Shadow and Bone is a Young Adult fantasy novel and series written by Leigh Bardugo. It, as well as the Six of Crows trilogy, is the base of the hit Netflix original series, Shadow and Bone.

War-ravaged Ravka struggles to keep its power. Alina Starkov wishes for a better life in the country she’s grown up in, but doesn’t expect to receive it. One day, when her regiment boards a ship to cross the Shadow Fold, a dangerous darkness filled with monsters rumored to be lost souls, she finds that she is more powerful than she had ever known. She is suddenly taken away to a world filled with powerful Grisha, others with powers to manipulate the world around them, and she must discover what she can do to save her country, and decide what she would be willing to sacrifice.

   Leigh Bardugo does an excellent job of hooking the reader from page one in this novel. The characters are well-rounded, and it is clear that the characters were affected by past experiences in their lives, and that effect does not go away after the first mention. The worldbuilding is beautifully done, with clear ties to cultures, including different languages, foods, a religion, and more. The story is fast-paced, while still giving great detail that made me feel like I was in the room where everything was going down. 

   Bardugo explores themes of what it means to be selfless and how self-preservation can influence how you view a situation. She also explores themes of where to put your trust through young characters who struggle through hard situations and shows a dramatized version of what it is like to be a teenager in the modern day. There is a lot of confusion surrounding life in these years, and this astounding confusion is seen throughout the book. Overall, the novel does a wonderful job of exploring ideas teenagers face while still maintaining a fantastical mood.

   You can find Shadow and Bone on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and ebook. Follow up reading Shadow and Bone with the rest of the series, Siege and Storm, then Ruin and Rising, all by Leigh Bardugo.