Shadow & Bone, Is It Still Good? REREAD reading vlog + review

In preparation of the Shadow & Bone Netflix show I reread Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo! In this reading vlog I will review, analyse and discuss the story to see if it still hold up!
What are your thoughts?
00:00 intro
2:03 the chosen one trope
3:40 are these characters really 17???
4:22 cat content
5:08 my first big issue
7:21 fun nostalgia vs cringe nostalgia
9:40 random bits i noticed upon reread
11:04 mal slander
12:15 why i ship darklina
13:11 alina being not-a-feminist again
13:48 alina's character is deeper than we thought, actually
16:34 discussing the end
19:40 my final rating and thoughts
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🌺 a b o u t m e
Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 23 year old girl who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave). I live in the Netherlands and go to university, but make booktube videos in my spare time :)
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[@luciapalacios358]

I wish this trilogy was written in 3rd person instead of being in Alina's head all the time

[@emilyannn]

I would’ve loved 3rd person with different povs (like SOC)

[@xXCutiBearXx]

SOC is showing me just how much I love the world and story.....but damn I hate reading in first person haha

[@emmal3819]

I totally agree! I really loved the bits at the beginning and end that were written in third person calling them “the girl and the boy” maybe we could have got more of that!

[@luciapalacios358]

@@emmal3819 I would've loved that! 💕

[@emmal3819]

@@luciapalacios358 me too! 💖

[@dontmintme]

I just realized how much more I would have liked it if Alina and Mal had a brother-sister relationship. Platonic love can be just as powerful!

[@emilyannn]

Oh my gosh I agree. I didn’t really get their romantic relationship, and I personally just didn’t see any chemistry

[@idk-dz]

Yes romance is overrated

[@kimberlyswartz138]

Things makes so much more sense if they were siblings. As I'm reading the book I totally thrown off every time they do something romantic. It just makes sense, for the motives, for them to be siblings

[@maritareads5229]

True! They’re so dry as a couple

[@muskaan3711]

Same

[@user-gx2tt7en3y]

For me as a russian the word "Grisha" sounds super funny in these books) Grisha is a russian name, so some sentenses sounds like "The Darkling is one of the most powerful Joey" or "Mal only drew attention to Alina after she became Barry" :D

[@adinamusrepova1447]

Also the fact that it’s a nickname of Gregory, so it’s not even a serious full name!! Imagine calling some wizard Bob and trying to be serious about it

[@yasminechoerryscherry3701]

Omg that's hilarious jajsjshd

[@florance17]

Hahah oh no... it's the ✨Barryverse✨

[@allypotter4404]

Why would the Darkling look 17 years old when he could look like Ben Barnes.

[@shananika]

I’ve only just started book 2, but I don’t see Alina as the “Chosen One”. The Darkling is really the only one who has been waiting for her. And she is not really needed to “save the world”. The world has been existing just fine for hundreds of years with the Shadow Fold. Yes, other nations are using the Shadow Fold to exploit Ravka and wage wars on them. Yes, a “Dark Lord” of sorts does want to use the Shadow Fold to take ultimate power, but he can’t do that without a Sun Summoner like Alina. If anything Alina is actually an anti-chosen-one. Through the Darkling’s ability to partially control her power, he can spread the darkness, wield nearly unlimited power and take over the world.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

SLIGHT SPOILERS: Based on the events in KOS, it seems like Alina's role in S&B was only the beginning to the overall story because 3 years later Ravka is still torn by war and in some ways the country is worse than it was before so although she is the Chosen One trope, I don't think she was chosen for the same reasons that Ravka and her friends thinks she was. Alina's true role I believe was to inspire change and bring hope to the world because before her, the people lost their faith and hope for something better. Honestly, if you pay attention to Alina's scenes with the Aparrat, he literally foreshadows everything that is happening in KOS.

[@terrylynn7936]

I haven't read the book but I just gotta say that Alina constantly describing girls as attractive and beautiful gives me whole other vibes......

[@underhypedandoverrated]

In my head, the darkling looks to be in his mid/ early twenties (although he is hundreds of years old) while Alina and mal are 18ish. Either way, the relationship between Alina and the darkling makes me UNcomfortable

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

it made me uncomfortable too

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

The only time I was uncomfortable with their relationship was the second half of Siege and Storm because I thought it was weird how The Darkling was making out with Alina while she was asleep and pretending to be Mal.

[@happyjellycatsquid]

@@ashleyelisabeth4 Yeah that’s just terrifying

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

@@happyjellycatsquid Pretty much lol. I was literally screaming when I read that scene because I was like "😖 ew what are you doing?!"

[@happyjellycatsquid]

@@ashleyelisabeth4 I like the Darkling a lot but I feel like he goes from being an interesting character in book 1 to like a sh-tshow in book 2 without much of a transition.

[@adyasha18]

I'm hoping the show explores Alina giving in to the dark allure of power and freedom, such that she goes rogue, joins the Darkling and we get more of Darklina that way(Ben Barnes!), even if all this is only temporary. The Darkling taught Alina to embrace her power and individuality amidst all the chaos, useless Mal only weighs her down from start to finish.

