Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

Leigh Bardugo (Author)

Book Description

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2012: Alina Starkov has never been anything more than yet another orphan of her country’s ongoing wars...until she channels magic not seen in centuries to protect her best friend, Mal. Her newfound powers attract the attention of the Darkling, the most powerful of the country’s magic wielders. He tells Alina that her magic can heal the Shadow Fold, if she can only learn to control it--and if she agrees to trust the Darkling, despite the mystery that surrounds his very existence. Leigh Bardugo brings a cast of well-defined characters and a unique magic system to her lavishly imagined world, where light doesn’t always conquer dark and deception runs so deep that it becomes truth. And yet, against all expectations, the bonds of sacrifice and friendship remain too strong to be severed in this thrilling debut. --Malissa Kent

Amazon Exclusive: Editor Noa Wheeler Interviews Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone

Nora Wheeler: I was really struck when I was reading Shadow and Bone by the beautiful setting. It's not our world exactly but it feels very Russian. Can you tell me a little bit more about the setting and how it played into your writing?

Leigh Bardugo: I think a lot of people have come to expect the medieval European setting from fantasy, and I wanted to use a different cultural touchstone for my world. There's also this terrible tension between the beauty of Russian culture and the brutality of its history that just lends itself to high-drama narrative. The more I researched the more inspired I got.

NW: I truly believe that Shadow and Bone is a book for everyone. It's fantasy but there's plenty here for someone who's not a regular fantasy reader to fall in love with. That makes it feel different to me from a lot of what's out there. Do you agree? And if so, what do you think makes this book different?

LB: I hope you're right! I tried really hard to make the book accessible to people who might not ordinarily pick up high fantasy. I'm a fantasy writer, so I love world building. I love maps. I love all that good stuff. But the story really began for me with the relationships between Alina and Mal and the Darkling. And I hope that comes through. Some people are put off by fantasy because they pick up a book and there are 10 terms and each one has 20 consonants and three apostrophes and you have no idea how to pronounce things and it kind of makes the book feel like work. So I tried to ease people into the world a bit more gently. That's also why I chose to tell the story from Alina's point of view. She's very down to earth, very pragmatic, has a modern sensibility. I hope her perspective will make it easier for readers to enter Ravka.

NW: Another thing I think makes this book so different is that the magic is very accessible. For instance, I love the idea of the Small Science, of something that looks like magic being an enhancement of what's actually around us all the time. Can you elaborate on that aspect of the story a little bit?

LB: I've just always been interested in the functionality of magic. I love Harry Potter and I always wondered what actually happens physically and structurally when you mutter a curse or wave a wand. I wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of how the magic worked. So the Small Science is really about manipulating matter at its most fundamental levels. It's basically magical molecular chemistry.

NW: This is a little bit of a fangirl question, but if you could meet one of your characters who would it be and why?

LB: Well, my fangirl answer would be The Darkling. Because he's gorgeous and mysterious and dangerous and all those fun things. But I would also love to meet Genya. She kind of serves as Alina's guide into this magical world of the Grisha and the political maneuvering of the royal court. She's a combination of a make-up artist, a plastic surgeon, and a sorceress--and on the surface she's the classic fairy godmother, sassy best friend character, but there's a lot more to her than that. She's been kicked around and looked down on a lot throughout her life, yet she's always managed to keep her chin up and stay fabulous. I like that, and I think she'd be really fun to hang out with.

NW: What do you want readers to take away from this book?

LB: The message at the heart of the story is basically that the things that you fear most in yourself, the things that make you different, are also the things that give you power. And that embracing them can make you beautiful. So I would love it if people took that away from the book. I would also love it if people came away from it wanting to know what happens next for Alina and Mal! Things get really intense in the sequel, Siege and Storm. There are some new characters and what I hope will be some big surprises.

NW: Thanks so much for talking about Shadow and Bone with me today.

LB: My pleasure. Thank you!

See a map of the world of Shadow and Bone

Click to enlarge

Review

'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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 763 KB
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (June 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Macmillan
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007NKMQGQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,285 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #54 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
  • #85 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Shadow and Bone April 28, 2012

By Leeanna Chetsko VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

How can I convey the awesomeness of "Shadow and Bone?"

Admittedly, this book wasn't an instant pick for me when it showed up in my Vine selections. But then I remembered I had put it on the wishlist I use to keep track of upcoming books, so I grabbed it, and wow, am I happy I did.

I hated having to put "Shadow and Bone" down. Real life is always so annoying when you're in the middle of a great book, and that's just what this is. I'm going to try every way I can to get my hands on a copy of book two before it comes out, because I'm THAT eager to find out what happens to Alina, Mal, the Darkling, and Ravka.

