I’m continuing the Fierce Reads introductions with a new book series that I am SO EXCITED for. I finished reading an early copy of SHADOW AND BONE a few weeks ago and I strongly suspect it will make my Top 10 Books of the Year list. It has magic, passion, adventure, betrayal, a totally relatable heroine, and a strong hero, all set in a fascinating Russian-inspired fantasy world. Love Love Love!
(It doesn’t hurt that I’m also entirely enamored with this cover art… )
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 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.
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.
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Watch the gorgeously animated book trailer:
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Also – ! Like all epic fantasy series, SHADOW AND BONE comes with an illustrated map of its world, which was drawn by Keith Thompson (who illustrated Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy and is therefore one of my artistic heroes). Read an interview with Mr. Thompson here.
(Note the link at the top of that blog post – you can get a limited edition poster of the map if you pre-order the book from Books of Wonder. What a cool idea!)
Sold yet?! If not, you can also read an excerpt of the book at Tor.com
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(Check out the Fierce Reads tour dates at http://www.facebook.com/fiercereads.)