Kirkus Review

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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.