Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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 Summary

Alina Starkov is a great heroine. At first, I was kind of unimpressed with her, but as the story continued, my impression of Alina changed. Alina is a terrified soldier who has to enter the Fold for a mission. The Fold is a pitch-black corridor of darkness that has cleaved Ravka, Alina’s home, in two and is filled with nightmare creatures that feed on human flesh called Volcra. Alina was petrified as the Volcra descended on her regiment, but when Mal, Alina’s best friend, is attacked, she is able to unleash a power she did not know she had to save him. Alina radiated a beautiful, brilliant light that shattered the darkness of the Fold and scared away the Volcra. After rescuing Mal, Alina is taken to train as a Grisha. These super-soldiers all possess a special ability. Some Grisha can manipulate water or fire, others can stop hearts and some can heal. Amazingly, Alina is the most powerful Grisha of all time. The hopes of Ravka rest on her shoulders.

This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a new read to fall in love with. As you read, the characters mature and develop. Amazingly, Bardugo was able to incorporate romance into the midst of a fantasy-adventure novel. The scene where Alina saves Mal is breathtaking. Readers aged thirteen and up will love Shadow and Bone. I give this novel five out of five stars.

5 Stars

*Reviewed by Kristin*

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