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Book: Shadow & Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Grisha #1
Release: June 2012
Source: Macmillan
Reviewer: Day
Purchase: – Barnes & Noble

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 unlikely 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.

Alina grew up as an orphan placed in a residence that served as an orphanage with another orphaned boy, Mal. Growing up together the two children form a close bond and follow each other into the military. Always exceedingly ordinary, Alina becomes a map maker and Mal excels at tracking. When they attempt to cross a dangerous area known as the Fold, Alina taps into a power that she never knew existed in order to protect herself and Mal.

With a new and powerful ability brought to everyone’s attention, Alina is whisked away by the magical elite order called Grisha and their mysteriously sexy leader known as The Darkling to begin her official training. Although Alina misses Mal, she is captivated by The Darkling and his mysterious ways. As their attraction grows so does Alina’s comfort in her knew surroundings until new discoveries are made that force Alina to make some decisions that she never dreamed she’d be in the position to make . . .

Leigh Bardugo blew me away, I couldn’t put SHADOW & BONE down. With all the amazing characters and world building,  this is a truly intelligent book that will leave readers enthralled from cover to cover in it’s fantasies.  It isn’t often that side characters are as detailed and interesting as the main characters or that a plot surprises in all the right ways, but SHADOW & BONE is an exceptional debut that did just that and more! I am already waiting on pins and needles for the next installment and will definitely add this author to my “must read” list.

Day is a dreamer who has never met a stranger. She is fearless and will talk to anyone and read anything! She taught music and dance and was a singer/actress for years, performing on stages both nationally and overseas. Now married with children, she spends less time singing on stage and more time writing songs at home. But, family life has not completely slowed this chick down. She still loves an adventure and learning new things. She resides in Texas with her family, Great Dane (Sophie), Labradoodles (George & Cosmo) and Chihuahua (Juan Carlos).

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