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aforestofbooks 's review for:
Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
Reread – May 2019
It's funny how your opinions about a book change when you reread. I found the writing to be a little annoying? I'm not a fan of first person, and it just bothered me how a lot of sentences started with "I..." It made the writing not flow that well. I've heard Leigh Bardugo's writing does improve in her later books, so I'm looking forward to seeing that.
My opinion on the Darkling has no changed. He's horrible and I absolutely hate him.
Mal is well...not great? I don't "hate" him, but I don't love him as much as I did the first time around. He's definitely problematic, and I don't like some of the things he says and the way he says them.
Alina is also not a favourite. I found her annoying and just bland and kind of stupid at times. The only character I loved was Genya. And the Darkling does make for a good villain, even if he gives me the creeps.
I just want Nikolai though.
***
Wow this was a good read! I absolutely loved the world that Leigh has created - there were hints of Tamora Pierce there, and knowing that Leigh is a fan of her books made me so happy!! I really liked Alina as a character. She's complex and multi-faceted...I just really felt for her and I love that about a character. I knew the Darkling was evil going into this (cause spoilers from everyone lol), but I really fell for him. Then when it was revealed what his real plans were, I almost didn't want to believe it. Everything took a turn then and I honestly don't understand how people love the Darkling??? Like what is there to love about him? I've started Siege and Storm and literally there's nothing to redeem his character. He's terrifying, cruel, and a monster. And I hate him so much that I'm getting flashbacks from when I read Order of the Phoenix for the first time and discovered Umbridge's character. Nope nope nope. I can't stand his creepiness. But the story was interesting and it made me want to know what would happen next! It did feel a bit slow for a lot of it, mostly cause Alina was learning Grisha theory and her powers, but I never felt bored and flew through it!
It's funny how your opinions about a book change when you reread. I found the writing to be a little annoying? I'm not a fan of first person, and it just bothered me how a lot of sentences started with "I..." It made the writing not flow that well. I've heard Leigh Bardugo's writing does improve in her later books, so I'm looking forward to seeing that.
My opinion on the Darkling has no changed. He's horrible and I absolutely hate him.
Mal is well...not great? I don't "hate" him, but I don't love him as much as I did the first time around. He's definitely problematic, and I don't like some of the things he says and the way he says them.
Alina is also not a favourite. I found her annoying and just bland and kind of stupid at times. The only character I loved was Genya. And the Darkling does make for a good villain, even if he gives me the creeps.
I just want Nikolai though.
***
Wow this was a good read! I absolutely loved the world that Leigh has created - there were hints of Tamora Pierce there, and knowing that Leigh is a fan of her books made me so happy!! I really liked Alina as a character. She's complex and multi-faceted...I just really felt for her and I love that about a character. I knew the Darkling was evil going into this (cause spoilers from everyone lol), but I really fell for him. Then when it was revealed what his real plans were, I almost didn't want to believe it. Everything took a turn then and I honestly don't understand how people love the Darkling??? Like what is there to love about him? I've started Siege and Storm and literally there's nothing to redeem his character. He's terrifying, cruel, and a monster. And I hate him so much that I'm getting flashbacks from when I read Order of the Phoenix for the first time and discovered Umbridge's character. Nope nope nope. I can't stand his creepiness. But the story was interesting and it made me want to know what would happen next! It did feel a bit slow for a lot of it, mostly cause Alina was learning Grisha theory and her powers, but I never felt bored and flew through it!