Shadow and Bone

20.03.2021

I finally decided to start the Grishaverse series, considering the release of the Netflix show on april 23rd. From there started my binge, the books are quite addicting and easy enought to follow. There is a good amount of worldbuilding, but not too much for me to completely get lost. The presence of the map is also really helpful and I don't think there's something that I love more than fiction world maps.

At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Alina Starkov, an orphaned girl who grew up with her friend Mal in an orphanage in Keramisin, in the kingdom of Ravka. They both get scouted to the Second Army, where Alina is a mapmaker. They are going on a mission in the Unsee, in an attemp to cross it. The Unsee, also called the Fold, is a place of complete darkness, where circle monsters, also known as volcra. During the mission, as predicted, the volcra attack their ship and in a helpless attempt to save Mal, Alina covers his body with hers and manages to summon a huge amount of Grisha power, a blast of light effectively pushing back the volcra. The Grisha are people who can control different elements, and are discovered at an early age, by other Grisha visiting their homes. Alina was tested, but somehow never got discovered.The Grisha are lead by "The Darkling" who is said to be a person of immense power, though even he cannot access it in the Fold. He sees Alina's power and immediately rushes her to the capital of Ravka, Os Alta, saying that her power is unlike anyone else, and she will be very valuable to him. At Os Alta, Alina finds it quite hard to fit in, and doesn't have confidence in herself and her powers. For an unknown for her reason, Alina is attracted to the Darkling, and he seems to feel the same way, they even end up kissing twice and Alina is confused by the reaction to these kisses. Alina befriends a Tailor of the Queen called Genya who she feels really close to despite not knowing her for long. Alina also sends multiple letters to Mal, trying to contact him and see how he's doing after she was taken to the capital. She goes to train her powers with Baghra and the Drarkling explains to Alina what amplifiers are, how they are really special and hard to find and only few Grisha has them. He tells her that he's hoping to find her a very special one, that will extend her power immendly. After she demonstrates her powers to the king, Baghra warns her that she must flee the capital at once, Mal, a skilled tracker has found the Stag, which the Darkling hopes to turn into an amplifier for her. Alina is confused and Baghra explains that she is the Darkling's mother and he was the one who created the Fold and now wishes to use her powers to gain control over it. Ultimately she decides to trust Baghra and flees the capital. Two weeks on the run, Alina is almost captured but Mal saves her. They decide to hunt the Stag together in the North and set out on a long journey. Along the journey, Mal and Alina talks about their feelings for each other and when they find the stag Alina refuses to kill him. The Darkling and his minions appear, he kills the stag and forces the antlers necklace on Alina, now being able to control her power, and her being unable to disobey his orders. They return south to the crossing point of the Unsee, Alina is forced to protect the ship with her power. He then unleashes the Unsee on the other side and causes death and destruction to everyone there. The Darkling throws Mal over the ship, leaving him to die, when Alina summons the power and strengh from her feeling for Mal to break free from the Darkling's hold. She leaps out of the ship, running towards Mal and destroys the ship after her. The book ends with Mal and Alina now on the run, on a ship, escaping Ravka and the Darkling.

Star rating: After thinking on my feelings on this book, I decided to give it 4 stars. It was really great and I enjoyed it, I just felt like it didn't quite reach my standards for a solid five stars. (Spoiler alert, the third one is actually my favourite, watch out for the review on it coming soon)