Shadow and Bone

Written by bibliophilekid 20:10 Post Comment

Title : Shadow and Bone
Author : Leigh Bardugo
Rating : 5 Stars

Hardcover, 358 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

ISBN : 0805094598 (ISBN13: 9780805094596)

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.

Source : Goodreads

Welcome to the world of Ravka! You are invited to visit or if you wanted to, STAY on this very enchanting yet dark place which makes you want to experience all the adventures and struggles of every characters. We are taken into a place wherein the Shadow Fold engulfs almost everything. The pain, remorse, revenge, and hurtful memories already can invite into something so sweet. Alina Starkov is an ordinary orphan, thats what she just thinks actually, but from some swirly roller coaster, breathtaking event, it all changes into something she did not expect. Realizing that she's a Grisha.

It was very pleasing and addicting to read this book. I swear. I just can't help myself to flabbergast how my mind can perceive everything that Leigh Bardugo describes in Ravka and also from other places. The way she writes the point of view Alina. She [Leigh Bardugo] creates a protagonist that seems to be ordinary at first but suddenly becomes into something ferocious and indestructible. At first, Alina seems very confused with her ability to be a Sun Summoner, but as she experienced unlikeable events of her life since her childhood she learns to accept and welcome her ability.

Mal, he's a type of man that you can't help yourself but fall from the way he speaks words out of his mind. He is never afraid to stand up and find something that he knows can make him very strong or sturdy. I loved how he can track things. He tracks it by the way he feels that will drawn to him automatically.

The Darkling is such a mysterious yet enticing man to read. He has dark secrets and seems to have a crabby personality. One moment he's so sweet and kind to everyone and the next he becomes the most indestructible man that you'll ever imagine. It makes him an incomparable character to anyone.

The first part of it is very extraordinary, the city is full of adversity but at some point Alina and Mal managed to overcome it. They were strong together they know when and where to move for the things that they wanted to achieve. Then up until on entering the Shadow and Fold and meeting The Darkling and the other characters all of it were remarkable. You wouldn't want to miss every detail of the story.

Overall, Shadow and Bone brings the reader full of surprises. You'll be delighted on reading such a wonderful mind-crafted places and characters that shows unimaginable emotions and strength. This book can invite your eyes into pure ecstasy. It will make you high on how they managed to solve the jeopardy of the nation. Another thing, I don't know what to do next before the sequel comes out. I wanted it immediately. Leigh Bardugo knows when to leaves us all behind those mystries.