Shadow and Bone (33 page)

Many books helped to inspire Ravka and bring it to life, including
Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia,
by Orlando Figes;
Land of the Firebird: The Beauty of Old Russia,
by Suzanne Massie; and
Russian Folk Belief,
by Linda J. Ivanits.

And finally, many thanks to my family: my mother, Judy, whose faith never wavered, and who was first in line to order her
kefta
; my father, Harve, who was my rock, and whom I miss every day; and my grandfather Mel Seder, who taught me to love poetry, seek adventure, and throw a punch.

Henry Holt
^®
is a registered trademark of Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Copyright © 2012 by Leigh Bardugo

Map © 2012 by Keith Thompson

All rights reserved.

Henry Holt and Company, LLC

Publishers since 1866

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10010

eISBN 9780805097108

First eBook Edition : May 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bardugo, Leigh.

Shadow and bone / Leigh Bardugo.—1st ed.

p. cm

Summary: Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protégée of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the

Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.

ISBN 978-0-8050-9459-6 (hc)

[1. Fantasy. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Ability—Fiction. 4. Monsters—

Fiction. 5. Orphans—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.B25024Sh 2012 [Fic]—dc23 2011034012

First Edition—2012 / Designed by April Ward