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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart. (Goodreads)
Bardugo has woven a beautiful and uniquely magical world in Shadow and Bone – from the landscape to the powers of the Giesha. It’s a captivating story about friendship and war with wonderful writing, and flawed and complex characters.
Ravka is a land that’s been at war for hundreds of years, and the people are desperate for peace. When Alina’s powers are discovered by accident, after being told she was just a normal girl, she becomes Ravka’s only hope against the Shadow Fold – death and darkness. Alina is immediately taken from everything she knows, including her best friend Mal, in order to be trained as a Giesha, and to also be protected.
I loved the friendship between Alina and Mal, and seeing how their relationship began as small children. Alina is a fantastic heroine. She’s vulnerable yet strong, steadfast in her morals, and I easily connected with her. Mal is swoon-worthy, and the mysterious handsome Darkling is hard to resist. I also really liked Genya as a secondary character, and I want to know more of her story.
In my impatience to start reading this book – hello gorgeous cover and fantastic synopsis – I started it while reading other scheduled books and had to keep putting it down. Once I had time to settle into this book, I was quickly pulled into Bardugo’s magical world, and I’m excited for the next book in the trilogy. Shadow and Bone is a fantastic debut you don’t want to miss!
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
says:
eep…great review. This is so on my list. Thanks for the hint about allowing time for it!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean
Now, ya see I was planning on waiting to read this book until I went to Austin Teen Book Fest and could pick up a copy. But after reading your review, I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait that long! This sounds like its really unique, so I definitely am getting anxious to read it! Thanks for the great review!
Courtney @ Fuzzy.Coffee.Books
Courtney @ Fuzzy.Coffee.Books recently posted..Congrats! (Goddess Interrupted Winner)
Twitter: blookgirl
says:
So glad you enjoyed this, Jen! I met Leigh on Wednesday at the Fierce Reads tour and finally bought Shadow and Bone. I cannot WAIT to give it a read. I think this was one of the most anticipated books of 2012! So glad it’s out for the world to read 🙂
Twitter: reviewMO_56
says:
i have already read this and it is really a great book=)
[…] Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo […]
[…] really enjoyed the first book in this series, Shadow and Bone (click for my review), and I can’t wait to be back in its world again for the sequel Siege […]