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

[Maddie]

Thanks Jenn!

Can't wait to start this! Might be starting a few days later, but we'll see!

[Maddie]

44% (view spoiler)[I love how this one just jumps right into the action, and while I still get the Grisha colours and titles mixed up, I like the intro to the world! And I like Alina as a character, nothing too obnoxious or annoying there yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

74% (view spoiler)[I thought she spent more time at the Little Palace! I know I'm reading this one really quickly, but it feels like she wasn't at the palace for long. I'm loving this though, and Baghra being his mother :o That's why she gets to him so much.

This is why I don't like the Darkling. I could get behind him in the earlier part of the book. But finding out he wants to expand the Shadow Fold? This is where I get confused that people are still obsessed with him.. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Will finish today

[Maddie]

85% (view spoiler)[Why can't she just kill this stag now? Then she'd get the power. Sick of her, just because it's beautiful she can't kill it? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

100% (view spoiler)[I wonder what happened to the sandskiff, and I really don't know how people are obsessed with Darkling after that ending... It makes no sense! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

4.5 stars
.
I really don't know how people are obsessed with Darkling after that ending... It makes no sense! It made sense at the start, and then things happened, and no sense was made.. I'm still definitely Team Mal here <3 He seems perfect. I like how boring Alina was, it's relatable. I find her to be pretty forgettable.
.
I love the idea of elementals, they've always called to me as a supernatural ability. And the Russian background just felt so cool, I love the way Russian words sound. I had a little trouble keeping the Orders of Grisha straight, remembering which did what, but as this is my third read it's making more sense XD

[Brinley]

I'm starting this one now!

[Shae]

I started last night too :)

[Brinley]

Page 111
(view spoiler)[ it never stops amazing me that Alina refused to wear the Darkling's colors. I guess I get it, but still! After a lifetime of being forgotten, you would think shed be desperate to be noticed (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Page 210
(view spoiler)[ I love the idea that using their power strengthens the Grisha. I don't think it's something that I've seen I'm a fantasy before, and I really like how it actually makes sense.

Also, I love David and Genya so much!! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Page 232
(view spoiler)[ Ugh, Mal is irritating. What's his problem? Did he really expect Alina to go to the Grisha Palace and stay the same peasant girl she used to be? Did he expect her to still only have him as a friend? He has no right to be mad at her, especially when he's been gone for months. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 18
(view spoiler)[ Alina's powers are so useless. Sure, she can blind people temporarily, but what exactly does that achieve? Her only use is ridding Ravka of the Fold, which she doesn't even know how to do (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I still want to slap Mal. He's just so pointless. If he had just killed Alina or the stag like she'd asked, this wouldn't have been a problem. Or if he hadn't been jealous and possessive over Alina despite never admitting his feelings.

Otherwise, I still really enjoyed this. I've reread it so many times that there aren't any big surprises (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Maddie wrote: "74%

(view spoiler)[ I think the main reason people obsess over the Darkling is just that he isn't Mal. And, his reasons for wanting to expand the Fold have some bearing. He doesn't just want power, he says that he wants peace. Sure, he's evil, but he's also a compelling villain. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Maddie wrote: "85% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That scene made me so angry. She had no qualms about hunting it down, but when it go to to the actual act, she needed someone else to do it for her. Come on, she knew what would happen if she failed, but she still refused to kill it (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Brinley wrote: "Page 210
I love the idea that using their power strengthens the Grisha. I don't think it's something that I've seen I'm a fantasy before, and I really like how it actually makes sense.

Also, I l..."

Yes using it strengthens them, it seems so powerful!

[Maddie]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 18
[spoilers removed]"

I like how she's basically useless haha

[Maddie]

Brinley wrote: "Finished
I still want to slap Mal. He's just so pointless. If he had just killed Alina or the stag like she'd asked, this wouldn't have been a problem. Or if he hadn't been jealous and possessive ..."

If only she'd done it, it'd be fine

[Maddie]

Anyone for Siege and Storm?

[Shae]

Maddie I’m 25% with this now (just read 5%) once I’m finished I’m keen for #2!

[Shae]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I totally forget this book even thought it’s a reread. I’ve vibed that the main girl likes Mal, but also feeling darkling romance. I could be way off 🤣 strange how she has to lock her door at this place, like grisha aren’t safe. Also so strange how she actually does not think she is grisha! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Shae wrote: "Maddie I’m 25% with this now (just read 5%) once I’m finished I’m keen for #2!"

