Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

[Maple]

This is my first (of three) reads for this week. I wanted my books this week to center around Russia. This one I picked because it sounded pretty interesting. Though it does not actually take place in Russia, it is a Russian-like country.

"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."

This book was a bit difficult to get started, but it really picked up at about page 75. It is a pretty standard YA novel. The story line, plot twists, romance, and ending are all very predictable, but I found this very entertaining to read. I am looking forward to the other two books in the series. It is very well written.

I gave it a 4 out of 5.