in which i’m the odd man out

Hello, world.

I had a hard time thinking of an answer to today’s prompt, actually. I’m not the kind of person to read a book just because it’s popular or well-admired–if I’m not interested in the story, I won’t read it. So, consequently, I usually read books that I really like.

But there are, on occasion, books that don’t meet my expectations.

DAY 8: A MOST OVERRATED BOOK

Goodreads summary:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.

I really wanted to like this book. Gorgeous cover? Check. Russian mythology? Yes, please. Bad-a female protagonist? Give it to me.

The execution, however, fell rather flat, in my opinion.

I think my biggest issue with this novel, and its following books (which I can never bring myself to read), is the writing. It just seems very cliche and undeveloped to me. Alina is super special, but not by any merit of her own (and of course everybody–mostly boys–really loves her). When something needs to happen for her, it does. There’s conflict and tension, sure, but all in all I feel like things happen to her rather than things happening because of her choices.

I just really dislike Alina as a protagonist. (Pls don’t kill me.)

I won’t elaborate too much on my dislike for this book because I don’t want to make any of you feel bad if you do like the book–because you shouldn’t feel bad. You should never feel bad about whatever books you do enjoy (and the people who say different are liars). That’s the nice thing about books: there are enough to fit everyone’s personal tastes and likes.

If you do enjoy the Grisha Trilogy, please let me know! I’d love to hear some contradictory opinions. Maybe you can even convince me to like them.

yours, Natalie

Tune in tomorrow at noon for the next post!