Shadow and Bone Book Review

4/22/2021

I finally got a chance to read Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I’m so glad I did! I first heard about this book when my friend asked if I’d read it yet because it was being adapted to Netflix. Which totally made me curious, so I immediately bought it.

The plot and characters are well developed, but I felt like something was missing. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it was, though. The setting takes place in a Russian-inspired land where (flying, bird-like) monsters are real and are located in a place called the Shadow Fold.

I enjoyed the adventure and the unexpected twist that one of the characters was evil. I won’t tell you which character was evil, because I don’t want to give that away. There came a point during the first half of the book that I was wishing for a bit more romance, then a bit more romance was added, which was nice, but I definitely could’ve used more. Overall, it’s a good read, and I’m looking forward to the Netflix series.

Update 4/23/21: The series released TODAY. I watched the first episode of Shadow and Bone on Netflix. It was sooooo good! I love the actors chosen to portray the characters. I also like the element of romance that's shown (almost) right from the start between Alina and her BFF Malyen (who, if I heard correctly, is referred to as Mod in the series). I know what I'll be binge-watching this weekend. Can't wait! *Now, I need to stop procrastinating and get back to writing my newest YA book.

Summary of Shadow and Bone

Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold―a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite―and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.

Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.

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