I'm coming into this book having recently finished Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo's first foray into adult novels. It's rare that I prefer a YA book, but I'm coming into this book having recently finished Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo's first foray into adult novels. It's rare that I prefer a YA book, but I do. Shadow and Bone feels much more thought out and authentic, and odd thing when the setting of NH is Yale, where Bardugo went to undergrad.
S&B's heroine, Alina, feels closer to Bardugo, which is why the whole novel works for me a bit more. Both novels set up interesting worlds that entice me to read further. I'm glad this series is complete and won't have to wait for the next installment as I will have to with Ninth House.
**SPOILER ALERT**** This is probably the first love triangle I've encountered where I want the heroine to end up with someone else entirely. Mal is basically her brother and I would buy their love story more if they'd been separated at a younger age. The Darkling is sexy as hell but bad news. I'd like him to choose power over love and then regret his decision while Alina gets to live happily ever after.
This review comes after my second read, which surprisingly left me with a similar impression as my first read.
When I read it last year, I was feelingThis review comes after my second read, which surprisingly left me with a similar impression as my first read.
When I read it last year, I was feeling pretty down and not interested in reading anything. I powered through only because I'd waited almost three months in the library queue for it and knew if I didn't read it then, I'd have to wait another 3 months for my next chance. Books only give you what you bring to them and at the time I didn't give it as much focus as I would have liked. A year later, I'm decidedly a fan of Bardugo's after reading her YA trilogy and duology, and decided to give her first adult novel another chance.
First, Ninth House's setting and subject matter are two of my favorites: academia and magic. There's plenty of both, but it never felt atmospheric in the way that I really love (think The Secret History, a more real-world take on secret societies and murder). The most impressive images from the novel are of violence, viscera, and trauma rather than worn stone walls and cozy libraries. At several points, Bardugo’s commitment to rendering realistic trauma felt less ‘real� and more like overkill.
That's a minor quibble, though. The thing that keeps the novel from really clicking is the main character. We never quite understand Alex Stern and what she wants, despite her chronicled back story. After thinking about it for awhile, I suspect the structure is what keeps Alex at arm's length from the reader - we get Alex's perspective and backstory after she's already been at Yale for half a semester. Her first impressions of the school, her situation, and what it means to her are a mystery because those moments are told from Darlington's perspective. In addition, her character, outside of her gift and the trauma that came with it, isn't very detailed. What is she interested in? What were her hobbies? Was it easy giving up drugs and alcohol? There's so much missing, though she is a character I want to know more about.
Darlington is the opposite. He becomes the most interesting character in the book because he has a strong motivation - to be around magic. The blossoming connection he has with Alex is compelling because he's both envious of her gifts, and in awe of her (these two better end up together by the end of this series or I'm going to flip). His storyline was one of the main reasons I returned to this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Bardugo is so talented at creating characters and expertly plotting complex stories (her YA books are spectacular at both). I trust that the next installment will improve on the first and that the planned Amazon adaptation will fill in the gaps of the book. One of the best aspects of this series is how it involves magic yet roots itself in reality. Her Yale is a monument of old money in a rough city forever hobbled by systemic inequality. It's the type of magic school series we need in 2020.
ETA Darlington's first name is Daniel. In the Bible, Daniel was (acc to Wikipedia) "a righteous man of princely lineage". He was thrown into a den of lions after refusing to pledge fealty to the king over God. The lions famously did not eat him. INTERESTING....more
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