Shadow and Bone is a fantasy novel written for a young adult audience by Leigh Bardugo. In the narrative world, Ravka is a country at war that is divided by darkness, which cuts it in half. The story follows Alina Starkov, a map maker for the army and an orphan who seems ordinary, but she soon discovers she has an ability to produce light. She is thrust into the elitism of Grisha, a magic-wielding group under the leadership of the Darkling. Alina slowly discovers that not everything, including whom to trust, is as it appears, while she trains to employ her power and gets caught up in betrayal, ambition, and deceit.

Alina struggles to understand who she is, while society suddenly expects her to be exceptional. Her new duties and power start to take her in a different direction from Mal, her best childhood friend, which strains their friendship. The contrasts of light and dark are the basis of this narrative, literally and metaphorically. Shadow and Bone introduces an engaging trilogy that includes romance, mystery, and power.

Shadow and Bone is a unique book that had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed the creative way it built its world full of magic, and that dark void known as the Shadow Fold. Alina, the main character, narrates the story as she learns to control her newly discovered powers and struggles to maintain her old friendship. What I did not like as much was that some side characters were boring, and the romance was somewhat predictable. Still, I recommend this book for people who enjoy romance, fantasy, and action.

Review by: Laila

Laila is a teen volunteer at Woodland Hills Library. She is in 10th grade at El Camino Real Charter High School.

—Rachael Zak, Young Adult Librarian, Woodland Hills Branch Library