Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in this must-have graphic novel prequel to the bestselling series and international Netflix sensation Shadow and Bone from spectacular new talent Dani Pendergast and no.1 New York Times bestseller Leigh Bardugo.
Before he led Ravka’s Second Army, before he created the Fold, and long before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power. Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha – they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets have a way of revealing themselves…
The Darkling’s origin story comes alive in this exquisitely illustrated prequel to Shadow and Bone. Demon in the Wood is an ambitious addition to Bardugo’s vast Grishaverse. With the growing popularity of her original Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Netflix series by the same name, this graphic novel serves as the perfect medium between the two. The collaboration of Dani Pendergast’s stylistic illustrations and Bardugo’s prose works to create a captivating, visual narrative of one of the Grishaverse’s most interesting villains, Aleksander, the Darkling.
The graphic novel follows a young Aleksander many, many years before the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. He is on the run with his mother, constantly changing their names and identities. He and his mother are not just any kind of Grisha, they are able to harness shadows and amplify the power of others. So, they can never let their guard down, not even with their own people.
Going by the name Eryk, he and his mother find a tightknit camp of Grisha to settle with for the winter. For the first time, he gets the chance to stay in one place for longer than a couple of days. But in a world of survival of the fittest, power is coveted, and the harsh realities of being hunted can turn even the kindest of people against you. Readers will see the origins of Aleksander’s desire for stability for his people unfold, and watch how his brutal upbringing and experiences shape him into the villain we know.
Pendergast’s exquisite art is in full colour and its soft palette renders the tragic narrative in stark relief. The characters are wonderfully expressive, casting Aleksander with an innocence that encourages readers to empathise with him. The graphic novel is poignant and teeming with emotion, and you will find yourself wanting to finish it in one sitting.
Intimate, brutal and intensely beautiful, Demon in the Wood is the perfect introduction to graphic novels for YA readers aged 14+.
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