2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Shadow and Bone, the first book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo.

Pages: 354 pages

Length: 1 month (January)

Participants: SarahKat, Rachael, Caterina, Rebecca, Jessica, Kendra

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Decided that today is the perfect day for me to start this one :-)

Me too!

Is this one just the one book of the trilogy?

May I join?

Jill wrote: "May I join?"

We look forward to having you.

@Jessica, I think just book one is confirmed right now, but I bought the whole trilogy in hopes that we'll like it enough to continue. :-)

Yes just book 1 for now. But if at least a few of us want to read the trilogy we can add them to the following months.

Welcome Jill! Glad to have you!

What is everyone's experience with Bardugo thus far? I am not sure of the proper reading order of her "Grishaverse" books. I read Six of Crows years ago and really wanted to love it but ended up just liking it. I think there was just too much going on for me to appreciate any of it. I'm hoping this book will help me get into the world so I can try that one again too.

Read through Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[Unlike Six of Crows this seems to be focused on one POV which I think will help me. There's just so much world-building here, I can't learn 15 new characters on top of it. I don't know enough to make a bunch of comments yet but the Sun Summoner thing has me intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

I have no experience with Bardugo, but my understanding is that this is the book to start with for the Grishaverse. I bought one of the box sets of the trilogy on sale a few months ago, but this has been on my list to read for what seems like forever.

I’m through chapter six, and at first, I felt like (view spoiler)[ I had been dropped into a universe without any explanation and expected to just understand, but I’ve slowly picked it up and am finding the writing easy to read and engrossing. (hide spoiler)]

I agree Rebecca!

I'm through chapter 8 now: (view spoiler)[I like the friendship she's cultivating with Genya, even though she's "below" her in rank or whatever. I also like that she declined wearing black robes because she didn't want to stand out more. (hide spoiler)]

hiii, i’m confused is this for december or january? 🫶

It’s January. Sorry for being confusing, but I have a little extra time this week, so it’s the perfect time to start some of my January buddy reads.

I just got the physical copy on hold and will get to pick it up at my local branch the first week of Jan. the e-book is still on hold, and I am 12 weeks out on it, so I'll likely cancel that one after I have the book in hand.

I started this book last month and only made it to page 80 when saw the buddy read for it so I stopped reading it. I'll be picking it up it up again on the 1st to continue it and join everyone else on it.

I do like the book so far and am not really happy with how she is being treated at this time. I can understand why she is being treated this way but am hoping everyone will see her in a different light as the book progresses.

Yeah I took this week off so I started all my January books early so I can finish early this week. It helps me feel accomplished at the beginning of the year!

I just noticed this book is on Kindle Unlimited for those who have that!

Through Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[I wonder what's going on with Mal. I almost feel like someone is stopping her letters from going through. Baghra? The Darkling? I think the reason her power wasn't working was interesting. She kept it tamped down when she was tested so s he wouldn't be seaparated from Mal. I assume that takes its own type of power to realize what's happening and act on it that quickly. She will probably have to find some kind of closure with Mal before her power can be fully realized.
I am wondering if Baghra is The Darkling's mother? It sort of seems like they have that sort of relationship.
And ah yes the obligatory kiss. (hide spoiler)]

well guess I'll go take the physical copy off my hold list

Rebecca wrote: "Jill wrote: "May I join?"

We look forward to having you.

@Jessica, I think just book one is confirmed right now, but I bought the whole trilogy in hopes that we'll like it enough to continue. :-)"
Thank you I’m in absolutely i will put it between a few of my ARC reads!!!!

I’ve made it through chapter 16 now, and (view spoiler)[ the story has taken a turn that I didn’t anticipate—one that has really increased my interest. I, being a romantasy reader, never even considered the possibility of and evil Darkling. Nicely done, Bardugo! (hide spoiler)]

I've read this book before but it's been a while so looking forward to my reread. I understand that chronologically it is this series first followed by Six of Crows and King of Scars?
There are a few (standalone ish?) short stories in the Grishaverse which I would really recommend: The Witch of Duva, The Too-Clever Fox and Little Knife
I'll be starting this book in a few days

just so everyone knows, the hide spoiler's thing doesn't work on the phone app. I discovered this yesterday afternoon. So, if you are wanting to avoid them, make sure to view this comment page on the computer. I will be starting this book later this morning and am looking forward to it.

