Shadow and Bone

Description: The first novel of the Grisha trilogy. Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protg of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.

Brief description: Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Familiar, The Invisible Parade, and the Ninth House trilogy. She is also the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology-- and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.

Review Quotes:

A New York Times Bestseller

"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

"Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery all in one book!" --Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

"Rich, satisfying, and gorgeous, laced with heart-pounding action and pitch-perfect romance." --Cinda Williams Chima, bestselling author of the Seven Realms series and the Heir series

"Mesmerizing. . . . Bardugo's set up is shiver-inducing, of the delicious variety. This is what fantasy is for." --New York Times Book Review

"The top fantasy book to read this year." --The Huffington Post

"The darker it gets for the good guys, the better." --Entertainment Weekly

"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

"Fast-paced and unpredictable, this debut novel will be a hit with readers who love dark fantasy." --School Library Journal, starred review

"This gripping debut novel, with a touch of magic and romance . . . will keep readers burning the midnight oil." --Shelf Awareness

"Danger and duplicity abound . . . in this lavish portrayal of a country reminiscent of Imperial Russia." --VOYA

"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 Reviews

"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

"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