1) Shadow & Bone ★★★½

I actually loved this! Like, I didn't just have a fun time with a mediocre book like I did with S&B, I actually had a great time with a great book. The political intrigue was so interesting, the pacing was fantastic and all the new characters were incredible. Nikolai, Tamar, Tolya... I would lay down my life for all of them. And Zoya oh my fucking god what a queen I adore her. I still absolutely love Genya but Zoya might be my new favourite. Alina's arc over the course of this book also made me appreciate her so much more in the first book, seeing how far she's come. The conflict within her is so interesting and heartbreaking. There were several scenes that almost made me scream and isn't that a great feeling.

I became so much more interested in the Darkling with this book. I wouldn't say I'm a simp for him or Darklina anymore like I was with the first book, but I do still adore him as a villain and Darklina's dynamic, even if I don't actively ship it.

Unfortunately, I still don't like Mal. In fact, I like Mal even less. He just has so little empathy for all of Alina's responsibilities and trauma. The fact that he can't seem to understand how traumatic her relationship with the Darkling is and instead just bitches pettily about Alina still being hot for him is just so disgusting. You would think based on this hatred for Mal that I'm all about Alina/Nikolai, but I actually prefer their relationship as a platonic one. The only person I ship Alina with is Genya, but truthfully I would be much happier if the series ended with her being single and just best friends with Mal once again and she and Nikolai have a friendship where they constantly flirt but it never goes anywhere.

I'll be honest, I'm not super excited for the next book. I think I'm just going to hate Mal even more and I have a feeling the ending will infuriate me. I don't think I'm going to dislike it, just be,,, underwhelmed. Who knows when I get to it. Hopefully it'll be before the end of the year.