book series & me ep. 3: the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo

A little disclaimer before starting this episode: I consider that verse finished even if, on Goodreads, an eighth book is announced without any release date. As we don’t have any clues about the when and that I think it will be two to three years, I am doing this episode.

In this new episode of Book series & Me, we will talk about a verse that I love: the Grishaverse! Let’s go!!

What is the Grishaverse?

This fictional world was created by Leigh Bardugo, and it’s composed of three series: one trilogy (The Grisha) and two duologies (Six of Crows and King of Scars). So you have a total of seven books. Except for the first series, where you only have one POV, the others are multiple POV ones. Those books are all published by Orion.

To summarize, this world is composed of mundane people and people who practice what we call the small science: Grisha. Those people are divided into three categories:

• Corporalki (the Order of the Living and the Dead): this order is composed of three different kinds of person. The heartrenders manipulate the body in a good or bad way, the healers who heal wounds and injuries, and tailors who alter the human appearance. The base colour of their kefta is red.
• Materialki (the Order of Fabrikators): this order contains two categories of Grisha: the durasts who work with elements like corecloth, textiles, glass and Grisha steel; and the Alkemi who work with poisons and blasting powders. You can recognise them thanks to their purple kefta.
• Etherealki (the Order of Summoners): this one is composed of three different Grisha. The inferni can summon fire, the squallers who can call air and the tidemakes who control water. They wear blue kefta.

The Grishaverse in details

Series by series

“Timeline”

In this verse, you have a timeline between the three series. You have two years between The Grisha and Six of Crows and three years between Six of Crows and King of Scars. So it means that you have five years between The Grisha and King of Scars.

Reading order

You have two ways to read this entire verse, you can stick to the timeline, which is also the order of publication, or you can choose the “team” you want to start with: the crows or the Grisha. However, one thing shouldn’t be done, and it’s to start with King of Scars. If you read it first, you will not understand everything, and you’ll be spoiled from the two previous series.

• Timeline or publication order: if you choose this one, you start with The Grisha trilogy, then Six of Crows duology and finish with King of Scars. You won’t have any problems, no spoil anything.
• “Team” choice (the one I choose): this one starts with Six of Crows, then The Grisha and finally King of Scars. You will have a minor spoiler at the end of Six of Crows about an event in The Grisha series, but be reassure Leigh Bardugo is the best to confuse you.

Did I like this verse, and is it worth it?

For this verse, I have a clear rank: 1) Six of Crows 2) King of Scars 3) The Grisha.

Six of Crows series

I will always be attached to this series as thank to it, I discover that verse. A lot is happening in this series; you have no time to calm down. I connected with the characters right away and loved finding out about their past, dreams, strengths, and weaknesses. They are maybe morally grey, but they are human, and I found that kind of characters so interesting. The multiple pov is so crucial in those books as they structure the story, helps the characters, and loses the reader, making him discover a ton of things. This is what those books are: a discovery in all the nooks of Ketterdam. Full review here (book 1) and here (book 2).

King of Scars series

This series is divided into two parts: Zoya and Nikolai in Ravka and Nina in Fjerda. I have a preference for one part, the Ravka one. In the first book, a lot happened but slower than in the second one. Also, there are many references to the two previous series, and thanks to the multiple pov I have an element that I was waiting for a long time. Full review here (book 1) and here (book 2 without spoiler) and here (book 2 with spoiler).

The Grisha series

How to talk about this series? I love the first book, even if you only have one pov, and I wasn’t prepared for it and didn’t really care about the characters (except the Darkling). I love the story Leigh was taking me in; however, in the end, I was surprised to have two more books in the series. For me, the first book was more constructed like a novel. The more I continued in the series, the more I feel like the story was beginning to be an excuse for a love triangle that wasn’t necessary. It was sad for me as it was like being back at the beginning of the young adult, and we had all those stories which were like that. I know that if I was 14 years old, I would have loved the whole series, but at 27, except for the first book, it wasn’t for me. Full review here (book 1), here (book 2) and here (book 3).

Do I like this verse? Yeah! Do I think it’s worth reading? Yeah, again! Even if I didn’t really like the second and third books of The Grisha series, I think the three series are essential to have the big picture of this verse. This verse is complete, well-think, and some elements come from reality and make you question yourself.

What about the TV show?

Last month, the first season of the TV show sets in this verse was available on Netflix. Did I binge-watching it? Duh, yeah! Did I like it? Hell yeah!!

For the people who didn’t watch it, this series represents the first book of The Grisha book series (Shadow and Bone) and three characters of Six of Crows, so you have two parts in this show. And I like them both!

I will start the Crows part. Some events are based on the book series, but most of them no; it’s like having a 0.5 book, but instead of a book, it’s a TV series. For the Grisha part, it’s more an upgrade of the first book, and I am happy with it. It’s a lot more mature, and the characters take more space in the story. Now it’s not only a story about Alina, even if she’s still the main character but also about a group of characters.

It’s like they incorporate the elements of the TV show in the verse, and it’s well-done. You feel like the show is a part of the verse, and if you don’t watch it, you will miss something in this verse (and I don’t talk about Milo … or maybe.)

The cast is just everything, I imagine. They ARE the character that I imagined while reading the book and more. Some of them make me like their characters, and for some, it’s a problem as I didn’t want to be attached to them; it’s the problem of reading an entire verse, you know what can happen to them.

I can’t wait for a second season!

Do I will continue to read Leigh Bardugo’s book?

How to explain? I have two of her books on my unread bookshelves: Lives of Saints, a collection of short stories about Saints of this verse and Wonder Woman: Warbringer, which is the first volume of a DC book series. Also, on my wishlist, I have two other ones. The first is The Language of Thorns, a collection of stories taking place in the Grishaverse and Ninth House that is the first book of her adult series called Alex Stern. Also, I want to do a re-read of this verse. Reading that, guess what my answer is? YES, I will definitely continue!!

More about this verse: https://thegrishaverse.fandom.com/wiki/Grishaverse_Wiki

More about Leigh Bardugo: https://www.leighbardugo.com

Here is the end of today’s episode. I hope you have a great time reading it! And you, did you read or watch this series? What did you think? Let me know in the comments :)!