Yay! Want to read it right after?

[Shae]

Can’t click a link to reply to you from my phone...

Yes I do!

[Maddie]

Phone app so glitchy.

Yaaayyyy :D

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting June 16th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Aaron]

Hi. Starting this now.

[Aaron]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ This is a bit of a slow starter for me. I’m only just starting to grasp the world. I’ve read six of crows but this seems like a very different place. There’s a lot of new word to remember. I haven’t really formed an opinion on the characters or plot yet because of this. (hide spoiler)]

[Aneta]

I'm going to start this tomorrow :)

[Aneta]

Finished chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I really like that scene in the Shadow Fold but it's slower then I remeber. (hide spoiler)]

[Aneta]

Finished chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men. - I think this quote is my favorite from this book! (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Aneta wrote: "Finished chapter 7
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That’s interesting. I thought i was making it slow because I was trying to get my head around all the words I’d never heard before. I guess the pace works well for first time readers but not as well if you already understand the world. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ Alina reminds me a lot of Tris from Divergent. Her relationship with the Darkling has a very similar vibe to Tris and Four.
I’m glad Alina started to let go of her old life. Even if Mal isn’t just ignoring her, she needed to embrace this life or she would never be happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Aneta]

Finished chapter 21
(view spoiler)[I didn't remember last third of this book at all. I just knew she took off so some of it took me by surprise. I know a lot of people hate Mal but I like him so I'm glad Alina was on this journey with him. (hide spoiler)]

[Aneta]

Finished
(view spoiler)[This last chapter was intense! I can't belive that Darkling just erased whole city and most of Grisha was okay with it. I'm glad Alina found her power and took off again. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[ I was hoping there was some kind of mistake and the the darkling wasn’t really bad since everything came out of the blue and happened so quickly. That is seeming less and less likely now time is passing and Mal is back. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Aneta wrote: "Finished chapter 21
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I’m not the biggest fan of Mal. He just seems a bit controlling and manipulative to me. I don’t think his relationship with Alina is the healthiest. I think I’d like him more if they weren’t together. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Done
(view spoiler)[ I have no idea how Alina managed to gain control of her powers but it was cool. I think she made the right choice when it came to fleeing with Mal. It was the only way to fully stop the darkling. (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

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Date changed. Restarting November 29th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Brigia]

I’m downloading the book- looking forward to starting this tomorrow! It’s been on my tbr forever…

[[deleted user]]

Brigia wrote: "*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************..."
What chapter are we reading to? Otherwise I'll be done with it before Wednesday. lol

[Brigia]

Go ahead and read at your own pace 😊 I don’t know how fast I’ll be…

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[ So, this is a great start! All very mysterious. I’m so curious about the Grisha and about the Darkling - he seems like a really interesting character! (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Chapter 10

(view spoiler)[This is a really fun and easy read so far! I love the MC, she's very likeable - that's always the most important detail in any book to me. The secondary characters are also intriguing. I would write her a romance with the Darkling, he's so interesting! (never mind that he's more than 100 years old lol) Also, is he going to arrange for Mal to come? I like her maid-friend, too - I've been listening to the audio, so I'm not sure how to spell her name... (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Are you finished already, Lily? :-) What were your thoughts? Were you re-reading it? It's the first time for me.

[EdenB15]

It’s so good!! I’m trying to get the 2nd and 3rd ones off a friend

[Brigia]

EdenB15 wrote: "It’s so good!! I’m trying to get the 2nd and 3rd ones off a friend"

I really like it, too! :-)

[Brigia]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[Oh man - the Darkling is actually evil? How mean - and just after my romantic ideas got real haha
Ok, I did find this whole thing a bit creepy with him being angry while kissing her - not so very romantic after all :-P And Mal is back, yay!
I really liked the psychological aspect, how she cut herself off from her own power. The changes in her look a lot like depression, I liked that analogy. (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ OMG I had a lot of fun! I’m so glad we have a br for the next book planned already! I really hope some of the side characters get a chance to redeem themselves somehow. And I wonder if the Darkling‘s mother is really dead? (hide spoiler)]