Демон у лісі

Grishaverse #0

by Leigh Bardugo, Лі Бардуґо, Dani Pendergast (Illustrator)

До того, як він очолив Другу армію Равки, до того, як Тіністий Каньйон розділив країну, і задовго до того, як він стане Дарклінґом, він був просто самотнім хлопчиком, обтяженим надзвичайною силою.

Ерик і його мати Лена переховуються усе життя, але так ніколи й не знайшли надійного притулку. Вони не тільки гриші — вони найсмертоносніші та найрідкісніші зі свого роду. Їх прагнуть знищити через страх перед ними, на них полюють, щоб використати їхні дари. Де б вони не опинились, мати із сином вимушені приховувати свою природу. Проте часом смертоносні таємниці самі знаходять вихід з пітьми...

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2022

About the author

Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for her newsletter.

She would be delighted if you visited her at LeighBardugo.com and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on Instagram.

Reviews

[♡ Dakota ♡ (Sarcasm is my middle name)]

Fuck yes! Cheers to you asshole for getting your own book.

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

ive never actually read a graphic novel before because i dont really think theyre my kind of thing.

but the darkling is totally my kind of thing.

so obviously, i loved this.

ive read the short story before, so this didnt tell me anything i didnt already know. but the illustrations do a good job at adding a layer of depth to this little story.

so this is a great book to pick up if you want to get a glimpse into the earlier life of my poor, sweet darkling, when he was just a boy with too many names and not enough friends, and understand where his motives came from.

↠ 5 stars

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Combining breathtaking art and Bardugo’s signature storytelling, Demon in the Wood is a solid edition to the Grishaverse canon.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

why does he look like a modern au emo boy in a hoodie though xD

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

how many words does a book need to qualify as a novel?

because this might have been, like. a collection of postcards.

the art is stunningly beautiful but this is not the medium to tell a super short story...if it needs to be told at all? as in, did anyone question whether we needed this? i'd read leigh bardugo's grocery list and i'm still like...not sure if i'm pleased i picked this one up.

in other words, as a villain origin story this is brief and kinda lame.

uncharacteristic, leigh!

bottom line: the book equivalent of scrolling through your instagram explore page. pretty and nice but kinda pointless.

----------------
tbr review

whatever leigh bardugo writes, i will read

[aly ☆彡 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say Leigh Bardugo's 'Shadow and Bone' series is one of my favorite series, but just maybe, Darkling might have been one of my ultimate favorite villains in fiction.

The Darkling's transformation into a morally dubious character by Bardugo is one aspect of the series that I will always remember. When Bardugo claimed she wanted to make a tyrant you could picture yourself following and someone you wouldn't disregard? I think she did a very good job with the Darkling.

If I get to describe this book in a sentence, I'll say this is: The Darkling original villain story.

And this book helps us to get a glimpse of Aleksander. Just the innocent, striving Aleksander who only wished to see his people safe and protected. We learn about his actions and choices from the series, and this graphic novel is designed to make readers mourn for its heartbreaking content while also knowing how the narrative unfolds for the Darkling in Ruin and Rising.

While I find this short, I also think it suffices and is just enough for us to remember who the Darkling once was and how remarkable his memoir had been. The panel competently illustrated the story without being abrupt or rushed. The graphic of the Darkling itself may not correspondent to what I was hoping it to be, but it was still neat and workmanlike.

I find myself delighted with the book and feel like everyone should read this (or the novel) if you have always been a fan of Grishaverse.

[toointofiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Like calls to like. The darkness belongs to you. As long as this heart beats, you keep fighting. Aleskander."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trigger Warning: Minor depictions of death

❗Contains some spoilers for the Grishaverse series❗


I'm not even remotely surprised that I loved this so much. Leigh Bardugo is an evil mastermind and it shows. "The Demon in the Woods" is my favourite short story in the Shadow and Bone series. I'm a sucker for awesome villain origin stories, what can I say? I especially loved this origin story because it's about my favourite literary villain even, The Darkling. I loved him as a book character and I love him as Ben Barnes in the show. If you wanna make someone fall in love with a villain, just cast Ben Barnes for the role. Simple as that. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Or make him charismatic, and beautiful, with an incredible character arc.

