Early Buzz: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Every once in a while, you read a book that wows you from start to finish, that draws you so deeply into the story that you don't even notice the hours passing. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was one of those books for me. Someone said it was on Netgalley, so I requested it (I don't think that it's there anymore though), and ASJFAJK one of the best books of 2012.  Definitely going on my all-time-favorites list.

No, really, though. This book doesn't come out until June but GAH, I'm dying, you all. I'm dying because I want to add the sequels to my to-read shelf, want to have an actual copy of this book, and most definitely do not want to wait like a year and a half for the next book to be released. I think I've already skimmed through this book like five times, and I finished it like five hours ago (at the time I'm writing this, that is).

Watch out for this book.

Release Date: June 5, 2012
Published by: Henry Holt & Co. BYR

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf.
Pre-order it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Look at Leigh Bardugo's website and her blog.
Follow Leigh Bardugo on Twitter.
Like Shadow and Bone on Facebook.

There's also the map and interior of the book that you can examine at your leisure.

And! There's an interview with Leigh Bardugo on The Story Siren.

Here are a few quotes that I LOVE from the book:

"This was his soul made flesh, the truth of him laid bare in the blazing sun, shorn of mystery and shadow. This was the truth behind the handsome face and the miraculous powers, the truth that was the dead and empty space between the stars, a wasteland peopled by frightened monsters."

"I hope you brought me something nice," I said. "Alina's Secrets of Seduction do not come cheap."
He grinned. "Can you put it on my tab?"
"I suppose. But only because I know you're good for it."

"I could feel my pounding heart, the press of silk against my skin, the strength of his arms around me, one hand buried deep in my hair, the other at my neck, pulling me closer."

**There are lots of others, but I don't want to spoil anything so... here's the first sentence!

First line: "The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches."

**Note: I will be reviewing this book closer to its release date.