What I’m Reading: Shadow And Bone

My current read is a YA novel. That isn’t necessarily anything spectacular in and of itself, it’s just that I don’t typically read YA. It isn’t because I hate YA or anything (I don’t), I just don’t normally read it. And now I feel like I’m trying to justify reading this book which isn’t the point of this at all, and not what I’m trying to do. But yeah I’m giving YA a shot. Why you ask? Well I’ll explain below.

So what is it that I’m reading? Well…It’s Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

“Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.”

Goodreads Blurb

I picked up Shadow And Bone primarily because of the much hyped Netflix show to be released April 23rd. I wasn’t aware of the show prior to the trailer dropping but once I saw it I knew I wanted to watch it. But then my mind did that thing it does when a show comes out based upon a book series when I haven’t read the book(s); I decide I need to read the books first. All of them.

So I ordered a copy of Shadow And Bone knowing I won’t get the series read (either The Shadow And Bone trilogy or Six of Crows duology) before the show drops but at least I’ll get part way there. My plan is to read all five books before watching the show. I have no idea how long that will take me given everything else on my reading plate but I’m gonna try to fast track the reads. We’ll see what happens. I’m currently about 25% of the way through the book.

I’m also reading Shadow And Bone because I’m trying to catch up on some reviews that are all due in the next few weeks and this is a book I don’t know if I’ll review or not. I’m not feeling the pressure to review it and may just use it as a pleasure read so I don’t get further behind. But I may end up reviewing it at some point because I’ve been wanting to expand into YA for a long time and this may be just the right opportunity to do it. We’ll see.

I’m guessing many of you have already read this book and series. What did you think? Anyone planning to watch the show as well?