For hundreds of years the kingdom of Ravka has been at war with its neighbors and divided by The Fold -- an almost impassable area of darkness terrorized by bloodthirsty monsters. The kingdom relies on an alliance between the king and the Darkling, the mysterious leader of a magical elite called the Grisha, to protect its boundaries.
Alina and Mal have grown up as orphans of this war, helping each other to survive a childhood of loneliness and deprivation. Mal is a talented tracker whose good looks and charm catch the eye of women of all ranks. Plain and unremarkable Alina is a mapmaker working in the same regiment. When they are sent on a mission across The Fold, their convoy is attacked and Alina's hidden power as a rare Sun Summoner is revealed.
Taken by the Darkling and initiated into the luxurious world of the Grisha, Alina must navigate the swiftly moving currents of political intrigue and brutal ambition as she comes to terms with newly awakened desire. Can Alina find a way to take power over her gift before others harness her as a weapon they can control? Is it necessary to sacrifice Alina's freedom and the self-determination of all of Ravka in the name of security? Alina and Mal must summon all of the strength of their friendship to claim their personal power in a climate of political repression.
If you loved this, you'll like:
Duane, Diane. Wizards at War. Harcourt, 2005.
Mieville, China. Railsea. Macmillan, 2012.
Scott, Michael. The Alchemist. Delacourt.
Alina and Mal have grown up as orphans of this war, helping each other to survive a childhood of loneliness and deprivation. Mal is a talented tracker whose good looks and charm catch the eye of women of all ranks. Plain and unremarkable Alina is a mapmaker working in the same regiment. When they are sent on a mission across The Fold, their convoy is attacked and Alina's hidden power as a rare Sun Summoner is revealed.
Taken by the Darkling and initiated into the luxurious world of the Grisha, Alina must navigate the swiftly moving currents of political intrigue and brutal ambition as she comes to terms with newly awakened desire. Can Alina find a way to take power over her gift before others harness her as a weapon they can control? Is it necessary to sacrifice Alina's freedom and the self-determination of all of Ravka in the name of security? Alina and Mal must summon all of the strength of their friendship to claim their personal power in a climate of political repression.
If you loved this, you'll like:
Duane, Diane. Wizards at War. Harcourt, 2005.
Mieville, China. Railsea. Macmillan, 2012.
Scott, Michael. The Alchemist. Delacourt.