[@TheBookLeo]

i would love if the show took that route!

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

I 100% agree!

[@HealthyObbsession]

Mal is also just as abusive to Alina as the Darkling He's controlling, gets angry at her for other characters noticing her, and keeps telling her how she doesn't love him while she's trying to save an entire country The Darkling is supposed to be evil ok cool But what is Mal supposed to be? He gaslights her He held him deserting the Army for her against her She never asked him too I get their meant to be young but they're also old enough to join an army some maturity should be there to understand the stakes Mal also has tons of notches on his bead post but he shames Alina for others even being interested The purity culture is real and I wish it wasn't

[@gonaedeath2]

​@@HealthyObbsessionthey're 16. And he's never done any of that lol. I dont understand what book you read

[@HealthyObbsession]

@@gonaedeath2 and? Being 16 doesn’t mean it’s ok to be abusive Being a kid doesn’t mean you get to treat someone like property he slut shamed Alina for liking the Darkling that is never ok. He acted like he had dibs on her even though he himself slept with other people I read the same book you did but I saw Mal differently than you did and that’s ok

[@lillifeldeborn9591]

I completely agree to your take on this constant talk about "beauty" and how alina is so insecure about herself. I myself am 15, this is written for my age, but i still find it problematic, annoyed me so much and just could have been left out.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

It just bothered me how Alina said she didn't mind her appearance because she was always pale, had eyes circles/bags, and was frail, but then she gets annoyed when Genya points out these "imperfections".

[@jackysaurusr3x]

I recently read Shadow & Bone for the first time - I'm 22 - and I aged all the characters up to be around my age, to make it feel more realistic to me. Plot twist: I just realized I was doing it since you talked about it in this video ^^

[@TheBookLeo]

hehe sometimes we don't realise we do something until we hear about someone else doing it as well!

[@huongspy1626]

Well, upon rereading this book, I like Mal a lot better than when I first read. I think Mal is very courageous and deeply care about Alina, as it proves when he, on the mission to track Alina, decides to desert his battalion to save his best friend. And he believes Alina when she tells him about the Darkling’s plan. That tells me a lot about Mal’s characters 😁

[@lyka6338]

I eventually loved Alina because she went through some character development in the second book that made her a more compelling character (who I refer to as Alina 2.0 lol). Alina 2.0 was great. The only one who didn't like her was Mal. *eye roll* I remember talking to a friend about how annoying it was that Alina had to shrink herself just so she could be with him, and I guess that was one of the reasons I couldn't get behind them as a couple. As someone who puts importance on the romance aspect of a story regardless of genre, it bums me out when the main couple's relationship ends up dragging the story down instead of making it better. 🤧

[@danielalala]

So I finally decided to read this book, despite being skeptical. And just... the biggest issue I have so far is that they're called the Grisha. "Grisha" is a nickname for people named Gregoriy, aka Gregory. What this means is that "Grisha" is just the Russian version of Greg. So... they're a group of magicians called Greg, lmao. Overall pretty interesting despite that though, just something that sorta bothered me.

[@r4.v3n]

So its the magician version of Danny Gonzalez's fans

[@brendadotter4433]

😆😆😆 I think we can attribute Leigh Bardugo's mistakes with Russian names to a lack of research. She actually said as much once! Perhaps she hadn't considered a worldwide readership? Another person pointed out that "Morozova," being a surname, should not have ended in "a." Also, "Starkov" *should* have ended in "a." Oh, well. It's fantasy.🙄🙄

[@AR-yi4qn]

genuinely can't relate to the "comparing myself to other women" thing, not even when I was a teenager and I wonder if it's because I'm bi and I just like looking at beautiful men and women. the only thing I think is "wow. I like really like your gorgeous face. so glad you are in my presence." so I can't imagine ever being annoyed by it lmaooo

[@beesfriends]

Im reading shadow and bone right now and everyone was telling me that this series is so bad but i actually like IT I mean the writing is meh but plot is cool

[@raissaaroucha]

i think the worldbuilding is great, so it makes up for the bad stuff

[@Audrey610]

I enjoyed this series, but I read it after I read Six of Crows, so I knew what Leigh Bardugo was capable of, so I was a little disappointed, but the world building is great and the story and characters are interesting, and without this, we wouldn't have Six of Crows and King of Scars, so I do really like it for those reasons. Btw, if you couldn't tell, I love Six of Crows and if you haven't read it yet, PLEASE DO!!! The writing is so much better and so are the plot and characters. If you even liked Shadow and Bone, you will ADORE Six of Crows!!

[@johannasaavedra5266]

When you get to the second book, its frustrating and you'll just change your mind, for my own opinion

[@beesfriends]

@@Audrey610 i read six of crows years ago but thank u so much :3 i loved it

[@lanej.6458]

I also loved the shadow and bone/of trilogy but I didn’t like soc whatsoever??? 😭

[@womangela]

I just finished my SAB reread too and I think I liked it more this time around because I was constantly rewriting/reimagining the plot with the things that I hope the show ends up changing/addressing in a more nuanced way 😂

[@TheBookLeo]

hahaha that's so fun

[@ceryspowell5838]

My absolute favourite booktuber! You really look objectively at books and give intelligent, interesting points. 😍

[@diannacook6135]

I agree about the ages, I’ve aged them too.

