So I get a lot of my book recommendations from websites and sometimes there aren't full reviews of the novels; they are just highly rated. The first review of Shadow and Bone I read was on the front cover of the novel, which says, "Unlike anything I've ever read." Now there are two ways to take this. The first way is that it's very different from anything else and therefore absolutely phenomenal. The second way is that it is so horrible no one up to this point in the history of ever wrote something this bad. So I wasn't sure what to expect. But then I read it and out of the two choices, Shadow and Bone definitely follows the first definition at lot more than the second.
Was it very different from anything else and absolutely phenomenal? No, but it was pretty fantastic!
Unlike Suite Scarlett, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. It is a more realistic fantasy novel, lacking mythical beasts and magic (though the "science" is basically magic with a vague explanation to why it is not) so I think it appeals to a wider audience than most fantasy novels. There is action, romance, and a plot that makes you stay up until 1 AM reading.
Not that I did that. Nope. Not at all. Because I have willpower. o__O
Anyways... Because I am a book critic (in my mind, obviously not in real life, because look at this writing; I most certainly am not a professional) I am obliged to critique Shadow and Bone and what prevented it from being "absolutely phenomenal."
The novel drops you into its world, so it took me a chapter or two to fully understand what was going on, but that's not terribly abnormal for fantasy novels. The vocabulary took longer, however, with words like kefta and oprichniki that were never outright defined; you have to use the context to understand the meaning. It's hard make a fair complaint against this though because it is a first person narrative and therefore it would be weird for the narrator, Alina, to randomly define words that are part of her every day vocabulary.
I don't have a definite stance on the romance in the novel either. Immediately after finishing the book I felt like there was too much romance. I wanted the author to focus on Alina and her world because the setting and history that was discussed throughout the novel was so fascinating. I wanted Alina to focus on what she had to accomplish and her character growth rather than worrying over her feelings about the Darkling and Mal. But after a little while I started thinking maybe there wasn't enough romance, or at least analysis of the romance involved. It does play an important part in the plot, but I don't think it's importance was emphasized enough. When the Darkling first kisses Alina, why is he doing that? To confuse her? To make her more loyal to him? The novel does not delve into the implications of the Darkling and even Mal's actions towards Alina for the first half of the novel, and I think it deserved discussion.
The novel was beautifully written. I liked the majority of the characters and it was very easy to relate to Alina, even though she's in a different situation in a different world. It was enjoyable and quick to read, which is how I like my books.
So, in summary: read this book. It's dark and not exactly a "beach read," but it is clever and fascinating and better than a lot of other books you could be reading (believe me, I know). I'm not saying that everyone who reads it will like it, but if you like some fantasy in your novels, then you will certainly enjoy this.
In terms of other books: think Howl's Moving Castle level fantasy with a meeker version of Tris from Divergent as the main character, the darkness of Abhorsen, and it all taking place in Russia. And if you haven't read any of those novels, read them next.
And now I'm off to see if I can obtain any and all books in the Grisha series. :)
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