Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is a magical book. One in a seven-book universe focuses on Alina Starkov, a seemingly ordinary orphan who works in the army, as a mapmaker, alongside her best friend Mal Oretsev. Then all of a sudden, she finds herself on a fateful trip into the Fold, a dangerous land-sea of shadows and monsters. Once she is inside the Fold, all-hell breaks loose. In the midst of the chaos, it is revealed to her, and all those around her, that she is Grisha, a person who can manipulate the elements to their benefit, and a powerful one at that. Suddenly, she is thrown into a brand new world filled with lavish clothes, mysterious secrets, and cunning suitors. In her new environment, Alina is unsure of who to trust, and who not to.

Shadow and Bone was a gripping book with fantasy elements I haven’t seen since Harry Potter and plot twists that left me shellshocked. I felt like I was right there with Alina the whole time, choosing my loyalties and learning new information along the way. This book was a gripping start to the series and such a great read.

Along with the book, you can now watch Shadow and Bone brought to life in the new adaption on Netflix! If you want a dark fantasy with sly characters, mystery, and just a pinch of “small science”, this is the perfect read for you.

Review by: Anna Cox

Anna is an avid reader who loves YA fantasy and dystopian books. She is an eighth-grader and volunteers at the Silver Lake Branch.

—Danica Sheridan, Young Adult Librarian, Silver Lake Branch Library