[@eeeshieee]

yeah... I can’t see any of them as teenagers tbh.. especially in six of crows.. in my head, I imagine all of the characters are in their early to mid twenties. 😆

[@jam5369]

See I get that. But like, shit can be tough as a teen, obviously this to a whole other level but I mean their trauma is the main reason why they act so old. Also some of jokes and cringy stuff that be happening makes sense in my head since they're teens

[@lanainthekitchen9099]

I’ve already read the book recently but yesterday I accidentally found your channel and honestly I can’t resist watching your videos! Also thank you for such a detailed feedback on Shadow and Bone❤️

[@TheBookLeo]

i'm really glad you liked it!

[@jamesduggan7200]

Yes, of course you're right that talking about prettiness leads to difficult personality truths. Is not talking about it better, or is it better to talk about it untruthfully? It's one of those troubling questions that arise when you realize there are nice people who may not receive the attention and affection they deserve.

[@aliciawve5585]

You’re analysis are always SO on point omg

[@sophiarenx7032]

I just found your channel yesterday and with my spring break coming up I decided to order a ton of books. I've been so busy with school I haven't read a non-required book in months. I ordered The Secret History, Know My Name, We Should All Be Feminists, Song of Achilles, and a collection of Emily Dickinson poems. Hopefully, I can read them all during my two-week break and they're all good! Thanks for the motivation

[@sasham7374]

Shadow and bone isn't really a bad book, it's just a basic decent ya fantasy series and that's all. Alina was just a bland character that out of nowhere had one of the most powerful powers and now she has to save the world for the hot villain that she is still attracted to. My biggest issues tho was the darkling and Alina. I just hate that despite him almost destroying the kingdom, killed some of her friends, takes control of her powers and making her his pet, threatening to kill her only hope in life Mal multiple times and took her as hostage quite a lot, SHE STILL will go around and be like "his handsome face, goodlooking features, amazing body, attractive eyes, his strong fingers that killed most of my people" . Like girl ew no.

[@ephemerys2115]

I agree with you sm 😭😭

[@pierrereads]

First of all, I recently followed you on insta and even your feed gives me the calm and serene feeling that your videos do 😂 Secondly, I recently read the trilogy (and am in the process of reading the duology) and I honestly fell in love with the Grisha Trilogy, even though it's almost flat and super very basic ( compared to the books now, and compared to the duology) 🙌 Like it's to be expected from a first time author, so I can't look at S&B from the perspective of a reader living in 2022

[@logann-mackenziefroste563]

Awesome video! I am hoping to get this book this week and I can’t wait until I start it for the first time!

[@uj0608]

Spoiler I love Shadow and Bone, I cried in Ruin and Rising when the Darkling died (still hurts me hahah). I think this is such a good and addictive book series, I’m currently reading six of crows, let’s see how it is. ☺️

[@TheBookLeo]

yup that was intense!

[@reemrothwell5240]

ahhh maybe leave abit more space for the spolier lol

[@ingrid-ks6bz]

upon reread i actually found mal's character a lot more interesting because going into it i knew more of the background. so instead of that one scene reading like annoying mal being overly concerned, it read to me as pretty reasonable knowing what he goes through bc of the darkling making them go after the amplifier all just to try to get more power so i kinda get why hes so irritable/annoying in that scene in retrospect. but i wish leigh had made us realize his pov a bit more. its hard when its only alina's pov bc she clearly sees him as being rude in that scene so ofc readers will too esp upon first read not knowing what he's doing off in the background lol. so im so curious to see if the show lets us understand mal a little more with stuff like that

[@hello-ou2lp]

omg i love your copy of shadow and bone !!

[@opheliapo2614]

I’m so glad you made this video now, I JUST finished reading the trilogy for the first time and have so many conflicting opinions

[@TheBookLeo]

ohhh perfect timing!

[@elizabethbuerke7854]

I just finished the trilogy last night too. It was great.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

I read the trilogy back in December and I have so many conflicting opinions too like the way Ruin and Rising ended really bothered me because I didn't like how The Darkling died before his redemption arc could happen, how Alina lost her powers even though she said that her powers gave her an identity and the only thing that made her feel safe, and last, but not least she ends up with Mal!! 😖

[@ostrichreads7715]

Idk why but I just love international KZbinrs speak their language

[@clairek8821]

I loved the time stamps! I'll defiantly put Shadow & Bone on my tbr!

[@suukiin]

such an amazing analysis. i love your reviews.

[@TheBookLeo]

thank

[@Rose-lt6wu]

Oh my god, when you showed The radio silence, my heart literally stoped for a second...I'm so happyyy that you love it

[@TheBookLeo]

one of my faves of last year!

