that Alina hasn't noticed it? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[This king's man, apparatchik, continues to be interesting. What's the book he gave to her?? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

Good point....(view spoiler)[they're portrayed like Gods more or less....aren't they?
Or at least as if they think they're Gods compared to non-Grishas (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 7
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I had mixed feelings about the priest.....on the one hand, he's seriously creepy....on the other...usually in books where there are characters you don't like....sometimes when they're trying to talk to to the main characters, they're trying to tell them something important.....In fact, I still don't know what he was trying to do....and whether he was just a creep (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 8
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Me too.....it's like unrequited, but somehow....sweet....for all her tailoring, there's still someone who doesn't notice her....in fact the person she really wants to notice her, doesn't (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

I don't know....it doesn't seem like it...

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 10
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Can't remember....but she didn't even look at it (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Trisha wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes maybe you're right: like they born like that and that's it. But then it feel only more strange how Alina can be Grisha if they should have a specific look... It just doesn't make sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[I like the priest: he's so creepy and it makes the things more interesting xD I started to wonder how old is Alina and her new friends. Zoya behaved the way it's hard to believe they are really mature. Well Alina started to think that maybe Mal was only happy that they had been separated and I was like "where you got that from o_O" xD (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Now that you say it, I have to admit, I didn't notice, but yes, it doesn't make sense (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 11
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I thought Zoya was mostly behaving like a spoiled child......
And Alina and Mal have been deluding themselves ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[I'm glad that Alina finally figured out how she can use her power, the story started to move nowhere and I was hoping something happening soon - and it did! I don't still really buy these "romantic vibes" because 1) Mal didn't see her as anything else than friend and 2) where did this blushing when Darkling mentioned started? It came from the bushes - for me at least. I would be so glad if things would change and Ivan would bring some romance :D I mean that for me Darkling and Mal are too obvious targets in this sense and I'm hoping there would be something more surprising. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[Where did that kiss come from o_O (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[I don't really know what I should think about Darkling. This kissing came from nowhere xD It was really nice that Mal started to show like he care. I really liked the atmosphere of the ball, it was somehow magical. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[Now I am happy I was never bying that kissing 🤣 It was interesting to know that those dangerous things that took Alina's friend has been people!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[You could guess it would be Mal finding her. But I liked the escape, there is always something thrilling in the scenes like that! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 12
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't note the blushing....but yes, it was really weird.....I honestly thought Mal was going to be the best friend full stop.
They are too obvious love interests, yes..... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 13
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Your reaction is the same as mine....I thought that was waaaaay too fast, and too forward..... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 14
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Same! The love triangle is something I didn't like.....I reaally thought it was unnecessary....but then I don't really like love triangles in the first place....so I might be biased (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 15
[spoilers removed]

Chapter 16
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't want to give it away before :)
Yes, it was....and really creepy somehow.....

Yeah, that was a bit predictable.....but the good kind of predictable....I love escape scenes!! Actually I like action scenes full stop. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[I love this escaping scene! It's thrilling and I keep wondering how this is going to end. And that laughing <3 I really love that there is also something good also in bad situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[How awful story Mal had to tell :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 17
[spoilers removed]"

Yaaay!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 18
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah

[Johanna]

Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[Poor poor pooor stag 😭 I hoped all the time that they haven't kill him but noooo (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[Genya, what have you done?! And Alina forgave, she is a good person (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 19
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I know right!?!?!?! I really thought he might survive, after all the lengths they went to :( (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I really liked Genya.....and I was sad when she more or less turned to the other side.....but I still have hopes for her.....she seems like the type to return to the right side, if that makes sense? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Trisha wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Chapter 20
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[I have still some pages left so I'm not sure if Genya plays still some part in the story. But you're definitely right: I love characters: they are so alive, make mistakes and no one is only good or bad. And I believe also that people we thought would be good/bad are something else in the end... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21
(view spoiler)[Oh my, this book has made me feel so much, I love this last 1/3 part of the book. That night with Mal in the cell was so touching and in the beginning I didn't like Mal very much. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[I am super happy that finally it was her good heart that made all the good happen! She got the stag's power because she couldn't kill him. That was so so touching when she realised it!! (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finished
(view spoiler)[The ending... it wasn't really ending but well, this was only the first part in the serie. There is still so much questions, so much things you wonder. I would love to know what happened to Genya or even Baghra. I think the priest is going to be in the bigger role in the next parts. This was really nice read, and I am going to continue with the serie. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "100%
I actually finished this, and.....I don't know what to say

It went waaaaay off track from what I thought.....like completely different from what I expected,.....but in a good way?

(view spoiler)[Yeah I agree that the first part of the book was quite common and offered quite much the same that every YA fantasy book. But then the world and charachters and the plot started to offer more surprising things and that was fantastic! I love surprises 🤣
Thank you so much for this BR!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Hi Trisha and Johanna! Sorry for being late. I had to do some work so I could not read so much. I'll start to properly read it from today.

[Johanna]

NP, I'm waiting for your comments. Happy reading ^_^

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ At this point...I'm not really sure what the story is about but I like the main pair (Alina and Mal) already. I don't really see character development so good as this. I'm glad that the author decides to explain their present self by connecting to the past. I agree with Johanna, I hate how Mal comes to Alina only for heart-to-heart talk and nothing else. He should at least give his time like how he treats his friends. And I think this book reminds me of Sorcery of thorns. I loveee that book! (hide spoiler)]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!

[Johanna]

Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"
(view spoiler)[I loved the "Before"-chapter, but then I lost it a bit when suddenly Mal was so different and I didn't like their "friendship" because Alina was like a puppy running after someone 🤣 I prefered the beginning of SoT because I loved that scary box and rain and...awww. It was more thrilling! Now I mean only the beginnings of these two books. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Ange wrote: "Hi Trisha and Johanna! Sorry for being late. I had to do some work so I could not read so much. I'll start to properly read it from today."

No problem Ange, hope you're enjoying it!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"

(view spoiler)[I think I enjoyed Sorcery Of Thorns better, probably because it was a very good standalone.
Same, Mal doesn't seem very interested in Alina somehow.....I really didn't even think there was any chance of there being a romance between these two....I still don't...somehow, I don't know, I don't much love Mal? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Johanna wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Same! Their friendship doesn't seem like a very good one.....it seems very one-sided, what with Mal not paying attention to her most of the time. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Johanna wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ It is expected because they were always together since they met at the house.
Same! I felt like I was watching a movie. Every moment seems alive in Sot! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Trisha wrote: "Ange wrote: "Hi Trisha and Johanna! Sorry for being late. I had to do some work so I could not read so much. I'll start to properly read it from today."

No problem Ange, hope you're enjoying it!"

Thanks Trisha! :)

[[deleted user]]

Trisha wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"

I think I enjoyed Sorcery Of Thorns better, probably because it was a very good standalone.
Same, Mal doesn't seem ver..."
(view spoiler)[ SoT is definitely a good one. I don't really get to enjoy and see much adventure as this one.
Same for now. I hope it gets better as I read through... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Trisha wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yea it's sad... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Ange wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"
[spoilers removed]"
It is expected because they were always together since they met at the house.
Sam..."

Yeah, exactly!!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Ange wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Ange wrote: "Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]
Thanks for understanding Johanna!"

I think I enjoyed Sorcery Of Thorns better, probably because it was a very good standalone.
Same, Mal d..."

True!

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[ Wow. The event happened too fast for my liking. Poor Alexei. He died by the Volcra. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting March 13th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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