At the start of "Shadow and Bone," Alina is a regular girl. Unremarkable, even. She's terrified of crossing the Shadow Fold, but then, so is everyone else. The Fold is a swath of darkness across Ravka, cutting the country off from the sea. Volcra, monsters that attack humans, live in the Fold, and it's said they can smell human blood from miles away. Mal, Alina's best friend, reassures her that nothing is going to happen.

But of course, something does happen. On their way across the Fold, the volcra attack. When they go after Mal, nearly killing him, Alina is desperate to save him. Somehow, she does. Light suddenly fills the Fold, driving the volcra back.

And that's where the story really starts. Alina is whisked away from her life in the army to train as a Grisha. Grisha are sort of like witches or mages. Usually, children are tested to see if they have Grisha abilities, and if they do, they are taken to a special school to be trained. Alina didn't pass the test as a child, but she's one of the most powerful Grisha ever. Only she can get rid of the Fold and rescue Ravka from darkness.

It's a lot of pressure, and I love how Alina handles it. She's a great character, one that I think a lot of readers will like. I definitely did.

I'm not going to list all the reasons I loved the book because I can't figure out a way to do so without spoiling it for everyone. And I don't want to do that. I think it's way more fun to puzzle out the plot, and try to figure out who you can trust while you're reading, rather than knowing before you go in.

But here's a short list:
--A cool magic system. Grisha say they study the "Small Science," which I'd call a combination of magic and manipulating natural elements.
--You never know what character you can trust. Along with that ... the Darkling. The most powerful Grisha of all. He's thrilled to have found Alina, and she's thrilled to have the most powerful man in Ravka saying she's special. It's heady for someone who always thought of herself as no one.
--The customs of the Grisha and Ravka itself. Ravka is based off Russia, and having recently read a few other fiction and historical works on Russia, I could really appreciate the setting and the culture the author worked in, as well as what she made up.
--There's romance. Yeah, I don't normally like romance, but here there's no love triangle (so sick of those) and the relationship is actually believable.

Seriously, just read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

75 of 89 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Twilight July 19, 2012

By Sesho

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

For hundreds of years the land of Ravka has been divided into east and west by a miles-wide void of darkness called The Fold. Another name for it is the Unsea. Probably because the only way to travel across it is to use sand skiffs which use sails to glide across the wasteland inside the Fold. Within the Fold, no light enters. So once you are inside you can't even see your hand in front of your face. You can use torches and lamps, but you really don't want to attract notice while you're in the fold. For, you see, something or actually, some THINGS live in the fold. Here there be monsters. The volcra, blind, flying humanoid creatures with razor sharp teeth, are attracted to any light source or noise. They are always ready to feed on any voyagers across the Unsea.

Now you might question why, if it's so dangerous, does anyone even try to cross the Fold? It's due to geography. Ravka is hemmed in by hostile countries to north and south and to the east, there is nothing but mountains. Across the Fold lies Ravka's port cities, it's only means to export and import goods, supplies, and wealth. In essence, West Ravka is the backbone of the land's economy. The only way to get across the Fold is to bring armed guards or soldiers, and hopefully, some Grisha.

Grisha are the equivalent to what we would call sorcerors. They don't really use magic though. They simply have the ability to manipulate matter at its most basic level. Kinda more like the alchemists in Fullmetal Alchemist. Some can control the elements such as the Inferni or Tidemakers. Others are soldiers or healers that can effect living things, either positively or negatively. Some are even used in manufacturing. The Fold was actually created by one of these Grisha, called The Black Heretic, who, mad with greed and power, used his powers over darkness to bring the Fold into being. His descendants have spent their entire lives trying to right his wrong and destroy the Fold.

Alina Starkov, a war orphan, was once tested as a child to see if she had any Grisha abilities and came up negative. She's now a soldier in the Ravkan army and is assigned to an escort mission through the Fold along with her childhood friend Malyen Oretsev. The mission quickly goes to hell in the Fold as volcra attack in great locust-like swarms. As her best friend (and love interest?) is about to be killed, Alina lets out a blinding light as bright as the sun and saves her friend and the fleet. It turns out that Alina is a Grisha called a "Sun Summoner" who has the power to control light. It is hoped, that along with the Darkling, the descendant of the Black Heretic, they will be able to find a way do destroy the Fold. But she will have to learn how to use her power and avoid enemy assassins in order to do that.

If you've gotten this far in the review, you might think, wow, that sounds like an interesting book. I thought so too when I read about this novel. I had read good reviews in multiple publications and Shadow and Bone also made the Amazon Best Books of the Month list. I had high expectations, so I wasn't really prepared for the level of mediocrity that I encountered.

