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

[Maddie]

Chapter 5, 26% (view spoiler)[Oh dammit, Darkling's the obsession in this one. I can predict it. If it isn't, then I'll be pleased, because my prediction was wrong, and it rarely is.
It's clear he's drawn to her, but strange how he got up and walked off that night.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 7, 34% (view spoiler)[I'd like a proper description of the volcra. So far I feel like I haven't had one..

I thought Genya would be a Princess when we were first introduced to her, so to find out that she was just a Tailor (what a cool concept!) I was surprised. She was rather obnoxious.

I now feel like Genya will be the best friend.
(hide spoiler)]

I like the quick way this one reads. It's easy.

[Maddie]

Alright now I'm done for the night. I'll get a lot more read tomorrow.

[Natalie]

I'm hoping to start shortly! I just decided to read wayyyy to many books this month so I'm behind in all of them ;D

[Maddie]

Haha don't we always do that :p

[Natalie]

Unfortunately yes 8'D

I think I'm up to 9 or so books at a time right now? Soon to be more :|

I'm aiming for a minimum of a chapter a day, but ideally 20% in each... 8'D

[Maddie]

Haha I used to schedule them all as well, but I got too far behind, and took me too long to finish them all, so I just stick to one at a time now, maybe 2 or 3.

[Natalie]

That's probably the safest... but I want to read so many and having BRs actually gives me the kick I need to start them (and keep going) when in a group reading challenge like I am now... so I might as well stick with them. I'll probably slow down later in the month though - most of the ones I'm really interested in seemed to be within the first 7 days of June for a starting date :P

[Natalie]

Before

(view spoiler)[I wonder if the two children who were introduced will end up being main characters, or if... (hide spoiler)] spoiler for Six of Crows (view spoiler)[both of these kids are only going to be introduced later as dead or dying characters :| (hide spoiler)]

I read the books in the wrong order, reading the sequel series first ;D

[Maddie]

So what's that spoiler? Do I not read that?

[Maddie]

Chapter 9, 41% (view spoiler)[Clear the Darkling's keen on Alina. I still really like Genya :D

Wonder how they missed her power when she was younger.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 11, 47% (view spoiler)[Man this Apparat is so creepy!

Really pleased they realised that Zoya used her talent, and she was sent out and got in trouble.
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

The second bit is a spoiler for Six of Crows ;D Not a major one I don't think, but nevertheless I figured I should probably mark it as such XD

[Maddie]

And the first spoiler's what?

[Maddie]

Chapter 13, 53% (view spoiler)[Naw, she tamped down her power for Mal, just so she could stay with him. No idea how the amplifier couldn't get it out of her though.
At least now we know why the amplifier didn't find her power.

And what are amplifiers, exactly? Do they have their own powers? Or do they just increase others'?
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 14, 60% (view spoiler)[Holy shit, that kiss? What the heck? I did not see that coming, but I think I enjoyed it.

I wonder if the King still takes advantage of Genya. I really hope not :/

Ooooohhhh the Darkling just found her at the performance! Wonder what's going to happen.

Not sure how to view these kefta.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Can't remember what chapter as I'm reading the ebook, 64%(view spoiler)[What's the bet that the Darkling will find Mal and Alina talking, make the wrong assumption and then pull back and get angry. So typical.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 16, 69%(view spoiler)[At least she's letting go of Mal. She can't have both. I just hope she fully lets go of him and doesn't go back and forth between the 2.

Oooohhh we have progress! This is totally interesting, Baghra's theory! And she's his mother!
I wondered, as soon as he said 'together we can change the world' that he could be evil, because that's what only evil people say unless they're in a contemporary romance novel, but nothing else he's done shows that...

Kind of weird how she trusts Baghra so much though, and just goes along with what she wants. How does she get over the Darkling so quickly to oppose him?
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

It'd be nice if I finished tonight, but I probably won't. We'll just see. I still could do.

[Maddie]

Chapter 17, 76% (view spoiler)[Can someone please explain to me how the stag collar will let the Darkling use her power? It doesn't make sense to me.

Oh yeah, sure Mal would find her, desert his regiment and help her.

Oh no they've been found!
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 20, 86% (view spoiler)[I really love the way this sentence flows. No idea why, just the rhythm of it appeals to me. 'My light kept us warm through the night in the lee of the rock.'

Oh my gooooooosh :D :D <3 I adored that speech Mal gave. I loooove when guys open themselves up like that!

Bleh totally saw that coming. Of course the Darkling was tracking them track the stag, and would just take it from under them.

Why couldn't she just kill the bloody stag. Oh right, now she regrets it. Well tough luck dumb girl.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Finished (view spoiler)[Oh wow so that's the scar on her palm! From the cup!

So if the Darkling's taking away the light to make more dark, why did he need her in the first place... If he controls the darkness, why does he want her there to break it??