[@emilyibler7380]

I read the book recently I have exactly the same problems as you have with the first book but I am still became obsessed with the world In the books it’s only from Alinas perspective and so I hope we get a lot more of the other characters (like where is the darkling going every time he is not at the palace or what does Mal do ) Do you know if the show will change things in the Story like ( I too like the dark long ) and so maybe that she doesn’t need any man like a independent woman that would be great (because I know Darklina would be kinda wrong but yeah) so there wouldn’t be Mal vs Darkling

[@leathehatless]

I read the book for the first time this year and for me it was a fun read with a classic YA touch. The strongest part was the world, it was so interesting and new.

[@mileykey4832]

I love your reading vlogs🌸🥺

[@shailejanarain]

You have the best wardrobe ever 😭😭🖤

[@TheBookLeo]

thank you

[@clickymcclick7924]

Lol I used to hate Bloom too just bc she’s the protagonist but I also appreciate her more upon rewatch. Honestly, ever character in the original winx is super solid. Even Brandon had more to him than “hot guy love interest” (not like a lot but enough to keep me interested).

[@TheBookLeo]

yes exactly, it's so fun to rewatch and see different things!

[@iloveinuyasha995]

IM HERE IM SO EXCITED

[@TheBookLeo]

WOOHOO

[@esterjulian9267]

I'm reading the S&B trilogy for the first time bc I read SoC and want to be ready for the TV show and it's been interesting. Overall I'm enjoying the story but there are some things that I'm noticing. Like the constant comparison of women and some toxic relationship trait. (things I wouldn't have noticed if I'd read it back when it was first published). I just finished Siege and Storm and liked it better than the first one. Anyway great video. I love hearing your thoughts on all this 😊

[@vusan_]

I just read this and loved it! I think I kind of over looked all her comments about being plain and everyone else is super attractive as I thought it was just from her pushing down her powers and not being at her full potential 🤔

[@Meggimagine]

I don't recall them ever saying the characters' age, except for when the Darkling lies saying he's 120 years old. Since I've read those books while in my twenties, I've always pictured them around 23 to 25 years old, personally...

[@binozba8092]

I really love hear you talk 🥺♥️ your thoughts are exactly minnnneee the whole time I was reading this book. 😂 Mal was a trash and I hated him even more in the second book 🙄🙄. I wouldn’t have mind their relationship if it developed sllllloooowly 🤦🏻‍♀️.

[@TheBookLeo]

yes i agree so much!

[@bebella9005]

Your analysis on Alina at around 14:00 was spot on!

[@TheBookLeo]

[@thesukhe]

First comment.. Love from India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@TheBookLeo]

hello!

[@thesukhe]

@@TheBookLeo Huge fan of you 🙏🤜😊

[@wingcastlereads5657]

I have never read this book, and I don't plan on doing it. But I still really enjoy hearing your thoughts 😁

[@moralopez3213]

when you described the dynamic of darklina you said it in a way that i was like YES I LOVE THAT but i don’t think that this book or any of the following books portrait the relationship like that, sadly :( i never shipped darklina but because i didn’t care about the love part of this particular story enough (probably because i didn’t care about alina in that way), but i ended up shipping malina because i feel like they deserve eachother in a way. mal and alina are both very plain characters and i feel like they did actually love eachother so.... and also i always found a little uncomfortable the relationship between the darkling and alina, not only because of the age difference but because i didn’t see THAT connection or sexual tension that it was so obvious leigh was trying to show since the beginning (but failed for me), so it was weird :///

[@lostfaerie9570]

Exactly what I wanted to watch! 💖

[@TheBookLeo]

yay i'm glad you like it!

[@petravanhoutte9189]

Came for the reading vlog, stayed for Momo 🐈 Quality 👏 content 👏

[@candiedbooks]

Ugh, I felt that about the "Chosen One" trope, I can not stand the "Chosen One" trope! 🙄 I can enjoy stories with that trope, but catch me frustrated & rollin' my eyes.

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I gave it three stars too but it always is leaning to being brought down to two stars. I personally read it for the first time after I read Six of Crows and I knew going into it it wasn't as good but it still took me a long time on that initial read. I read it quicker now simply because there are parts of the book, characters, arcs and moments that I look forward to so I want to get to those parts as quick as possible. I though am in the opposite direction to you. I started enjoying the book when Alina (spoilers onwards) was on the run. At the Little Palace, it just felt like nothing was happening. And that is my issue in Siege and Storm too. It is not exactly filler but it does feel like it for me. I also am in the opposite direction to you with the Darkling. I can act all high and mighty about my dislike being about all the things he does throughout the series and how he consistently hurts people (but I do recognise you are allowed to like reading about villains and I will be lying if there weren't villains I preferred in books compared to heroes) but honestly I just find him irritating. Every time he is on the page my interest in the book just goes away. I deeply deeply did not enjoy reading about him, and I am curious to see if I am going to be just as irritated by him in the show (and judging by the trailer the answer so far is yes). I am interested in seeing your thought on the next two books and your rereads of them. Let's hope there is more good nostalgia for the trilogy in the future!

