Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is set in the world of Ravka, a nation split into two because
of The Fold, an area covered in darkness and filled with monsters. This land is ruled by the
Grisha, who are born with magical powers. Alina Starkov, an orphan, is revealed to have powers
of her own when her regiment sent into The Fold is attacked and her friend goes missing. Alina
is sent to live with the Grisha, and be trained by the Darkling. Alina meets friends and foes while
trying to uncover the Grisha's secrets. Despite the exciting (if slightly cliched) plot, Alina and
many of the other characters are dull. The twists are predictable to fans of the genre, and many
parts of the book drag on. Characters like the Darkling and Genya keep the book interesting,
and if you’re a fan of the young adult fantasy genre, you might enjoy this book. However, this
book has nothing to make it stand out from the rest of the genre.