Bookseller Reviews
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Fast-paced and engaging
A vaguely Russian-inspired fantasy world with all the usual elements of being a 'chosen one' with a dash of romance and some genuine twists and turns in th... READ MORE
Great Teen/YA Fantasy Series for beginners to the Genre
If you watched the show first, the book does (as it always does) provide more detail and development on characters briefly named or ignored through the cut... READ MORE
Darkling the shadow daddy!
"Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo is a captivating fantasy novel that introduces readers to the intriguing Grisha Universe. When I first started reading, ... READ MORE
It's a YA classic for a reason
The fast pacing, vivid writing and uncomplicated magic system made it easy for me to become immersed in this novel’s fantastical world and its heroine’s ex... READ MORE
Synopsis
Enter the Grishaverse with book one of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by number one New York Times-bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. Perfect for fans of Laini Taylor and Sarah J. Maas.
Now with a stunning new cover and exclusive bonus material: The Demon in the Wood (a Darkling prequel story) and a Q&A with Leigh Bardugo.
Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold - a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.
Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country's magical military elite - and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.
As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.
Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.
- Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
- ISBN: 9781510105249
- Number of pages: 352
- Weight: 300g
- Dimensions: 198 x 153 x 27 mm
Customer Reviews
View allA not-to-be-missed fantasy of epic proportions!
I had been meaning to read this for a while although I am glad that I missed all of the hype that surrounded it back when it was released in 2012. Giving h... READ MORE
I read it in two days and I've already ordered my copies of the other two books so that's saying something.
This book has been on my TBR pile for so long and I bought it in September last year and finally got around to reading it. I've been craving it for some ti... READ MORE
A not-to-be-missed fantasy of epic proportions!
I had been meaning to read this for a while although I am glad that I missed all of the hype that surrounded it back when it was released in 2012. Giving h... READ MORE
Amazing
An amazing book, quite fast paced. Long chapters which were a struggle to get through but worth it. It’s amazing how Leigh Bardugo created this new univers... READ MORE
Decent, but disappointing
I read this in anticipation of the Netflix series as I have always been a firm believer in 'read the book before you watch the film'. However, I found myse... READ MORE
A Glorious Introduction To A Fascinating New World
‘The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke’s house like gigglin... READ MORE
Interesting enough to continue!
Alina Starkov is an orphan who grows up alongside her friend Mal. She’s skinny and weak with no Grisha talents to be seen. Whilst working in the king’s arm... READ MORE
amazing
this is honestly one of the best written series I have ever read
Not bad, but very derivative
The nation of Ravka has been split in two by The Shadow Fold. Here dwell frightful monsters that feast on human flesh. However, each side must travel acros... READ MORE
Loved this!
A little formulaic but it all worked SO WELL. I loved the setting, the characters, the story, everything about it. I couldn't stop reading this book and or... READ MORE
Loved it!!!
Really good, interesting characters
Dear reader,
I found this book while gazing upon my local Waterstones shelves, it looked like a fantastic fantasy book full of romance and magic, And it was, to a degre... READ MORE
Russian Inspired Fantasy
Thoroughly enjoyed the concept of the stories and hardship of the characters. The heroes of this story are unique and intriguing. I felt captivated by Alin... READ MORE
So I enjoyed this book just not as much everyone else seems to
So I enjoyed this book just not as much everyone else seems to. I think if I had read it when it first came out I would have loved it and it would probably... READ MORE
The start of a series I ultimately loved
Just some rough thoughts:
Amazing writing, complex storyline but not hard to follow with deep and wonderfully developed characters. This was quickly absorb... READ MORE
welcome to the grishaverse
This wasn't my first time reading something by Leigh Bardugo but this was my first visit to the Grishaverse.
The Grisha are magical soldiers, think the ben... READ MORE
Fabulous book.
I got this book last weekend and fell in love with it, I brought it because I was interested in the new Netflix series, please to say that this book lived ... READ MORE
Good story, great plot plotline
I love myself a good fantasy read and this was good enough for me to want to read the second novel in this series. Alina Starkov is a good example of not m... READ MORE
Couldn’t stop reading!
I ordered the whole trilogy straight after the first few chapters as I couldn’t get enough and was reading way too fast for my standards :)
Very basic fairytale storyline and a protagonist with no spark
I enjoyed the book, and I was quite happy when I finished it. Yet, as you can see, I’ve only given it 3 stars. I considered giving it 3.5 but the more I th... READ MORE
I'm obsessed!
Alina Starkov is a soldier. When her regiment is attacked whilst crossing the Shadow Fold Alina unleashes magic that she didn't know she had. Now with th... READ MORE
LOVE IT!!!
Ugh alina is an ICON. Love this book, love the series, live leigh bardugo, hate the darkling :) anyways yes u need to read it, if u want to buy it because ... READ MORE
Amazing
Love this series, such an easy read cant wait to read six of crows duology next
AMAZING
thats it.
Amazing
Loved it. I would highly recommend.
Come for the plot stay for The Darkling
Lets be honest, no one is reading this book for the plot. Although I loved this book the plot was definitely lacking but The Darkling, Alina and all the ot... READ MORE
Do give this a read!!
This whole trilogy is amazing, and this book was an incredible novel, especially for a debut!! Really sucks you in to the story, how the characters are wri... READ MORE
Loved it
I watched after finishing the show and I had already read six of crows and that was amazing, so I had high expectations and it did not disappoint