Oh yay she left the skiff behind and is with Mal now. How did she gain control of the light so quickly though, and with enough power to overthrow the Darkling?
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Review (view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this book! Glad to finally be a part of the Grisha world, as the expectation is so high. And it did not disappoint! It could even be a 5-star for me, but for the fact that I got a little confused in places. It did answer the questions, but one part of it ate at me: (view spoiler)[how come Alina was so quick to believe Baghra and trust her? Just because she says the Darkling's her son, and she says that it will happen...? (hide spoiler)] It just didn't make sense. It was too quick of a turning point in the story. And I feel there weren't enough hints at first, to make it believable. I loved the whole idea though, of all of the different groups of Grisha, with all of their different powers. Totally predictable though, how (view spoiler)[Alina's the only Sun Summoner, the only person who can beat back the Fold, and at the end the Darkling. I don't get how she suddenly tapped into the stag's power to rapidly. (hide spoiler)] I also knew, right from the start, that (view spoiler)[it would be Mal and Alina together. I kind of veered off this course as we were introduced to the Darkling, but as soon as he appeared back at the palace, I knew. (hide spoiler)] I really enjoyed this book, and will be reading the second one. Not sure I'll like it as much though, what with (view spoiler)[the romance so clearly laid out now. (hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

[Jess Moon - The Coziest Witch]

Is it too late to join? I'm listening to the audio book and really enjoying it so far!

[Natalie]

Definitely not too late to join c: I'm pretty far behind on this myself ;D Only managed a chapter so far ._.

[Maddie]

Yay a new person! :D

[Shae]

No Jess, I still haven't started but am planning to. I am reading a few other books so will be going slow to start :)

[Natalie]

Ch4

(view spoiler)[
I'm not sure why it's such a big deal that she can make light as a... sunsummoner? I mean, they have someone who can create darkness (the "Darkling"). Is it really so rare and coveted?
---
Oh THAT'S why it's coveted...
---
Fjerdans! That's something I recognise! I know something about those people! XD;;
---
But hey, looks like one of the initial two "main" characters introduced in Chapter 1 died after all! ._.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Is a Fjerdan a real person? I have no idea XD

It's such a pointless power, tbh, (view spoiler)[being able to summon light... What can you really do that that..? (hide spoiler)]

And who? How?

[Natalie]

Real as in "our reality"? Not as far as I'm aware. But there was a Fjerdan main character in Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom, which is based in the same universe as Shadow and Bone, so I know a little bit about Fjerdans (and Ravkans etc.) as a result. It was nice to see a word I recognised ;D

Well I think it's seen as something great because (view spoiler)[they mentioned something about an area where it's in endless darkness, and they think that she can use her power as a Sun Summoner to fix that? (hide spoiler)]

In the prologue chapter, (view spoiler)[Alina and uhhh.... someone else beginning with A... were introduced as orphans and tested for Grisha powers. I figured one or both would die (kinda like in an episode of a crime show where they introduce the victims of the episode :P) so I was surprised when in the next chapter they seemed to be main characters... then one of them died and I turned out to be half-right ;D (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Oh right, so just from this universe, right.

Sun Summoner (view spoiler)[yeah, but it's such a boring power. Nothing useful apart from being able to do that. (hide spoiler)]

Interesting how you think like that. And Alina and Mal were in the Prologue.

[Natalie]

Yep c: Sorry for the confusion!

It really is XD;

...I think that from experience :| Sometimes I just kinda read a book and go "nope, they're dead", and then a couple of chapters later? Correct XD;; Other times, I seem to have no idea ._.

[Maddie]

XD Alright.

[Jamie]

Starting a bIt late sorry

[Maddie]

Algood :)

[Natalie]

Ch6

(view spoiler)[
As far as first impressions go, I really like Genya c: Bossy, to-the-point, honest and upfront. Seems like a great character!
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

There's always one of those XD

[Jamie]

Ch 2 (view spoiler)[Hmmm. Mal's feelings toward her seem tricky to peg down. I hope he lives... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch9

(view spoiler)[
Jeez... the group mindset of the different Grisha factions are bloody ridiculous. It's like some self-imposed segregation and it has the mindset of "those who are different are not as good as us" to go with it. Surely as Grisha they should stick together? And be KIND? I'd understand rivalry and such but this seems to be a bit much :/
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Ch12

(view spoiler)[
I'd been wondering how the Grisha examination went in the prison prologue, and why it was that Alina wasn't "discovered" then. It's nice to have an answer!
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I agree with the exam!

[Natalie]

Ch14

(view spoiler)[
...Not exactly the reunion with Mal I was hoping for ._.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I know right! (view spoiler)[But you must be surprised he isn't dead.. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

No, I think I got Mal confused with Alexei ;D

Ch16

(view spoiler)[
I didn't really suspect the Darkling of being a villain in this story, though I suppose it makes sense... especially as there hasn't really been anyone else introduced that could pass as a true villain ("schoolgirl rivalries" not withstanding).

Really glad that Alina and Mal are together again. Interested to learn more about them c:
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I know, I didn't really see it coming either haha.

That name rings a bell :p Who's Alexei again?

[Natalie]

Alexei was the one who (view spoiler)[got carted off by the vulture things at the beginning. Right before Alina revealed the whole sun summoner thing (hide spoiler)] ;D

[Maddie]

Oh right thanks! Her map friend!

[Natalie]

Yep! That's the one!

[Maddie]

Thanks :D

[Ariel]

Starting :)