Title: The
Gathering Dark/Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha Trilogy #1
Published: 7 June
2012
Length: 240 pages
Warnings: violence,
romance 12+
Source: Publisher
Other info: It’s
called Shadow and Bone in America. The next two will be called The Shadow Fold
and The Darkest Light (I think).
Summary : The
Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that
feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.
Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into
the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the
key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?
The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the
Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her
gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal,
Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future,
why can’t she ever quite forget him?
Review: Alina is
an orphan who discovers she has a magical power-she can summon sunlight at
will. Her summoning abilities mean that she is pulled into the Ravka’s
Grisha-the magical elite. The leader of the Grisha is called The
Darkling-amazingly powerful and more than a little seductive. He and Alina are
destined to save Ravka from the Shadow Fold-the darkness where monsters live. But,
while Alina’s falling for Darkling, she’s also thinking of Mal, her childhood
friend who is now a soldier. Predictably, their paths cross and they go on a
journey full of adventure. And danger.
I don’t often read
pure fantasy without lots of horror or sci-fi mixed in. I do enjoy them though.
This is definitely a fantasy based book. It comes through in the names, the
writing (it’s all very descriptive) and
the book as a whole is the kind I like when I want something between relaxing
and scary.
There’s a nice little mix of characters. Alina undergoes a
lot of development and learning, and I quite liked her. My favourite character was
Genya-although she was horrible to start with, I ended up liking her by the end
as she reveals her fun nature as you get to know her. Mal was ok. His devotion
to Alina was really nice, but he’s not
the type of main male character that I really really like. And Darkling-he was
just so annoying. And arrogant. And manipulative. I really didn’t like him.
The Gathering Dark is a deceptively short book. A lot
happens in it though, many of which you will not see coming.
The world building is slow, subtle and full. You get a
really good idea of the court, and the way the magical society works. It’s
impossible to place exactly in time and location, but I still really enjoyed
it.
Like many books, It would have done ok without the love
triangle. I was for Mal all the way, and Alina’s feelings for The Darkling were
unnecessary, especially when he wasn’t that good anyway. Oh well. What other people like.
Overall: Strength 4 tea to a good fantasy novel that I’d
really like to see what direction it goes in for the next novel, The Shadow
Fold.
