Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.
Is Shadow and Bone appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
Fantasy violence includes battles and monsters; mild romantic tension with kissing; themes of manipulation and power dynamics; war orphans and loss are present.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death of parent, war, and abandonment (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
A magical orphan discovers she has rare powers that could save her world, training with a mysterious leader while navigating friendship, romance, and dangerous politics.