Alina Starkov

Alina Starkov is the main character, principle protagonist, and narrator of the novel "Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo. Alina is a young woman, orphaned as a child, who volunteers to serve in the military of Ravka. She has powerful convictions, and is best friends with her childhood friend, Mal, also an orphan. She is a plain girl, who is comfortable with her life as a junior cartographer in the army, and she secretly harbors feelings for Mal, and becomes intensely jealous whenever any other girls take an interest in him.

When on a journey across the Shadow Fold, Alina and her comrades are attacked by volcra. When she is attacked, she emits a radiant light that drives away the volcra. She is then taken to see the Darkling who realizes she is a Sun Summoner, and has the power to destroy the Shadow Fold. He instructs...