@jessica. That’s odd. I’m on my phone and can’t see the spoilers. In fact, I have to get on my computer to reveal spoilers in the comments. Maybe we have something set differently on our apps 🤔

Hi everyone! I signed up for this buddy read, but that was mainly because I wanted to read books 2 and 3. I read this book a couple of years ago and I don't think I need to re-read it.

This is the first book in the Grishaverse. The Six of Crows duology comes a few years after the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. There's actually a huge spoiler about Alina in SoC.

I personally loved Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. It's the main reason why I am interested in coming back to the Shadow and Bones series. I think Leigh Bardugo really shines at creating more nuanced characters and more complex storylines. The universe and the magic system are technically the same, but SoC is set in a different country, and it feels like a completely different world. It's top notch storytelling!

Rebecca, I am also through Chapter 16 now. (view spoiler)[I also read romantasy but I honestly wasn't really picking up that vibe from these two. When they kissed I was surprised because it hadn't been reading like there was a lot of sexual tension between them. However, I was also surprised that AFTER the kiss, he does turn out to be evil.
Honestly I thought it was kind of weird that The Darkling wanted to heal or fix The Fold when it's basically made of shadows and that's his whole superpower. It makes more sense that he wants to grow it. I love how when Baghra's explaining it to Alina she says something like, he's a couple of hundred years old. The man can lie. Something that is never really brought up in romantasy. Made me laugh.
I totally called Baghra being The Darkling's mom! (hide spoiler)]

Caterina/Rachael: Thank you for the proper reading order. I'm not sure why I read Six of Crows first. I may not have looked into it and I just trusted it being the first in a series I'd be fine. Good thing I barely remember any of it so nothing is spoiled for me about this series.

I about shot the husband last night. I have been reading the book about a couple hours every night but last night he asked me if I was almost done with the chapter. He did this to let me know it was bedtime. He had to interrupt me on chapter 15. I was ready to shot him when I went to bed.

(view spoiler)[I feel like Alina is starting to get treated like she should instead of like an outcast. I am surprised with Baghra and the Darkling's relationship and really surprise with Baghra's revelation on the Darkling. I'm really hoping Alina can do what needs to be done. (hide spoiler)]

Kendra wrote: "I about shot the husband last night. I have been reading the book about a couple hours every night but last night he asked me if I was almost done with the chapter. He did this to let me know it wa..."

I'd have been frustrated too. My husband is off work this week, and I've had way less time to read when I've been at home because he wants to video game with me. I'm happy he wants to do things with me, but sad that I haven't made much reading progress this week.

I have finished the book and I loved it. I'm actually hoping we continue with at least the other two.

(view spoiler)[I'm not so sure how I feel about the ending. I know Alina did what she thought/needed to do but not really happy she was put in that position. As far as I can tell reading about the other two she will still be having problems with other issues from this book but hope that her and Mal can continue to get through them. (hide spoiler)]

Rebecca wrote: "I'd have been frustrated too. My husband is off work this week, and I've had way less time to read when I've been at home because he wants to video game with me. I'm happy he wants to do things with me, but sad that I haven't made much reading progress this week."

What are you playing Rebecca?

I've finished too. (view spoiler)[A lot of the last part of this book after chapter 16 is pretty slow, but I still liked it. I'm glad Alina and Mal reconnected and he figured out he loves her. This part reminded me a bit of Harry Potter and the Extended Camping Trip (Part 1 of Book 7), but at least it wasn't too long in this case.

I really didn't want them to kill the stag, and I wasn't surprised that she didn't. I am glad that her showing the stag mercy meant she was able to take over the power from the collar at the end. I'm not sure how I feel about her leaving all those people to die in the Fold either. I feel like The Darkling is definitely still going to be around. (hide spoiler)]

I'm up for the next 2 books in February and March if others are.

SarahKat wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I'd have been frustrated too. My husband is off work this week, and I've had way less time to read when I've been at home because he wants to video game with me. I'm happy he wants ..."

