Demon in the Wood: A Shadow and Bone Graphic Novel

by Leigh Bardugo, Dani Pendergast (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The first-ever graphic novel in Leigh Bardugo’s beloved Grishaverse is a stunning prequel to the Shadow and Bone series following the early days of The Darkling. This origin story of one of the Grishaverse’s most notorious villains is a must-read for Bardugo fans old and new.

See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone—Season 2 streaming now!

Discover the origin story of the Darkling in #1 New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo's Demon in the Wood—the beautifully illustrated, first-ever Grishaverse graphic novel.

Before he became the Darkling, Eryk was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power. The dangerous truth is that Eryk is not just a Grisha—he is the deadliest and rarest of his kind.

With stunning illustrations and raw emotion, peer into the shadows of the Darkling’s past and discover why he has always been feared by those who wish to destroy him and hunted into hiding his true abilities.

But even in this villain origin story, wicked secrets are destined to reveal themselves . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250624642
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Series:	Shadow and Bone Series
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	26,143
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Ninth House series and the creator of the Grishaverse, which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy (now a Netflix series), the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.

Dani Pendergast is a cartoonist and illustrator from Parkland, Florida, with a BFA and MFA from the Illustration program at Syracuse University. She’s done work for Apple, Boom! Studios, Mondo Tees, and Wizards of the Coast, among others. She is currently based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

*2022 Goodreads Choice Award Finalist!*

*An Indigo's Best of the Year pick!*

"Calibrated for heartbreak . . . A poignant, humanizing backstory for the antagonist of this beloved, long-running series." - Kirkus Reviews

“An absolutely vital addition to the Shadow and Bone world...centering on the Darkling when he was just a boy, this tragic and beautiful story adds layers to the villain we know and the scared child he once was.” — Nerdist

"An illuminating new chapter in the Darkling's origin story." - Entertainment Weekly

"A worthy addition to the canon that will surely leave readers wishing for more." - Shelf Awareness

"In this beautiful graphic novel prequel to the Grishaverse, Bardugo and Pendergast weave a heartrending tale that foreshadows the rise of the Darkling." - School Library Journal

From the Publisher

12/09/2022

Gr 9 Up—In this beautiful graphic novel prequel to the Grishaverse, Bardugo and Pendergast weave a heartrending tale that foreshadows the rise of the Darkling. Eryk, as he calls himself in this story, wanders from encampment to encampment with his mother. They never stay for long because they are never safe in these camps, for reasons that are teased out during the story. Finally, Eryk gets a chance to spend an entire winter in one place, and he's looking forward to it. The camp is not far from a normal town, but the elders promise that it's hidden enough. Meanwhile, the elders debate how best to hunt an amplifier bear, and Eryk makes a new friend after saving her sister several times. It seems like for once Eryk will be able to put down some temporary roots, but nothing is ever safe for a Grisha, especially one like him. When his new friend discovers his most deeply held secret, Eryk has to do whatever it takes to survive. Pendergast's art adds a new dimension to the emotions in this book, with the characters' innermost thoughts appearing in their faces, which elevates every page. This turns into a necessary read for fans, while serving as an accessible entry point for anyone to enter the Grishaverse. VERDICT A well-done title that will be in high demand by series fans.—Stacey Shapiro

School Library Journal

2022-07-13
A villain-origin prequel to Shadow and Bone (2012), adapted from “The Demon in the Wood: A Darkling Prequel Story” (2015).

Aleksandr, the boy who will grow up to be the Darkling, and his mother are Grisha—humans who practice magic, or “small science.” They’re on the run from witch-hunting drüskelle, but they must also be wary of fellow Grisha, who don’t always react well to the duo’s shadow-summoning powers. The storyline is tightly focused on a short period of time in Aleksander’s life. When his mother finds a Grisha camp with a strong leader, they see the chance to stay put through the winter. There, Aleksandr befriends a girl named Annika when he helps her defend her “otkazat’sya” (non-Grisha) little sister from bullies, and he has a glimpse of what it would be like for outsiders to band together. Readers see the birth of Aleksander’s ambitions—his craving for safety, stability, a home for his people. They also see the harsh experiences—from his mother’s pragmatic and brutal teachings to betrayals—that shaped him. The graphic novel is calibrated for heartbreak, both in its tragic content and for Grishaverse readers seeing Aleksander’s innocence while knowing where his story leads. Attractive, full-color art emphasizes characters’ expressive faces, and the format is welcoming to Darkling fans coming to the series from the Netflix show (Aleksandr resembles the actor who plays the Darkling, and the book has the general aesthetic of the show). Characters are depicted with pale skin.

A poignant, humanizing backstory for the antagonist of this beloved, long-running series. (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

A full cast of talented narrators taps into the darkly magical atmosphere of Bardugo’s graphic novel prequel to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Primary narrator Ben Barnes depicts the villainous Darkling when he was known as Eryk, a young teen who hungered for companionship and stability. Eryk and his mother find refuge in a remote mountain village, where they are safe as long as they conceal Eryk's unique powers. With a richly resonant voice, Barnes sympathetically portrays Eryk’s desire for acceptance while also hinting at his potential for ruthlessness. Supporting narrators give voice to a wide range of villagers, from irrepressible children to battle-hardened elders. An evocative soundscape, incorporating everything from the clip-clopping of horses’ hooves to the sounds of the night, further enhances this spellbinding audio. S.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

A full cast of talented narrators taps into the darkly magical atmosphere of Bardugo’s graphic novel prequel to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Primary narrator Ben Barnes depicts the villainous Darkling when he was known as Eryk, a young teen who hungered for companionship and stability. Eryk and his mother find refuge in a remote mountain village, where they are safe as long as they conceal Eryk's unique powers. With a richly resonant voice, Barnes sympathetically portrays Eryk’s desire for acceptance while also hinting at his potential for ruthlessness. Supporting narrators give voice to a wide range of villagers, from irrepressible children to battle-hardened elders. An evocative soundscape, incorporating everything from the clip-clopping of horses’ hooves to the sounds of the night, further enhances this spellbinding audio. S.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile