Leigh Bardugo Signing!

I can’t believe it’s already been 2 and a half(ish) months since I came to the US to study at Boston University! Time really flies... it’s only 1 and a half months until I fly back to Singapore for December Break. That being said, it’s amazing how many bookish events go on in Boston! It’s only been a short while and I’ve already had the chance to attend THREE book events. THREE! That’s absolutely crazy. In Singapore, in the four years that I’d lived there, I only attended 2 book signings. It’s sad seeing how there aren’t too many signings/author talks, but nonetheless, I’m glad Boston is FULL of ‘em.

Well, anyway, so this past Monday (3rd November), there was an amazing event: a Leigh Bardugo book signing! EEEEEEEPPPPP!!! I mean, that’s HUGE. I’m so glad Richa @ City of Books saw the event on Facebook and told me about it. We both went together (being besties in real life and blogging-wise and all) and had a ton of fun seeing Leigh talk about her book.

This is the Cambridge Public Library (during the day, the signing was at night). Isn’t it pretty? :D

Leigh’s event poster

and without further ado...

IT’S LEIGH BARDUGO!!

I’m telling you guys– if you have the chance to hear Leigh speak, it’s absolutely amazing. Amazing and HILARIOUS that is. She’s so funny! She started off the signing with her reading from her journal written during her teen years. Leigh was seriously funny back then too. She then transitioned into talking about why she writes YA, because it was always something that she’d wanted to do growing up. Before she took questions, she read an extract from her upcoming novel Six of Crows, the first book in another series set in the Grisha world called The Dreg! I’m guilty though because I’ve only read Shadow and Bone (review here), absolutely loved it, but never got to the second or third book :/ I was so glad there were no real spoilers during the signing – partially because Leigh kept shushing people who were about to spoil the book – but now I have all three books and I can totally get to reading them :)

Leigh reading from her hilarious journal

Leigh’s audience

Luckily there wasn’t too many people– I’ve been to a Christopher Paolini signing in Toronto that made me wait 4 or 5 hours to get the book signed. Thank goodness it only took us 30 minutes tops to get our books signed.

Me (right) and Richa (left)!

There was a little bit of a funny accident at the start of the signing. So Richa and I headed over to the table where they were selling copies of Leigh’s books, and Leigh was hanging around there. Because I totally didn’t recognise her I thought she was waiting in line or waiting to go get a seat or something. So I totally gestured for her to go on ahead of me, and she was like “oh, nope! I’m just gonna hang around here for a while...” and Richa and I went ahead to the book table. I then had an awful thought and hoped that the person wasn’t Leigh, but with my luck of course it was! I felt really stupid, but to be fair, her author photo is really dark and doesn’t really look like her :P

Anyway, so Richa and I waited in line for around 30 minutes (or maybe less) to get books signed and we finally did! I managed to get a picture with the very lovely Leigh. She’s too adorable you guys. When I told her that I hadn’t read book 2 and 3 yet, she was like, “well, you’re actually really smart because now you don’t have to wait!” – she’s seriously too cool guys :D

Me and Leigh!

My copy of Ruin and Rising! 

Signed to me! 

It says on the left “There is no end to our story..." 

Awesome swag that was available at the signing

Well that’s all for now guys. That was a ton of fun to attend!! I still have to write recap posts for Boston Book Fest and the Boston Teen Author Fest, so look out for those :)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Series: The Grisha, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

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.

GORGEOUS. 
Absolutely, and with no doubt, gorgeous.

I haven't read a fantasy in a while, and while paranormal is a nice "substitute" for the meantime, it can never really integrate the elements of high fantasy into the genre. Now, this book? Flawless. This book soared higher than my expectations. I could not put it down– I became so enthralled with the world of Ravka and the Grisha. It was riveting, captivating, and I immediately wanted more when it ended. 
Clearly, 400 pages of this book was not enough.

I loved all the characters. They were built-up so well, they were almost flesh and bone leaping off of the page. I was attached to all of them emotionally (with love and hatred!) and was gripped by each of their stories.

Alina is our main character, and she's smart, funny and sharp: she totally gets her way. However, what I liked the most about her was the fact that at the beginning of this book and during the beginnings of the Grisha training, she was really weak. Completely unlike what YA heroines are made out to be. It was so easy to relate to her because of this, and I had total respect for her during the entire novel. She makes decisions, both good and bad, and because of how connected I felt with her, I could see why she did what she did.
Mal was a frustrating yet very interesting character. Obviously, I was attracted to him as Alina was, but he annoyed me so much during the beginning–just as our MC did!– because he was just so cocky, so forward and confident that he was the absolute best at what he did. Later on though, he's so sweet and protective, and trust me, you'll fall head over heels for him!
The Darkling was truly a character like none other. I think, and agreeing with Veronica Roth's blurb on the cover of this book, he's truly "unlike anything I've ever read". He's got that charm, yet he radiates power and strikes fear into people, making them follow him. His manner towards Alina though was interesting– he actually began to treat her as an equal... and then of course, something very interesting happens. Nope, no revealing what it is, but trust me, I could see why (as I said before) she did what she did, because even if I was presented with that "choice" I would have taken it.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the world of Ravka is so enticing. The whole world building descriptions of this fantasy is superbly done. I was so immersed with the beautiful and dark descriptions of this world and the Shadow Fold, and the Grisha especially. It all gives me shivers and tingles just thinking about it.
The only part I was left confused with was the ending. I had no idea what happened, or if what I thought had happened, I have no idea how the story would continue. Nonetheless, I'm still very eager to find out!

What more can I say? Shadow and Bone is one of the best reads I've read this year. I'm absolutely freaking out and dying to get my hands on the next one, because clearly my dose of Mal is not enough. Leigh Bardugo is an amazing author, and I'll be definitely be first in line to get whatever she writes.

If you liked this, try...

• Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers ● Goodreads
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer ● Goodreads
• Enchanted by Alethea Kontis ● Goodreads

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