Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG-13
Review:
well. i am shooketh.
in no universe did i think i would even like this book.
yet here we are.
SOOO from my very thorough observations, about half of the people that read this book absolutely adored it. They lauded it as the most perfect perfection crafted by the queen of fantasy herself.
The other half unconditionally despised this atrocity that dares to call itself a novel and whose mere existence besmirches the name of fantasy.
so yah.
y’all know i love me some booktok controversy (and book-to-screen Netflix shows), so you can bet your last Ravkan coin i had this on my high priority TBR.
and this week, i finally read it.
Let’s get started cause I’ve waited long enough.
Many years ago, Alina Starkov and Mal Oretsev were left as eight-year-olds at the doorstep of Duke Keramsov’s orphanage. The year they arrive, three Grisha Examiners visit the orphanage. They’re here to test Alina and Mal, trying to see if they possess Grisha abilities (abilities that would allow them to manipulate small particles of a certain type of matter, such as water, metal, fire, etc)
In the end, both tests come back negative.
About a decade later, both Alina and Mal are training in Ravka’s First Army, the army of non-Grisha that serve as regular soldiers. Mal is a tracker, and Alina (who now has secret, unrequited feelings for Mal) is an apprentice cartographer. Their regiment is currently marching across Ravka to get to Poliznaya, their new station. However, to reach Poliznaya, they have to cross the infamous Shadow Fold.
The Shadow Fold (also called the Unsea), is a deadly region of darkness and monsters that slashes Ravka in half from top to bottom. No one knows for sure how many terrors lie within its borders, as survivors tend to be rather unfortunately few in number. The only known weakness of the Shadow Fold monsters is light.
Which is why a large number of Grisha (mostly Inferni), are accompanying the First Army to get everyone across the Unsea on a fleet of skiffs. This is a larger operation than usual, as the Darkling (feared leader of the all-Grisha Second Army) is among the Grisha crossing.
As the army passes into the Fold, the monsters attack. But the attack is stronger than the Inferni were expecting.
Soldiers are being brutally killed from every direction. Alina is knocked onto the edge of her skiff. A monster seizes Mal. Half-crazed with injury and fear, Alina manages to pull an unconscious Mal out of the monster’s grasp. Suddenly, there is a blinding, brilliant light, and Alina falls unconscious.
When she wakes, she’s stared at with fear and shock. Taken to the Darkling’s tent, he tests her for Grisha powers, and she finds out she’s a Sun Summoner, a type of Grisha that has not existed for generations.
And so the epic begins.
alright. there’s a lot to discuss (aka i have a lot to monologue about), so go grab your keftas and get over here.
*plunks herself down in a black kefta to show her unwavering devotion to the Darkling*
Starting with the basics: loved the worldbuilding of the Grishaverse from the Six of Crows duology, so that honestly felt amazing to return to :) Now, the plot did feel a tad disjointed and almost like a setup novel. However, because it is book 1 of 3, I’m gonna give S&B the benefit of the doubt and just move to Siege & Storm (plus I mostly just wanna talk about the characters so let’s get moving)
For our characters, we’ve got our famous main trio (Alina, Mal, and the Darkling), plus a few absolutely ADORABLE side characters.
The stupidity of Alina Starkov has been memed into oblivion, but I have to say: she wasn’t that bad in this book. I can’t speak for the next two books (and I may be changing this by then lol), but HERE, at the end of the first book, Alina Starkov is not stupid. She may be a tad bland and lack bravery, but I wasn’t expecting her to be Jude Duarte, so I wasn’t exactly disappointed.
Next, Mal. Mal is a solid mans and I honestly liked him (as of right now lol don’t come after me). Good childhood best friend and again, not that stupid. I did have sadly low expectations for him too, but I mean like he surpassed them so what more is there to say.
At this exact moment, I think Mal’s better with Alina, mainly because the Darkling is way too perfect and dark to be wasted on Alina.
Which makes an excellent and very smooth transition to my discussion of le DARKLING.
*swoons onto her much-abused pillow*
I know the Darkling’s evil. I know the Darkling’s cold. I know the Darkling’s got a plan to ruin the world.
I know all that.
Do I care?
hah. absolutely not.
The Darkling is the main antagonist of the book (and probably of the trilogy as well) and BOY I will read the entire trilogy just for this man because he is smart, arrogant, cold, dark, mysterious, powerful, and just in general one of the most swoonworthy villains I have ever seen. Extra stars just for him.
idk why the Darkling’s not listed as one of my book boyfriends yet so let me go remedy that situation immediately.
*edits GR profile to show her loyalty to the Darkling*
now that the world is in balance again, let me give a brief mention to our lovely supporting characters.
Genya, you are such a sassy cinnamon bun ily and GO GET YOUR CRUSH, GIRL.
Zoya, you’re an annoying Grisha mean girl right now, but I forgive you cause I’ve seen your future self in Crooked Kingdom and you are perfect there sooooo :)
Baghra, just keep living your ancient magical life and educating students through terrifying them out of their skin *thumbs up*
Apparat, ugh get out of here you are ten kinds of creepy.
all in all, I actually enjoyed this wayyyyy more than I thought I would, so ngl I’m kinda excited for the sequel!
lol watch as I actually despise the next one.
*crosses fingers*
Friend me on Goodreads (yes, you, I wanna be your friend): https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/136268749-isabelle
Buy this book: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Grisha-Trilogy-Assorted-Cover/dp/1250027438/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635048933&sr=8-2
Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
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