Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone (2012) by Leigh Bardugo is a young adult fantasy adventure and romance novel. It is Bardugo’s debut novel and the first book in her Shadow and Bone trilogy, also called the Grisha trilogy. Inspired by 19th-century Tsarist Russia, Bardugo creates a darkly magical world characterized by strange armies, extreme wealth and poverty, and personifications of light and shadow. The novel was a New York Times best seller, a Los Angeles Times best seller, and an Indie Next List Book. Shadow and Bone is followed by Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising. Bardugo’s spin-off duologies Six of Crows (Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom) and King of Scars (King of Scars, Rule of Wolves) are set in the same universe; along with the original trilogy, these books are collectively known as the “Grishaverse.” In April 2021, Netflix released an eight-episode adaptation named Shadow and Bone, combining the trilogy and Six of Crows duology.

Plot Summary

Having grown up in the Duke’s orphanage in Ravka after the border wars ravaged her hometown, first-person narrator Alina Starkov is a junior cartographer’s assistant with the King’s Army. Her childhood best friend and fellow orphan, Malyen “Mal” Oretsev, has also joined the army as a talented young tracker. They are both preparing for their first trip across the infamous Shadow Fold, an expanse of impossible darkness cutting off the nation from essential supplies. The Fold is home to monstrous volcra, gruesome winged creatures that prey on human flesh. Though crossing the Fold is necessary for trade, survival is not guaranteed.

Plain, sickly, and not even a great mapmaker, Alina has a spunky personality that covers up her insecurity and loneliness. In contrast, Mal is charismatic and popular. His flirtations with other girls are a source of pain for Alina, who has been in love with Mal since she was 15. While crossing the Fold, a large flock of volcra descend on the group. When Mal is critically wounded, Alina unknowingly releases strange powers and sends the volcra away with a burst of light. After it is discovered that Alina is a Sun Summoner, she is brought before the Darkling—the ruthless and powerful commander of the Grisha army. The Darkling is a living amplifier, and his touch makes Alina’s power stronger. The Darkling declares Alina is Grisha. Grisha are elite soldiers with the ability to control matter. The Darkling sends Alina to Ravka’s capital under his protection to begin training. Alina’s abilities are unique, comparable only to the Darkling, who is a Shadow Summoner and most powerful Grisha to ever live. The Darkling tells Alina that together, they can destroy the Shadow Fold and save Ravka. As they arrive at Ravka’s capital city, Os Alta, Alina is thrust into a world of decadence, power, and royalty.

Alina struggles to feel she belongs as a Grisha and can’t seem to use her powers. She realizes she has been subconsciously suppressing her powers since childhood, driven by a desire to fit in with Mal. As she finally learns to wield her power, her strength improves, and she no longer appears fatigued and unwell. She spends more time alone with the Darkling, who has a plan to find an ancient stag whose antlers can be used to increase Alina’s powers, promising hope for destroying the Shadow Fold. An attraction grows between Alina and the Darkling, and they kiss. On the night of the King’s winter fete, Alina’s instructor, Baghra, tells Alina to leave Os Alta. Baghra is the Darkling’s mother and knows his true nature and plans: The Darkling is the notorious Black Heretic and has been waiting for Alina for centuries. He plans to enslave Alina with the stag amplifier and use her gifts to expand the Shadow Fold, thereby increasing his own power. He has been manipulating Alina, preying on her desire to belong and be wanted. Alina leaves.

On the run and trying to disappear, Mal tracks Alina and helps her escape. Alina and Mal begin tracking the stag in hope of finding the creature before the Darkling. If Alina kills the stag herself, she can make an amplifier only she controls, giving her power to fight against the Darkling. As they travel north to find the stag, Alina and Mal’s romantic connection grows. Mal declares his feelings for Alina and kisses her, just as the stag appears. As Alina comes face to face with the creature, she realizes she cannot kill it, choosing instead to spare its life. The peaceful moment is interrupted by the Darkling’s arrival with a group of Grisha. Alina and the Darkling battle in a show of light and darkness. The Darkling wins and kills the stag, fashioning a seamless collar made of its antlers around Alina’s neck. The Darkling calls forward Alina’s power, and she can do nothing to stop him.

They prepare to cross the Fold, with the Darkling commanding Alina to shine a path through the darkness. The Darkling expands the Fold, destroying a village on the other side in West Ravka. Volcra descend on the people who, moments before, were watching the Darkling’s approach with hope for Ravka’s future. The Darkling decrees there will be peace, and all those who stand against him will be met with destruction. The Darkling orders Mal sent off the vessel, planning to leave Mal to die in the Fold. Alina is unable to shake the Darkling’s control and is thus powerless to save Mal. She sees a vision of the stag and suddenly realizes her merciful nature is a strength, granting Alina greater power than the Darkling over the amplifier. With this epiphany, Alina is able to override the Darkling’s command. She jumps overboard to Mal and summons light to help them escape. She leaves the Darkling and his entourage to die in the Fold, surrounded by darkness. The novel ends with Alina and Mal on a ship, sailing away from Ravka towards a new future.