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Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.
I enjoyed this book so much. I had a hard time putting it down. It is certainly a stereotypical young adult fantasy book, but that’s exactly why I wanted to read it. Definitely plan to read the others in the series. ( )
- I really liked Six of Crows - I know this was Bardugo's first book, and I know she improved as a writer.
First impressions:
- there are so many YA tropes it's painful - the world and character building is a little shallow. I can't say I really love anyone in here. - the Darklina romance is.... Painfully overhyped?? Bruh, they kissed 2 times, and Alina was in love with him??( )
I liked Shadow and Bone. The story flowed well and was really easy to read. The characters were interesting, although I would have liked for them to have more depth. The romance was pretty blah. The world building was decent. The action was pretty fun. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to continue the series. ( )
The point I am attempting to make via this very long and rather rambling article is that Shadow and Bone is absolutely knock-your-socks-off amazing and just so different from your average YA fantasy. It is addictive, beautiful, fantastical and I just can't recommend it enough. Literally everyone will love it: fantasy lovers; historical fiction lovers; magic lovers; lovers of strong characters and amazing relationships. And, of course, not forgetting the two gorgeous lead guys for us girls.
The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke’s house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches.
Quotations
He said gently, “When the leaves change color, do you call it magic? What about when you cut your hand and it heals? And when you put a pot of water on the stove and it boils, is it magic then?” — Before
“Now, what do you say, Alina Starkov?” he asked pleasantly. — Chapter 3
“I hope you don’t expect fairness from me, Alina. It isn’t one of my specialties.” — Chapter 7
I’d always assumed that Ravka’s hungry peasants and poorly supplied soldiers were the result of the Shadow Fold. But as we walked by a tree of jade embellished with diamond leaves, I wasn’t so sure. — Chapter 7
If a creature as gorgeous as Genya could fall for a skinny, studious Fabrikator, there might be hope for me yet. — Chapter 8
“I wonder sometimes how much we really understand our own gifts,” he mused. — Chapter 9
When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did. — Chapter 11
“A thousand girls would sell their own mothers to be in your shoes, and yet here you are, miserable and sulking like a child. So tell me, girl. What is your sad little heart pining for?” — Chapter 12
“There’s nothing wrong with being a mapmaker.” “Of course not. And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.” — Chapter 12
How was it that Genya had fallen so hard for someone so serious and so quiet and so seemingly oblivious to her gorgeousness? Or was that exactly why she had fallen for David? — Chapter 14
“There’s no such thing as too much champagne. Though your head will try to tell you otherwise tomorrow.” — Chapter 14
“The problem with wanting ... is that it makes us weak.” — Chapter 14
“You think I don’t love my son,” she said. “But I do. It is because I love him that I will not let him put himself beyond redemption.” — Chapter 16
“You should have listened to him, Alina.” — Chapter 19
“It’s not his fault,” I said with an empty laugh. “We all did our part to bring about the end of the world.” — Chapter 20
“I’ve given you power beyond all dreaming, and you can’t wait to run off and keep house for your tracker.” — Chapter 21
“Mercy.” He said the word as if he were tasting something unfamiliar. — Chapter 21
“Because if we start running tallies on stupid, you know who’s going to come out ahead.” — Chapter 21
This was the truth behind the handsome face and the miraculous powers, the truth that was the dead and empty space between the stars, a wasteland peopled by frightened monsters. — Chapter 22
Last words
They are orphans again, with no true home but each other and whatever life they can make together on the other side of the sea.
Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.
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