Shadow and Bone 28 Nov.

[Leigh]

Looking forward to reading this one--I've seen lots of good things about it! There have been some negative comments about the author's (mis)use of Russian names and what-not, but I don't speak Russian....

[Kandice]

Neither do I so I will probably just think they are pretty!

[Leigh]

Do you plan on reading it over this weekend? It looks like you read pretty fast....That should be about right for me.

[Ana]

Can you please use the 'This topic is about' box when editing the topic, so it shows the book you are talking about? It should help folks since we just have to click the image to go to the book page and it's especially helpful if there are more than 1 book with the same title :)

[Leigh]

Ana wrote: "Can you please use the 'This topic is about' box when editing the topic, so it shows the book you are talking about? It should help folks since we just have to click the image to go to the book pag..."

I think I did it - let me know if this still isn't right. Sorry to be so dense, I'm still figuring a lot of things out on GR!

[Ana]

It worked, thank you so much! I did search for it but got several results O.o

And of course it's perfectly fine, I figured you didn't know about it, but the site does have these very useful tools so I always like pointing them out, hope you don't mind!

[Leigh]

That's the best way to learn!

[Nathan]

And learning is half the battle! I can never remember what the other half is...

[Nathan]

Now we have to read Russian to be apart of this site?! I guess a guy has to do what a guy has to do, but....

[Leigh]

Nathan wrote: "And learning is half the battle! I can never remember what the other half is..."

Kicking butt!

[Nathan]

Leigh wrote: "Nathan wrote: "And learning is half the battle! I can never remember what the other half is..."

Kicking butt!"

Ha!! Not sure what time it is in your part of the world, but you just made me laugh early in the morning. Thanks!

[Leigh]

I've got my afternoon coffee, my kindle fired up with my book, and my spot on the sofa is clear of the usual stuff that covers it!

[Nathan]

Sounds like you have it all covered then. I'm still drinking my morning coffee.

Now I can tell all the guys at work that I had a coffee date this morning! /lucky me

[Leigh]

@Nathan - I'm always good for a cup of coffee!

Well, I'm through chapter 3, and I have to admit that it is pretty cool so far. The author has a spare, but effective writing style that sucks you right in. Every once in a while, I have a hard time visualizing Alina's surroundings, however, when the author gives us description it is powerful.

Fingers are crossed that things stay cool and don't veer off into a ditch!

[Kandice]

I won't be able to begin until this afternoon, but I do plan on digging in and giving it an hour or two later. I hadn't hear anything about this one until you mentioned it was on your TBR, but I love the cover.

[Leigh]

I started in the afternoon my time, too. I'm a little worried about one or two things, but I'll wait until tomorrow to put up spoilers - I'll keep them hidden, in case you are behind me.
We're going to the movies tonight, so I won't be able to read much more!

[Kandice]

LOL I am leaving for the movies in about 45 minutes!

[Kandice]

I finally got around ot starting last night, but didn't have a lot of time because we had a houseful of teens, but what I've read so far I really like.

It reminds me of Sabriel, AbhorsenLirael by Garth Nix. Magic, but a very natural kind of magic in a place other than here.

[Leigh]

This has nothing to do with the book:

We went to see Interstellar last night, and it blew my brains all over the back wall of the cinema. Awwwesoommmme!

update:

I'm actually backtracking a bit, because I was stuck on the couch reading this afternoon and didn't have the strength to get up and do comments while I read. So here are a couple of thoughts.

Ch. 3 (view spoiler)[How could she not say goodbye to Mal? Even if she just shouted it? She's killing me, I mean he was her whole life!!! (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 3-4 Why do dark, sexy, supposedly evil guys (view spoiler)[go all sappy as soon as the main character (mousey heroine) faint in their arms? I hope he's not going too soft. (hide spoiler)]
Ch.4 For someone who was in the army, she didn't seem to (view spoiler)[handle the assassin attack very well. No rifle, no using her knife. Then she takes off alone for the hill instead of trying to get with the other soldiers. (hide spoiler)] Maybe I'm being tough on her, though.

