Grishaverse Read Along discussion
Shadow and Bone
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Shadow and Bone Chapters 1-7
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Briana
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Jan 17, 2021 03:12PM
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Has anyone finished these chapters yet?(:
Hii, just finished chapter 7. I dont know how much i should write ahah but i have stuff to talk about already and i just wanna say i think i really like Alina. First of all, her name is so pretty! I like that even though she's afraid she still expresses her annoyance (loving the sass so far and expect her to get more so later on). Also, bless her she keeps talking about her appearance and hows shes quite plain and others keep commenting on it which is rudeee but its somewhat refreshing to read about it somehow. But i really hope she will start to appreciate her looks, i think the problem is that she keeps comparing herself with the rest of the grisha people. Even THE DARKLING was like "why are you so anxious to be like everyone else?" So i want eventually see her experience that self love later on.
Im sorryy, I still wanna sayy moreee. I'm really enjoying the brief interactions she's having with the darkling. I went into this story not knowing anything about it. So i didnt even know who the main love interest was. While, Mal and her would have been a cute friend to lovers vibe the moment she saw the darkling (and later mentioned a sharp jaw line to further confirm) i was like yepp he is itt, lets gooo. I think hes a morally grey guy and i think im okay with that to be honest hehe. Alsooo, how POWERFUL is he? He cut a man and made a fall asleep and amplifies everyones powers and can apparently do so much moree?
I love that he keeps getting butt hurt everytime she says something aha. He seems to value her opinion quite abit which is very interesting since hes THE DARKLING. Ps. I would have preferred if she wore the BLACK kefta thingy though.
Getting negative vibes from the king and the priest guy for sureee. One look at him and she was reminded of a tomb- that cannot be good
Do you guys thinks Mal loves her romantically? I feel like he might but like her never would have acted on it since they are like each others only family. But who knowwwss. It gave me The Selection vibes when she has a love interest back home and is out here in the palace with a new boy. What did you guys think about all of this?
I just finished these chapters, and I'm so excited to read the rest! I don't think I can wait to read the rest though, reading 1 chapter a day is too little for me and it is too exiting to put on hold... I don't have a will of iron to stop myself! (*I can't stop me I can't stop me* by twice playing) Also, I find this book fairly easy to read compared to my usual tea (I like to read YA in between denser books). So I will write my opinions down so I can keep them for later. Like I said in the group chat, I'm new to read alongs online but so excited to discuss and share our opinions.
Elif wrote: "Do you guys thinks Mal loves her romantically? I feel like he might but like her never would have acted on it since they are like each others only family. But who knowwwss. It gave me The Selection..."I think it's possible!
It's very clear that he sees Alina as someone to protect. It was definetely highlighted in the prologue. And I don't think that's strange. They were both orphans in a world that offers little protection, so they looked after each other instead. It definetely have not changed even if they both grew up (and it's highlighted how Mal changed the most), since he literally threw his life aside for her. I got the vibe that he ran from his line to get to her by how their superior described the situation. I'm wondering if he truly was out to fool with girls or up to mischief the night before or if he just wanted to check upon her, making sure she's okay.
I'm also thinking about his last words "I'll meet you in the meadow." He did not want to share any details about what happened or Alinas powers, in order to protect her, but I have a feeling that he did not want to share his last words to the group out of personal reasons. Like it was personal. He definetely wanted to go to the same afterlife as her, that's for sure.
My gut feeling is that he is not aware of his feelings, or is just not acting on them like Alina. He probably sees her as his sister, and that its natural to save one another and protect each other. But there may be something there he has not realised yet.
Anyways. I don't care much for Mal but their relationship is interesting enough that I wonder how they will meet again, and what he makes of this situation. Hope it will be dramatic. I don't read books for romance so I'm not focused on that, but I would be surprised if Mal was endgame. He really feels like childhood cast away when used material.
Elif wrote: "I love that he keeps getting butt hurt everytime she says something aha. He seems to value her opinion quite abit which is very interesting since hes THE DARKLING. Ps. I would have preferred if she..."I think Darkling sees Alina as his equal. He is above everyone else in magic to the point everyone is afraid of him. While he is one of a kind, the one and only super powerful Darkling, there has been others before him, BUT Alina is the only one seen of her kind - close to a mythological goddess in comparison. So I think he finally found someone to be on equal footing with him, if that makes sense.
