Book Review: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Title: The Language of Thorns Series: Grishaverse #0.5, 2.5, 2.6 Written by: Leigh Bardugo Published: September 26, 2017 by Imprint (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns. Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price. Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse. This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

I really enjoy the Grishaverse books from Leigh Bardugo but I have never read any of the short stories (well except the one about the Darkling in the Ruin and Rising special edition), so I was so excited to read this collection of stories. They were fantastic fairy tales retellings with that trademark Leigh Bardugo magic.

The fun thing about these stories is that they are all familiar and unique at the same time. These are stories that are inspired by classic fairy tales but with a Grisha twist. You can see the obvious familiarity in stories that are reminiscent of Hansel and Greta, The Little Mermaid, and The Nutcracker. But they all still feel like they are their own stories. They have surprising twists and are even darker then the Grimm’s Brothers versions. If you like fairy tales I would definitely recommend this one, even if you aren’t a fan of the Grishaverse.

But if you are a fan of the Grishaverse, you will love them even more. It had that Grisha magic to it. Some of the stores you can tell are attempts at maybe explaining the origins of Grisha powers or used to explain why Grisha are either good or bad depending on the culture. And I say culture because there are stories from different countries. It was really cool seeing the different locations and the different stories that the characters would have read or told their children.

Usually when it comes to short story collections there are some stories that are better than others, and while that was definitely the case with The Language of Thorns. I think my favorites were probably The Witch of Duva and When The Water Sang Fire (which has a cameo from a character that will have you so excited because of what it means for the larger series). The great thing about both these stories is that they did not go the way that I thought they would. They had interesting spins on the original stories and were dark and magical. But there were no bad stories in this collection they were all really good.

The other great thing about this book was how gorgeous it was. Each story had these amazing images. The more you read, the more the image unfolded. And then at the end of each story there was a gorgeous two page illustration that summed up the story. It is honestly one of the most beautiful books that I have read. It added something even more special to this book.

The Language of Thorns was a fantastic short story collection that fans of Leigh Bardugo and the Grishaverse definitely need in their lives. It’s beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated. But even if you don’t know the series you will enjoy this book. It’s got amazing fairy tale retellings.

I give The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. Seriously, this book is gorgeous and every Grishaverse collection needs a copy. But even if you haven't read the original series this is a great way to start to ease into the world and tone of the series. If you like fairy tales or YA fantasy I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Have you read The Language of Thorns? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Feature and Follow Friday #48 - Book Recommendation

A weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read & Parajunkee's View

How it Works: 

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you visit the blogs of our illustrious hosts and leave your name on the post using using the linky tools, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

This Week's Question: 

What books would you give to newbies in your favorite genre? (Ex. I'm a newbie to high fantasy and EVERYONE said to ease into it with Throne of Glass series) - suggested by Take Me Away 

This Week's Answer: 

So my two favorite genres are Historical Fiction and Fantasy. I feel like I talk about HF a lot. I did a Top Ten Tuesday a few months ago where I recommended HF books based on your other reading tastes so if you are interested in that you can check it out [HERE]

As for Fantasy I would recommend The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising). I think a lot of people don't like fantasy because the authors can overwhelm you with world-building and there's either too much or it's confusing. Leigh creates and interesting and fantastical world but she builds it slowly and definitely shows instead of tells.

And... it's not a genre (though it is Fantasy) but there is a lot of talk about Brandon Sanderson in the blogosphere these days and a lot of people are reading him for the first time. I've suggested first Sanderson reads to a few people but if you like Fantasy already check out Mistborn (it's flawless) but if you like Dystopian then check out Steelheart (it's amazing). ALSO... if you're just getting into audiobooks, Steelheart is a brilliant audiobook and you should start there!

Okay, that's it, I'm done. I have recommended enough books to you. But seriously, read Brandon Sanderson! He's my newest auto-buy author, he's brilliant. And there is a whole community of Sanderson fans that will support you through the feels and gush about him with you!

And remember this is a blog hop so take a look around and if you like what you see give me a follow and leave me a comment so I can follow back. I am indifferent to the manner in which you follow so pick your poison: GFC, Bloglovin, and/or Twitter.

Thanks for dropping by, Happy FF and HAPPY READING!

