Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
This quick-light fantasy is perfect for those diving into YA fantasy for the first time. I’m not a huge fan of fantasy novels, but I watched parts of the show and found it interesting. When I realized it was a book I just had to read it. After the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. Leigh Bardugo’s writing style was simple and easy to comprehend. Bardugo’s worldbuilding was straightforward and manageable.
The character development for Alina and Mal was slow for my taste as I am used to reading one-off novels. I hope to see more growth from Alina and Mal during the second book. However, a few of Bardugo’s characters were easily forgettable. Bardugo highlighted the differences between the struggles of being an orphan and the court's absurdity through Alina’s journey. Alina struggled with missing her friend Mal and embracing her new life in The Little Palace. Alina’s naivety allows her to easily believe The Darkling even though she questions everyone around her including herself.
I realized while reading this, that I took a lot of the characters at face value, i.e. The Darkling. The bits that I’ve seen from the show about his character should have been a big indicator, but I, just like Alina, was naïve in The Darkling’s intentions with Alina. I thought some people just didn’t like The Darkling, but Baghard’s warning felt hollow and rushed. Actually, all the character’s whispers of being careful felt like they were in poor timing.
Alina and Mal’s relationship towards the end of the novel felt forced. I had a hard time believing that they both really loved each other more than just friends. There wasn’t enough chemistry between the two. Alina basically fawns over him, and he embodies a typical guy has no idea that she even exists as a sexual person and not just the girl he grew up with. I felt like Alina’s jealousy towards Mal’s other flings was more due to realizing that she wasn’t going to always be someone he needed all the time. There was more palpable chemistry between Alina and the Darkling. He is charming and charismatic.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and look forward to reading the second one.