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. 

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Ok, let’s talk about reading a series in the “right order.” This could be rambling nonsense, fair warning.

I already hate that first sentence, because of course you should read a series in the right order. But I guess what I mean is, if an author has multiple series/trilogies set in the same world, then…is there a “right” order? I think it just really comes down to your personal experience & preference.

The best example for me to highlight what I’m talking about is Joe Abercrombie’s FIRST LAW books. My experience was reading the FIRST LAW trilogy, then each of the “standalones” (it pains me to call them this, but still…), then SHARP ENDS, the short story collection. This also happens to be the publication order, so that makes it easy.

But then Abercrombie decided to start a brand new trilogy, THE AGE OF MADNESS, set roughly 30 years after the events of the other books, but set in the same world. Looking back on my review for A LITTLE HATRED, the first book in the new trilogy, I used some pretty strong language about whether or not people could/should start with A LITTLE HATRED as their first Abercrombie book. Because my experience with these books was linear, that’s just how I see the FIRST LAW world. But of course you could read A LITTLE HATRED first. It’s actually really smart for authors to do this, and create multiple entry points for their work. Because maybe someone just isn’t prepared to read six novels and a collection of short stories before trying out the new Joe Abercrombie.

All of this is just to say…I read the SIX OF CROWS duology prior to starting the SHADOW AND BONE trilogy, and I’ve heard from both the “that’s cool” and “you’ve failed me” camps! The fact that my memory is so weird means I’m not very likely to make any/all the connections that could be made between SoC and SHADOW AND BONE, and that’s ok too.

Anyway, where were we? What is happening? A book review? A BOOK REVIEW!

A couple of friends from Bookstagram were instrumental in (gently) pushing me to read this, so thanks to them, because I dug the hell out of SHADOW AND BONE. As far as Book One’s go, this checks a lot of boxes for me.

-A really unique fantasy world? Check.

-A funny, likable & moody protagonist who has her whole world turned upside down? Check.

-A creepy-as-fuck shadow realm with horrifying flying monsters? Check.

-Angsty/slow burn romance? Check.

This book has more than enough reviews that I’m not gonna get into many plot details here. But having heard the names Alina and The Darkling before, it was pretty great finally getting to meet them. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the Chosen One vibe, but I was really drawn to Alina. The sort of awkward mapmaker thrown into a world of politics & power, trying to understand a magical ability she didn’t know she had. Oof.

I really dug the dynamics between Alina & Genya, and there’s a little short story at the end of the edition that I have and…wow. There’s a whole lot going on with Genya, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where her storyline takes her. I’ve made the mistake of occasionally perusing some Grishaverse art on Instagram, which may have spoiled at least one thing where Genya is concerned, but such is life.

Also…Alina & Mal? I ship ‘em.

I’m hoping to finish this trilogy before the Netflix show (which looks rad as hell) releases, but we’ll see. Either way, this is the third book by Leigh Bardugo I’ve read & I’m a fan. I think this world she’s created has room for a lot of really cool stories, and I’m excited to keep exploring all the different corners of the Grishaverse!