Discussion Post: On Unlikable Characters

About a week ago I was taking part in a live chat on Book Riot with Rainbow Rowell, where she was talking about Landline. Someone asked about unlikable characters and I was shocked that they would think that about her characters. I LOVE her characters, I had never considered that they could be "unlikable." But that got me thinking. That same day I had posted my review of The Magician's Land where I said that even though the characters are not very likable, I like that about them. More than once I have told someone who my favorite character in a series is and people are shocked by my answer. I then feel the need to defend not only the character but also myself. So allow me to do just that and explain why I like "unlikable" characters.

To me there is a big difference between unlikable characters and unsympathetic characters. A lot of the time I find it hard to like people who do terrible things but if I understand why they are doing these things then I'm going to enjoy them and their story. When I was reading Side Effects May Vary I felt like the main character Alice was treating people with absolutely no respect and it made me not like her very much. But I did understand why she was acting this way, and despite the fact I hated her behavior it made her a sympathetic and compelling character. If I can understand a character's motivation then I will easily empathize with them and like them no matter how outrageous and inappropriate their actions may be.

Source

And honestly I don't even really need to agree with their motivation to sympathize with a character that is difficult to like. I mean one of my favorite books is the tortured Gothic love story, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This is not your typical Austenian romance about misunderstandings and love developing over time. No, this is a book about two spiteful and vindictive people ruining the lives of everyone around them because they're in love and they can't be together. They even ruin each other's lives despite the fact that they are hopelessly in love. They are not easy to like but they are incredibly compelling because I am able to get inside their heads and know why they are doing these terrible things.

Another big thing for me with unlikable characters is, are they realistic? We all know those people who whine all the time, are conceited, and act like they're better than everyone else. I once heard that as readers we like characters who have traits we like about ourselves and dislike characters who have traits we don't like about ourselves. For me this is not entirely true. If I can relate to a fictional character to someone I know in real life (even better if I can relate them to myself) then for me that is a realistic and enjoyable character to read about, even if they are difficult to like. The best example for this one I can give is Quentin Coldwater in The Magicians trilogy. Quentin is annoyingly whiny and never satisfied despite getting everything he ever wanted. But that's part if his charm. Quentin has spent his whole life wanting to escape into something he thought was better. It's his main character flaw. He's the eternal pessimist and I can completely relate. Sure, it's frustrating at times to be on his side but these attitudes of being perpetually unhappy makes him seem realistic and unique. If I can relate at all to the character then I will like them.

 Finally, I will like an unlikable character if they are complex. Similar to the two previous reasons, but if a character does terrible or annoying things but they aren't just a caricature and have something under the surface then I'm going to enjoy them. My example for this one is my favorite unlikable character who I love and will defend until I am out of breathe and friends, Sansa Stark in A Song of Ice and Fire. So yes, when I first met the Starks I found Sansa vapid and annoying. But then I realized something, she's a teenage girl and I'm hating her for being just that. Then I understood her motivation, she's been brought up on stories of love and gallantry and she still believes that the world is good and romantic. She's an idealist. Then when I saw her in that way I realized she has this incredible inner strength that I didn't notice at first because I was fixated on the superficial layer of her personality. Maybe it was a character arc brought about by the hardships she faced or maybe it was always there under the surface and we never noticed it because she wasn't as obviously badass as those around her. But believe me when I say Sansa is one of the toughest characters in that series. A lesser person would not have been able to handle all the hate she received at the hands of the Lannisters! Despite the fact that she is one of the most disliked people within the fandom, Sansa has quickly become my favorite character in the series and it's because of her complexities.

But before I wrap this all up I feel like I would be doing the topic a disservice if I didn't mention some villains. Villains and anti-heroes are pretty much the perfect unlikable characters. You're not supposed to like the evil characters in a book, especially if there is a likable hero in the story. But for me that is so hard sometimes. For awhile my favorite characters in a book or series were the villains because they are so compelling. You know those people. The ones you love to hate! Who are so bad it's good. For all the reasons listed above I will often love a totally unlikable villain if they are sympathetic, realistic, and complex. Like Queen Levana in The Lunar Chronicles, Circe in The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, and The Darkling in the Grisha Trilogy.

