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Shadow and Bone  By  cover art

Shadow and Bone

By: Leigh Bardugo
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
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Publisher's summary

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 lonely 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 her 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.

©2012 Leigh Bardugo (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Featured Article: Alina Starkov—A Shadow and Bone Character Guide


Gather round, darklings, and let us tell you the tale of Alina Starkov, the star of the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Though the novel came out almost 10 years ago, the Grishaverse has expanded quite a bit since then. And now with the new Netflix adaptation, interest in Alina Starkov and the series at large is greater than ever. So keep reading to learn the answers to all your burning questions about Alina Starkov! (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

What listeners say about Shadow and Bone

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I love the plot!

I liked the storyline and how it progressed! Some parts were boring, but overall it kept a good pace. I love the ending! I can't wait to read more!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great story line which envelopes you.

A great story line which at first seems so odd but within a page it envelopes the reader in a world familiar and yet a universe away. It is heart and soul. Be sure to ead this series in order. This is the first book. If you like this KEEP going! Extremely well done.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant & Imaginative

This was brilliantly imaginative and the tenderly sweet scenes will steal your heart away!! This is the first that I've read from Ms. Bardugo and I have to say that I absolutely understand her fans enthusiasm! I loved the world building and the imagery. The story kept me wanting to know what would happen next. While Alina isn't super likable, she does possess other humanesque qualities that she's easy to understand. Mal is very interesting. He would follow Alina to the ends of the Earth. But didn't seem to realize how much she meant to him until it was almost too late. I think the Darkling is intriguing. I also believe that we haven't seen the full dynamic of his character. I think there is so much more to him, and I can't wait to see what he does next. I'm very much looking forward to being swept away by the rest of the series!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well paced and honest emotional content

Unlike most YA novels this tackles honest emotional difficulties that can happen in relationships that are both healthy and unhealthy. I really appreciate that and I think adults of all ages should read it for that reason.

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Truly the best

I can say I have listened to this book 3 times. Lauren fortgang is my favorite narrator and Leigh bardugo just keeps writing such amazing books.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty Good!

I started the book and the show together. I kind of like how the show portrayed things, but the book gave more detail on Elanas perspective.

I am definitely hooked and wondering what is to come! Will Elana take down the fold? is Mal a long lost "Hunter" greisha?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Better without the unnecessary #metoo moments

Narrator did a fantastic job with the voices. Story-wise, I generally liked it though was pretty disheartened with the introduction of the romance aspect of the story. It feels like a trope now to have a female lead character that still needs the love of a boy/man. That stuff seemed unnecessary and at times was really uncomfortable, especially during the r**e scene (or what was basically almost a r**e scene). The story could have been just as compelling without all of that.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best fantasy world!

I absolutely love this world and how Leigh Bardugo incorporates a Russian vibe with geisha elegance. Amazing characters and everything you want from a fantasy story; magic, action, adventure, love, and a Dark Lord that you want to hate but can’t.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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wonderful

It was entertaining and addicting. Excellent world building and it was fast paced. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator always uses a hard G

The story seemed okay, but the narrator used a hard G on any word that ended in a G. That's like nails on a chalkboard to me, but if it doesn't bother you then give the book a shot.

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