Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo

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 #1 New York Times bestseller Leigh Bardugo.

I've read this short story before but it was fun to explore it in the graphic novel format. I was hoping it would be longer but it's the same origin story of the Darkling, only told through some very beautiful artwork.

I've never actually read a graphic novel before because they aren't really my kind of thing, but I loved this one. It takes us back into the early life of the Darkling. We see him as a young boy, struggling with his identity and wanting to find friends. We learn why he became the cunning and manipulative character we know from the books. The illustrations in this book are stunning and bring the story to life, capturing the characters and their world beautifully. They show the Darkling's vulnerability, especially his fear of the dark, which makes him a more authentic and interesting character. Baghra is another important character in this story. She is shown as a powerful and beautiful woman, leaving a strong impression. The complicated relationship between Baghra and the Darkling is explored, revealing the reasons behind his path towards becoming a villain. Hopefully, Leigh will write more of him and the others soon.

I missed the grishaverse and most of all i missed The Darkling, just thinking it now, reading about The Darkling was always my favorite part in the shadow and bone trilogy. I was unfamiliar with this short story and i'm glad i experienced it with these phenomenal graphics.