The main complaint I have against the book was its saggy middle. Shadow and Bone definitely needed a tummy lift or lipo or something because I quickly lost interest once the book got rolling. After Alina is brought to Ravka's capital city, Os Alta, she sees how the other side lives. Raised as an orphan and then enlisted in the army, her mind is not prepared for the opulence, some might say decadence, of the royal court or of the Grisha. The Grisha are treated like nobility, get very nice living quarters, the best food, and they even all look uncannily attractive. They might even be unnaturally attractive. And now here comes Alina, who is short, pale, and has really scrumpy hair. She doesn't fit. She doesn't belong. BUT she wants to. And that is when this book goes south.

You see, Alina WANTS to fit in, so she starts taking a lot of pride in her dress, lets another Grisha named Genya who seems to specialize in cosmetology and plastic surgery do her hair and make her face look better. She worries about catching the Darkling's eye. Mainly because he's a gloomy bad boy (actually, he's 120 years old, but still looks young and hot). Eat your heart out Edward. She feels guilty for wanting the Darkling because she really loves Mal but when has that ever stopped a foolish romantic girl? Come on love triangle! There were a couple of scenes once she makes it to the capital that made me cringe. It's when Alina "squeals" with delight as she looks at herself in the mirror or tries on new clothes. Yes, she actually squeals. At this point in the book, my mind checked out and my soul probably died a little. I had just finished reading an 18th century novel called Evelina by Fanny Burney, which was mainly about a heroine who spent the whole book walking around and going to parties and worrying about how she looked. When I started Shadow and Bone I was like "Cool, a sassy heroine who isn't afraid to speak her mind or fight". But, as Alina desperately tried to fit in with the Grisha, I thought I was reading Evelina all over again. Except Evelina was well written.

Another unfortunate result of the Os Alta section of the novel was that I came to the conclusion that Alina was dumb and uninteresting. Bardugo hardly hints at what Alina's training consists of. She spends most of her time social climbing. Also, in times of danger, Alina almost always chooses the path of least intelligence. When she's not supposed to reveal herself, she causes a scene. When she's supposed to conceal her power, she uses her power. She reminds me a lot of Sookie from the True Blood novel series. At a certain point, you just realize the protagonist is an idiot and you quit reading.

There is a little world building and the Fold is an interesting premise but it just never really fully forms in your mind. Yes, the author uses Russian names and Russian clothes terms, but nothing about this novel FEELS Russian. It would be like if I wrote a novel and used Japanese names. Would that automatically give it a Japanese ambience? No. I didn't see any real use of Russian folklore or anything either, so I don't understand why she used the Russian wordbank when she chose the names of her characters and locations.

In the end, it seems like the author tried to write a Twilight type romance and just put a veneer of fantasy over it without really thinking things through or getting too worried about telling a story or creating a living breathing world. It was more about "ok, I want a girl torn between two hot guys", "I want a girl that wants to join a clique, so she has to get made over like in those 90s teen movies", "I want a manga heroine that has to train" etc.

Maybe I'm wrong, because there are a ton of book reviews and readers that love this book. I'm probably in the minority, but I have to say, this book wasn't very good. I definitely will not be reading the rest of the trilogy.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How can so much awesome be packed into one book? April 25, 2012

By Enna Isilee VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This book was AMAZING. I've never read anything quite like it. Let me tell you about all the awesomeness it contains:

It has a lot of high-fantasy flair, with great Russian roots. It doesn't take place in Russia, so you don't need to know anything about Russian culture to get it. Always a plus. But it allowed for some BEAUTIFUL imagery and language-building. Oh! I love the setting and language so much! Granted, the language was a little confusing at first, but there's a guide at the beginning that tells you the most important words you need to know. And after the first few chapters you start to get the hang of it.

The characters were engaging and easy to sympathize with. I loved Alina. Yes, she's quite a bit self-deprecating at times, but I can understand why she would be. In her world the people of power can magic themselves into looking beautiful, therefore there's this idea that if you aren't extremely beautiful you aren't powerful. Makes sense that she would have some self-esteem issues. And her issues were totally believable. Watching her resolve them and come into her own made me so happy!

Also, the villain was AWESOME. The whole time you're reading the book you THINK you know who the villain is, but then something happens that makes you doubt yourself, and by the time the villain is actually revealed you're on the edge of your seat! My head is STILL spinning from this!

The same thing goes for the love interests. Yes, I said love interest*s*, as in plural. But for all of you rolling your eyes and such, Bardugo manages to stick in two love interests WITHOUT creating a love triangle. GENIUS! And the romance was there, but subtle. I would certainly classify this book as a fantasy, and not a romance. Sure, it's got some romance in it, as most great stories do, but it didn't overpower the plot. It was subtle, and beautiful.

So there you go. I adored it. It was amazing. You all need to pre-order it right now and shower Leigh with love. That is all.

Oh, wait, one more thing: there's a summary floating around the internet that describes this book as "The most compelling romance since Twilight." I'm currently on a personal quest to hunt down all of these summaries. Please ignore them.

More About the Author

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as a makeup artist in Hollywood, and she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.