How do you feel about "unlikable" characters? Has there ever been a time you felt like you had to defend your love of a character? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ruin and Rising Series: Grisha Trilogy Book #3 Author: Leigh Bardugo Published: June 17, 2014 by Henry Holt (Macmillan) Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.  Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.  Ruin and Rising is the thrilling final installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

This review attempts to be spoiler free but Ruin and Rising is the last book in the Grisha Trilogy so it will more than likely contain spoilers for the first two books, Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm. If you have not read these books yet stop reading this review and start reading them! I’m not kidding, go read them... IMMEDIATELY!

The Grisha trilogy is a phenomenal Young Adult High Fantasy series and I was blown away by so much in the first two books. I was nervous and excited to read the final book for many reasons. I had a bunch or crazy theories and I was really worried about how it all was going to end. But when the dust had settled and the last page had been read I was incredibly satisfied with not only this book but the way the series concluded.

Shadow and Bone was incredibly action-packed while Siege and Storm was much more character-driven, meanwhile Ruin and Rising was a bit of both. There is lots and lots of action in this book. There were thrilling battle scenes, daring sword-fights, incredible use of magical powers, and death galore (you have been warned). But it also focused a lot on Alina, our protagonist and MC, and her personal development. As the tagline reminds us she’s gone from soldier, to summoner, and now to saint. She’s had quite the character arc and hero’s journey so now we get to see her in action as a leader. I just loved Alina in this book. She is walking that fine line between good and evil as her power takes hold and she struggles to know what to do with it. She was tough but compassionate and an amazing warrior who knows when not to fight. She’s smart, aggressive, and incredibly powerful. It was a pleasure seeing her learn and grow throughout these books.

But Alina isn’t the only brilliant character in this book. What Leigh Bardugo does so well is create complex and interesting characters who aren't perfectly good or perfectly bad (although in this book there is far less middle ground). They make you suspicious, but you can’t help but root for them at the same time. And the banter between them all was top notch! A few of my favorites include Genya who had an amazing arc throughout the series and had a great badass moment in this book, Baghra who had a great redemptive arc in this book but never changed her aggressive and snarky attitude, and Sturmhond who consistently made me laugh and had a gut-wrenching storyline! And then of course there was the Darkling. We got to learn so much more about this devious villain of this story and he was quite diabolical in this book, it was fantastic! But I would be remised if I didn’t mention my favorite character, Mal. He’s just so swoonworthy! He’s a fantastic male lead and so a tough but also sweet and caring. He's an amazing warrior but when it comes down to it all he wants is for Alina to succeed. There are few words to explain how I feel about Mal.

 What makes this book all the more enjoyable is the world-building. The world of Ravka is one of the most compelling in Young Adult literature to me. From the Russian illusions, to the magical system, to the historical back story, to its ominous creatures and geography I love it all. In Ruin and Rising the world continued to thrill me and there were so many more parts of this world and its history explained throughout the book . While it is often annoying to continue to build a world when you’re wrapping up the story in Ruin and Rising everything felt very important and beneficial to the plot.

And what an incredible plot it was! From beginning to end I was curious and enthralled by the mysterious and interesting plot of this book. Everything continued to develop into a thrilling conclusion and things that had been building since book one were resolved and explained. I had so many crazy and harebrained theories that I was interested to see resolved (if you want to hear any of them contact me on twitter) and more than a few twists caught me by complete surprise. There were some weird loopholes that weren’t completely explained but I’m going to call it magic and not think too much about how they are illogical. Besides they were all fantastic and interesting twists that added to an interesting and compelling book and series.

Prepare yourself, those twists lead to so many feels! This book took me through a complete range of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I was shock, I was confused, I was enthralled. When the book was over I had no words, only feels. Seriously I’m surprised I could even write this review (and it's long)! If you haven’t read the book beware of feels. You have been warned, you will need tissues. Or a stiff drink. Bring out the kvas! Let's all raise a glass to Leigh Bardugo and the stellar Grisha trilogy!

I give Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo 10 out of 10

It was brilliant and basically perfect! If you enjoy fantasy check out this series. Even if you don’t check out this series. Just read it, it’s brilliant, trust me, would I lie?

