Before he ruled Ravka, before he was the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy with an extraordinary gift. In this prequel story to the New York Times-bestselling Grisha Trilogy, Leigh Bardugo takes us into Ravka's mysterious past, when Grisha lived as fugitives and the Darkling took his first steps on the path to power. Discover new territory in the Grishaverse, as well as two chapters from the soon-to-be-released Six of Crows.
Leigh Bardugo’s The Demon in the Wood was far shorter than I thought it would be, but at the same time it was still a delightful read! The Darkling is one of those villains that you love. Not love to hate necessarily, although I can’t really recall all my feelings towards him as I binge read The Shadow and Bone trilogy almost three years ago! So yeah, memory not so hot, but I do remember loving the Darkling.
This is a short little story of him as a kid. It’s a little heart-wrenching too in some ways. He and his mother moved around a lot because of what they were. It’s never safe for them if anyone were to know. And so begins a new life for them in this little village. Just as Eryk, his new name for this village, finds himself making new friends, he’s also making enemies.
The ending was what really tears at your heart. Knowing who the Darkling is and what his fate ended up being, can give you mixed feelings. But here, he is still just a boy. A boy who wants to fit in somewhere. I think anyone can relate to that. And what happens to him really makes you feel for the poor boy!
A quick and slightly emotional read, but a fun one! If you’ve ever loved the Darkling—and who hasn’t at some point?—this will definitely be a little story you’ll want to check out!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars—would’ve loved for more on the aftermath of things, but it is what it is!
Loved the Darkling -- sounds like a fun story. Thanks for letting me know about this story.
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