Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pub Date:June 5th, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Page Count: 358
I just couldn't control my emotions after reading. After I finished, I took out my bookmark and started reading from the beginning. - Nova @ Musings of a Blogder
I was bugged, prodded, even annoyed by a lot of my friends (RL and not) to read this book. It seemed like a book that was so overhyped and I thought I wouldn't enjoy but I was willing to give it a shot. The new world stemming off Russia kind of made me shy away because I wasn't sure I could get used to it.
Well, here's what really happened: I loved it and I cried. Not particularly in that order. I can give this story a Supernova (10/5) just for what I felt for the story. It messed with my emotions and ultimately broke my heart. (Yes, I am a Darkling girl. <3) But aside from that, I feel like it's always an amazing accomplishment for writing to make readers feel.I'd know; I write music that made my teacher cry once. So, in my books, Bardugo passed with hyper-speed flying colors.
The story is set in a world where people are...people. But there are certain people who can do things like manipluate looks, control elements and amplify powers to give examples. Those people are referred to as The Grisha. And if you're a Grisha, you've pretty much got your whole life set. You're treated like some kind of royalty and get to live like a king.
See how easy that was? I didn't think I'd be able to grasp the concept but I'm satisfied that I did. It made it so I didn't have to keep flipping and going "wait, what's going on?" Bardugo knows that its helpful to remind readers every once in a while, so that greatly helped me!
The world building for this story is just mind-blowing. It's so full and rich while still being different. Sometimes, with difference comes confusion but there was just enough of reality (as we know it) to connect to the story and get the full effect. It also helps that there are descriptions for everything, yet they aren't too long or anything.
If I had to choose my favorite thing about this book, it would be the dialogue. I'm not sure where it came from, but I could clearly hear the characters in my head. The dialogue fluently reflected the characters and nothing was ever out of character. If someone were to read me a random line, it wouldn't be too hard to guess which character had said the line.
I absolutely loved everything about it to the point that it would be senseless to go into detail about each thing. Everything was stemmed from Bardugo's writing and her creativity. The building in everything was flawless, characters touched my heart and I was so deep into the plot, that there was a part of me that really wanted to be Alina.
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pub Date:June 5th, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Page Count: 358
The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.
Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?
The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.
But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?
Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.
BUY LINKS
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Chapters Indigo
My Thoughts
I just couldn't control my emotions after reading. After I finished, I took out my bookmark and started reading from the beginning. - Nova @ Musings of a Blogder
Well, here's what really happened: I loved it and I cried. Not particularly in that order. I can give this story a Supernova (10/5) just for what I felt for the story. It messed with my emotions and ultimately broke my heart. (Yes, I am a Darkling girl. <3) But aside from that, I feel like it's always an amazing accomplishment for writing to make readers feel.I'd know; I write music that made my teacher cry once. So, in my books, Bardugo passed with hyper-speed flying colors.
The story is set in a world where people are...people. But there are certain people who can do things like manipluate looks, control elements and amplify powers to give examples. Those people are referred to as The Grisha. And if you're a Grisha, you've pretty much got your whole life set. You're treated like some kind of royalty and get to live like a king.
See how easy that was? I didn't think I'd be able to grasp the concept but I'm satisfied that I did. It made it so I didn't have to keep flipping and going "wait, what's going on?" Bardugo knows that its helpful to remind readers every once in a while, so that greatly helped me!
The world building for this story is just mind-blowing. It's so full and rich while still being different. Sometimes, with difference comes confusion but there was just enough of reality (as we know it) to connect to the story and get the full effect. It also helps that there are descriptions for everything, yet they aren't too long or anything.
If I had to choose my favorite thing about this book, it would be the dialogue. I'm not sure where it came from, but I could clearly hear the characters in my head. The dialogue fluently reflected the characters and nothing was ever out of character. If someone were to read me a random line, it wouldn't be too hard to guess which character had said the line.
I absolutely loved everything about it to the point that it would be senseless to go into detail about each thing. Everything was stemmed from Bardugo's writing and her creativity. The building in everything was flawless, characters touched my heart and I was so deep into the plot, that there was a part of me that really wanted to be Alina.
Author Info
I need to read this! One day... they are on my shelf and waiting.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the book! I agree, I really like the Darkling. Book two disappointed me a bit, but it was still interesting! I can't wait for book three!
ReplyDeleteOoh, Shadow and Bone is on my TBR list right now!
ReplyDeleteI've also nominated you for the Liebster Award! You can check out my blog post here: http://fictionallyobsessed.blogspot.ca/2014/03/the-liebster-award.html