And SAME. I hope they make her blue robe turqoise or something out of the ordinary. Like girl, you can't possible think that you will fit in by pretending to be like everyone else when it's obvious you are the rarity of the century discovering some new never seen before mythical powers.
I feel like she should have her own color, since her magic seems fundamentally different from the Darklings magic and the other classes. A new class deserves a new color. White was already taken though. But it would probably be harder to keep clean (hence probably why Tailors and the like, who seems vain, has that color), in that regard black would be better lol.
Don't know how to share pictures but can we just take a moment to appreciate the DESIGNS. From that stunning map to the chapter designs like OMG. I'm in love. (I have the paperback boxed set version, with the deer head in "pouring art effect")
Another thing I'm thinking about is who actually is in power... If the king truly is a 'child' that means someone else is pulling the strings. And I have a feeling that's not the Queen whom is portrayed as very vain. I get some serious pre french revolution vibes from this society, from how the poor are struggling but the rich invest all their money in palaces like there's no tomorrow.I think that priest has a deeper claw in the game than one might think. And that the Grisha (with the Darkling at its head) also has a power balance in the game. It's a bit early to tell. But considering that the Darkling is like 120 years old he must have had enough time to collect power. Hm.
Also, does anyone wonder what the Darklings 'real' name is?
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I am wondering how there is only one Darkling at a time. Do they manifest their power when one dies a la the Slayer in Buffy? His lack of a backstory is so intriguing. I'm wondering how old he really is. like maybe they age slower than humans? I'm not sure yet.
I am also wondering who is really in charge. The king almost feels like a decoy, but who else would be the one calling the shots? The Darkling seems to know who is in charge but he remains neutral it seems. At least to me.
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(I have the paperback boxed set vers..."
This book is beautiful. I have the paperback set and the chapter headers are just gorgeous.
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I definitely agree that he seems morally gray. He doesn't particularly display any real evil, but also seems to not care about appearing good. I am not sure what that is about yet. It's interesting though and makes me want to know more about the Darkling
At first I thought the Darkling was a mere title, but when he said that his ancestor also was a Darkling - the one who created the Shadow Fold, that's implying that it is something passed down in the family.Which makes me wonder what makes one a Grisha in the first place. Is it genetics or just luck? It seems to be random enough that parents who are not Grisha sends their children to be tested, and my impression is that Alina was just missed because they could not test her specific power. Which means that Grisha is something you are born as, but anyone could be born with it. There seems to be cases made for both, which is confusing, but like illnesses some just pops up randomly so maybe it's like that.
So maybe Darkling is the exception? So far no other Grishas that wield darkness has been revealed, and the feeling is very much that Darkling is the only one. Hm. Maybe there's something similar going on with Alina. We don't know if her parents had her abilities or not since she is an orphan. Maybe light and dark is the exception?
It feels like I'm missing something. Interesting to see if this will be adressed or if I'm just overthinking things.
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(I have the paperback boxed set vers..."
Okay so I just finished reading the first 7 chapters and I'm commenting to continue reading as I really can't stop lol
First off, I agree with you! The book, maps, chapters headers are so beautiful!! I have the same box as you and I love it.
And can we also agree on one thing : it's refreshing when the action starts right away! Not having tones of blah blah to set the plot. We don't spend 50+ pages waiting for the action, and I LOVE this!
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TBH... I feel like I'm the only one not feeling good about Mal? 😅
Maybe because I don't like the childhood friends to lovers storyline... It feels to much. You also get how close they were as childs, but even tho they were still friends, they weren't talking much during the year of military. Alina said they used to sneak out every evening to talk but it hasn't been done for months now.
I get that Alina loves him, but I don't feel like he actually loves her back? A very loyal and loving friend, but not romance. At least that's something I personally don't want to happen, so please I hope he's not endgame lol
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I love that he's so butt hurt when she says something but that he values her opinion. The test at the bonfire was a pretty good show on how he can be butt hurt yet I was wondering if he was truly hurt by what she said, or just acting.
Overall, I LOVE the Darkling even tho there's so much mysteries around him!
What's really his role with the King/Queen? What are ALL of his powers?? Also very much questionning if he really wants the Shadow Fold to vanish or not... Does he regret what the other Darkling before him did? Is that really his focus with Alina, or that's just what the King wants?