Aleksander is my favourite character in the entire Shadow and Bone series, hands down. I know he's a villain and a toxic character but I DON'T CARE. I love him. I'll be a villain with him and we'll rule over Ravka together. 👑👑 Alina can have her otkazat'sya. It's cool. I loved his complexity and the subtle hints that he could be redeemed somehow throughout the series, even though he didn't really go for it, except maybe a little by the end of Rule of Wolves. There's still a long journey to go, though. He's too good as a villain to change, I think.🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️Hopefully, Leigh Bardugo will write more of him and the others soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻

This story gives him a pretty valid reason for being the way he was in the books. You get to see how he came to be this cunning, manipulative man who would do anything to ensure he has the power to make others bow to him. He grew up in a world where his kind was hated, feared, and brutally hunted by EVERYONE. Literally. He had to be the one to hide from the rest of the world and survive as best as he could every day of his young life. Then he created a world where he was the one in control and he was praised for his abilities as well as feared. Most importantly, the fact that he was afraid of the dark as a child gives his character a vulnerability that makes him much more authentic. HE ALSO MENTIONS THAT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE COLOURS IS THE "PURE, BUTTERY COLOUR OF SUNSHINE" AND IF THAT'S NOT ALINA THEN WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!?!?!?!? 🤩🤩

As for Baghra, she was a total knockout in this graphic novel. I remember the references to her beauty in the short story but nothing could have prepared me for the visual. No wonder her son was so hot too. I might be a little in love with her too, now. Seriously though, who wouldn't love a badass, intelligent, and powerful woman, with good looks and a sharp tongue? I'm certainly not immune to it. Also, I loved how she tried the best she could to raise her son right, only to be one of the reasons he took the path to villainy instead. I bet she still regrets it 😅😅 Sometimes, no matter how hard some try at parenting...they just fail. She did, however, raise a highly intelligent and powerful man destined for greatness...one way or another.

Also, the art is absolutely stunning, not just Baghra but everything. Aleksander was very handsome, and the setting was all beautifully drawn. The illustrations really did the story justice. Not to mention, Ben Barnes narrates the audiobook, just like he did The Lives of Saints, and it's really making me consider listening to both, even though I have both books already and don't really listen to audiobooks at all. That's the magic of Ben Barnes, I guess 😍😍

Have you read any Grishaverse books, yet?

[Mirta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because Leigh can hate the Darkling but still get our Darklinas money
But clearly “The Whiny Guy in the meadow” would sell far less that “The Demon in the Woods” so I guess we are ok while we spend our money
… Am I still bitter about RoW?!
YES. I. AM.

…
The problem with wanting is that makes me weak..
5 stars ✨

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic novel + The Darkling = ❤

"No safe place. No haven. But there will be. I will make one."

This is a great addition to the Grishaverse. I have always been captivated by the Darkling, the villain you can't help being drawn to and feel for. If you are like me and can't get enough of this world, then this is a must read. I wish this was a continuing series. I want more. :)

[Frank-Intergalactic Bookdragon]

The Shadowhunterfication of the Grishaverse

[Charlotte (Books and Bouquets) · Rating 5 out of 5]

shut up and take my money!!!! a prequel graphic novel about the darkling????? leigh this is a christmas miracle

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

It’s been a while since I dived into anything Grishaverse, but this was a great graphic novel. Based on a short story previously written in 2013, this is the origin story of the Darkling when he was a young man. Traveling with his mother and hiding from hunters, they end up in a small Grisha village that they hope is safe.

Beautiful illustrations and a captivating story, I devoured this book in two sittings. It gives a lot of insight into why the Darkling became who he was, not necessarily a “villain” origin story, but a story about survival and the things people need to do to stay alive. The colors and imagery were fantastic, frames conveyed big messages in a simple yet beautiful way.

