Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 

"The Shadow Fold , a swathe of unpenetrable darkness, is slowly destroying the once great nation of Ravka. 

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the world of the kingdom's magical elite - the Grisha. Could she be the key to setting Ravka free? 

The Darkling, a man of seductive charm and terrifying power. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. 

But what of Mal, Alina's childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can't she ever quite forget him?" 

I'd seen quite a lot about the Grisha series on twitter and a few blogs, so when I was offered copies of the first two in the trilogy whilst on placement with Orion a few weeks ago, I snapped them up! I raced through Shadow and Bone and was then faced with a dilema; according to Leigh Bardugo's website the third isn't out until 2014, so did I read Siege and Storm now because it was really exciting and I really wanted to, or should I pace myself and read it later this year and have less time to wait for book 3? I tried to be good and do the latter, but yesterday the beautiful weather begged for some outdoors reading, and I gave in, reading the whole book in practically one sitting. 

Bardugo has created a richly detailed world, based on tsarist Russia, where everything depends on a hierarchy of power. The Grisha are the magical elite; three orders, each with different specialities. The Corporalkis' magic revolves around the body, either harming or healing; Etherealki are summoners, in control of wind, water and fire and the Materialki are creators. I just loved the elemental nature of it all. 'Like calls to like' is a line oft-repeated throughout the novels. Additionally, the Grisha are only part of the population, forming what is called the Second Army, who answer to the Darkling (more on him shortly). The First Army is more traditional, soldiers, trackers, mapmakers etc and it is the King's Army. I particularly enjoyed this difficult relationship between the magical/non-magical populations, and the way that the nation of Ravka hangs on the maintenance of this delicate hierarchy, any shift in the balance and it's all likely to crumble. 

From the opening, we are introduced to Alina and Mal, two orphans with an incredible bond that keeps pulling them back together. They are part of the First Army, in a regiment that is about to make a journey across the Shadow Fold, a swathe of darkness cutting the country of Ravka in two. An attack on this journey causes Alina to reveal a hidden, unique power that could be the answer to saving the country. I don't want to say too much more about the plot because Spoilers, and this is one of those books where I'm jealous of anyone who gets to read it for the first time, but needless to say it's a gripping story with twists and turns all over the place, plus fast-paced writing that carries you along on Alina's journey. 

Alina is not your typical heroine, she's scrawny with lank hair and at times her lack of self-belief made me want to shake her. But this makes the successes somehow all the more wonderful. This trope of ordinary girl discovering she has hereto unknown power on a massive scale could feel tired and worn, but Bardugo breathes fresh life into it with her humorous style, and original concept. Mal is, of course, dashing and handsome and from the outset I was rooting for their relationship. The way it develops is beautiful, yet real, and a joy to read. 

But I think my favourite, certainly in the first novel, has to be the Darkling. I have expressed in this very blog how much I love a villain and the Darkling definitely would make it into my top 5 literary villains.  He's seductive and charismatic, a dangerous combination in itself added to which we have his immense magical power, and you certainly can't judge Alina for her attraction to him.

There have of course been comparisons to other YA fantasy series but beyond the label fantasy, I'm not sure I buy it. The magic of this world is original and exciting, and despite comparisons to Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings it is a very far-cry from the wand-waving of Hogwarts or Tolkein's Middle Earth. All in all, a wonderful read and I urge anyone who enjoys historical fantasy, full of twists, with a sprinkling of humour and more than a little romance, to give Shadow and Bone a try. 

Now I just have to wait. Is it 2014 yet?

"I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don't tell me we don't belong together"

Things I Have Been Enjoying Of Late

1. Despicable Me 2: Given how perfect the first Despicable Me film is, I went into the cinema with some doubts, worried that the sequel couldn't possibly live up to my extremely high expectations. I was proved wrong. It's brilliant, and although I think the plotline of the first is hard to beat, I really, really enjoyed the film. Plus, if possible, the minions are even better than the first time round (perhaps down to their increased screen time). Their Barbara Ann teaser trailer will probably never stop making me laugh:

 

2. The Tree That Sat Down by Beverley Nichols: My mother has been telling me to read this book for a very long time, and I finally got around to it. First published in 1945, it is the story of the Shop Under the Tree in a wood inhabited by animals, and what happens when a rival shop is opened by Evil Sam. At first I thought it was a little preachy, for example a discussion of The Street of Wicked Newspaper shops and a recommendation that young children avoid such a street, but I think this preachiness was both of the time, and rather tongue-in-cheek. Despite a few tears when the lovely Mrs Rabbit gets ripped off and has trembly paws, this is a very sweet book and I'm going to try and hunt down the sequels. Apparently there are abridged versions that aren't as good because they miss out the little poems and spells and things that pepper the books, so will be looking for the unabridged editions.

3. Andy Murray winning Wimbledon: Obviously. 

4. The arranging of Latitude Festival transport: 8 DAYS! I'm volunteering in the Literary arena at Latitude this year and am hugely excited for it.

and last, but very much not least,

See?

5. Graduation Week! That's right, little Blog, I got myself a degree and am now MoominPoll MA (hons). I had a lovely day in Aberdeen with my parents and some grandparents, and the weather although dismal on the way into the hall turned into a completely beautiful afternoon. After the ceremony I drank something appropriately fizzy and took the obligatory mortarboard-tossing photographs, before a delightful lunch at The Coffee House on Gaelic Lane and beautiful dinner at Cafe 52 on the Green which is my favourite restaurant in the city. The next day I moved out of my flat, and here a hat tip must be made to the parental unit and their incredible packing skills, squeezing all my possessions, including a bike, the three of us and my grandparents into their Mazda estate. Quite remarkable! Leaving Aberdeen was strange; I did feel quite sad but I'm very excited for whatever comes next.