LEIGH BARDUGO
(Book 1 in the Shadow and Bone trilogy)
(Note: there is an alternate cover)
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Synopsis:
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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.
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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 his 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.
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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.
Content:
Language: some minor swear words and some insults
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Violence: several fight scenes and descriptions of blood. Most of the violence in this book revolves around fantasy fighting and the Grisha science/powers. There is an ongoing war in Ravka and Alina is a soldier in the beginning, so there are some descriptions of wartime, etc. An animal is killed. Most of this story focuses on Alina learning to use her powers, but there are still some violent parts to the story, more so in the next in the series.
Sex: Romantic pining and childhood crushes. There are several descriptive kisses, including one part where someone asks if they may come to the woman's room later. A boy and a girl also sleep in the same blankets and close together for "warmth." There are mentions of one of the other Grisha being gifted to the King and Queen, where the King then took advantage of her. A few allusions to sex. Past relationships are mentioned.
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LGBTQ: Not present
My Review: While I don't think this series has deserved all of the hype it is getting, I did really enjoy the story.