Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (4/5)

Shadow and Bone is a phenomenal fantasy story that constructs a vast world of unique characters. The protagonist, Alina Starkov, starts as an ordinary mapmaker, unaware of the power dormant deep inside her. Alongside her best friend since childhood, Mal, both embark on a dangerous journey across the Fold, a river swarmed with beings known as Volcra. When the Volcra ambush Alina and others, Mal takes a fatal blow, leaving Alina with little hope. As the monster closes in for the final blow, she attempts to protect Mal, not knowing that she has unintentionally saved Mal and the crew. After being recognized for her strange abilities by those of the higher class, who believe Alina has the power to destroy the Fold, she is forced to leave Mal for the Little Palace without a last word. Alina, plagued by loneliness and lack of confidence, is being forced into her position, where she must accept her status and save their world. There are several components that this book excels at, one being its world-building. As we spectate our protagonist’s journey, she explores Ravka, the domain of Shadow and Bone, from the treachery of the Fold to the blissfulness of the Little Palace, which is executed meticulously and efficiently. Every place in this world has a meaning, and each one seamlessly flows into the other. The character development of the protagonist is realistic, being slow and with trouble. As Alina is smothered with amenities beyond her comprehension, she can’t help but feel out of place, feeling pressure from others known as Grisha, who are able to bend reality with their abilities. Although this book deserves praise, it is extremely predictable, with the plot twists anticipated many chapters before. Furthermore, even though the novel begins with a quick, interesting pace, that is quickly lost as Alina enters the Little Palace, where the story drags on even if it could easily be avoided. Alina takes a detrimental amount of time to even begin using her power at will, which leads to a stale training arc. All in all, Bardugo’s expert storytelling, compelling characters, and vast world-building all lead to a solid read, which paves the way for the other two books in the trilogy.