Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
Author:  Leigh Bardugo
Pages:  368
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co (BYR)
Genre:  Fantasy
Release:  June 5th 2012
Buy the Book at: Book Depository / Indigo Chapters

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.

Shadow and Bone is a 2012 must-read! 

I didn't really know what to expect about Shadow and Bone even though the epic premise grabbed my attention from the moment I first read it. Yet, what I found on Leigh Bardugo's debut novel really impressed me and surprised me with a unique story and a wondrous new world.

Alina and Mal are orphans who grew up together and were tested by the Grisha (beautiful people with extraordinary abilities) to know if any of them had any kind of special skill that could make them Grisha. However, none of them showed any sign of power. Years later, they enrolled in the army and one  day they are sent to cross the Folt, a place reigned by shadow and horrific winged creatures. It is here when the dark horrific creatures attack Alina but Mal, Alina's best friend, saves her life, but not without risking his own. Alina, in the despair to save Mal's life, feels something unchain a power that was long buried inside of her, freeing a unique skill that would change her life forever. Here the story picks up and I was unable to put the book back down.

One of the things I love the most about this book was the exquisite and unique imagery. I think Bardugo's creativity is outstanding and definitely 3D movie material. Also,The Grisha concept has highly intrigued me. Grisha are people who, for some reason, are born with an special gift. They also have a hierarchy and a culture in a complex world lead by the mysterious Darkling.

I loved Shadow and Bone and everything it has to offer. The story itself was enthralling from beginning to end. Alina is a character whose reaction are very realistic. I am glad how much thought Bardugo put into this character to make her more than just ink on paper, she made her flesh! Also, there is the Leader of the Grish, the Darkling. He is mysterious, alluring and extremely powerful. These three elements are more than enough to confuse Alina (and any reader) between Mal and the Darkling. Mal, in the other hand, is not very present in the story, at least not until the last third of the book. Yet, with what little I could see of him, I confess that I only needed those few pages to fall hard for him!

Shadow and Bone is an excellent debut and the only "but" is that when Alina was at the little Palace, I felt that the story slowed down for a while. Besides that, I would dare to say that this book is perfect and 100% a Dazzling Read! Leigh Bardugo's debut novel is definitely a 2012 must-read!

❤Thank you very much to Macmillan for providing me a copy of Shadow and Bone for review❤

Watch the trailer!

Visit the author's website at http://www.leighbardugo.com