Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #0.1
Genres: Short story
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 67
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SYNOPSIS: Before he ruled Ravka, before he was the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy with an extraordinary gift. In this prequel story to the New York Times-bestselling Grisha Trilogy, Leigh Bardugo takes us into Ravka's mysterious past, when Grisha lived as fugitives and the Darkling took his first steps on the path to power. Discover new territory in the Grishaverse, as well as two chapters from the soon-to-be-released Six of Crows.
My expectations can be summarized as: I know the Darkling is amazing and probably still was as a child. I love him. BUT this is going to be TOO short.
THE WORLD: It's the same world as in Grisha trilogy but about 100 years earlier than in Shadow and Bone so Grishas are not safe, they're being hunted by the Fjerdan witch hunters called Drüskelles.
CHARACTERS: The main character is *drum roll* the Darkling! what a surprise... it's a little story about him when he was 13 years old. Can you imagine 13 year old Darkling? The cuteness! In the story his name is Eryk and her mother chooses to be Lena as they approach a refugee camp of Grishas. Remember they were hunted and Grishas had basically no rights at all because people feared their powers. Anyway, there is also the leader of the camp, Ulle, and his son, Lev. He also meets a girl more or less his age called Annika (don't worry she's not a love interest or anything) and her little sister Sylvi.
LOVE: Obviously there is no love.
PLUS: The Darkling himself. That's it. I only care about him and he's my favorite villain ever. I want moooooooore about him! An entire trilogy about him would be great considering he lived for about 120 years! Because this is fairly short I'm going to give you a few memorable quotes:
"They learned what they could, then moved on and did their best to hide their tracks. The world wasn’t safe for Grisha, but it was particularly dangerous for the two of them."
“Never let them touch you. Because one touch was enough to reveal it, this gift lurking inside him. It was enough to make him less a boy than a prize.”
"He understood then. The Grisha lived as shadows did, passing over the surface of the world, touching nothing, forced to change their shapes and hide in corners, driven by fear as shadows were driven by the sun. No safe place. No haven.
There will be, he promised in the darkness, new words written upon his heart. I will make one."
MINUS: Too short. Too short. Too short. 37 pages of actual story is not enough! No no no no no I want more. Leigh give me more! She said she will probably write about Nikolai well, how about you write about the Darkling instead? GIVE ME MORE DARKLING!
OVERALL: 3 stars. I'm sorry, I will always give the Darkling 5 stars but this was way too short so I cannot give it more than three because I liked it but that's about it. I really need more, please Leigh!
What did you guys think about THE DEMON IN THE WOOD?
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