[@emmaax9724]

I’m reading the second one now !! It’s really good I wish we had a POV of the darkking thou

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

According to Ben Barnes, we're going to have a little more of The Darkling's perspective or at least learn more about him since Ben Barnes believed that his character needs more scenes to understand his motives and why he's a complex character.

[@mattkean1128]

Really enjoyed this despite never reading or knowing anything about Shadow and Bone 😄

[@alizeem532]

I recently reread the whole trilogy and I have to say that 'Siege and Storm' and 'Ruin and Rising' really gave the story and characters a lot more depths that was maybe missing in 'Shadow and Bone'. And ofc Nikolai joins so the books immediately get a lot better

[@teawithleia]

I loved this deep dive video into Shadow and Bone. I disliked Mal from the beginning and while I don't ship Alina and the Darkling as a pair, I wished Alina would've gone dark with him. I think that would've made a better story. I read Shadow & Bone 1 year ago for the first time and so I had no nostalgic feelings attached to it. I only gave it two stars but I love the setting and the magic. The story is just so very basic YA but I can't wait for the TV show and hope they will let Alina turn to the dark side 🌚

[@TheBookLeo]

alina going dark would have been the best

[@wanderingbeyondpages]

I’m in the midst of Ruin & Rising and I have so much issues getting through it. The first book was ok but the second book wasn’t doing it for me at all (even with Nikolai) and now I’m dreading every page and consider just dnf’ing (which I never do). I just want to get through the books (as well as soc) for the first time before seeing the tv show, which looks very promising

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

The writers said they were changing the ages and themes for the show so it's more appealing to adults, not just teens. For example, Ben Barnes said in an interview they're going to elaborate more on the darker themes of the show like The Darkling and his purpose as well as the storyline between light and dark. Also, going to discuss how Ravka is torn between war because in the books they don't really go into the politics that much until the later books. And obviously with SOC characters it will help with that as well.

[@kril4120]

aaaaah this video is incredible

[@katiethewriter-reader0786]

am I the only one who understood shadow and bone more than six of crows? the darkling's plan makes sense, I understand what he was doing. he had no intention of destroying the fold, he wants to use the darkness, but the volca poses a threat to him and his allies, not just those he wishes to defeat. so if he uses Alina he can control, even eliminate the volcra, and he can expand the fold. he intends to usurp the Ravkan monarchy, which in his defence, is more messed up than he is. he is then in control of ravka. and Grisha can climb the ranks instead of being these curiosities who are only hallowed when it suits their selfish king, otherwise, they are inferior and not allowed any status that an okatz'ya could reach. thus ends the issue of ravkan civil war. then he can untie the country in the war against fjerda and shu han, and because he has Alina his troops can enter the shadow fold safely. and can threaten other nations with the threat of their defeat and conquer. it's actually very clever. kaz's plan maybe I'm just not old enough but it is just bilge to me, I have absolutely no idea how any of his schemes work, how they pulled off anything at the ice court, what went wrong. I'm totally clueless for a large part of it. so yeah sympathy and respect for the darling. but I can in no way endorse darklina, he SAd alina in her sleep. he manipulated her, even if it was a brilliant plan, not to mention he is crusty, musty and centuries old.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

Yess 🙌🏻🙌🏻. I agree with everything you said. Also, if you read the S&B prequel, "The Demon in the Wood", it literally goes into the origins behind The Darkling's motives and ideologies which I believe makes the reader sympathize with him more. As for the that scene with Alina and The Darkling, yes. I lost a little bit of respect for his character when he did that like she's sleeping and you decide to kiss her and pretending to be Mal while doing it too?? 😖

[@Audrey610]

Will you be doing reading vlogs for Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising?

[@harshchauhan6550]

Live your videos and share your opinions 🥀🥀your vidoes are truely good!

[@lynnm6611]

I absolutelly loved the show, but never finished the books. btw have you read the Nikolai's duology? I love you videos and watching your opinion on them would be nice)

[@adelinelow2901]

Love your videos! :)

[@carolcvargas1]

7:54 i was literally comparing it with radio silence in my head when you just pulled the book out of nowhere?? telepathy I think! but I was thinking more about how Frances sees Aled's sister and how she envies her, but more like this cool person who knows who she is, and even so Frances learns along the way that even this cool person has problems of her own, so it's still relatable without diminishing other girls edit 'cause I don't want to spoil anyone intending on reading radio silence :')

[@TheBookLeo]

ayy great minds think alike

[@Alt-yg5ng]

Mal was a teenaged boy who to risked his life and endangered himself every day and had to put up with the guilt of his two best friends dying just to (in his head) rescue Alina only to see her with someone else. So it does make sense for him to be a little jealous. And Mal wasn't the only one, Alina was jealous of every other girls who liked mal. (Like Ruby and Zoya) And secondly, the darling mutilated her so that he could control and manipulate her Powers and you are seriously saying that he makes her feel 'belonged'?

[@cleaclara5661]

loved the video! are you planning on re reading the next two books?

[@TheBookLeo]

not right now but maybe in the future!