[Ana Paula]

rent is due i see

[Sarah Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

edit: YES I DID READ IT AND YES IT WAS SO TOTALLY WORTH MY MONEY

I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore books this year
OH WELL IT WAS 50% OFF AND I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF I KNEW I WAS LYING ANYWAYS

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎ [semiᝰia] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 stars.
“No safe place. No haven. But there will be. I will make one.”
I listened to this one, and honestly, the experience made it even more powerful. The narration was hauntingly beautiful, every emotion, every silence, every pause hit differently. Hearing young Eryk’s voice, full of hope and pain, just broke me. You could feel the loneliness, the fear, and that desperate need to belong slowly twisting into something darker.

And don’t even get me started on his relationship with his mother, Lena. She’s so fierce and protective, but you can tell her love comes from fear more than hope. That scene where she tells him, “People will never understand what you are,” (or close to that) just, ugh. It broke me. Because she’s not being cruel, she’s being honest. She’s seen what the world does to people like them, and she’s trying to keep him alive, even if it means teaching him to hide the best parts of himself.

The story itself is short, but it says so much.
By the end, I was just sitting there, quiet, letting it all sink in.

Honestly, Demon in the Wood is the kind of story that makes you whisper, “Oh… this is where it all started.” and I can’t wait to start the next book!


── .✦


⋆♡⸝💌⊹➴ I honestly know nothing about this book, I just saw it, liked the vibe, and immediately decided I had to read it. And honestly? Who am I to stop myself from giving in to that kind of impulse? 😌 So here I am, diving in with zero expectations and no high hopes, which honestly makes it even better. Let’s see where this one takes me! ✨

[Ayesha the Great 🍉 (Barbie's Version)]

Are you serious?! A new Leigh Bardugo (graphic) novel?! On one of my favorite villains?! YES PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY TAKE MY BLOODY KIDNEY IF YOU WILL JUST GIVE ME THAT BOOK

[august ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing everyone knows about me is that I hate the Darkling. Not even hate, I loathe him entirely. I cheered during the last episode of Shadow and Bone season two. Every time he's even mentioned in Siege and Storm, I cringe. I would rather have to marry Dolores Umbridge than go within a billion feet of Aleksander. Every Sunday is Darkling Slander Sunday, respectfully dedicated to Genya Safin, Alina Starkov, and Zoya Nazyalensky.

So imagine my shock when I felt bad for him. So bad, in fact, I gasped, closed the book, and texted my friend. This silly little graphic novel explains so much. Does it justify his actions? No. Does it excuse anything? Not at all. Does it help explain for us to understand? Definitely. He was just a kid (like 200 probably) and THAT happened??? I mean he's a canonical child gr**mer so I don't feel that bad but like WHAT THE HECK???

Also, the art for this was absolutely amazing. The coloring, the shading, the lighting, the character designs, all of it was great.

Speaking of character designs, let's delve into the characers themselves-- HEAVY SPOILERS FOR THE ANNIKA PARAGRAPH!

Aleksander, or Eryk, is still incredibly well-written. Honestly, I think villains who are convinced they're doing the right thing are some of the best villains ever. And, surely what happened would be a snapping point for anyone. Can I blame him for making the Fold? Yeah! Do I see why he made it? Yeah! Good for him! I'd probably root for him if I didn't want him to be torn to pieces by his own monsters 😊😊😊

⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
Annika. Super likeable until the last 40 pages. In fact, I got to the one page and texted my best friend with "THIS TWO FACED BACKSTABBING C*NT (not the darkling.)" To Vasu, thank you for putting up with that message and everything else I said about this book. Anyways, I am so so so glad she died. Deserved. L. Bozo. Ratio. Aleksander thought he finally had a friend and then she just tries to kill him??? I would use the Cut on her, too, thanks. I can lowkey understand her motives but like... ew.

Sylvi! Cutest kid ever I love her sm I wish we could see some more Sylvi content she's mine now I'm adopting her ok? ok.

Lev. Lev... I wanted to throw this man from his first appearance. Bro just bullies other Grisha and for what? I don't see you weilding anything cooler than just some goofy wind. Your a Squaller? Have fun making ships sail or blowing out fires with your dumb, useless power. (Squaller slander is only allowed when it's Lev.)

