Shadow and Bone

Netflix. Not yet rated. April 23, 2021.

This Netflix series premieres in April with eight episodes adapted from the first book in the “Grisha” trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. It stars English-Chinese actor Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, an orphan who discovers she possesses magical powers and might be the key to defeating the monsters of the Shadow Fold.

READ-ALIKES

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. Balzer + Bray. 2020.
Gr 9 Up – Refugee Ziran and Crown Princess Karina meet at court where they each secretly have plans to murder the other in this West African–inspired page-turner. Plot twists, courtly collusion, and romance abound in this fantasy.

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye. HarperCollins. 2017.
Gr 8 Up–In an alternate 19th-century Russia, two white teens with magical abilities face off in a high-stakes duel to compete for the role of enchanter. Combining a richly detailed setting with ro­mance and intrigue, this work will please fans of riveting fantasy novels.

The Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon. Greenwillow. 2009.
Gr 9 Up–17-year-old Ai Ling refuses to marry the widower chosen for her, instead setting off on a quest to find her missing father and rescue him from his captor. A Chinese-influenced fantasy with strong female protagonists, magic, and plenty of action.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. Del Rey. 2018.
Gr 9 Up–Miryem, a white Jewish teen, takes over the family moneylending business from her compassionate father, gaining wealth for her family and attracting the attention of the nearby Staryks, fairylike creatures who desire gold above all else. An immersive fantasy novel with strong heroines and vibrant settings, this Alex Award winner is published for adults with high teen crossover appeal.