If you’ve read Ruin and Rising leave me a comment with your thoughts! Seriously, let's talk it out! I love chatting about interesting plot twists both good and bad! I may even tell you my harebrained theories if you ask nicely! If you want to talk about more spoilery points and feels send me a message on twitter. Seriously… I want to talk all about it! If you haven’t read this book then I cannot wait for you to read it! Enjoy and HAPPY READING!

Make War Not Love - Why I Love The Grisha Trilogy

Today is the day we've been waiting for... The cover to Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo is finally released! If you haven't seen it yet, here is in all it's fiery glory!

Beautiful right? 

Ruin and Rising is the final book in the epic Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo that began with Shadow and Bone, and continued with Siege and Storm. I read both of these books in January as part of my High Fantasy month and was instantly hooked, devouring the books in record time for me! The books combine elements of fantasy, mythology, and coming-of-age stories into one delightful ball of gritty and entertaining magic. As the series goes on the books keep getting better and better. But there is one thing I love about this series and it is summed up by my favorite quote.

That brilliant statement by Nikolai from Siege and Storm says it all and it says so much in so few words. This is a world, much like the previous covers, full of gray. It is a world that has been ravaged by war where millions of people are starving, ruled by a monarch that seems disconnected with the blight of the people. Those citizens with magical powers are taken from their homes to fight for their country under an odious leader known only as the Darkling. Oh and did I mention the fact that there is an entire section of the country that is pitch black and overrun by terrifying monster that will rip your flesh off? Yeah, that too. It's not really the ideal world to live in.

But we do have some leaders and revolutionaries to help make the world a better place. The question is... What does that better world look like and how do we get there? Isn't that the ultimate question every leader has always asked themselves? In the Grisha trilogy, Leigh Bardugo brilliantly explores this idea. Each of the characters walk the fine line between right and wrong or good and evil. They all have strengths, weakness, and like Gretchen Weiners hair they're full of secrets! Throughout much of the books I found myself wondering if characters were doing what was best, and if they were doing it for themselves or for the betterment of others? We're they doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right reasons?

But all these questions and secrets is what makes the book so compelling and interesting. Everything being so fuzzy and mysterious means theorizing and speculating, which I love doing! Not to mention all this mystery makes me all the more excited about the ending of this spectacular series! June 17th is how far away?

I cannot wait to find out how it all ends. I have a feeling there will be lots of secrets revealed, lots of epic battle scenes, and lots of tears! BRING ON THE TISSUES!

As the release draws closer I'll be taking part in the Grisha Street Team challenges so look forward to more posts where I gust about the series! Join me in the gushing by telling me your favorite quote from the series in the comments. If you haven't read the books I definitely recommend them and for more info check out my reviews. 

HAPPY READING! And Happy Valentines Day! Remember today make war not love cause that's the Grisha thing to do!

Book Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Siege and Storm (Grisha Trilogy Book 2) Author: Leigh Bardugo Published: Henry Holt, 2013 Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

After the way the first book ended, I was so excited to read the next book in the Grisha trilogy. I really enjoyed the high fantasy story and the world of Ravka. It is a world of magic and mystery that is constantly at war and a world full of complex and interesting characters, all things I love in reading.

 When we last left our main character Alina she and her best friend and love interest Mal are on the run from the Darkling, the powerful leader of the Grisha, and she is learning to control her power, which is growing stronger thanks to the Darkling. In this book Alina is really growing and developing as a character and as a leader. She’s definitely taking more responsibility and really seems like she is trying to be the savior of Ravka that everyone wants her to be, but she also hasn’t lost her insecurities and at times is just as reluctant. Throughout most of the book she is struggling with her growing power and the responsibility that comes with it. She is enjoying the power as it grows and aching for more, but terrified by the power and not sure how far she wants to take it. I like her during the moments where she shows her strength but also when she feels most weak. It makes her much more well-rounded and likable as a protagonist.

But Alina is not the only well-rounded and complex character in this book. All of my favorite characters from the first book are back and there is a host of new characters to love. The Darkling is of course back and wreaking havoc on the country. In this book he can’t really pretend to be good anymore between his actions in the first book and the fact that he has this terrifying new power. He is being extremely devious and even though he isn’t physically in a lot of the book, he’s a great and diabolical villain. Mal is also back and being extremely swoonworthy as well. He too is becoming much more well-rounded as a character, developing a bit of a dark side and fighting with Alina about her growing power. 

