Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Are there books that you held off in reading because you knew how much they would nestle down inside you? Well in the book, the Grisha have a saying, like calls to like, and Alina Starkov and her story? Well, it calls to me.

Leigh Bardugo was well on her way of becoming one of my favorite authors—you rank favorite authors like best friends right?—before I’d read her books. Partially because of her online presence, her embrace and thriving in strangeness. I then I read Six of Crows, which I loved, and I only grew to love her more at BookCon where I attended her panels. Her writing is so dynamic and so enrapturing. She steals your breath away, and only gives it back when you’ve finished reading.

Within the first few pages of Shadow and Bone I was hooked. The world she’s built is so rich. It’s full of culture and people, and the wavering reality of those people. She understands the minutia of politics between warring realms. And she built it all on legends turned into a fantasy world. I would love to escape to, or maybe with all the war I’ll just go visit.

Leigh knows how to write a villain. Granted, she knows how to write period. Her characterizations of humanity are amazing. From snide gossip, to ailments of the heart, and the understanding of true loneliness, Leigh knows how to capitalize on the feels. She knows that each person has multitudes beneath their skin. So when her villain walks in, without knowing it he weaves even more complexities and layers into the makeup of the story.

While I love on her villans, that doesn’t mean her heros are left wanting. The reality of the reluctant hero, who was happy with their meager life is fairly common, however Leigh understands that often the reluctance has a real reason behind and we have to introspect more on a persons wants in life. While it isn’t an easy ride, I was happy to join the ride with Alina, who was cut adrift from all she knew.

Finally I’m getting down to the nitty gritty. Magic. You all should know how much I love magic that plays by the rules. That the rules of magic make them enigmatic, and infinitely sexier. This is easily shown in Shadow and Bone, where the rules one have exceptions occasionally and even then they aren’t actually exceptions but more layered rules. …I just realized that I took the description of people who can freeze your blood, alter your appearance, cleave anything in half, and manipulate and create sunlight sound boring. Well it’s not. In the slightest.

I give my kudos and recommendation for the lonely girl with human flaws, inhumane power, and a best friend who would move mountains. Like calls to like as the Grisha say so be careful with this book, as know I found a part of me in it.

You can get Shadow and Bone here through Bookshop.org, which supports local independent bookstores!

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