Linda’s Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

June 5th 2012, Henry Holt BFYR
358 pages, Hardcover
Bought
First in the Grisha Trilogy
Young Adult

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her . . . and only she can save the future.

Opinion:

The people of Ravka have been plagued by the Shadow Fold. Anyone who enters must be ready to face death, but it’s a necessity. Alina Starkov holds the key to unlocking the deep and dark secrets of the Fold when she unleashes powers no one else has. But with her dramatic discovery, there are people who have bigger plans for her and Ravka than she can imagine.

Alina is a strong character you often find in fantasy books. As orphans, she and her childhood best friend join the army. She was simply a poor mapmaker until their disastrous journey. Alina is a dynamic character trying to come into terms with her new powers. I felt like I had a deep connection to the vulnerable side of Alina. I enjoyed watching her push past her limits as well as the limits of her powers.

I like the Darkling. I like him very much. The Darkling heads the elite and is the most powerful in the realm.  He’s the mysterious character you’re tempted to have with and even more mysterious past. And even though Mal, the childhood best friend is always on her mind, it’s hard not to give into his all-around darkness during her days training at the court. I won’t spoil the romance, but I can tell you it’s a suspenseful one.

Shadow and Bone has an awesome plot. The twists were just enough to keep me planted in the story and wanting to discover what happens next. The royal court is a grand place. Leigh’s world-building is superb. I was transported into a land of snow and magic. I could have sworn I tasted some of the delicious foods along with Alina! The Grisha are a great element to the story. I’d like to be one of them, having unbelievable powers and being able to wear the elaborate keftas. Although I had a little trouble following the many different Russian-based names, I felt like the book had come to life, filling my head the wonders of royalty. Shadow and Bone completely rocked my world. I’m not the biggest fan of epic fantasy, but this book is one of the reasons why I love escaping into different worlds.
Shadow and Bone is a must read! The ending was brilliant. I’m already dying to read the sequel. To all the fantasy fans out there, don’t miss out on this debut. Leigh Bardugo has garnered lots of future fangirling from me.

Rating:

The elusive Linda-saurus:

Mover and shaker by day, book-ninja by night. Only native to Florida. Afraid of small children but has an affinity to the elderly. Beware of her sarcastic humor.

Categories: 5 stars, Bardugo, Grisha, Linda, Review, Series, Young Adult