Shadow and Bone. 1 of 3. Leigh Bardugo

 Recommend: Yes

Book 1.

This is my second series by Leigh. The first was Six of Crows, and I definitely liked that better. 

Are things always right or wrong? Folks always good or bad? If someone were to get killed regardless, is it ok to kill the being to ensure that the dark side doesn’t benefit ? Does the end justify the means? Is it ok to wage war and conquer territories for peace? This first book of 3 introduces you to characters and plots that touch these themes.

There are 3 main characters in the story. Orphans and best friends - Alina and Mal. And the Darkling with his so alluring magnetic pull.

Alina is the narrator. She talks about her early life as an orphan, with Mal another orphan and her best friend. They are inseparable. Fast forward years later and they are still inseparable . Both in the army - Alina having a major crush on Mal, and handsome Mal being woefully unaware of it. Alina is his best friend.

Alina and Mal serve the King. The King has his elites. Chief among them is the Darkling and the Grisha’s - their strength lies in summoning natural elements - fire, water, air etc. They are healers, fabricators, squalors. And the most important- the sun summoner.The kingdom fears the Unsea - a stretch of darkness that’s habitated by the volcra. The volcra prey on anyone who dares cross the Unsea. Many lives are lost. In an incident when Alina was in danger from the volcra while passing through the Unsea Mal jumps in to save her, and she in turn , without realizing, summons the sun and saves his life. Alina, unknown to her, is the sun summoner. Things change. Alina is escorted by the Darkling to Grisha land and in the King’s court. She is the missing piece in the Dark king’s grand scheme of bringing peace. 

Their separation makes Mal realize that he loves her, always had and when an opportunity comes volunteers so that he can get close to her. Alina , in the meantime, is getting coached as a Grisha and being taught how to master her skills. She is also falling for the Darkling.

The story unfolds with the Darkling not being exactly who Alina though he was, Alina mastering her skills, she and Mal reuniting and soon becoming fugitives. The story ends with Mal and Alina fleeing away and hoping the Darkling was killed , but there is no confirmation.

.... to be continued...

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