“I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are going to change the world.”
I’ve had Six of Crows on my TBR for a while, and I kept hearing that it’s best to read the Shadow and Bone trilogy first to fully understand the Grishaverse. That’s the main reason I picked up this series, and I’m really glad I did! I found Shadow and Bone to be an enjoyable read with an intriguing world and compelling characters. While it wasn’t perfect, it definitely left me excited to continue the series and see how the story unfolds.
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 of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Honestly, I was really enjoying the first half of the book, it had me hooked and felt like a solid four-star read. But as the story progressed, the main character started to frustrate me, and my enjoyment dipped a little. That said, it was still an overall enjoyable read, and I can see why so many people love it!
Plot Analysis of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Years ago, Alina Starkov and Mal Oretsev were abandoned at Duke Keramsov’s orphanage as children. When a group of Grisha Examiners arrived to test them for magical abilities, both were deemed ordinary, lacking the powers that would grant them a place among the elite Grisha.
Fast forward to the present, and Alina and Mal are now part of Ravka’s First Army, Mal as a skilled tracker, and Alina as an apprentice cartographer. Unbeknownst to Mal, Alina harbors secret feelings for him. Their regiment is headed to their next station in Poliznaya, but to get there, they must cross the treacherous Shadow Fold, a vast stretch of darkness infested with monstrous creatures that few survive.
To protect them, a contingent of powerful Grisha, including the feared Darkling, leader of the Second Army, joins the crossing. But when the creatures of the Fold attack with unexpected ferocity, chaos erupts. As soldiers are slaughtered around her, Alina watches in horror as Mal is seized by one of the beasts. Desperate to save him, she reaches out, only to unleash a sudden, blinding light before blacking out.
When Alina awakens, everything has changed. Soldiers regard her with fear and awe. The Darkling himself demands answers. Put to the test once more, Alina discovers a shocking truth: she is a Sun Summoner, the first in generations, perhaps the key to vanquishing the darkness of the Fold once and for all.
Characters of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina Starkov : Alina’s character felt plain and unremarkable. I struggled to connect with her because she seemed like a typical FMC found in so many fantasy books, following predictable and clichéd development. Her character arc, instead of feeling organic, frustrated me to no end. It lacked the depth and complexity I was hoping for, making it hard to stay fully invested in her journey.
The darkling : The Darkling was easily my favorite character in the book. He was the most intriguing and layered, with a depth that set him apart from the rest of the cast. I’ve always been drawn to complex, morally gray villains, and he fit that mold perfectly. There’s something about a misunderstood antagonist with compelling motivations that makes a story even more engaging, and I found myself looking forward to every scene he was in.
Maylen Oretsev : Mal’s character left me feeling indifferent. While he’s well-constructed, his presence in the story felt more like an idea than an active character, mostly existing through Alina’s endless thoughts about him. Since he didn’t get much development in this book, I couldn’t form a strong opinion on him. Maybe as the series continues, he’ll have more depth, but for now, he felt pretty unremarkable.
Genya : I absolutely adored her! She was such a joy to read about, and her gossip sessions were some of my favorite moments, they added so much fun to the story. I found her presence refreshing and entertaining. However, I wasn’t a fan of how her character development played out toward the end. It felt a bit disappointing compared to how much I enjoyed her earlier in the book.
The romance: I’m not really a fan of love triangles, so I found myself torn about who to ship Alina with. And, of course, I ended up choosing the wrong one 😭. The ending left me feeling pretty disappointed. The chemistry and tension between the Darkling and Alina were absolutely palpable, the kind of tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. On the other hand, her relationship with Mal felt wholesome and pure, offering a completely different dynamic. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the next books!
Pacing & writing style
I really enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s writing style , it was so smooth and engaging that I felt like I was flying through the book. The plot, while entertaining, did feel a bit predictable and clichéd in parts, but that didn’t take away from how fun the journey was.
What truly stood out for me was the world-building. It was incredible. I usually struggle to fully visualize fantasy settings, but with this one, everything came to life so easily in my mind. From the eerie mystery of the Shadow Fold to the details of Ravka’s world, I was completely immersed.
And don’t even get me started on the Grisha culture and aesthetics , the outfits, the powers, the court dynamics? I ate it up! It was all so well-crafted and absolutely captivating. I loved every second of it!
The pacing of the book was really solid, I was flying through the first 70%! It was fast-paced, engaging, and super easy to stay hooked. However, the last 30% did start to feel a bit slow for me. I found myself zoning out here and there, which kind of pulled me out of the story.
I think part of that might’ve been due to the love triangle. It started to throw me off, especially during the scenes with Mal. I just kept thinking, “Okay… next?” 😅 Maybe that’s more of a me thing than an issue with the book, but it did affect how I felt toward the ending.
Tropes and Trigger warnings of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Tropes of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Love triangle
Friends to lovers
Lovers to enemies
Betrayal
Magic
Trigger warnings of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Blood
Violence
War violence
Some quotes I enjoyed
“The problem with wanting,” he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, “is that it makes us weak.”
“Like calls to like.”
“What are you smiling at?”
I whirled, peering into the gloom. The Darkling’s voice seemed to float out of the shadows. He walked down to the stream, crouching on the bank to splash water on his face and through his dark hair.
“Well?” he asked, looking up at me.
“Myself,” I admitted.
“Are you that funny?”
“I’m hilarious.”
“What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.”
“You’re the first glimmer of hope I’ve had in a long time.”
“Make me your villain.”
“Fight me as long as you’re able.
You will find I have far more practice with eternity.”
Final Thought
I originally picked up Shadow and Bone because I kept hearing it’s best to read the trilogy before diving into Six of Crows, and honestly, I’m really glad I did. While this book wasn’t flawless, I still had a good time with it and found myself totally immersed in the world Bardugo created.
The strongest part for me was hands down the world-building. Leigh Bardugo did such a great job creating Ravka and the Grisha universe. I usually have a hard time visualizing fantasy settings, but here it all felt so vivid and easy to imagine, I ate all of it up! I also really enjoyed her writing style; it was smooth and bingeable, and I flew through the first 70% of the book.
That said, there were a few bumps. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Alina’s character. She felt a little bland and didn’t stand out much compared to other fantasy heroines. Her development was frustrating at times and pretty typical for a YA fantasy lead. Mal didn’t do much for me either. He felt underdeveloped, mostly existing through Alina’s internal thoughts, but I’m hoping he gets more depth in the sequels.
On the flip side, Genya was a joy, and I loved every scene she was in, especially the gossip sessions! And of course, The Darkling completely stole the show. He was mysterious, morally gray, and had that magnetic pull every good villain needs. I love a misunderstood character, and he gave just enough complexity to keep me intrigued.
The pacing was great for most of the book, fast, exciting, and easy to devour, but the last third slowed down a bit, especially when the love triangle started to take over. I’m not a fan of love triangles, so I felt a little disconnected from the romance side of things. The tension between Alina and the Darkling? Incredible. The wholesomeness between her and Mal? Sweet, but it didn’t hit as hard for me. I’m curious to see how all of it plays out in the rest of the trilogy.
Overall, Shadow and Bone was a solid start to the Grishaverse. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave me enough intrigue, drama, and dark magic to keep me coming back for more. I’m excited to jump into Siege and Storm next!
About the author
Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.
Practical Information for Readers
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Book Formats
Shadow and Bone is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
PDF Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to find Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo PDF
Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Age Rating
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is generally recommended for readers aged 12 and up (middle grade to young YA), though many consider it more suitable for 13+ due to certain themes.
