“Fear is a powerful ally, but feed it too often, make it too strong, and it will turn on you.”
In a fantastical world resembling tsarist Russia, people are separated by ability. They are born either ordinary or grisha, people with the ability to manipulate matter. Eryk and his mother, Lena, are outcasts of both groups. They are grisha, and two of the most rare, powerful, and deadly of their kind. This places a target upon their backs aimed for by both sides. Their unique abilities force them into a life of secret identity and moving from town to town. When Eryk and his mother come to a hidden grisha camp for the winter, their routine of living sheathed is interrupted. When Eryk befriends a pair of sisters in the camp, one his own age, he tragically learns the consequences of letting his guard down and revealing his true self.
Demon in the Wood is Bardugo’s first graphic novel, and it has proven impressive in its elevation of her past material. It pulls stories from her hit series Shadow and Bone, indulging its readers with the origins of its villain, the Darkling. Demon in the Wood has been effective in humanizing the character readers had come to know as cruel and unfeeling, all while providing great visuals of Bardugo’s world.
I finished this graphic novel quickly, not because it is a graphic novel, but because I became so invested in Eryk’s story. I may be biased as I have already read Bardugo’s other works prior to the release of this most recent one, and I feel as though it could fall flat for anyone left regrettably out of the loop. Regardless, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read full of fantasy, fear, and freedom stifled.