Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh BardugoRelease Date: June 5, 2012
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Age Group: Young Adult
Shelfability: Covet/Acquire
Pages: 368
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Interest: Debut
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge, YA/MG Fantasy Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

One of my favorite debuts of the year!

Leigh Bardugo transports her readers to the world of Ravka. Ravka while a fantasy world does have influences from 20th century Russia, though the world and the language is all the creation of Bardugo. And it’s fabulous! Wow, I was instantly drawn into this world, it was magical and mysterious and everything that I wanted and more!

Alina and her best friend Mal, orphaned at a young age, are now soldiers in the Second Army. Mal, unaware of Alina’s affections seems to draw the eye of every girl in his proximity. If only Alina had the self confidence of those girls, she might be able to tell Mal how she feels. Though she may never have the chance to tell him, as their regime is close to crossing into The Shadow Fold, which hold these flying flesh eating creatures called volcra. They are as creepy as they sound!

Well something happens when they are crossing into The Shadow Fold and suddenly Alina is in the middle of it all. She’s swept away to the palace and…. well you’ll just have to read the book to learn about all the rest. Don’t worry you won’t be disappointed!

Bardugo’s writing style is captivating and easy to read. I was instantly drawn into this story. I loved Alina and I loved the world of Ravka. And Mal! And dare I even say the Darkling! Though there hinted to be parts of a love triangle, there isn’t one. The love story we are given is simply beautiful! And don’t worry about the romance overshadowing the rest of the story, because it doesn’t! The majority of the story is Alina’s in discovering and mastering her abilities. In finding out who she can trust and what she should believe. There are several things that Alina and I both did not see coming!

And the ending. Wow the ending. That was one of those things that I did not see that coming!

I just loved everything about it, and I can’t recommend it enough! For fantasy lovers, you will devour this! And for readers wanting to try a fantasy novel, why not start with Shadow and Bone!

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