[@erinsbooks]

Shadow and Bone was ok. I'm reading the second book and I'm liking it better. I can't wait for the series.

[@Juliacasualcozygamer]

I didn't know anything about this book before the show. Then I watched the show and started reading the book as a 24 year old. I agree on all your comments. I came across your channel because of the book is not always better and definitely agree with everything you said there. I would also give it 3 stars I think. Had some flaws (definitely when I look at the show) but it was entertaining.

[@Emma-sj6wp]

I hope Mal character is better in the show. He suffered major Aspen syndrome and I hated him for the majority of the book lol. Also something I noticed in my rereads: Can we talk about Misha? He's in SoC. And it's not a happy ending. Is he the same character or is it just her recycling names? Genuinely concerned because I adore him as a secondary character.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

Yes, Misha in SOC is the same one from S&B

[@Emma-sj6wp]

@@ashleyelisabeth4 yep okay, I'm going to cry now.

[@queenlucysroyalmaid1]

I read the first Shadow and Bone book in 2020, aged 29, so my thoughts about it then were very similar to yours - it really frustrated me how superficial Alina was, and how it was very, "how could he POSSIBLY love ME when there are BEAUTIFUL people ALL AROUND HIM?!?!!!2!/32/1?!?" and nah, I just wasn't feeling that. I didn't continue with the series, although now that I have an e-reader and can borrow e-books from my library, maybe I will (I borrowed the first one from a friend)... I did enjoy the world building. I have Six of Crows though and I am really excited to read that, I started listening to the audiobook for it and was really enjoying it but struggled with all the words I didn't know the meaning of xD Currently 70% through Conjuring of Light, and I am so glad I started the Darker Shade series, as I absolutely love that world!

[@veronika_darkbook]

I am totally for "Darklina" and I think this relationship would be much more interesting to watch to develop. Mal is such an annoying character. Like he suddenly realizes he loves Alina and he is just jealous and mean all the time. BUT regarding his absence in the most of the book - there is kind of extended version of the book where you can read a letter for Alina writen by Mal, where he basically expose his feelings for her and it gives him that missing depth. Anyway I am superexcited for the TV series! Just finnishing the second book of the series.

[@Rose-lt6wu]

I never understood the darklin's reason for extending the unsea

[@BaileeWalsh]

I don't like the way Mal acts at times throughout the series but I understand it and think it's accurate in a way. It seems like so many other situations when someone you don't know independently takes an interest in something/someone you've had a connection to in some way but that other person is clearly establishing their own ideas about said thing or person. (Although, that is somewhat immature, I get that.) And that also just goes along with how Mal and Alina have grown up with each other, related to each other, and gotten to know one another over the years which makes their friendship kind of parallel and stagnant I would say, even though they've had different experiences. Now, so many things are changing for Alina that Mal is not a part of and this other guy they don't know very well has taken an interest in her. I can't really see it playing out another way other than either more pent up jealousy or lots of petty and/or aggressive confrontation, which would be more annoying in my opinion and not serve the plot as well. I'm not really arguing with you, by the way. Sometimes I get worried about how a comment may come off. I'm just typing my thoughts here as I'm watching the video. Also, I just read this trilogy for the first time these past few months. I didn't really know much about it other than some character names and the somewhat Russian influence. I knew The Darkling was the bad guy and how some fans shipped The Darkling and the main character. I'm mostly mentioning that stuff for context of my experience reading the books. Oh, and I'm 25... so not a teenager, lol. OH oh, I also have not read much fantasy AT ALL. Like Harry Potter, some of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, I'm making my way through The Raven Cycle if you think of that as fantasy (it's more fantastical, on the lines of fantasy to me). I think that's it. I'm starting the Six of Crows duology soon! :) I really like and agree with what you say about Alina's character! I think the series does a good job at showing how much she struggles with what she should do and what she wants to do, and how her actions will effect Ravka and the people around her / people she cares about. Alina and Mal's history is something that I feel like you have to cement in your mind before you get too far into the book. I do think there should be a little more about their friendship and dependency on each other... well, I mean *I* would like a little more but thinking about how fast paced the books are, it makes sense with relying a bit more on telling not showing. I just read it as _okay they're really close_ and went with the ebbs and flows as they went through their journeys. Oh my gosh, I also really struggled to understand what The Darkling meant to do exactly. I get that he wanted Grisha to remain significant and have a rightful and equal place in society, but there was so much else I was kind of confused about. I'm really hoping the show does a good job at portraying The Darkling as not distinctly the bad guy at first. I really want there to be that intrigue and realization and betrayal. I feel like having read the books it may be hard to fully see it in that way, but I'm mostly thinking about that for people who aren't familiar with the books. Like, reading the series The Darkling's manipulation of Alina and him liking *her power* not *her* was so clear. I think it would make a better experience of also being pulled into The Darkling and his plans as a viewer and getting that realization. I just really don't want it to be like > HE'S THE VILLAIN < from the get-go, haha!

[@lovelypages_]

So curios to hear Russian names from the people, who doesn't live in Russia :D We pronounce Genya differently ;) I'm from Russia :) Thank you for the video!

