Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

4 stars

“The problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak.”  

Oh, my lord. Okay, people rave about Leigh Bardugo so I had my expectations set pretty high but wow. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I really pleased about this because I bought this and Six of Crows on complete impulse when I saw them online after reading all the hype. I can not wait to get the next two in the trilogy.

Before I get really stuck into it, I have a few words to say and they are, slay me Mal boo. I love him, I might say this about almost every semi charming fictional boy I come across but you need to believe me when I say Mal is a babe and I think I'm in love with him. To be completely honest with you though, for a while there I was starting to think he was an absolute prick.

I had a bit of trouble trying to get into it to begin with but once I was in, I was in good. I think I usually  need to take a little adjusting time when I read a fantasy book. Especially today since I haven't read a fantasy book in a month (*shudders*) so, it probably took me a little longer but holy hell, you have to know that once I got into it, I struggled to put it down. So, that in itself was pretty good.

I'm a bit obsessed with the Grisha world now and I really hope we get to see more of it in the next books. I reminds me very vaguely of the Pyrithian (there is no way I spelt it right but I don't feel like checking). Shadow and Bone actually reminds me of a lot of books, for example, at one point it felt very Legend-esque but it also kind of felt a little Divergent-y with a hint of The Hunger Games then a dusting of The Mortal Instrument. Very intriguing combinations there, if you ask me.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I absolutely can hardly wait until I read the rest of the trilogy. I think we've got a very good basis for some interesting plots, I'm intrigued to see what Leigh Bardugo has done with them. Great book, I'd seriously recommend it if you haven't already read it!