Erika’s POV: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: The Grisha #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Format: Published June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co.

Source: Own copy, bought in National Bookstore

“Do you ask your heart to beat or your lungs to breath? Your power serves you because that is its purpose, because it cannot help but serve you.”

The Summary:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.

My Thoughts:

I’ve been wanting to read this book since last year but I kept putting it aside but now that Leigh Bardugo was going here… it’s the perfect time to read it!!!! I don’t know about you guys but every time their is a question like “Who is a bad character that you can’t help but love?” Answer: Darkling.

“The problem with wanting,” he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, “is that it makes us weak.”

OH. MY. DARKLING.

Even before starting this book, I already had a feeling I’m going to like him. I feel like people rave so much about him. And so I meet him and let me say I’m so confused. My feelings are all over the place.

Alina is an orphan turned Grisha. There are sooo many unknown vocabulary in this book. Like the names of their jobs, it’s kind of hard to remember and pronounce but don’t fret because as you read you’ll be able to understand it more. Grisha are the elite people. They’re known for wearing their kefta which is color coded based on your position. They also have magical powers. Unknowingly, Alina has those powers and the Darkling notice it. And when the Darkling wants something, he gets it. Also, he is the only one who can wear a black kefta but that’s all about to change… *wink wink* *cough cough*

“Did you tell him what I showed you in the dark?”

The Darkling is mysterious (one of his best qualities) and powerful. If I were Grisha, I’m not ashamed to say that I would want to get his attention although he is “evil” But you know what he does?! He shows Alina kindness and I’m just a pile of mush on the floor and because of that even though I know his *kind of* evil, I’m here denying it. I’m holding on to the hope that he’s just truly misunderstood and that he is kind inside. I don’t know if it’s hopeless or if I’m setting myself for heartbreak but I’m willing to risk it.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”

Mal is Alina’s bestfriend. They are both orphans since they were young and they stayed together ever since. Mal is definitely good looking. I mean he’s not a Grisha but even Grisha girls give him a second look. When Alina was always with him, it seemed like he didn’t have feelings for her but then when they get separated and then reunited, sparks fly. You guys know those sayings, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” or “You never know what you’ve got until you’ve lost it.” I’m sure this is Mal’s motto. I have to say that I’m the good guy kind of girl. I always side with the good guy, Mal is just so sweet. He’d do anything for Alina. He’d risk death for her but BUT BUT BUT I still like the Darkling. Even though it was shoved in my face that he is evil. So I ask myself, Are my morals still intact? I need you guys to read this and tell me. please.

“And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”

I also loved the pacing of this book. It was pretty fast and exciting. She starts it with “Before” and ends it with “After”. This is Leigh’s kind of Prologue and Epilogue. She writes these in the omniscient POV so it feels like from being in Alina’s head you float away until there’s no more. It’s like when you use a camera at first your zoomed in until you slowly zoom out and turn off your camera. I loved how she wrote it that way. It’s just a perfect way to start and end!

The chapter titles, the design on the pages and the cover is one of my favorites! So beautiful! So if you like fantasy and you want your emotions all over the place, this is your book!

Happy reading!!!