Also I agree with you, I would have prefered Alina to have a black kefta...
Blue seems weird to her, why would she go with the others while she's a one of her kind like the Darkling? It feels like she's just rebelling like a child... It would fit her rank and power better. I'm disappointed, Alina 🙄
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The King is a child but also feels like a predator to me...
Well, like almost all King wanting a lot of mistress and all, but there's a predator feeling around him, with how he acted with Alina but also Genya's warnings.
The Apparat has probably a hand in that power... It's weird he's behind the King everywhere he goes.
I just finished chapter 7! And eeek, I'm not even going to lie, I'm not patient enough to wait until I start reading the following chapters.I feel like Mal could have feelings for Alina, but maybe he didn't realise the depth of them until the moment he put his life on the line for her. I feel like he's going to try his hardest to get himself back to her, while I think Alina is going to be so swept up into her new life that she'll lose her "love" for him. I feel like Alina loves him, but is not in love with him. I get the impression it's a childhood sweetheart infatuation, that she blinded by what she knows and what she is comfortable with.
As for the darkling, hello! Gimme a piece of him! Haha. I feel like this is the definite love interest in this series. I feel like they are magically equals and will be able to weave their powers together in a way no other Grisha can. Dark and light, I love it!
I also wish she decided to go with black. Or at the very least, I'm hoping she has her kafta altered so it incorporates a bit of black to indicate her power and higher standing. I feel like she's really going to be the 'mockingjay' in this series, if anyone has read/seen the Hunger Games. I feel like she's going to be the person that completely starts the process into altering the society they have gotten used to, lines will be blurred between rankings, and that it will be much more fluid - people will be able to move between rankings, or maybe they'll disappear altogether? I'm making assumptions here!
It's an interesting point, about thinking someone's pulling the King's strings.. At the moment I don't have many opinions on the King and Queen, so I don't feel like I've got much to add there!
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I went into this book not knowing a single thing about the series or characters so I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the characters and story from the get go.
I automatically fell in love with Alina. She is strong willed but not obnoxiously so. She is pretty relatable in the fact that she is relatively normal... until she’s not.
I have a love hate relationship with the idea of Alina and Mal ending up together if that ends up being the case. Especially if he hasn’t been close with her in months for example on page 23 “...he hadn’t come by in months.” I do absolutely love the idea of her ending up with the Darkling but only time will tell.
The pacing of this book is impressive so far. And I am not overwhelmed by the amount of words that I absolutely do not understand.
I have no opinions on the King and Queen so far, but I am sure that will change very quickly. I love Genya and Alinas friendship. I’m super excited to see the story progress and have all of my questions answered.
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Mal and Alina's relationship is something I'm enjoying. I like how they're friendship is something private and special between them and the protectiveness between them. I don't know if Mal has any hidden feelings for Alina but I'm intrigued to see how they're relationship dynamic may change...
The Darkling. My gosh where to begin. I have so many questions I want answers too with him.
I excited to read Alina's journey of self growth and love I think we'll see unfold itself as the story progresses.
I think the priest may be puppet master to the king, or at least have great influence within the royal court not necessarily for the better...
With Alina's robes.. I was surprised she was offered darkling black. I understand it was meant as a sign of respect, to represent her standing and power...but she is not a darkling.. I thought her robes would be gold maybe to represent her power?
I love this book so far. I just finished chapter 7 last night and I can't wait to continue.So, first of all, the Darkling... can I just say *swoon* because wow, he's something else with all those half smiles and that wounded look that crossed his face at the fire. I love that he's so amused by her, she doesn't accept things easily and I think that's so relatable. All the other Grisha's were probably so excited to join and yet here's Alina, fighting tooth and nail because she doesn't want to be different and stand out.
I love that Alina has found a friend in Genya, she seems really genuine. I don't like the Queen or the King much, he definitely seems like a predator and understandably the Queen doesn't like that. Definitely don't like the creepy priest with his tomb-ness LOL. I do like Mal, definitely thinking he loves Alina and has maybe just stumbled into that realization as she left with the Darkling. I think it's funny that Alina spoke up and wanted a blue kefta, her being a wallflower and all it totally makes sense that she wants to blend in and not be the center of attention. But I do hope she eventually gets a black kefta and learns if maybe she has as many different powers as the Darkling if they're considered in the same rank?!?!?!
I just started the book and I like it so far😀