But my favorite characters, new and old, are the secondary characters. In this book we are introduced to Strumhond the effervescent and cocksure privateer who when we first meet him seems to be refreshingly honest and a complete contrast to the ominous and mysterious characters but this is Ravka and everyone has their secrets. Throughout the book his character develops a lot and in the end becomes just as odious as all the others making me wonder if he is doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right reason. Maybe because I’m also reading A Song of Ice and Fire but I’m pretty sure he is playing the “game of thrones” and I'm not sure if he’s doing it for his own personal gain or if he is this amazing revolutionary that wants to save Ravka. I’m not sure if I trust him or not but I like him for the mystery. We also meet Tolya and Tamar, twin warriors who are part of Strumhond’s crew and become members of Alina’s guard. They are really badass and also develop into more complex and interesting characters later in the story. Every single one of these characters is not just one thing and full of surprises. It really keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing till the very last minute.

On the whole this book was much more character driven than the previous one. Where Shadow and Bone relied on the fantasy elements of the story and had a lot of magic and action, Siege and Storm focuses on the internal struggle for power and the affect it has on a person giving it the tone of a coming-of-age mystery.  It wasn’t as much of a page turner and there was a lot less action but there was an extreme sense of foreboding. The characters are dealing with this undercurrent of fear and the anxiety about when and how the Darkling is going to seek his revenge and it made everyone (including me as the reader) extremely nervous. And just like the first book I found myself spending a lot of time theorizing and wondering what was a clue, what it meant, and what would happen later in the story. What I really liked was that in this book there was much more of a slow rise in plot points, it wasn’t so much of a roller coaster. Most of the book was focused on Alina and her struggle to establish and control her power. But don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of action. The story was bookended with epic battle scenes between Alina and The Darkling and ended with an extremely thrilling conclusion that left me desperately wanting to read Ruin and Rising so I can find out what happens to these characters and this world. When the book was all said and done I had an extreme case of the “what nows.” Even a chapter from one of my favorite point-of-view characters in A Dance with Dragons couldn’t snap me out of it. But that’s how good this book was. 

 This is how I felt after finishing this book. polandbananaBOOKS knows what's up!

I give Siege and Storm a 9.5 out of 10

This is a great Young Adult high fantasy series and Siege and Storm was almost completely perfect. The series is getting better and better as it goes on and I really cannot wait until the final book comes out in June. I HAVE TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS! If you have read Siege and Storm then leave me a comment. If you haven’t read this book, what are you waiting for? I recommend it to anyone who likes high fantasy or anyone who doesn’t. It’s a great way to try out the genre.  

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone Author: Leigh Bardugo Published: Henry Holt, 2012 Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: 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.

Everyone in the book blogging community raves about this book and this series. I always approach things with this much hype with trepidation, I’m a glass half empty kind of girl. It definitely is the kind of book that I would enjoy: high fantasy, odious characters, and elements of Russian folklore and history. But despite my trepidation, the book was everything that I had hoped it would be and more.

When I was finished reading the only way to describe my feelings of this book is to compare it to a roller coaster. This book was up, and then it was down. It turned left, it turned right. It was fast, it was slow. It was full of unexpected twists, turns, and nonstop thrills. And just like all roller coasters it was extremely fun and when it was over, I wanted to go again (good thing there are two more books!)

My favorite part of the book was the characters. First and foremost there was Alina, our protagonist and narrator. When we first meet her she is a meek and not confident girl who thinks that she has been wrongly destined for not only her power but her position as savior. And while she did sometimes come off as whiny I did like her for her reluctance. She’s catapulted into this position and while I think deep down she wants to help she doesn’t have a hero complex at all and doesn’t even know what to do or how to do it. It’s this reluctance that makes her all the more realistic and likable. As she develops throughout the story I found myself rooting for her to grow and succeed. Next we have The Darkling, when we meet him he is the mysterious and charismatic leader of the magical Grisha and the second most powerful person in the country of Ravka. As Alina starts to spend time with and around him she is able to witness his incredible powers and develops a sort of romance with him. He is the kind of character that you know there is so much more going on under the surface. As the story develops my feelings for him changed more times than I can count. Just when I thought I had him figured out he did something completely different, and just when I thought of him as the villain of the story I ended up sympathizing with him. I wasn’t quite sure if he was doing the right things for the wrong reasons or the wrong things for the right reasons. He is clearly very dark, selfish, power-hungry, and conniving. He is like a politician with magical powers and I LOVED him. There were many more interesting and ominous secondary characters that made me feel like they knew so much more than they are letting on.

