Tuesday 2 July 2013

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Grisha 1 and 2: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: 06/06/13
Publisher:  Indigo

SYNOPSIS:

Originally published as The Gathering Dark. 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? Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.


REVIEW:

OK, this is a book that I originally put on the back burner for a number of reasons, first of all because the burb sounded a little confusing alongside complex and at the time I fancied something straight forward and secondly because I had to be in the mood for a love story.

Whilst I am pleased I left it until I was really in the mood for it, I was a little upset that I left it so long, purely because the author, Leigh Bardugo has put a lot of work in, the world building is up there with a lot of the top adult authors, the characters shine through the pages and the complex plotline works on so many levels keeping the reader guessing from the first page to the last.

Add to this a wonderful sense of roundedness to the characters, wonderful interaction and of course a love thread that really does make this a hard to put down book. But when you throw in a great sense of pace alongside solid prose as well as cracking dialogue the reader really is in for a treat. All in a great novel to use as a break through from Teen to Adult but also one that will enamour itself of a great many readers old and young. Magical.




Release Date: 06/06/13
Publisher:  Indigo

SYNOPSIS:

Darkness never dies. Alina and Mal are on the run. Hunted and haunted, but together at last, they can't outrun Alina's past or her destiny forever. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and he needs Alina to realise his dangerous plan. There are others who would like to use Alina's gift too. And as her power grows, somehow, she must choose between her country, her power, and her love - or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Laini Taylor.


REVIEW:

The second title in the Grisha Trilogy and one that picked up from the first in such a way that the reader was catapulted back into this imaginative world with more of the same as what has gone before. As with the original the characters are a lot of fun to hang around, the prose sharp, and when you add the imagination of the authors fantasy world, cracking pace and of course a storyline that keeps you guessing all round makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Whilst this title is primarily aimed at Young Adult, this is a book that as a grown up I more than had a great time reading. It was innovative, the characters grew and when you add to the mix an author who loves to tell a story, then it really works out in all ways for the reader. I really can’t wait to see what the third part has in store for me.



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