Baghra, or Lena, is the best girlboss ever and I love her. "Like calls to like." We see where Mr. Emo "Like calls to like." Shadowman Jr. got that from. But anyways she's my babygirl! Baghra my beloved! She can do no wrong.

Anyways, that's all I can think of. I want to give this one star just because it made me feel bad for Darkle "I'll be certain you hear her scream." Sparkle but I'm giving it 5 stars instead because it was actually really good. Also, all I've learned from this is that Aleksander "Fine. Make me your villain." Kirigan would shop at Hot Topic if this were the 2000s. Thank you and happy belated Darkling Slander Sunday to everyone except Rae.

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good introduction to the Grishaverse books. I already read all the books in that world so this does not add much, we already know this story and it did not add anything new to the world. That being said, I only discovered it a few days prior to its release and there was no way I was not going to read it.

The illustrations are very beautiful and fans of The Darkling will certainly love this one. The funny thing is that it works well for both new and old readers of this world.

[lea ִֶָ☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

i saw some people not aware that this is the exact same darkling short story we already have but as a graphic novel, this is not an original prequel!!

but actually, i enjoyed it much more as a graphic novel. the art is gorgeous and the story works a lot better done visually tbh, i loved all the details!

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

a short but satisfying prequel to the shadow and bone series.
i found this really helped make aleksander a more complex, sympathetic character, and this story helps gives readers a better sense of the kind of life the grisha were living before he became the darkling. the art and coloring was excellent as well.

[Rouh || رُوح · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eryk..Arkady..losef..Anton..Staski..KIrII..Alexander
A hundred names, a new story for every town, camp, and city.

He suffered, he wanted peace, he wanted to feel safe in his own land..😭😭

No safe place. No haven.
But there will be.
I will make one.

Again with 'Keeping up with the Darklings', I'm not finished with that old boy, I'm not. And I admit, I'm in love. No master how dangerous is he, I love danger.😍

I would burn a thousand villages, sacrifice a thousand lives to keep you safe.

A very teeny tiny tale about one of the miseries, he had faced being an amplifier and a shadow summoner. Accompanied by his bad-ass mom 'Baghra', I can't believe this old hag was that awesomeness.<3

Like calls to like. Darkness belongs to you.

He was a young boy trying to adapt, and I swear I was frozen numb when the twist kicked in, plus his reaction was shivering, I couldn't help but stare. Mom was like 'wuzzza?' Then I was like *showing her the reader* and she was like, Ahhhhhh!

It would be unwise to show others the full extent of what the cut can do.

Grisha don't own land. Always live on the run.

By this tale, it made me still feeling sympathy and keen to see this good side of this boy, like he needed better for his kind who was treated like shit. Ignoring my matches of the author's backstory. This is fantasyland rooh focus. Nothing relatable.

Out of that, it was a graphic novel, and god knows how I fall in love with those, but for real I was in deep love though, i love the drawings and all, LIKE ALL, EVERYTHING. 😍❤

Waiting for the rest, know they are the best.

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What's your favorite color?"

Deep blue like the True Sea. Red like the roofs of the Shu temples. The pure, buttery color of sunlight. All the colors you can't see in the dark.

See my pre-review below for my in-depth thoughts on why a graphic novel focused on the Darkling of all people just annoys me on a basic level. There are SO many better characters to focus on... but whatever, this is what we have.

I really liked the art and pacing in here. I'd love to read more Grishaverse graphic novels like this one.

As I suspected, this book is an extension of the short story The Demon in the Wood, which I read a while back. I did quite enjoy seeing it in a new format like this, and the added detail is great.

I guess it all just boils down to the heart of this story - it forms a fragment of the Darkling's backstory. I see him as more of an understandable villain than a sympathetic one or an antihero. And while the original short story seemed, to me, as the classic "I have been wounded in my past and am now bitter," this graphic novel read more as a foundational point in the Darkling's childhood that led to where he fell in the Grisha trilogy.

Now... where's my Toyla and Tamar graphic novel?

3/5 stars.



