The “Shadow and Bone” trilogy written by Leigh Bardugo has made a name for itself in the world of YA fiction. The book series became so popular that Netflix turned the first book into a show, which also gained popularity quickly after its release. 

     The universe where “Shadow and Bone” takes place is called the Grishaverse. This universe also includes the duologies “Six of Crows” and “Rule of Wolves”. There are also three stand alone books in the Grishaverse which are called “The Language of Thorns”, “The Lives of Saints”, and “The Severed Moon”. 

     Part of the book’s rise to fame is thanks to the social media site, TikTok. A large community that calls themselves ‘BookTok’ promoted the series. They have also helped other books gain fame such as “The Cruel Prince”, “Shatter me”, and more. 

     The story is centered around Alina Starkov, an orphan who works in the First Army. She finds out she holds a power that no one has ever seen before, and is thrust into the world of the Grisha. The Grisha, who study the small science, are people who hold power over the natural world. 

     Alina’s journey proves to be enticing and full of plot twists that make it hard to put down. She is a complex character who has relatable flaws that make it easy to relate to her. It’s nearly impossible not to root for her through every obstacle she faces.

     The world that Bardugo weaves lets readers feel like the world of Alina Starkov is not that far away. Her writing proves to be exceptional as she builds the fantasy world in the minds of the readers with ease. 

     Bardugo said, “I’d love to tell you that I’ve had this whole thing planned out for years, but that’s really not the case. My only goal when I sat down to write Shadow and Bone was to finally finish a novel.”

     Bardugo has become an inspiration to young writers across the world. Her ability to conjure worlds out of thin air is a skill that is sure to bring more adventures in the future. You can find her website here.