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Shadow and Bone Chapters 8-15
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Jan 17, 2021 03:16PM

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I guessed she was something more merely because of this;
"Was she your teacher, too?"
A shadow crossed his face. "Yes."
So, the Darkling is 120 years old and it is said that no ordinary Grisha reaches that age BUT that person is old enough to be his teacher? They are both amplifiers too. And she also calls him 'boy'. Which made me think, who in the world has the right to boss the possible most powerful person alive?
Yet I was still shocked because it was way more gruesome than I expected.
But I'm not that suprised. Right before that scene there was so many warning flags that this was not going to end up well... Like the kissing at the ball scene;
His kiss was harder this time, laced with the anger I could feel lingering inside him. I didn't care. I didn't care that he'd ignored me or that he confused me or any of Genya's vague warnings. He'd found the stag. He'd been right about me. He'd been right about everything.
I'm like GIRL LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOURSELF MORE. It just did not sit well with me that she just accepts that he is more right than her in this situation. Like, if you feel like he has ignored you THATS FINE. Talk to him about it. Don't set his 'rightness' above yours. But I'm not much for romance in the first place, so I could be the exception here. It just feels like while Darkling points out her insecurities he also used her for it... That's the feeling I got anyway.
The argument with Mal also hit home for me just because what he said was right, which was why Alina got so angry and lashed back. She's in denial. But it seems like she snapped back in the end of this chapter. Which ended on a cliffhanger. Looks like I have some more reading to do...

I know right, she's so interesting! I have a feeling thats why she fell for him. Because everyone is so obsessed with beauty that no one looks beneath the surface. But he treats her like everyone else, despite her beauty, which makes her beauty non existent. It's because she cares so much for her looks that she appreciates how indifferent he is about it. Genya is definetely more than a pretty face. Might actually be where her insecurities lies and why she is so obsessed about being beautiful in the first place, perhaps?
And the king ugh. We have not seen much of him but all of his bad sides shows. Does not look like Genya had much of a choice.

Chapter 15 makes one see this quote in another light. Change can mean a lot of things...

I wanted to run after him, to take back what I'd said, to beg him to stay, but I'd spent my life running after Mal. Instead, I stood in silence and let him go.
She struggled so long with change. To the point where she suppressed her powers - a core part of herself, so she could stay by his side. Home is not a place, it's the people. And Mal was home and safety for Alina. Which was why she did not let herself act on her feelings towards him, and why she struggled so hard against the testers when she was young. But the struggle itself crippled her and hurt her way more. By holding her magic apart she also hold herself apart. It's time she does not try to change after someone, but change for herself. Next time she faces Mal maybe she can do that with confidence and love for herself.
I devoured the chapters 8~15, I wasn't expecting it to so interesting and so intense!
First of all : WTF when he kissed her the first time!
I was like what the hell is happening here, there's no chemistry and he's just kissed her ?? And she lets him do it ??
But then, Chapter 15. Okay. The kiss kinda made sense, but I hate the 1st person narration because we can't get a glimps of his side of the story ughh. I want to know why exactly did he kissed her in the first place! Did he do it out of impulse because he's indeed getting into her, for real, not acting? Or was it all planned to make her docile and easy to manipulate??
First of all : WTF when he kissed her the first time!
I was like what the hell is happening here, there's no chemistry and he's just kissed her ?? And she lets him do it ??
But then, Chapter 15. Okay. The kiss kinda made sense, but I hate the 1st person narration because we can't get a glimps of his side of the story ughh. I want to know why exactly did he kissed her in the first place! Did he do it out of impulse because he's indeed getting into her, for real, not acting? Or was it all planned to make her docile and easy to manipulate??
Elif wrote: "Can we just appreciate GENYA. She's been so lovely and i hope she isn't secretly evil later on but i really do like her right now. Also, it made me soo sad to hear about how the king "got his way" ..."
YES. Genya is awesome, I love her!
I loved her since the beginning. She's a bit broken with how the King and Queen treats her, also all the rumors on her back from the other Grisha, yet she's super sweet, funny, and in love with a nice guy who sees her outside of her look.
I don't think she's secretly evil. There's genuine acts from her!
YES. Genya is awesome, I love her!
I loved her since the beginning. She's a bit broken with how the King and Queen treats her, also all the rumors on her back from the other Grisha, yet she's super sweet, funny, and in love with a nice guy who sees her outside of her look.
I don't think she's secretly evil. There's genuine acts from her!
I thought that Mal didn't got her letters, or she never received his replies - either way someone was taking them, and was kinda suspecting an order from the Darkling. Did his regiment received Alina's letter to Mal or never received them, that'd be the whole difference.
I'm actually sad they went into a fight but I have a feeling this will help Alina with her power as well, as much as it helped her going into a grief in the first place.
I'm actually sad they went into a fight but I have a feeling this will help Alina with her power as well, as much as it helped her going into a grief in the first place.
Elif wrote: "Alsooo just want to bring attention to the the quote " I've been waiting for you for a long time, Alina. You and i are going to change the world." Okay wow"
I have a thing for villains. So I kinda want to see what is the Darkling's plan, what he's going to do with Alina, and the whole mess 😅
I really wonder how things will go. What will happen to Alina? What he's gonna do if they go against each other? The whole performance of light vs darkness was awesome and I want a full battle now.
-- also: the volcra were men?? I was kinda expecting it when Baghra said it was previously actual green lands with farmers and such, but still!
I have a thing for villains. So I kinda want to see what is the Darkling's plan, what he's going to do with Alina, and the whole mess 😅
I really wonder how things will go. What will happen to Alina? What he's gonna do if they go against each other? The whole performance of light vs darkness was awesome and I want a full battle now.
-- also: the volcra were men?? I was kinda expecting it when Baghra said it was previously actual green lands with farmers and such, but still!

