From the Publisher
'Danger and duplicity abound (is the Darkling good or evil?) in this lavish portrayal of a country reminiscent of Imperial Russia."—
VOYA
"Set in a fascinating, unique world rich with detail, Shadow and Bone was unlike anything I’ve ever read." —Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of Divergent
“Fast-paced and unpredictable, this debut novel will be a hit with readers who love dark fantasy.”—School Library Journal, starred
“Mesmerizing…Bardugo’s set up is shiver-inducing, of the delicious variety. This is what fantasy is for.”—New York Times
"A rich fantasy landscape, an inspired magical structure, and a gratifying emotional hook keep the pages whirring by until a final twist upends assumptions and lands us smack in the middle of a harrowing climax. "—Horn Book Magazine
"Filled with lush descriptions, intriguing magic, and plenty of twists, this memorable adventure offers action and intrigue mixed with an undercurrent of romance and danger.”—Publishers Weekly
“The plotting is powerful…”—Kirkus
"Bardugo weaves a captivating spell with lushly descriptive writing, engaging characters, and an exotic, vivid world. Readers will wait impatiently for the next installment.”—Booklist
“Romantic and magical…Plenty of plot twists and betrayals kept us enjoying this richly-crafted adventure until the very last page. (P.S. A do-not-miss for fans of Graceling.)" —Justine Magazine
“A well-drawn world, full of deceit and mythology, populated by entirely believable characters. Full of truly surprising twists and turns, beautiful imagery and a protagonist it’s impossible not to root for, this is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.”—RT Book Reviews
“This is one book series you want to get hooked on.” —Seventeen.com
“This gripping debut novel, with a touch of magic and romance, about two orphans thrown together during a century-old war will keep readers burning the midnight oil.” —Shelf Awareness
The New York Times Book Review
Some fantasy novels deal out the tropes of the genre like cards from a dog-eared deck. Others affirm the elemental power of these tropes, reminding us not only why we read fantasy, but also why we read at all. There may be nothing new under the sun, but a good story makes you just not care. Like the expert strike of a reflex hammer, it hits precisely the right spot. Leigh Bardugo's first novel, Shadow and Bone, does so straight from its opening lines, pulling the reader into a mesmerizing exploration of one of the most potent fantasy novel motifs: the discovery of hidden strength within oneself.
—Laini Taylor
Publishers Weekly
In a strong debut, Bardugo draws inspiration from Russian and Slavic myth and culture to kick off her Grisha trilogy. In the nation of Ravka, Alina Starkov is a junior cartographer’s assistant in the army, while her best friend Mal is an expert tracker. When a perilous mission into the magically created Shadow Fold goes wrong, Mal is gravely wounded and Alina manifests the rare ability to summon light. Immediately recruited into the order of the magic-using Grisha, Alina is taken under the wing of its intimidating and powerful leader, the Darkling, and heralded as the potential destroyer of the Shadow Fold. As she navigates Grisha politics and uncovers well-hidden secrets, she realizes that the fate of the nation rests on her shoulders and she may be in grave danger. Filled with lush descriptions, intriguing magic, and plenty of twists, this memorable adventure offers action and intrigue mixed with an undercurrent of romance and danger. Alina’s angst and passivity are a bit of a letdown, but Bardugo’s storytelling and world-building more than compensate. Ages 12–up. Agent: Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Nancy Coffey Literary Agency. (June)
VOYA
- Christina Miller
Book 1 of Leigh Bardugo's fantasy series, the Grisha Trilogy, tells of the travails of war orphans, Alina Starkov and Malyen Oretsev. Raised on Duke Keramsov's estate in the Russian kingdom of Ravka, Alina and Mal's childhood of chores, lessons, and beatings was made more tolerable by their close friendship. When they are older, Alina and Mal join the army, Alina as a cartographer-in-training and Mal as a tracker. Ravka is cut off from the sea by the "Shadow Fold," a menacing fog filled with murderous bird-like volcra. During a catastrophic event on an army mission in the Fold, Alina's potent power is discovered, and she is whisked away to the Royal Palace to live in luxury among the top echelon Grisha class. Although she misses Mal, whereabouts unknown, Alina sharpens her skill and begins to enjoy her new-found status as the Darkling's favorite Grisha. Danger and duplicity abound (is the Darkling good or evil?) in this lavish portrayal of a country reminiscent of Imperial Russia. Will Alina eradicate the Fold and end the border wars that severed Ravka from the western ports? Has Mal forgotten her? Shadow And Bone has all the features one looks for in a teen fantasy novel—lots of action, characters with fantastical powers, intrigue, mystical creatures, deception, and romance. Fantasy fans will enjoy this one and look forward to the next. Reviewer: Christina Miller
