If I could wrap up my emotions about how I felt after reading Shadow and Bone and send them to you through my computer screen, I totally would. Instead, I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for my words: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I wish I could unread it just so I can go back and re-read it again for the first time.
Yes, I loved it that much.
Now I’ve come to the part where I am supposed to describe to you the awesomeness that is Shadow and Bone and I’m finding that rather difficult to do. Why is that? Is it because while reading a book you love your get so swept away with the story that you can’t be bothered to take notes? Or perhaps it’s the fact that you don’t want to give away too much of the story? You want other potential readers to go into the book blind, expecting little and gaining everything the story has to offer. I suspect it is a little of both for me and with that, I offer my sincerest apologies if you do not find this review helpful. It is my hope, however, that my inability to do this book justice in my review speaks volumes in and of itself.
Shadow and Bone follows the story of Alina Starkov, a remarkable young girl, who holds a power not even she realizes she has. All her life she’s never fit in. Not in the orphanage where she grew up alongside her best friend, Mal, nor in the First Army where she serves as a mapmaker. In her world people of elite status with unique abilities, called Grisha, serve as nothing more than fanciful servants to the kingdom of Ravka. One day, while protecting Mal, it is revealed that she too is Grisha with a very rare and sought after power: the ability to summon sunlight. She soon finds herself in a very different world filled with adventure, betrayal, and a sinister plot that could destroy all of Ravka.
Within the first 10% of Shadow and Bone I knew that I would give it at least 4 stars. The book begins quickly immersing the reader into the kingdom of Ravka head on. Terms are thrown at the reader at a reasonable pace for a fantasy novel and for once I didn’t immediately feel overwhelmed or the need to “play ketchup” with the characters. I can tell Bardugo employed the rule of “show, don’t tell” and I believe she did it well. I found myself hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for more of the world to be revealed to me. There was never a dull moment reading Shadow and Bone; no downtime for me to catch my breath. And I loved every minute of it!
I thought the plot was very well done and I got so caught up in the story that the plot twists just blew me away. I was so engrossed that by the time the climax hit I felt an intake of breath and couldn’t tear myself away from the book for the duration of the read!
Oh. My. God. NOooooooo!
And the characters…. ahhhhh, the characters! I loved them all to pieces! Alina is naive, candid, and feeble in the beginning, but she grows so much throughout the novel. (Yes, Yes! I know! Character development! It really does still exist in YA novels!) Does she make mistakes? Absolutely! But she realizes them and she strives to be better. I can see there is a lot of conflict in her character to come in the next two novels in the series and I am VERY eager to see how that is handled. I also loved the Darkling. I can’t really say much about him because I am NOT giving away any spoilers in this review–not even in a spoiler tag because I know how some of you are!– but he was awesome! Just the right amount of intrigue and mystery. And Mal. *sigh* Oh, Mal. Let’s just say he is another love interest we can add to our swoon worthy list right next to Tucker Avery. 😉
“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I’d catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason , just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me why we don’t belong together,” he said fiercely.
I think it goes without saying I loved the writing. The descriptions were vivid, easy to visualize and thankfully, not overdone (I’m really hoping there will be a map in the finished copy. Please tell me there’s a map waiting for me!). The book is told through Alina’s PoV, so we get a first hand account of the happenings. And boy are there some happenings! I’ll tell you one thing, Bardugo can writing a kissing scene… well. And the romance? Man, I just loved the romance. It was so sweet and by the end it just tore at my heart!
The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.
*sigh*
This book. I just love it!
I’m really not sure what else to say about Shadow and Bone besides the obvious: it was awesome and you should read it. If you are a fantasy lover, rejoice! If fantasy isn’t your thing, still rejoice! Because this is a book that is sure to take you and your heart on a wild adventure this summer.
EDIT: I’ve been informed that there will be a map included drawn by Keith Thompson! Click here to check it out!
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. As always, this review expresses my honest opinion of the book. No gifts or monetary funds were exchanged for a review.
Nicola
Whoa! I have this on my Kindle but I had honestly forgotten about it. Now I’ll be sure to get to it this week! I haven’t been reading nearly enough great books lately. Thanks for the review. 🙂
Stephanie Sinclair
Oh, lucky you! You don’t have to wait till June! I’ll be pre-ordering this one for sure!
Nicola
Just finished it a minute ago! I thought it was a little slow at parts but overall I LOVED it!
Stephanie Sinclair
Awesome! I’m glad you loved it! I look forward to your review, Nicola!
Lexie
I’d say that was a very impressive review, considering just how much you loved it. 😀 It’s always harder to write reviews for those books that just knock the wind out of you. It’s easy to show people just how awful a book is and how very much you would like to rip it to shreds, via logical arguments and angry gifs. But it’s so, so much harder to show people just how fantastic you thought something was. That’s a feeling that’s extremely difficult to communicate. But you did well. 😀 I already wanted to get this because of the absolutely stunning cover, awesome premise, and the positive reviews I’ve seen so far, but this review guarantees I must buy this one, whether I’m approved on NetGalley or not. Also, re: the map, I believe there will be! They released a copy of the map online, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t include something that awesome in the book.
(Also, fun fact: Blogger is blocked on my school’s computers, but WordPress . . . WordPress, apparently, is not.)
Stephanie Sinclair
Thank you, Lexie! I have the tendency to ramble with positive reviews. I’m much more organized with the negative ones. Thanks for letting me know about the map. Bardugo also informed me it would be there! I can not wait to have this gorgeous book in my hands this summer. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Ha! That’s pretty funny about Blogger. It’s a sign we should all be on WordPress. 😉
Katie @ Blook Girl
I am so, so, so, SO (get the idea?) jealous that you’ve read this, BUT thrilled that you enjoyed it! 🙂 I have been swooning over this book since the first day I read about it, and cannot wait to have a chance to read it myself. I love that it’s different from most YA books, and especially that it’s centered in Russia <3
Thanks for the great review, Stephanie! 🙂 Now I want the book even more, haha!
Stephanie Sinclair
Thanks, Katie! The Russian feel to the book was divine! How often do we get to see something like that?! Very cool. I do believe The Story Siren is running a contest for an ARC right now!
roro @roro is reading[rogier]
amazing review/i ,i ,i want this one badly
Stephanie Sinclair
Thanks, Rogier! I think you would LOVE this one!
jowearsoldcoats
O.O < My face right now.
I must read this immediately, this looks amazing.
Also, you just invoked the power of Tucker Avery?! Where do I sign up?
Stephanie Sinclair
You can ask the NetGalley gods for an e-copy! It’s still up last time I checked. Go request!
Natalie @ Mindful Musings
Wow. You have me wanting to run out and pre-order this one NOW! Unfortunately, I am on a book buying ban at the moment so I’ll have to restrain myself. Definitely going on my to-read list though!