It was too good to be true !?

Also mad love for Genya. I think she’s awesome and a true joy to read!
Lisa wrote: "Hmm.. I’m actually reluctant to believe the darkling is truly evil. It’s a little cliche given his name. I have a feeling it’s actually got something to do with Baghra. I don’t know. I’m not convin..."
Yup I agree I don't feel like the Darkling is truly evil! He would not have been so... gentle? So sweet and quiet with Alina from the beginning if he actually was as evil as everyone says??
Also your comment about Baghra made me think : what if the Apparat (ew) and Baghra are somehow together in this mess? The Apparat gave Alina a book about Saints, and Baghra was pushing her to show all of her ability. Even if that's a request from the Darkling, I have a feeling she's more looking into the whole Saint thing... Just like the Apparat? idk lol
Yup I agree I don't feel like the Darkling is truly evil! He would not have been so... gentle? So sweet and quiet with Alina from the beginning if he actually was as evil as everyone says??
Also your comment about Baghra made me think : what if the Apparat (ew) and Baghra are somehow together in this mess? The Apparat gave Alina a book about Saints, and Baghra was pushing her to show all of her ability. Even if that's a request from the Darkling, I have a feeling she's more looking into the whole Saint thing... Just like the Apparat? idk lol
What a whirlwind!
When he first kissed her I was like...what? there wasn't any build up that was random. But then I was trying to read into it and I thought upon some comments I'd read in the last section and thought maybe he's excited and overwhelmed, he finally has an equal of a sort and a salvation. He seemed somewhat troubled that people think of him as evil and that darkling's are blamed but with her help, they would save Ravka and change people's beliefs of him?
And then her getting ready had me all excited... but the dress gave me pause. It just seemed rather possessive after the kiss, as if he was trying to signal she belongs to him before anything romantic between them had been discussed.
I was excited about the second kiss but the whole anger thing and not answering her question properly made me question it all but I still thought maybe he's angry at himself for not going straight to the meeting in the war room but rather kissing and wanting her...
Mal and her reunion was kind of what I expected but I wonder now if maybe he too had secret feelings for her all along but never made them known because he didn't want to ruin their friendship? He seemed so mad for her to be wearing the darkling's colours, as in a lovers jealousy kind of mad.
And chapter 15! If it is true, and he is evil. My heart is breaking! I thought Alina and him were gonna be such a great power couple...but at the same time it all makes sense... he would have had centuries to master how to manipulate who ever wielded the power he required and what a plot twist.... but at the same time, it does seem a little too easy so I wouldn't be surprised if he is a good guy in the end.
When he first kissed her I was like...what? there wasn't any build up that was random. But then I was trying to read into it and I thought upon some comments I'd read in the last section and thought maybe he's excited and overwhelmed, he finally has an equal of a sort and a salvation. He seemed somewhat troubled that people think of him as evil and that darkling's are blamed but with her help, they would save Ravka and change people's beliefs of him?
And then her getting ready had me all excited... but the dress gave me pause. It just seemed rather possessive after the kiss, as if he was trying to signal she belongs to him before anything romantic between them had been discussed.
I was excited about the second kiss but the whole anger thing and not answering her question properly made me question it all but I still thought maybe he's angry at himself for not going straight to the meeting in the war room but rather kissing and wanting her...
Mal and her reunion was kind of what I expected but I wonder now if maybe he too had secret feelings for her all along but never made them known because he didn't want to ruin their friendship? He seemed so mad for her to be wearing the darkling's colours, as in a lovers jealousy kind of mad.
And chapter 15! If it is true, and he is evil. My heart is breaking! I thought Alina and him were gonna be such a great power couple...but at the same time it all makes sense... he would have had centuries to master how to manipulate who ever wielded the power he required and what a plot twist.... but at the same time, it does seem a little too easy so I wouldn't be surprised if he is a good guy in the end.
I felt that the kiss that the Darkling gave Alina was super random and it made me think that he has some ulterior motive. He has already shown to be manipulative and it would not surprise me if he manipulated Alina with kisses or attention. Also her initial trip to Baghra was definitely strange. Why does Alina need amplifiers to force her power out? I find Alina naïve but not in an annoying way. She just kind of takes everything that is happening to her and allows it. The only time she showed some backbone was when she forced Genya to tell her wtf was going on and I liked that. But it was like after that she just let things happen.
Lisa wrote: "Hmm.. I’m actually reluctant to believe the darkling is truly evil. It’s a little cliche given his name. I have a feeling it’s actually got something to do with Baghra. I don’t know. I’m not convin..."
I disliked Genya right off the bat but I warmed up to her the more she was on page.
I disliked Genya right off the bat but I warmed up to her the more she was on page.
These chapters really got to me. At first I was like soooo excited that things were looking up for Alina! I was alittle upset that she couldn’t find beauty within herself as she was but I do like the spin on her and Mal’s backstory. I also was FREAKING OUT when Mal showed up. It is always annoying when the love interest shows jealousy after not showing any interest but I have to keep reminding myself that he also grew up with her and feels protective as well. Also I am finally thinking that the Apparat is like.. a good guy? He was warning her the whole time I think. Also I LOVE GENYA!!! Lol