Have you been able to get into it yet, Kandice?

[Leigh]

Kandice wrote: "I finally got around ot starting last night, but didn't have a lot of time because we had a houseful of teens, but what I've read so far I really like.

It reminds me of Sabriel, [boo..."

Never heard of it, I'll have to take a look.

I'm afraid that at about Ch. 6 things turn into kind of a snooze fest for a while, in my opinion anyway.

[Kandice]

Leigh, I read your spoilers because I am just past 5. I agree with everything you said, especially what you said about the Darkling. That always irritates me!!!

Ch. 4 (view spoiler)[ She was just a mapmaker. I don't think she had ever been part of a battle other than the v attack and that hardly counts. Cartographers are probably kept away from any action. I did think it was pretty stupid, no matter who you are, to wander off by herself! I guess the author needed an excuse to let the Darkling get a little...mushy. O_o (hide spoiler)]

[Leigh]

Yeah, maybe I'm being harsh about her fighting skills!

[Kandice]

I don't think you are being harsh, because even if she has zero battle skills she should have the common sense to stay with the freakin' group!

I'm to the point where it is getting a bit of a Hogwarts feel. The whole magical school thing.

I'm not bored yet, though. :D

[Kandice]

I finished earlier today and really enjoyed it! I think Bardugo did such a good job of building this new world without lecturing us or going into long definitions. She let the story teach us what all the foreign things were and I love books that do that.

I'm going to start posting spoiler tagged observations and questions as soon as I think of some. :)

[Leigh]

Kandice wrote: "I finished earlier today and really enjoyed it! I think Bardugo did such a good job of building this new world without lecturing us or going into long definitions. She let the story teach us what a..."

Great! I'm at 85% or so and should finish later tonight!

[Kandice]

(view spoiler)[ Do you think her ability to "hide" her talent meant it was even bigger than others? I mean that is a type of control with no training at all, right? (hide spoiler)]

[Kandice]

The story reminded me a little of the recent Frozen movie. (view spoiler)[The way the obvious love interest turns out to be only using the girl. (hide spoiler)]

[Kandice]

Was the Darkling's talent bringing the darkness?(view spoiler)[How do you think he kept it hidden how long he had actually been around? That reminded me of the character Flagg that pops up in a lot of Stephen King's books. Ageless and evil, able to manipulate those in authority because he has unlimited time. (hide spoiler)]

[Leigh]

As per Alina's talent (view spoiler)[I think she could hide it because she was so emotionally attached to Mal. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with it or her being stronger, but maybe. (hide spoiler)]

I hadn't thought about Frozen and the love interest, but you are right. (view spoiler)[When the Darkling turned out to be using her, that made him and the story much more interesting for me. Like I said before, I hate when authors turn their dark, scary guys into mush over the main character! (hide spoiler)]

The Darkling's longevity...(view spoiler)[I felt like this was a cheat. I mean, how could no one realize he was the same guy, even if he dropped out of sight for a while? His mom was older than him, and many other Grishas had to have been living a long time.... I was not convinced on this point. (hide spoiler)]

My question about the Darkling and his power...(view spoiler)[He had to physically be in the Fold to spread the darkness? But he couldn't go in because of the volcras, right? I wasn't sure if that is how it worked and why he needed the sun summoner in order to spread the darkness. (hide spoiler)]

I have to get my review up, but I've been busy reading P.G. Wodehouse for the first time. It's really funny.....

[Kandice]

The Darkling's power: (view spoiler)[I found the fact that he wasn't safe from the volcra a bit silly as well. He couldn't take a torch or something? I know that sounds a bit simple, but still...something! He's supposed to be this all powerful thing. I agree that hiding his age was a cheat. He is obviously physically desirable so not easy to hide or disappear and then miraculously reappear in the same form a year or two later. (hide spoiler)]

The love interest of the Darkling: (view spoiler)[ I also hate when the all powerful fall for the meek and mild. It's just so unrealistic. I was tickled pink when it turned out to be manipulation. The fact that he needed to manipulate her gave more importance to her power in my opinion. (hide spoiler)]