We were so so so excited to talk about this month’s trilogy, the Shadow & Bone series by Leigh Bardugo. It was a re-read for us (maybe third or fourth time for one;), and it was like slipping on a favorite sweatsuit (because that’s what we’re all living in still right?)… perfectly fitted with all the fuzzy warm feels. This is THE series for anyone who needs a little escape from the everyday; Leigh imagines such a unique world in the Grishaverse, an amazing blend of magic and science with a beautiful Russian influence. It checks all our fantasy boxes: strong heroine, complex anti-hero, best friend, pretty prince, deep romance, fun crew, omg plot twists… It’s all there!
Overall Rating: 5/5
What we liked:
- Everything, literally everything; but if we had to be specific…
- We really appreciated the pace Leigh set with the plot; it didn’t feel dragged on even while the main characters processed their arcs. The big events felt properly placed surrounded by lush world building and really poignant dialogue and banter.
- Also the prologue and epilogues were so incredibly poignant and well done. Find us quoting that last last line for a long time to come.
- THE CASTING FOR THE SHOW!!!
What we disliked:
- Maybe… if anything… the Apparat character was kinda creepy? But necessary, I know I know.
- OK BUT ACTUALLY, all I’m going to say is NIKOLAI. WHY.
Now please stop reading this blog and go read Shadow and Bone right now right now, even if you’ve already read it, just in time for the new Netflix show dropping in just a few weeks! (And tell us, are you shipping #Malina or #Darklina?)
PS. Sophia also surprises me with a fun time capsule of our pod from last March, right as the pandemic was setting in but before everything officially shut down. Give it a listen because it is *smh*…