With the hubby, I've been mostly playing Fortnite Festival and Save the World, but I hear we might be playing a little Lethal Company later. On my own, I've been alternatively working on Tears of the Kingdom and The repixel editions of Final Fantasy I-VI.

I'm going to go ahead and plan on the next two books in February and March. I'm on chapter 20, so I should finished by the end of the day today, but I've liked this one enough to know that I want to continue. . .This one is trending somewhere around 3.5-4 stars for me because there have been surprises to what I expect from the normal YA fantasy pattern.

Rebecca wrote: "With the hubby, I've been mostly playing Fortnite Festival and Save the World, but I hear we might be playing a little Lethal Company later. On my own, I've been alternatively working on Tears of the Kingdom and The repixel editions of Final Fantasy I-VI."

My son has been playing Lethal Company. I won't let him play online with strangers yet, just alone or with his friends.

I'll add the next 2 books to the spreadsheet :)

SarahKat wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "With the hubby, I've been mostly playing Fortnite Festival and Save the World, but I hear we might be playing a little Lethal Company later. On my own, I've been alternatively worki..."

My teens have played way more Lethal Company than I have so I get that!

I finished Shadow and Bone this morning, and I think it's a solid series starter. I look forward to seeing how she handles the characters and world going forward.

Thank you SarahKat! I can't wait for the others to start.

I'm about to start this book. Goodreads tells me I last read it in 2017... I did not think it had been that long ago!

I've read the first seven chapters.
Going into my reread, I could only remember the character names Alina and the Darkling and (view spoiler)[that Alina has some sort of magic but I couldn't remember anything else specific (hide spoiler)]. So it actually feels like I'm reading this for the first time but maybe more of the story will come back to me as I carry on?

I've finished this book now. I think I will remember this story now. I will continue with the series but not in February and March sorry as I'm all booked up then

Just don't wait 6 years to read the rest or you'll have to read this one again Rachael! 😁

SarahKat wrote: "Just don't wait 6 years to read the rest or you'll have to read this one again Rachael! 😁"

😂.

Think I'm going to join you all in this. Have to finish up my current read so will probably start it tomorrow. I've read the Ninth House series by LB so far, and bought the box set of Shadow and Bone right after. Well that was a year ago now lol, excited to finally start the Grishaverse!

Welcome Desiré! Hope you enjoy it!

SarahKat wrote: "Yeah I took this week off so I started all my January books early so I can finish early this week. It helps me feel accomplished at the beginning of the year!

I just noticed this book is on Kindle..."

Through chapter 13 as well (view spoiler)[ I also feel like there is someone stopping her letters. The way the Darkling was asking about how good of a tracker Mal was, I was hoping he was going to bring him to court for some reason. I felt like the kiss didn't make any sense in that moment and was rushed. (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "I've finished too. A lot of the last part of this book after chapter 16 is pretty slow, but I still liked it. I'm glad Alina and Mal reconnected and he figured out he loves her. This part reminded ..."

I finished last night! I really enjoyed this one and am not sure why it's gets a bunch of bad reviews. I liked that the world building wasn't too over the top and I was able to figure out what was going on pretty quickly. SarahKat I also (view spoiler)[ had Harry Potter pop in my head a lot during the tracking chapters with Mal. Also, Alina gave the people on the ship a chance beforehand and had to do what she had to do to get away from the Grisha. Curious how it will effect her in the next book though. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't realize the ratings for this book were not great, but maybe that's only on this site. There's a 5-star review from Sarah J Maas that has thousands of likes, but it's listed below several 1-star reviews with fewer likes. It feels like the developers stopped adding or fixing anything on this site when Amazon acquired Goodreads. Someone should definitely fix the algorithm that decides which reviews are at the top, because this is the only app that regularly promotes 1-star reviews and it's so awkward.

Also, I think this is the book that launched the Grishaverse, so I'm assuming it was a huge success.

Caterina wrote: "I didn't realize the ratings for this book were not great, but maybe that's only on this site. There's a 5-star review from Sarah J Maas that has thousands of likes, but it's listed below several 1..."

Agreed with all of that! I thought Amazon had always owned Goodreads, that makes a lot more sense with why things are never updated though.