Soldiers called Grishas who can wield magic to manipulate wind, water, earth, flesh, and darkness? A great rift of dark magic called the Shadow Fold that has torn a country in two? Dangerous creatures called volcra who can rip you apart with razor-sharp teeth and claws? A trilogy of fantasy with a heavy emphasis on Russian fairy tales? Did I mention the volcra can fly?
I’m sold. Leigh Bardugo is the author of Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising, collectively called the Shadow and Bone trilogy. The main character is Alina Starkov, a lonely war orphan. Since no magical – or Grisha – power has been detected in Alina, she is conscripted into the army as a cartographer. The books are full of memorable characters, but the main story focuses on Alina, her best friend Mal, and a mysterious creature called the Darkling. Early in the first book, the cataclysmic event that carries the story happens. Alina and her unit, Mal included, are crossing the Shadow Fold, trying to stay away from the volcra. Of course, they don’t. The vicious creatures attack, tearing soldiers apart and wrecking the ship. Mal is critically wounded. As Alina scrambles across the deck to him, another creature attacks her, lifting her into the air. As Alina looks down, reaching for Mal, she sees his eyes closing. He is dying. She is about to lose the thing she cares about most in the world. (And get torn apart by a malevolent magical creature, but that seems secondary to her at this moment.)
What’s a girl to do? Why she reaches deep inside and releases the hidden power of the Sun. Alina is a Sun Summoner, one of the most powerful Grisha powers, one only whispered of by moonlight and campfires. Her light drives away the volcra. Could it destroy the Fold and reunite her country?
I just love a good trilogy. Stand-alone novels are great, but with a series, you can dive deep into your favorite characters. You have more opportunity for mayhem and murder and upheaval. I read several reviews that called the books ‘angsty teenage romance’, and I have to say – they were right! The characters are real – Alina is moody and downtrodden, Mal is moody and clueless, the Darkling is moody and dangerous. Who wants to read a book where the characters are all good and nice all the time? As you read, you cringe, cheer, and question some of the characters. But you keep reading.
Bardugo has written four more books in the Grisha world (called the Grisha-verse by her fans). There are two duologies – one based on a gang of thieves called the Dregs, and one based on Nikolai, a character from the latter two Shadow books (you will love him). I am halfway through the second of the Dregs books, and I love it even more than the first trilogy.
NOTE: Netflix has made Shadow and Bone into a series. Season one premiered in April, with an announcement for season two expected soon. I am planning a Grisha-binge one weekend!
These books sound really interesting 🙂