Luxurious Blu’s Reviews > Shadow and Bone > Status Update

Nice action packed climax and resolution.
I was entertained and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing where it goes.
I didn’t like the Mal and Alina book up but it gave me a good idea to write about.

Argh! Mal and Alina kisses and that shit was irritating. I knew this was a thing, but I don’t like it. It feels contrived. They’re better off as friends with Alina having unrequited love. Like, com’on!

The Darkling can be a sheisty guy she thought really liked her but was using her. That’s annoying and kinda terrible, but it’s realistic. Sometimes your childhood best friend you caught feelings for won’t love you back the same way, and that guy you thought liked you was just using you for what you got.

I just realized that Alina should have been a character that had to do what she had to do and survive and train and all that stuff, but also have her crushes and attractions. She and Mal should have been platonic, and he should have seen her as his sister.

Thank God the reason why The Darkling kisses Alina out of the blue was answered because that was looking crazy if it didn’t get an explanation.

That Mal and Alina confrontation felt like it came out of no where since he never seemed to show any legit interest in Alina before. Maybe his true feelings are coming out now because he’s jealous and he didn’t know he wanted to be with her, but what would make him even be jealous when he’s barely seen Alina and The Darkling interact with each other.
That confrontation felt like it escalated real quick for no reason.

Now, this confrontation between Alina and Mal just made me realize how fast Alina is falling for The Darkling after a kiss, and makes me wonder even more why The Darkling was compelled to kiss her in the first place. Maybe I missed the subtly of his interest in her from their first contact.

The way Leigh describes the desire Alina has for The Darkling is sexy. It’s small and subtle but packs a nice punch to get me piqued.