Point of View

Leigh Bardugo tells her novel "Shadow and Bone" in the first-person narrative, from the perspective of her main character and principle protagonist, Alina Starkov. This is done because the story deals with Alina's ascent to power, and her downfall in flight from the Darkling. It allows the reader to gain a grounded and emotional relationship with Alina, despite the setting of a fantasy world, and it allows the reader to experience things firsthand. Alina's struggles and feelings become the reader's struggles and emotions as well. This also allows the reader to learn and discover as Alina learns and discovers, and helps to add to the suspense and intrigue of the plot by denying the omniscience consistent with third-person narration.

Setting

Leigh Bardugo places the setting of her novel "Shadow and Bone" in the fantasy world of Ravka, and the lands and places around that country. The...