(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone)
Good against evil. Light against the dark. A magical world with characters who possess supernatural powers. These are all somewhat cliché in the world of YA fantasy, or just fantasy in general. And yet, Leigh Bardugo manages to make it feel fresh and captivating once again in her 3-part series that kicks off with Shadow and Bone. The book opens with a prologue-like section in which Alina and Mal, 2 children with humble origins, are about to be tested to see if they possess any special powers of their own. By chapter 1, Alina and Mal are around 17 and 18 respectively, serving in the King’s Army and about to cross through what is known as the Shadow Fold –a dangerous region of darkness that suddenly appeared in the lands one day. As the two cross the Fold with their regiment, a group of volcra, griffin-like creatures, happens upon and attacks the group, a situation through which Alina’s light-summoning power is discovered. This in turn leads Alina to meet the Darkling, the most powerful Grisha (a person who can wield supernatural powers), and develop her powers at the Palace, where all the other Grisha-in-trainings are located. Only it turns out that the Darkling is a power-hungry and manipulative person who wants to use Alina for her powers.
So overall, the plot is not necessarily unique, but Bardugo’s manner of storytelling and the interesting character dynamics were sufficient to have me hooked (enough to read the other 2 books of this series). The description of a character training to strengthen their powers and skills is not something many of us can make seem intriguing –in fact, it seems rather dull and banal. However, Bardugo successfully stretches this across numerous chapters, making a “plot within a plot” by ensuring that training for Alina is not smooth sailing and that she encounters numerous conflicts during her time at the Palace. For example, Bardugo includes Alina’s interactions at the Palace with a mysterious priest-like character named the Apparat, who comes off as somewhat creepy but intriguing nevertheless. (He will end up playing more of a significant role in the following 2 books of the series.) The author also describes Alina’s struggles to be accepted by the other Grisha, as well as her struggles to realize her own powers. This naturally leads one, me at least, to ask questions such as, “Will Alina eventually be accepted by the others? Why is Alina struggling to manifest her light powers? Who exactly is the Apparat?” Bardugo knows when and how to spark her audience’s curiosity.
Shadow and Bone is a relatively lengthy read at 358 pages, but it is not necessarily challenging to get through, especially given its engrossing quality. Perhaps its cliché traits are somewhat a negative aspect of the book; for example, I wouldn’t necessarily know to choose this book out of an array of YA fantasy books before me. It isn’t even necessarily the most “elite” of fantasy books in my opinion, but it certainly stands up to the giants and is an entertaining read.
As for the characters, Alina is someone who is often conflicted but possesses the characteristics of an ideal heroine. Mal is someone who is loyal and caring towards the ones he loves. The Darkling is sort of the generic nemesis to the hero –someone who is conniving and power-hungry. However, the Darkling is not entirely unoriginal. He is relentless in his pursuit of power but also deeply loves his country of Ravka and through his power, hopes to strengthen the standing of Ravka and its people. Although this doesn’t change the fact that he is practically a tyrant by nature, he is more of a dark gray character in terms of morals than completely black in morality. This, as I’ve mentioned in another review, makes antagonists more appealing and dynamic, and I think Bardugo does a good job of it in Shadow and Bone.
Towards the end of the book, Alina has escaped from the Darkling and met back up with Mal. They are in search of an amplifier for Alina, hoping to get to it before the Darkling. The amplifier is exactly what it sounds like –an object that amplifies someone’s powers. The amplifier, however, is contained within a stag, or a mythical creature that has proved incredibly elusive. However, Mal’s superior tracking skills allow the two to locate the creature, but the Darkling ends up killing the stag first and putting the amplifier on Alina. This may be a concept that might be slightly confusing for some readers at first; however, to put it shortly, it seems that whoever kills the stag is the one who can wield its power, and by putting the amplifier on Alina, the Darkling can now essentially “control” Alina and her light powers. (Major Spoiler Ahead!) Plot twist, though, and it turns out Alina can also use the stag’s amplifying effect, and Alina and Mal end up escaping from the Darkling. These plot twists, however, were executed quite nicely in my opinion.
I have to admit that some of the other reviews for this book can seem a bit off-putting, with people hating on Mal or complaining that the book and its elements are too cliché. I think I’ve addressed the latter point, so to speak on the former, yes, Mal can seem excessively jealous, insecure, or self-centered. However, it is important to note that he was not receiving any of the letters Alina was sending from the Palace because the Darkling was preventing them from being sent, so he long felt the pain of feeling that his love and/or concern for Alina was not being reciprocated. Additionally, if he isn’t a perfectly moral character, I’d argue that makes him an even more interesting addition to the series.
To wrap up this review, Shadow and Bone is a fantastic read that will not fail to entertain, or at least, amuse, you. The dialogue was especially well-written, to the point of being able to easily visually see certain scenes play out in my head. Enjoy!
Review by ~ Andrew
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