5/1/22:

I mean, I'm not going to complain about new Grishaverse content - I'll read this! - but... more Darkling content? Really?

The Darkling strays too far from "interesting and compelling villain" into "poor misunderstood emo boy who just needs love and attention" territory for me to properly like him - it's really just the fans who simp over him and genuinely have crushes on him that make my stomach turn. He's proof that you can make a character hot and readers will defend their every action. It's called the Kylo Ren treatment. (But Kylo Ren had a better redemption arc than the Darkling. Yeah, I said it.)

I swear, some of y'all like the Darkling more than Leigh Bardugo does. I just wish she'd stop writing stuff with him because she knows why people read this stuff... ugh. This could've been a book about Tolya and Tamar, or Zoya, or Nina... or the Darkling. Yay.

I'm not the proper audience for her books at all, anymore, I think - this is coming from someone who thought Six of Crows was just okay (and you can fight me, that is NOT how found families work at all). And my favorite Leigh Bardugo book is Ruin and Rising, so... yeah. I'm standing by that.

Whatever, I'm just looking forward to Shadow and Bone season 2 - which apparently isn't going to be until late 2022 or early 2023. I guess... this will tide me over until then. Great. Absolutely fantastic.

I'm just going to read Zoyalai fanfic until then. Peace.

[Helena (helenareadsxx) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely stunning! I am in my Grishaverse hyper fixation right now and since this graphic novel was released only a few days ago, I had to get my hands on it. Leigh Bardugo is one of the most talented writers and her work is one of the best that I have ever read. Dani Pendergast's artwork in this book is absolutely gorgeous. The colours and the imagery are everything I imagined this book to be and more.
I can't wait for Shadow and Bone Season 2 on Netflix!

[a foray in fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone already knows I’m a simp for the Darkling, so is it really a surprise that I loved this? The art is so gorgeous and captures the emo sad boi (tm) aesthetic perfectly.

[talia ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

girl this was not necessary

----------

rent was due again i see....

LEIGH BARDUGO! WHERE IS NINTH HOUSE 2? WORK ON THAT PLEASE INSTEAD OF KILLING, THEN ALIVING, THEN REKILLING, THEN KILLING ETC. ETC. LIL OLD DARKLE!

how about we let him RIP in peace...

[Avery]

a book about the the Darkling with ART? Sign me tf up

[Brynn]

A graphic novel about baby Darkling??!

*brain short circuits*

-----UPDATE-----
IT WAS SO GOOD. All the illustrations were beautiful, I especially loved all the deep purples and blues of the water and the soft, swirling shapes of Eryk's shadows. And of course the story itself was amazing, as LB's work always is, and this short prequel story gave great insight to the background of the Darkling and how he came to become the enigmatic and morally gray leader we know him as.
Also, I loved that LB dedicated this one to the Shadow & Bone tv series cast!! *Especially Ben Barnes I'm screaming

---12/26/22---
Awesome Christmas present<33

[Anniebananie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Für Fans des Grishaverse und vor allem des Dunklen ein absolutes Muss!

Ich war super gespannt hierauf, da es meine erste Graphic Novel war. Die Zeichnungen fand ich super passend und die Farbwahl sehr ästhetisch. Auch die Geschichte des jungen Aleksander und seiner Mutter fand ich stimmungsvoll und spannend erzählt. Es bringt einem die Vergangenheit der beiden Charaktere nochmal näher und machte sie mir nochmal sympathischer.

Wegen mir hätten es gerne mehr Erzählungen aus der Vergangenheit sein können und nicht nur eine, aber vielleicht kommt da ja nochmal was nach.

[francistark · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is no safe place. There is no haven. Not for us.
No safe place. No haven.
But there will be.
I will make one.”

I read this graphic novel in one sitting and I’m in love, the Darkling is a very complex character and i really appreciated this short story about his life before s&b.
Pendergast did an amazing job with the illustrations, she represented the Darkling just how I imagined him, I liked the atmosphere and the colours, everything was perfect ❤️

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting some back story on The Darkling. You get to see some of what made him who he is, and what his motivations are. If you like the Grishaverse, it's worth picking up.