Children's Literature
- Maggie L. Schrock
Alina and Mal, orphaned children from an early age, grew up as best friends in war-torn Ravka. Now, they are both part of the First Regiment and head across the Fold to get supplies from West Ravka. While journeying across the treacherous Fold, their regiment is attacked and Alina unleashes her dormant power to save Mal's life. News of this power quickly spreads to the Darkling, the leader of the King's army. Whisked away to become a member of the magical Grisha, Alina finds herself alone in a strange new place. She quickly falls for the mysterious Darkling, but continues to struggle to control her power as the sun-summoner. After months of having no contact with Mal, but harnessing this strange gift, Alina is shocked to be accosted by her teacher, Baghra. Baghra convinces Alina that the Darkling is trying to control the world by spreading the terrible Fold to anywhere that will not succumb to his power by using Alina's power. Alina flees Os Alta, but quickly finds she is unable to hide on her own. Alina is soon found and rescued by Mal. Even though they escape to safety, they are unsure of the Darkling's survival. The first in a new series, Bardugo teleports the reader into a magical world with Alina's story. A theme of love and forgiveness is woven throughout as Alina makes her way through this new life. Reviewer: Maggie L. Schrock
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up—Fast-paced and unpredictable, this debut novel will be a hit with readers who love dark fantasy. Orphans and childhood friends Alina and Mal are tested for magical abilities early in life. Not wanting to be separated from her only friend, Alina manages to hide her powers and grows into her teen years, unnoticed and unremarkable. But when she and Mal must cross the perilous Shadow Fold as army soldiers, Alina uses her dormant powers to save Mal's life. After that episode, Alina is revealed to be a "Sun Summoner," a person who can bring forth light and maybe destroy the Shadow Fold for good. She's whisked away to train as a Grisha, a group whose varied powers assist the royal court. There, she begins to understand her incredible abilities with the help of the ancient and powerful Darkling, "a man second in power only to the King," who leads Alina to believe that she can bring peace to their divided country. Bardugo creates a unique world complete with monsters, magic, danger, romance, corruption, and extravagance. Suspense builds slowly, allowing readers time to absorb the otherworldly setting and the battle between the darkness that destroys and the light that saves. In the world of the Grisha, few things are as they seem, and wondering who Alina should trust—and if she can even trust herself—adds to the intrigue.—Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX
Kirkus Reviews
In a Russian-inflected fantasy world, an orphan comes into immense power and, with it, danger. When the Grisha came to test inseparable friends Alina and Malyen, neither showed any aptitude for the Small Science. Years later, they are in the army, Alina in the cartographer corps and Mal a tracker. They are escorting the Darkling, the most powerful Grisha in the land, across the terrifying Shadow Fold that divides Ravka's heart from its coast. An attack by the terrifying volcra brings forth a power Alina never knew she had: She is a Sun Summoner. The charismatic, quartz-eyed Darkling takes her to the palace to learn the art of the Etherealki, and Mal is left behind. Bardugo allows the details of Grisha magic to unfold with limited exposition, using Alina's ignorance for readers' benefit. While Alina's training borrows familiar tropes (outlander combat teacher, wizened-crone magic instructor, friends and enemies among her peers), readers will nevertheless cheer her progress. But the worldbuilding is continually undercut by clunky colloquialisms; such phrases as "Well, that's completely creepy" and "It's okay" yank readers out of this carefully constructed, mostly preindustrial world. Readers may also be troubled by the sexualization of power found in its pages. The plotting is powerful enough to carry most readers past flaws and into the next book in the series. (classification of Grisha types, map [not seen]) (Fantasy. 13 & up)
