WOMS: Grishaverse

Let me start by explaining I’m going to begin referring to my “What’s on my Shelf” posts as WOMS. Makes sense, right? And now your mouth isn’t too full.

As I catch up on these posts, I’m going to work backwards through what I’ve most recently read before recommitting to build my consistency, but this post is going to be the odd ball out. While I have recently read some of the books within Leigh Bardugo‘s Grishaverse, I read the first installment trilogy last summer.

Here’s hoping I remember enough… and don’t forget: spoilers!

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy

After reading Katherine Arden‘s first two books in her Winternight trilogy, I really wanted to read more books with a Russian flavour. This is how I stumbled upon Bardugo’s Grishaverse.

From what I remember, I loved the first book, Shadow and Bone, especially because of that moment halfway through the plot when she completely turned everything upside down by making the Darkling the villain.

I mean, I knew it was coming. Obviously he couldn’t be trusted. But to rip my heart out when I was beginning to ship him with Alina? Cruel. Simply cruel. Not cool, Leigh.

And that is why I fell in love with the Grishaverse (and also why I’m so excited with her new Nikolai duology, but more of that later).

Her character development of the Darkling — his motivations, backstory, lust for power to protect his own, etc. — was compelling and I’m fairly certain I cried over his death. I don’t think I’ve ever cried over the death of the villain before.

The romantic subplot between Alina and Mal at times irritated me because they were being, well, teenagers. In addition to this irritation, there was a point where I really didn’t like Alina either. She seemed too selfish for me. I realise this was a part of her character, the struggle she faced within herself, but to me she never really overcame it.

Of course, as someone who has never read the Potter series (*gasp* I know, but I wasn’t allowed to and just haven’t probably because there’s that part of me which still wishes to honour my mother’s request), the elements of a magic school were still very Hogwarts-esque to me. I enjoyed the plethora of friendships, the dynamics of students being caught in the crossfires of a war, being used as bait, and watching these children overcome such horrors to achieve victory together.

The first book, Shadow and Bone, was my favourite. With Siege and Storm, I was mostly perturbed by Alina and Mal (probably the point of the book), but I just adored Nikolai and his addition to the cast list. Ruin and Rising finished the roller coaster of emotions poignantly, beautifully, and thankfully I stopped being annoyed at the two main characters.

I truly enjoyed the trilogy. If I’m honest, though, I think I prefer all her other installments more.

Six of Crows series

This series I’ve read the most recently, and I loved it. Not sure if I can classify it as my favourite of all the installments yet since WE’RE GETTING A THIRD BOOK, and the Nikolai duology is not complete yet either. However, as of right now, it’s looking like it will be.

The Six of Crows is an amazing, gut-wrenching, high stakes heist novel set in the beautifully rich universe Bardugo introduced us to in Shadow and Bone. I don’t think there was anything I did not like about the series. Even Kaz’s flawed cruelty was perfect because she humanized him so well. Her capability of creating these characters who struggle with their inner darkness and demons is breathtaking because she has a way of revealing enough of who they were before they became what they are to draw out that empathy in her readers.

I’m extremely glad, though, I read the Nikolai book first because I’m not sure if I could have handled reading Matthias dying like that. What was worse was knowing how he and Nina began by hating each other. That hurt more because they’re just so adorable. (Definitely a better couple than Alina and Mal. #sorrynotsorry)

What’s incredible about these two books was how she deepened her universe.

In the Shadow and Bone trilogy, we mostly only see Ravka, which I think is supposed to be her version of Russia. Then in this installment, we have Ketterdam [Amsterdam] and Djerholm [Stockholm] with the Wandering Isle as what could be Ireland. Even the hints about Novyi Zem make me wonder if it is suppose to be the United States. The only other modern series I’ve read to have as rich an universe are A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan.

As someone who is creating her own world, hoping to have one as multilayered, distinct, and lush as Middle Earth, I gravitate towards those types of works with greater affinity than others. Bardugo’s world building inspired me as much as it captivated me.

Back to Six of Crows: I was most astounded by her continuous perspective shifts. I remember the first time I read a multi-perspective book, and it threw me for a loop. Though, having read more of them, I see why it is a trend now. I think Bardugo’s distinction of diction and tone between her different characters is phenomenal, especially when she’s using about 6 of them with their own voice and personalities. It’s amazing!

The grittiness and ruthlessness of this world felt incredibly real, and this series is one of the few I’ve fully submerged in, absorbed completely in the winding, narrow streets of Ketterdam. Coming out of it when I finished Crooked Kingdom felt like detoxing.

Spectacular read. Thrilling from start to finish, full of so many twists you never know what’s up or down or coming next.

King of Scars

I’m sure like many others, when I read the Shadow and Bone trilogy, I fell in love with Nikolai Lantsov, and was giddy at hearing he would be receiving his own duology.

I’m partial to Russian history and folklore, and having a character like Nikolai — a possible incarnation of Tsar Peter the Great who helped modernise a terribly medieval Russia in the 17th century — enriched the entire Grishaverse for me.

Of course, this book emphasizes those possible real-world, historical ties watching Nikolai build his empire from the ashes of the Ravkan Civil War in the first installment trilogy. What it also gives you is a continuation of the Six of Crows plot as well. It beautifully combines the two preceding stories in the Grishaverse into one tapestry, so you get to see how interconnected Bardugo’s entire world is, further enriching it.

Having not read the Six of Crows duology (now trilogy) until after this, I was somewhat lost, so if you haven’t, I highly recommend you read the crazy schemes of Kaz and the other Dregs first.

My favourite part about this story was the broadening of the Grisha’s and their powers. When Nikolai and Zoya are trapped in the “void” with these ancient Ravkan Grisha, they learn the origin of Grisha, which enthralled me entirely. It has similarities to that line Thor says, “Your ancestors called it magic, but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same.” I enjoy seeing the combination of the mystical with the practical [scientific], and she did a fantastic job of weaving them together.

I’m excited to see what Bardugo’s latest reveal will bring us in the second book with the return of a certain character!

Overall, if you’re looking for a good series to sink your teeth into, I highly recommend beginning here. It’s dark, complex, passionate, almost an alternative universe of our own world, and fascinating with every page.

(Oh, and did I mention THIS IS GETTING A NETFLIX ADAPTATION??)