[@genmea]

What is the name of the music track you used at the end? I know it's from the KZbin library but tgere are thousands of tracks there.

[@TheBookLeo]

from russia with love!

[@genmea]

@@TheBookLeo thank you! ❤️

[@eoaneu]

1:37 it s the first time ive seen the grishas names in english and why do they sound like some girls names like i would love to be named etherealka also materialki named the order of fabrikators makes so much sense. even tho the book as good as i thought it would be i still love it sm bc as a polish and slavic person i love that it s based on 19th century russia and not 19th century england or france. every time i read a slavic name/surname in this book i would start to get more excited. i never realized how important rep is till now

[@novembermedusa]

omg your 5:08 look? that cardigan with those eyeshadows and lipstick? i can only sit here and envy 🍄 btw people should stop feeling pressured to clarify that they don't want to emulate their favourite ships that are not "pure and perfect". it's such a basic thing, but it's still hard for some people to understand. it's very popular to shame people if their favourite ship dynamics would not work/be "problematic" in real life. however we also live in a world where there are no shadow or sun summoners, or amplifiers, or shadow fold, so... that's that. btw btw, about that darklina kissing scene - i do think he was falling for her for real (i know we are all perceiving him differently, and he is not exactly consistent, so that's only my reading), and i think that's why he's so angry at himself. he's like: i will seduce her, but man, he did not expect to be pulled to her so much. i also think she genuinely makes him smile and so he kisses her by the lake, which again, angers him. just think about for how long he was gone after that, he did not come to visit her again, and when they've met at the winter fete, he was very matter-of-fact-y, don't want to talk about it - until he could not take it anymore. i just don't believe he is as good actor as they trying to paint him. and of course her power is sexy to him as well, he thinks very highly of himself, so he would not fancy someone who would not be at least at his level. it's like when people fancy someone for their intellectuality, or physical prowess, or something like that, you know? and this book would be 1000% better, if they let alina be who she is(grisha) after the months of training, but the moment mal is there again, she reverts back and is apologizing, she is painted as stupid for wanting to belong with people like her and for trusting them and... i really don't like that. like she was so close to accepting the role of a hero, and herself, but baghra is like nope, get out. and for the last part of the book alina is like "you had me there for a minute, but nope, i am still sour and desperate to be ordinary, ravka can rot." first she's doing what the darkling wants, then baghra, then mal. never what she wants(that was being a grisha, use her power, and kiss the darkling but she was called stupid and naive for that, so...). sorry this is so long, i will always get carried away when it comes to these two.

[@lyndiemaydeles7260]

I also want to reread Shadow and Bone because of Netflix and I honestly have a mixed feeling if I would still love the book.

[@TheBookLeo]

yup that's always to question with old faves

[@lyndiemaydeles7260]

And this is my all time fave book 😊

[@maryema8400]

Im currently reading the book and I don’t want to get spoiled but I will definitely watch this video when I’m done.

[@fivestripes897]

2:55 Ohhhh myyyy Goddddd. Leonie says "supposably".

[@mmrios9]

Girl, I didn't like Mal either. He's so stale. Like, Alina no. 😂😭

[@DarkBlackRoseful]

Same. I seriously hate him with a burning passion.

[@friendly.neighborhood.]

He gave me gale vibes (from hunger games) 😬

[@DarkBlackRoseful]

@@friendly.neighborhood. OH MY GOD YES

[@dorothea327]

omg i'm so exited for this video😌

[@TheBookLeo]

hope you like it!

[@laurenalyssa4677]

I love your vest

[@lampotekaa9910]

♥

[@cupowarmchocolate8103]

I really need to read the books, ah! I'm still weighing out which would be expedient, watching the show without reading the books or watching it having read the books.

[@TheBookLeo]

i think jumping into the series without knowing anything will be fun as well!

[@cupowarmchocolate8103]

@@TheBookLeo I suppose that is true. I'll do just that then 😁

[@mousumeenath4922]

Hang on a second, why is every BookTuber or Bookstagrammer suddenly so offended by a teenage girl with insecurities focussing on the looks of other people around her? Is it 'that' hard to believe? 🙄🙄🙄 I mean, look around you. Don't you think a LOT of people, young adults or otherwise, are obsessed with looks? Why do we wear makeup, notice other people's makeup, hair, clothes etc.? Alina is more insecure than your average person and the books are 1st person narratives so yes, we get more of it. But is that really a deterrent to the plot or even character development? Look at how much Alina's character grows! I didn't even feel distracted by this tiny fact that's suddenly getting so much attention. As for the stereotypes aka good looking dudes we are meant to swoon over, well, almost all books are guilty of it. 🙈 And us readers are to blame for it too.

[@ern_-bk7lw]

100% agree. Alinas character development is so good like once she harnesses her powers she grow so much more confident with her appearance and hardly ever mentions it or compares herself to others. i didnt feel distracted by it too because it is such a common thing nowadays

[@eeeshieee]

omggg I also did noT like Alina being together with Mal... I didn’t like Alina with anyone tbh.. 😆 idk why

[@vanessa2603__]

Alina should've ended up alone tbh

[@muskaan3711]

Same! I found both of them annoying af

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

Because all of the men in Alina's love life were toxic af.

