Shadow and Bone - Book Review

Why most of the antagonists are intelligent, smart and handsome?

Is it only me or anyone else also likes them more than protagonists? For instance, Tom Riddle, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy were my most favorite characters from Harry Potter.

If not antagonists, then why troubled protagonists are more charming than typical ones? For instance, Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows duology.

I have just finished reading the first book of Shadow and Bone trilogy and I can't help desperately hoping for the villain to miraculously end up with the lead protagonist or at least he has to genuinely fall for her by the end of the series. Otherwise, I am going to throw a big-big rant.

Introduction to Book

Shadow and Bone is another trilogy by Leigh Bardugo which is set in Grishaverse. The name of the three books from the series are:

• Shadow and Bone
• Siege and Storm
• Ruin and Rising

I am done reading with the first book so will only be reviewing it in this post.

This trilogy is the first series among all the Grishaverse books by the author. However, I read Six of Crows duology first but if you are also like me then don't worry, both series happen in the same Grisha world but have completely different stories, so you won't be missing out on anything. Infact, I think Six of Crows has the best explanation of all the Grisha and how they work, among all the books.

Summary

Alina Starkov, a no one, scrawny, ordinary, orphan is a cartographer and serves in the Ravkan Army. She sets on a journey to cross the Unsea with her regiment. The Unsea is a vicious sea that divides East and West Ravka and is cursed with a Shadow Fold. The Fold is filled with absolute darkness and deadly creatures like Volcra. Most of the people don't make it to the other end of the sea and die on the way.

When Alina's ship enters into the sea, they are attacked by Volcra; there is chaos; there are causalities. Soon she and her childhood sweetheart Mal are also under attack and there she magically blinds the Volcra and sends them away with a blazing light. No one including her knows how she suddenly got that power.

Alina is taken to the Ravkan King to demonstrate her power, for everyone is now hopeful that she might be the solution to get rid of the deadly Fold. She stays in the Little Palace to get her training and is under the supervision of Grisha Commander, the Darkling.

Rest of the book is all about Alina's new life which is nothing like she led before - luxury, royalty and fame.

Little did she know that there are darker things waiting for her and the whole world depends on her newly found power.

Critical Analysis

It's the first book of GrishaVerse so I expected from the author to describe the Grisha in more detail. There are descriptions but I think they were explained in Six of Crows with more details.

I shouldn't be comparing both the series, but I think Shadow and Bone was an easy read with reasonable information and it was captivating from the first chapter. Whereas, Six of Crows was full of information, complex, numerous plot twists and first half was just a slow build-up, the story sped up in the second half. Both series are good in their own ways.

I liked how the author developed Alina's character. She's insecure and victim of self-doubt. Since she's the narrator of the story, so it was easy to relate to her and get to know her better.

I didn't like the character of Mal, Alina's best friend and love interest. There relation is weird. I found him jealous and selfish and yet Alina longs for him.

Then there is Darkling. It was him that I was referring to when I talked about antagonists in the beginning. He's the perfect villain but I hate why he has to be so charming that I wish him to end up with Alina. Haha

Darkling's character is deep, mysterious and powerful and I totally like it.

Other than these main characters, I think Genya Safin and Bhagra are interesting characters. However, Bhagra could have been described in more detail, I couldn't totally grasp her character.

This book has been adapted to Netflix Series. It's more or less same as book, just a few little changes. I totally recommend watching it but not before reading the book.

I rated this book 5/5 on Goodreads.

Let me know, if you have read it. Which is your favorite character?

P.S. All pictures are taken by me.