But that was the world of this story. It is a world full of secrets, mystery, and magic. Leigh Bardugo definitely showed instead of told about the world of Ravka and the Grisha and it caused me to want to know everything right away. The world was so interesting and unique but I felt like at times it was being built a little too slowly and it was sometimes frustrating. As the reader I felt like there were things being held back from me and while it succeeded in what I assume was its purpose of creating an ominous and mysterious story it was also maddening! I spent much of the book wondering and imagining what would happen next and where the story would end up going. It was the kind of book where I felt like every little statement and action was a clue as to where the story would develop and I was trying to piece these clues together to figure it all out, but as this is the first book of a trilogy it would make later books confusing or dull if they gave us all the information right away. The plot was a little slow at the beginning as the scene and characters but it didn’t wait very long to start with the action. When the action did pick up however it didn’t last very long. There would be a big battle or big reveal and a whole chunk of the book where nothing much would happen.

On the whole the book met and exceeded all my expectations. It was an interesting story with compelling characters and it took me on quite a ride. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see how this series develops.

I give Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 9 out of 10 stars.

If you are one of the few people who seem to not have read this book yet then you definitely should, especially if you like epic fantasy, interesting and complex characters, and books with lots of mystery. If you have read Shadow and Bone, leave me a comment and tell me your thoughts and Happy Reading!

January TBR- High Fantasy

I don't know what it is about winter that makes me want to read fantasy book. Maybe it's because I want to escape into another world while mine is so uninviting. Maybe it's because winter is a time to curl up under a blanket with a hot beverage and spend all day reading which lends itself so perfectly to the frequently lengthy fantasy books. Or maybe I'm making this whole thing up. Either way this January my plan is to read books that are High Fantasy.

For those not very familiar with the subgenres of Fantasy, High Fantasy is a story set in a completely imaginary world that is unrelated to our own, often one where magic exists in some way, or by the epicness of the characters, themes, and plots (often both).

There are three ways to categorize it:
1.) A world totally independent of our world which doesn't exist, think Lord of the Rings
2.) An alternate world is entered through a portal, think Chronicles of Narnia
3.) An unknown world exists within our world, think Harry Potter.

I prefer the first two as in the last one the lines get a little blurry when it comes to high and low fantasy. So now that I have explained myself here are my picks for January.


A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
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Synopsis: Book 4 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. This series fits in to category 1 of High Fantasy and is about the fictional land of Westeros and the power struggle to control it. This book looks mostly at the political intrigue aspect of the series.






A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin
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Synopsis: Book 5 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. This book and the previous one were intended to be one book so I am marathoning them. This one is more about the magical elements in Westeros. A Storm of Swords (Book 3) was one of my favorites of 2013 and I hope these next two do not disappoint. 






Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
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Synospis: This also fits into category 1 of High Fantasy (I've heard some debate about this but I'll have no lip from you) and is book one in the Grisha trilogy. It is set in the fictional land of Ravka and tells the story of Alina who discovers a magical power withing her and joins the Grisha who are like magical soldiers.






Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
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Synopsis: Book 2 in the Grisha trilogy. I've heard great things about this series and I am really excited to read the first two books and finish the series later this year. I may also read the two novella that go with the series.






Stardust by Neil Gaiman
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Synopsis: There has been some debate over which category this fits in but my assessment is the second. It is the story of a half-fairy boy who is completely lovesick and goes on a quest to find a fallen star in the magical realm. I've been wanting to read something by Neil Gaiman for awhile and I'm really excited that this will be my first one. I'm going to listen to the audiobook which is actually narrated by Mr. Gaiman



Depending how these go I may add a book or two that is not High Fantasy (I'm already a quarter of the way done with A Feast for Crows), probably one that comes out in January but for the time being, here's my list.

What are you reading in January? Leave me a comment and check back for my reviews!