Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy
So, I am unsure of how I feel about this book. I do think that the hype around it is a little over-the-top and I do think that the idea has potential. Unfortunately, I don’t think that Bradugo pulls it off. Written in almost a rushed sense, there is no character development leading to very weak characters and a reader who doesn’t really feel any empathy for them. It doesn’t help that the plot follows the heroic journey to the point that it is boring or that it borderlines on cliché. Unfortunately, I could guess the ending by the first time the Dark One is introduced.
But, there was a lot of potential! So I am actually hugely disappointed. I hate seeing a good idea go to waste and this is exactly what happened. Alina could have been a strong woman character, but instead Bardugo had her reflect solely on the men around her – men that never seemed to truly care about her. Mal, who may say the dreamy romantic words, is actually really toxic. Not to mention – he doesn’t know that he loves her until she leaves? It may sound good, but it doesn’t make the reader want to ship the characters and root for them. The bone collar also wasn’t fulfilled to its full potential either.
Thinking about this book now is just making me mad simply because it could have been great. I would go as far as say it could have made to a similar standing of Harry Potter (maybe even better). Instead, Bardugo let her readers down; let me down. Don’t get me wrong, I completely get that my opinion means little, but Bardugo’s writing here is child’s play compared to her competitors. Her world may have potential, but unless she starts pairing it with great writing her books may just be remembered as what the shows were based off of.
| Plot: | 8/ 10 |
| Characters: | 7/ 10 |
| Writing: | 5/ 10 |
| Editor: | 9/ 10 |
| Total | 29/ 40 |
Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Edition: Hardcover
Published:
Publisher: Henry Holt
ISBN: 9780805094596
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 