Shadow and Bone (September 2022) Buddy Read Discussion - Edith & May

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Shadow and Bone Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on September 5th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 09/05
September 5th: Before + Ch. 1&2
September 6th: Ch. 3&4
September 7th: Ch. 5-7
September 8th: Ch. 8-10
September 9th: Ch. 11-13
September 10th: Ch. 14&15
September 11th: 16-18

Week of 09/12
September 12th: 19-22 + After

PARTICIPANTS
~ Edith
~ May
~ Noor

[Noor]

I would like to join, if that's okay? :)

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

absolutely! the more the merrier!

[Noor]

hey!! started yesterday and already accidentally 1 chapter too many today as I got sucked into a bit hahaha I had no idea what this book was about, it jusf got recommended to me by some friend, so very curious about how it will continue :)

[May]

Hey! I'm already behind 😅 I meant to read yesterday but got a little busy. My goal is to at least read yesterday's chapters today

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

No worries to both of you! I'm also behind (have only read the "before" part) but I'll probs be back later with my thoughts on it. I also felt it being a world i could easily be sucked into so I have high hopes! hopefully y'all don't mind long paragraphs lol

[May]

Just finished chapter 4! This is a reread for me and I realized I forgot a lot of things.
So far my only thoughts are (view spoiler)[ I'm wondering how the Grisha didn't discover her powers sooner since they were tested as kids? (hide spoiler)]

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I also just caught up to ch. 4. I agree though, the fact that she didn't pass the Grisha test is a little sus? like I get that it might be a super rare power but surely the other Grisha's wouldve taken note when Alina was younger?? dunno tho, thinking out loud.

(view spoiler)[ also! the assassin being cut in half was super gnarly! I imagined everything so vividly in my head, it was so well written! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Oh my gosh, okay so there’s a lot going on right now (I’m about that halfway through today’s reading) and so much has happened! I haven’t been this excited about a book in a while!

(view spoiler)[ I’m at the part where Alina runs into Mal after escaping the party and he’s coming out of the war room with a group of soldiers. I haven’t read that much further so I’m not sure what they talk about but oh. my. god. The relationship between her and the Darkling has me constantly on the edge of my seat and the kiss they shared was beyond what I was hoping for. I’m mentally screaming because Mal conveniently HAS to show up right after that whole scene and Alina will probably be all over him again, ugh! I like the darkling way more tbh. (If you can’t tell I really ship those two lol) Anyway, I’m really glad to see Alina has finally become a full fledged Grisha and has slowly but surely grown into her power. I thought the scene in Baghra’s cottage where she overcomes her emotional block was really well written and I was a little proud of her :’) Alina’s definitely a prime example of the overused “reluctant chosen one” trope but it’s hard for me not to like her. I think she’s really well written and she’s not as annoying as some other main characters. (view spoiler)[

Anyway, sorry I got a little too excited. I’d like to think I’m not normally gushy about romance but I’m really living for this book right now lol (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[May]

Edith wrote: "I also just caught up to ch. 4. I agree though, the fact that she didn't pass the Grisha test is a little sus? like I get that it might be a super rare power but surely the other Grisha's wouldve t..."

Yeah I agree that scene was so vivid! The author did a great job with writing it.

I'm on chapter 7 right now, hoping to get some reading done tonight! These past few days I was packing and I just moved into my dorm today so now I should be able to actually read :D

[Noor]

Hi!! I actually already finished the book, so will just comment on what you wrote to not give anything away!!!
But yes when she and the darkling kissed I was so happy hahahahah Although the Darkling hasn't been showing up as much as I would have liked, I want to learn more about him!!, he just seems so interesting!! Mal on the other was just meh, not doing anything when Alina was taken away at the camp etc

I also loved the scene at the cottage, although I did feel it was weird that as a child she was already so powerful that she could just push it away? I understand for the story they need this and it shows how much she loves Mal and wanted to stay with him as a child, but still wondering about the test hahahaha

And yes I also really like Alina her personality!! Sometimes I feel she is a bit passive, but it makes sense, if you are thrown into a completely different world where you don't know anything or anybody, you just have to follow!

Let me know what you think of the rest of the book :)

[May]

Just finished reading chapter 16. And yes I agree, I like Alina's personality! I ship Alina and the Darkling over Alina and Mal.

I'm still surprised that Alina was able to hide her ability during the test but I guess her motivation for wanting to stay with Mal makes sense.

[May]

Just finished the book! (view spoiler)[ I completely forgot how this book ended. I remembered that the Darkling was evil but I forgot that Alina was able to break free from the Darkling's control in the end and she left them stuck in the Fold. (hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed my reread of this book!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

So I had a lot going on these past few days so I didn’t finish this book as fast as I wanted to, but I finally did today. My final thoughts: I like that Alina isn’t entirely good towards the end. She left skiff stuck in the fold to save her childhood love and I like that the author showed that selfish side of her. Love that she isn’t so black and white. Although, I foresee her struggling with coming to terms with her actions in the next book probably.

Overall though, loved the book! Once again, I cannot believe I never read this series when I was younger! I’ll definitely be continuing it once I get a chance...now onto watching the Netflix adaptation lol

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Nooo, don't watch the adaptation. Well, you can if you read Six of Crows, although I find that the series wasn't following much of the SoC book(s).

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

lol @mina, okay okay I'll keep that in the back of mind. I'll hold off a bit for now. gonna see how SoC goes for me. I've heard it's really really good

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

if you are liking this series you are going to enjoy the rest too because the writing just get's better. Also it's important to read it in order because it's all connected and characters appear in other series. So it's Shadow and Bone books, then it is Six of crow books, and at the end King of Scars book.

For the adaptation.. it's a mix of SaB and SoC, and I personally don't like how the crow characters are pushed into the same story, because the books are great and have one story while in the adaptation they don't get as much of light on them. All that is not surprising considering how adaptations are rarely the same as the books.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

too true. we'll see how it goes. i have high hopes for this series. thanks for all the tips! hopefully I can just plow through the rest of the series, but alas life happens lol

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

no problem :D happy reading when you do get to them