Book Review – Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo Ruin and Rising - Leigh Bardugo

Book Review

 

Shadow and Bone

 

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

 

This first book defiantly focuses on Alina trying to figure out who she is and what is the right path for her. She has a gift, a power that could save a war stricken county and bring peace, but at what cost, she loses the only home she has known, the only family she has known and taken to a royal palace an school to be taught. She feels so alone. Although she meets new people she can’t help but think of who she left behind. Mal. The boy she grew up with and fell in love with. He has no idea that her heart belongs to him and now she may never see him again.

 

And The Darkling, the dark power that rules the Grisha armies, a handsome stranger who is tempting and seems to have a connection with Alina. She doesn’t know what to think or do but the promises he makes makes her feel safe, like she has a home. But with a name like The Darkling he wasn’t going to be the good guy. When his true intentions become clear Alina runs, scared of him and who she almost became. And when Mal turns up and takes her to safety she thinks they have got away, but The Darkling isn’t far behind.

 

I had seen this book about for a while but was unsure whether or not to read it. I had researched it, read some reviews and couldn’t decided if I liked the story idea. But finally I caved and got it and I am so glad I did. The story is insanely awesome, full of twists and turns I wasn’t expecting and character that I could sink my teeth into. I loved it and can not wait to see what happens next.

 

Siege and Storm

 

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

 

So we already have the two love interests, The Darkling and Mal. Enter Nikolai, a runaway prince turned privateer who will always be honest about his plans and always tells you when he is lying to you. The interactions between him and Alina are so sweet and sometimes laugh out loud funny. They are perfect together and I feel that he is the only one who really want Alina to be happy. I love Nikolai!!

 

The Darkling is crazy! Yes he’s the bad boy (and don’t get me wrong I love a good bad boy) but he is super cray cray! Wanting to control everything and everyone, destroying whole countries just to get what he wants, chasing a poor girl all over the place, hurting his mother and all those who have stood by him. This man is a little too bad boy for me.

Mal is the best friend turned love interest, I get why Alina loves him, he has always been there for her, they grew up together and she feels safe around him. But he is a bit of a ladies man and at the first sign of trouble he disappears. He always seems to want thing to go his way without having to work for them. I did think that Mal and Alina’s relationship was complicated and maybe too good to be true, she loves him or at least the idea of him but he always seems like the big brother/family aspect to the story.

 

A plan is in motion to stop The Darkling. With the help of Nikolai and a growing army Alina hopes they can put a stop to his power. This was a fantastic sequel to Shadow and Bone, bring back well loved character and a few new one, the story continues at the same fast pace, with action, humour, love and sadness throughout. The third instalment is already in my hands and about to be cracked open, I can’t wait to see how this story ends.

 

Ruin and Rising

 

The nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

 

One of my favourite scenes in this book was in chapter eight, when Alina bring all the girls to her room so they can take some of the clothes that have been left for her. Throughout all the fighting and death we remembered that these are still young women who like to gossip about boys and try on pretty clothes. It was the first time that I truly felt that they were a family, sisters. I teared up.

 

And this book defiantly focuses on the family aspect, after the big battle at the end of the first book only eight were left, so many died. All they had were each other and they became close, they became family and made me cry lots. Nadia and Tamar’s relationship is adorable! Their cheeky flirting and showing off made me chuckle. This is the first book I have read where there was a same sex couple and I think Bardugo has done it so we’ll, the pair are so alike but totally different at the same time, they work so well together. And I take back all the bad things I said about Mal and The Darkling I saw a complete change in them in this book.

 

Just ripped my heart out and had me crying like a baby! I admit that I do get emotional at most books but this whole series really had the tears going. Full of incredible characters you can’t help but love and a story with twists and turns you don’t see coming. The Grisha Trilogy is defiantly one of my favourite series!!!

 

Rating- 5/5