Author:
Leigh Bardugo
Publication Date:
June 5, 2012
Publisher:
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Format:
368 pages
Price:
CAD $19.99
Source:
A finished copy was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada for review! Thank you!
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Description
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life-a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.
About The Author
Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She is fond of glamour, ghouls, and costuming, and gets to indulge all of these fancies in her other life as a makeup artist. She can occasionally be heard singing with her band, Captain Automatic.
Review
Alina and Mal, best friends since childhood, they grew up together under the care of an orphanage. Their parents long gone, they only had each other for comfort. Now older they take up positions in the First Army, Alina as a mapmaker and Mal as a tracker. Their new assignment is to cross the Fold. A place where volcra live, creatures of the dark and vast plains. When there are suddenly attacked by a flock of volcra, Alina saves Mal, blinding him in a bath of pure light. What she doesn’t realize is that she is a Grisha, and a very important one, a sun summoner. Set in a medivial like era, Alina’s world is under the ruling of the King, and the Grisha’s leader, the Darkling. What happens when she realizes she has powers that can help her country Ravka? A war torn teenage girl finds put she is stronger than she thinks and goes on a journey to find out.
The whole world that Leigh has built was astounding. Throw in a group of people who have powers that seem like magic, and add in a tyrannical leader and you get a book that will leave you wanting more. Seriously, I had to stay up and finish this book. It was that good. You can get lost in this world, and rightfully so. The writing is fluid, so easy to pick up that the scenes just meld together in one continuous journey.
I love the growth of the characters. I love Alina. Her confidence already shaken by being plain and scrawny. She thinks she’s not worthy of Mal’s attention, but is she ever wrong. Their relationship felt right. Not rushed and corny as most of the YA romances I have read.
There’s enough fantasy, adventure, action and romance in here to keep any reader busy.
Rating 5/5
Quotes
“It’s always just you and me, Alina.”—Mal
“Well, I don’t want to be high above all others.”—Alina
“It’s funny,” I said, after a while. “I always thought that being beautiful would make life so much easier.”—Alina
“Maybe I should lie down on a table in the workroom and wait to see if he welds something to me.”—Genya
“The clothes, the jewels, even the way you look. He’s all over you.”—Mal
“I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”—Mal
“The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.”—Alina
I’ve wanted to read Shadow and Bone for a while now, after reading your review I think I’m gonna stop putting it off. The next chance I get I’m reading this book!
I loved this book especially the world building and the relationship between Alina and Mal! I was a bit annoyed with Alina in the middle of this book but overall she was a good main character.
Without any doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year! I loved everything about it – from the world that author created, it’s characters (Alina, Mal, Darkling), beautiful writing to the great fantasy and romance. Perfect book for everybody!
I haven’t gotten around to reading this book, but I hope to do so soon! I didn’t think it was dystopia because of the cover, but it definitely sounds like one! And magic? Do want!