Shadow and Bone

I have a lot of thoughts about The Gathering Dark but I don't know where to begin. I loved some aspects of it and was really underwhelmed by others. I thought that Leigh Bardugo's world building was second to none, that her imagination and craft was wonderful, but there was just something holding me back from being completely enamoured by it.

I loved the Darkling, liked Alina well enough, and tolerated Mal - which is to say, I had the same experience with a love triangle as I usually do. The plot was gripping, the stakes high, and I loved the way everything played out.

But I still didn't utterly love it. Not sure why. Hoping the next book will draw me further into the world of The Grisha.