BOOK REVIEW: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publication: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 369

SYNOPSIS: (From Goodsreads)

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.

REVIEW:

I saw that a show Shadow and Bone was coming out.  It looked like it was something that I would totally watch.  I added it to my watch list.  Then I realized that it is also a book.  Que buying said book from Amazon once it dropped a little bit in price.  I was excited to start it but it just took a bit for me to start it.  I read it while on vacation with my family this past week.

Alina is an orphan and raised in the house of a Duke.  On the day she is to be tested for grisha powers her and her best friend Mal run and hide.   Fast forward years later, she is traveling through the Fold.  A dark evil space between two lands.  As they travel, they are attacked by massive beasts who used to be people.  Her friend Mal is attacked.  Something inside of Alina changes.  Honestly, this book was such a drag.  Yes, there were some gasp out loud moments.  However, I had zero attachment to the characters.  I really wanted to like the book because of all the hype over it and the show as well.  

I mean there were some selling points like romance.  However, I am still confused as to who I think Alina should have ended up with.  Yes, the Darkling was evil and nasty but still.   There was an excitement factor as well.  The author did keep the book moving, it just wasn’t something I liked.  I mean I do like fantasy and things like that, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.  I have started the show and if I hadn’t read the book I don’t know if I would read it.  I feel like I need to finish it because I read the book and want to see a comparison.  With that being said I will more than likely not be reading the other books in this series.  I do have the other books the author has written and it’s a duology.  I will probably read that and see how it all compares as well. 

STAR RATING: 2/5

Pick up your copy of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out more from author Leigh Bardugo, including the rest of the Shadow and Bone series, on her website HERE.

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