re: Shadow and Bone

quote:

---

can't tell if the Grisha are a race or a county or what. I mean, they seem like magical beings, but sometimes they're spoken about as a 'people '.

---

They are people that have magical abilities. Not sure what is hard to understand.

quote:

---

Seems like the Grisha are mostly a military sect of one kingdom. And that the normal military doesn't like them.

Then it seems like there are some barbarian types that don't like the Grisha.

Then it seems like there are some frozen country folk that really don't like the grisha.

---

I think they exist everywhere, but are concentrated in Ravka because it’s the only place where they have a social status as Grisha (which apparently is purely due to their military usefulness).

The Fjerdans (which I think are both the northern folk and the barbarians you mentioned) hunt them down and send them to witch trials.

quote:

---

So those are the same that attacked her first convoy to the palace?

---

That was my understanding yeah - that it was the Fjerdan witch hunters.

quote:

---

They just do raids into other territory to kill Russian benders?

---

Apparently. I thought it was odd as well that they would be that far behind enemy lines. Either I’m wrong, or that’s some serious commando shite.

quote:

---

Fjerda

---

quote:

---

Solid, but definitely not the next GOT.

Feels a little too Disney for my taste. Could use more sex, violence, edge, and adult content.

---

The books are young adult so there likely won’t be any GOT level sex or violence in the show.

I can’t remember how far I got into the books. They were ok. They were marketed to me as “if you liked GOT you’ll like this” but they’re not even close to that level. I wasn’t compelled to finish whereas I couldn’t put ASOIAF books down.

Reviews seem somewhat favorable here and you’re all usually spot on so I’ll likely give it a try.

Somewhere I read Ravka is akin to Russia, Shu to China, Fjerda to Norway, Kerch to Denmark, Noyvi Zem to USA, Wandering Isle to Ireland

Esquire article

This article gives a great explanation of who’s who, what’s going on, and why.

I’d advise not reading it til episode 3 or 4 due to one big spoiler. By then you’ve figured out most of their “world”, but the article fills in all the blanks.

I finished season 1 tonight - really enjoyed it. If it had an equal budget, I’d put it just about on par with Hunger Games. Definitely has that YA feel to it, but much better than Divergent and His Dark Materials.

We finished yesterday and I really did like it.

I enjoy steampunk and fantasy when done right but it takes a special blend to not turn off my wife and this really walked a good fine line on the 2.

Leads were a little lame to be honest. Ben Barnes is the only one I recognized and it was really only from Prince Caspian and Punisher. The other male lead (Mal) was about as bland a turnip. That all being said, it was young cast and itched a good scratch for new fantasy till Witcher and Carnival Row season 2 come out. Or WoT which is at Aquaman from Entourage levels now.

quote:

---

I was confused as frick as who any of the characters were, why there was a war, why there was some shadow ream blocking off some part of the continent or whatever and generally anything that happening and why.

---

If they told you that, you might try to elect a representative government and not the one that they paid for.

Finished today, liked it better than Jupiter's legacy... Though that's not saying much. I will watch season 2