Shadow and Bone

I finished the trilogy in around 72h while I was working 12h nights shifts, so this already tells you I could't put it down. They are easy to read, fluent and kept me on my toes.

There will be spoilers, so continue at your own risk.

The world it takes place is beautiful and varied, with enough details about the other cities and countries to let the reader wanting to know more about it. The Grisha are absolutely amazing and I love the concept of their power. I was hoping to read more about their struggles and the prejudice they faced, but the hints and comments throughout the story were enough to give the reader an overview of it without being overbearing. 

I liked the first book Alina - the orphan that longed for a place she could belong to and that after years of hiding her power she finally accepted and welcomed it, only to have someone to manipulate her and try to use her power for his own gain. She ended the first book with a strong note with the potential for more. Then the disappointment came on the third book when she diminished herself in order to be accepted by Mal. 

Mal, who she loved all her life while he didn't realise or care and only remembered he loved her once she was gone, but never accepted who she became and was too scared and intimidated by all her power. He was selfish, not once tried to understand the weight and responsibility on her shoulders, and on the second book he was seldom there when she needed (except when they were in hiding and she was not using her power). In order to be accepted by him she had to shrink and make herself less than what she was. This is not a good message to pass to young girls/women - that a women has to be less than the man she loves lest he does not accept her. He had a good plot twist, though.

For this reason alone, Nikolai would be a better match. Although the initial proposition was a political alliance with Alina to strengthen his claim to the throne, they soon grew to like each other and he accepted her for who she was with all her power; and continued to accept her even when she lost all her powers. Besides, his sass, charm, and intelligence were perfect!

The Darkling, on the other hand, accepted her for her power (and while she had her power). He was manipulative and abusive that although he started with the right reasons (a safe Ravka for Grisha), his hunger for power and greed was infinite, thus turning him into a villain. He's a morally grey character and it's hard not to judge his actions without feeling sympathy for him. 

Subtly throughout the story it became more and more evident that he was utterly alone and wanted Alina to be someone he could relate to. The moment he shared his name with her, a name only his mother knew and he couldn't share it with anyone growing up, was a moment of vulnerability and made him more human. The moment of his death when he realized that there was no one else like him and he was alone broke my heart - he was no longer a dictator, he was a boy who rarely laughed and was afraid of the dark. The magnitude of his loneliness in the end was palpable. 

The secondary characters were an amazing addition, each with their own appeal and importance, especially the twins; Zoya who started as an arrogant cow and became a strong (albeit mean) and lovable character; Genya and David where the sweetest thing together and on their own and I loved every of their scenes. Baghra's backsorty was a sad and gripping tale that ended too soon (I wish I could know more about it) and her character had an ending deserving of her. 

I'm a strong believer that everyone can be redeemed, or at least that everyodeserves a shot at redemption, so I was hoping for a different ending, but I have to admit that having two immortals on the throne would not be a positive thing in the long run.