Leigh Bardugo
June 19, 2012
Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, all she’s ever been able to rely on is her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’ve been sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.
When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. She is torn from everything she knows and whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes that she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the Sun Summoner. Only her power can destroy the Fold.
Overwhelmed by luxury, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to keep her wits about her without Mal by her side. But nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her mastery of her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha—and the secrets of her heart.
Okay, I think I like these beginnings of a new trend with Russian-based YA. Of course, anything with a trouble-worn, determined heroine is always a big WIN with me - as long as the author really does deliver - and with authors like Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas giving this high praise, I'm pretty sure it'll own up to its expectations.
And, as I said before in the Gathering Storm review: anything involving sled rides + samovars + thick exotic accents + mysterious elite = MUST READ.
And the fur hats. If you want to get me ANYTHING this year, give me one of those.
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme courtesy of Breaking the Spine. Please refer the hosting blog for participation rules.
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