3.5/5
Let me preface this review by stating that I enjoyed this series as a whole. Shadow and Bone is my least favorite of the three books in this series, so don’t let my lower rating deter you from reading the entire series. It’s worth it. I’ve tagged this under paranormal romance, but really it’s more of a YA fantasy series. It reminds me of The Hunger Games in a way. There is a love triangle though, so I think it qualifies as romance.
Synopsis: Alina Starkov is a plain orphan girl who serves her country, Ravka, in it’s First Army as a cartographer. Ravka has been ravaged by war and constantly under attack from its neighboring countries after having been divided in half by a great darkness known as the Fold. The Fold is filled with monsters and death, and the journey across is treacherous. Cut off from ports and trade, it is the role of Ravka’s first army to cross the Fold and to bring much needed resources back to East Ravka. It is on this journey that Alina discovers a power held deep within her. She is a Grisha, a person who can harness the power of the earthly elements in a way that can only be described as magical. In Ravka, Grisha are venerated. Grisha children are raised in a palace near the King and Queen of Ravka under the watch and care of the Darkling, the most powerful Grisha in existence. Indeed, it was a Darkling who accidentally created the Fold. When Alina’s power as a sun summoner is unleashed by protecting Mal from a monster in the fold, she is brought into the magical and captivating world of the Grisha and the Darkling.
Review: The plot is very intriguing and author Leigh Bardugo’s writing is crisp, making for an easy read. Still, I felt that the world building was lacking. It’s as if Bardugo had built this world in her head, but had forgotten that she hadn’t put pen to paper explaining it. I couldn’t quite envision what she was describing. I also felt that the characters and their relationships were underdeveloped. I was very disappointed in the love triangle. I wasn’t even given the opportunity to root for Alina and the Darkling before the relationship was snatched away. There is an interesting twist at the end of the book, and it sets the stage well for book two.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam Rating: 1.5 star. This YA, so there isn’t really any steam but there is one scene that gives it a little something.