I’m back today with another installment of Rebecca Reads. In case you didn’t know, I started another Youtube channel for my book hauls and reviews. On occasion, it will also include some lifestyle things. For example, this weekend I will be uploading a recent IKEA haul. But, for the most part, it will be book related.
And on to the review! I recently finished the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I started it, I thought I would casually read the three books. You know, at my leisure. The third book recently came out (in June, I think) and I couldn’t find it in paperback when I bought the first book. Well… by the time I started the second book I was scouring the internet trying to find it. I (obviously) found it and had a wait a bit between finishing the second book and starting the third. Ugh, the worst! #bookloverprobs
Shadow and Bone (#1) // Siege and Storm (#2) // Ruin and Rising (#3)
The story is set in Ravka, a nation literally divided in half by the Shadow Fold. The Shadow Fold is an area of darkness in the middle of the country. It is inhabited by monsters who devour anyone who dares to travel across their land. Alina is an orphan who is drafted into Ravka’s First Army, along with her best friend Mal.
Ravka also has a Second Army, which consists entirely of Grisha. The Grisha have special powers, such as moving wind or water or conjuring up fire. They are led by the Darkling, which is the most powerful Grisha anyone in Ravka has ever known.
The real action begins when Alina and Mal’s group of soldiers are traveling across the Shadow Fold to West Ravka. Their skiff is attacked by the monsters of the Fold, the Volcra. While people around Alina are being killed left and right she grabs Mal, she sees a flash of white light, and then passes out. When she comes to, she is being taken to the Darkling.
Alina is a Sun Summoner, a powerful kind of Grisha that no one has ever seen before. On the Fold, she had killed the Volcra with her light. She is now the most wanted person in Ravka. The Darkling whisks her away to the king’s palace to keep her safe. Alina is torn from everything that is familiar to her, including her best friend Mal. And then her story begins… From that point to the end, she is constantly torn between her country, her power, and her love. Along the way, she discovers how the Shadow Fold was created and vows to destroy it.
I am horrible at not revealing spoilers (does that make sense?), so I’ll leave the synopsis at that. As for the ending, I loved it.
One thing that was a bit ‘meh’ to me was the supposed Russian influence. I read somewhere that the story included a lot of Russian influences. That was lost on me. Aside from the obvious Russian architecture on the covers and the odd addition of v, k, and “nik” to words, I didn’t get it. It didn’t add or take away from the story, in my opinion.
I really enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s writing style. When I started this trilogy, I couldn’t put it down. It was definitely an easy read and not something you have to think too hard about, which is something I enjoy after I’ve read something heavy. If you enjoy YA fantasy, I recommend this trilogy. Just know that the second and third books are better than the first.
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I am currently reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (so good. so long.) and An Abundance of Katherines by John Greene.
Rebecca has been writing about style, beauty, and lifestyle topics since 2011. Thank you so much for reading this post! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. I love hearing from you!