[@JameGoFast]

lmao the star wars pic is hilarious

[@ern_-bk7lw]

i personally didn't find the focus on appearances that annoying. yes I'm 15 and sometimes have that same mindset as Alina but what i think Leigh Bardugo was trying to do is emphasise that effects and impact of Grisha power. like you said, Alina suppressed her powers and it caused her to look ill and tired all the time but also for people like Zoya and Genya, they've been using their powers almost daily for years and so are describes as beautiful and powerful women. in the book it describes the power as giving them a glow in their skin once they've used it as well. but i also do agree that this mindset is still toxic especially in todays society so maybe shouldn't be a 'trope', if you will, in YA books

[@candiedbooks]

Ok, I haven't read these books but I can already tell that I ship Alina & the Darkling over Alina & Mal. 😒 Unfortunate. And with the other things you mentioned (the "Oh, I'm so ugly trope!" main girl trope, the fat-shaming, etc...), I don't wanna read these books now. If it weren't for the 'Six Of Crows' part of the show, I wouldn't even want to the Netflix series now (which is the reason was interested in it in the first place).

[@isaa1782]

It's kinda weird that it's supposed to be inspired by Russia, while using the word Grisha for magicians (a nickname for Gregory) and messing up female and male versions of surnames. Even for me, knowing just a little Russian it was strange 😅

[@lavdoria510]

i’m watching the show and really want to read the book bc the darkling is such a good character but it sounds like the book is meh, not like hunger games or harry potter that the books were still better

[@Bails1920]

I could never ship Alina with the Darkling no matter how much I love his character because like you said he didn't love her he loved her power and what that power could give him and most importantly he's like 300 years old and she's a freaking teenager! That is so gross and it feels predatory and like he was grooming her. I don't love Mal and Alina but if I have to choose a ship since it is early 2010's YA Fantasy and there is always a love story in them I have to choose Mal and Alina cause it's less problematic which is not saying much sadly lol. I just hate all her love interests in this series cause I dislike Nikoli as well, he kisses her without her consent and does not have respect for her relationship with Mal and whether we like Mal and Alina together is irrelevant because ignoring her comments of saying no multiple times and expressing that she is with Mal and then Nikoli continuously egging Mal on to annoy him because its fun for Nikoli is disrespectful to Alina by not acknowledging her choices and her wishes. Just all the men in this book suck lmao

[@kobimorgan6522]

agree, poor alina never gets treated right by ANYONE in this series and they always betray her or something at some point

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

Although I do love the dynamic between Alina and The Darkling, I do agree that she can't be with him because the relationship is way too toxic. But I also think The Darkling did care for Alina because in the S&B prequel, "The Demon in the Wood", it's actually explained that The Darkling gave Alina his real name because Baghra said the only person Aleksander should reveal his name to is someone he's ready to give his heart to. Also, there was this place in the woods in Fjerda The Darkling loved going to because it was the only place where he felt welcomed and safe. This was because the trees there never died like him and the fact it always felt like summer there. He hasn't felt like that ever again until he met Alina; she was basically like a safe haven to him.

[@readwithzoe1412]

I read these books last year and i don‘t like them. I really love the other books like six of crows and King of scars. Alina is a Charakter that stays plane too me, i don‘t understand the relationship with mal and the darkling.

[@SourBogBubble]

This aged well, 2 weeks later Series trailer drops.

[@avapaull3814]

Don’t even ask me about Mal unless you want to hear an instant rant.🙄

[@thandondlovu5392]

Same, I liked Series Mal but Book Mal is so horrible it makes it hard to ship them in the show.

[@theherooffire007]

I started reading the books because of how much I enjoyed season 1 of the show, and I made it through book 1 alright, not loving it, but having a good time. That said, I couldn't get halfway past book 2 at all... because of Alina and Mal. I love the world, the magic, the creatures and so on, but I found their super toxic, controlling and possessive "romance" incredibly grating and annoying - enough for me to dnf it. Still want to get back to it someday for the magical parts (and the Darkling), but can't stand the two main characters, so maybe I'll glance over the pages? Lol.

[@anemelo-tsourekaki]

For me the ending of the 3rd book was the worst part, Mal getting resurrected was such a huge cop-out. Plus Alina clearly would've been much more interesting if she went back to the Darkling only to seize power from him somehow, and be a crazy ass dictator. Bc why not 🎉

[@sarangbalakrishnankp99]

2:16😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I disagree about what you said about Alina being obsessed with appearances. The only time she noticed her own appearance was when she just happened to pass by a mirror, or had one placed in front of her, by Genya. The reasons that Alina had problems with her appearance had to do with repressing her power, and the fact that she was always being involved in being attacked, or living rough in the woods. She didn't have an easy life. She actually looked really bad at times. I mean; her hair turned white.

[@anything_for_food]

Alina doesn't really need a love interest. I wish she focused more on herself and her powers.