Note: This post will be a general review for the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, as well as the Six of Crows Duology. As it is more of a summary of my thoughts and feelings about the books – rather than an in depth, beat-by-beat review – it will not contain spoilers.
There is so much to love about the fantastical world Leigh Bardugo has crafted. While I haven’t yet dived into the “King of Scars” and its sequel upon writing this post, the other works within the GrishaVerse have given me boundless reasons to want to. My initial introduction to this world was through the Shadow and Bone trilogy. In which, there is nothing particularly special about Alina Starkov, even when she is named as the Sun Summoner. She’s not particularly strong or brilliant or attractive. Ultimately, I think this is what makes her the best possible protagonist to introduce us to the world of Ravka and the Grisha.
She is starting off as clueless as we are about what it’s like to be a Grisha in this world. Despite – and perhaps in part due to – their power, the Grisha are misunderstood and feared. We learn that Ravka is one of the few countries where they are safe. Though not completely. Alina gives us a unique perspective of someone who has lived an ordinary life by hiding and denying her true powers. We follow her as she discovers the life she could have lived. She gives us perspective on both sides, being ordinary and being Grisha. Neither is as simple as the other side often believes. Overall, I found the Shadow and Bone trilogy an excellent lesson in the strength of a country united. The Six of Crows duology continues this theme, but in a different form.
Kerch is a world away from Ravka. While Ravka is run by a Monarchy, the only true power in Ketterdam (the Kerch capital) is money. Our protagonists here are thieves, liars, and defectors of one sort or another. Yet they are the best for expanding this world. And, of course, none of them are quite as heartless as they might initially seem. They are all ambitious in their own right. They all have dreams they wish to accomplish and money seems like it will be the answer. While not all of the Crows share the same goals or dreams, they come together with a common mission. They’re disruptors in the best sense of the word and the trouble they stir up will leave you hanging on every word.
It should come as no surprise that all of these books are highly rated for me. Four out of the five books come in at a full five stars for me. “Siege and Storm” (the second book in the Shadow and Bone Trilogy) is the only one not scoring a five, but a four instead. The beginning and end were absolutely phenomenal. The middle, however, was quite slow and boring. Please let me know if you would like more in-depth reviews on any of these books! I wanted to do just a general for the whole series to start off, but I can certainly say more about each and every one of these books. Leave a comment with your thoughts and questions! You certainly don’t have to agree with my thoughts on these books, but please always remember to be respectful with your comments.