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Leigh Bardugo is famous for “Six of Crows” and her creation of the fantasy world the Grishaverse. Here are her best books, ranked by Goodreads.
Amazon; Savanna Durr/Insider
- Leigh Bardugo is a bestselling author of adult and young adult fantasy novels.
- Her “Shadow and Bone” trilogy was adapted into a Netflix show last year.
- We used Goodreads to rank her most popular books.
Leigh Bardugo is a bestselling fantasy author who is best known for her creation of the Grishaverse, a fantasy world where many of her novels take place. She has won countless awards for her fantasy novels, and readers gravitate back to her work time and time again for her beautiful writing, incredible fantasy world-building, and gripping stories that offer readers a rollercoaster of emotions.
Leigh Bardugo’s books are incredibly popular on Goodreads — nine of them have been nominated for or won Goodreads Choice Awards — so we turned to Goodreads reviewers to rank her best titles. Goodreads is the world’s largest platform for readers to rate, review, and recommend their favorite reads with friends and the community.
If you’re looking to snag an incredible new fantasy read, here are the 12 most popular Leigh Bardugo books, according to Goodreads reviewers.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews reviews and researches books.
The 12 best Leigh Bardugo books, according to Goodreads:
12. “The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $12.50
This guided, year-long journal is perfect for any Leigh Bardugo fan looking for an opportunity for reflection. With introspective questions and meaningful quotes from her novels on each page, “The Severed Moon” journal is loved for its unique prompts and regal design.
11. “The Lives of Saints,” Illustrated by Daniel J. Zollinger
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $17.30
“The Lives of Saints” is a collection of dark, captivating short stories and stunning illustrations. Each story highlights a different Saint from the Grishaverse with origin tales of love, war, and magic.
10. “Wonder Woman: Warbringer”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.26
Alia Keralis has no idea she’s being hunted when she’s rescued by Princess Diana, who doesn’t understand that her act of bravery has far-reaching consequences beyond breaking the Amazon law to rescue a mortal. When the girls learn Alia is a Warbringer, a direct descendant of Helen of Troy, and fated to bring about an age of bloodshed, they must form an alliance to save both their worlds from a terrible war.
9. “The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic,” Illustrated by Sara Kipin
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $17.45
“The Language of Thorns” is a fantastical short story collection of both previously published and brand new tales that bring characters and the magic of the Grishaverse to life once more. With stories of love, revenge, betrayal, and more, this collection is a fantastic addition for any reader who loves Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels or is looking for a delightfully haunting fairytale read.
8. “Rule of Wolves”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $13.78
Winner of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy, “Rule of Wolves” is the “King of Scars” sequel where readers reunite with Nikolai Lantsov as he fights against his demon and the rising threat to his country. With the help of General Zoya and the spy Nina Zenik, the three fight against Fjerda’s army to protect their country against the forces of darkness.
7. “King of Scars”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.49
Nikolai Lantsov is the king of Ravka who has endured great trials for his country, challenges he’s determined to keep a secret. As the dark secrets he holds grow stronger, Nikolai must defeat the legacy inside him to save his country and himself in this emotional addition to the Grishaverse novels.
6. “Ninth House”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.76
“Ninth House” is a unique, fantastical mystery novel that won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2019. Alex Stern is the sole survivor of a terrifying, unsolved multiple-homicide when she’s offered a full ride to Yale by a mysterious benefactor with one small catch — to monitor the activities of Yale’s secret societies, no matter how dark and haunting they may be.
5. “Ruin and Rising”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.77
“Ruin and Rising” is the final novel in the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy that begins with the Darkling ruling Ravka after the capital has fallen. Alina and her unlikely companions remain the nation’s only hope. Together, they must unravel the Darkling’s tangled secrets in this fantastical novel with a devastating but deeply satisfying conclusion.
4. “Siege and Storm”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $8.46
In this “Shadow and Bone” sequel, Alina and Mal are trying to start over in a new land while keeping her identity as a Sun Summoner a secret. Hunted by the Darkling for her magic, Alina must lead the Grisha army, resist the Darkling’s forbidden magic, and choose between love and power in the hopes of saving her country.
3. “Crooked Kingdom”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.49
In this “Six of Crows” sequel set days after the first novel ends, Kaz and his crew are still fighting as powerful forces threaten their alliances, loyalties, and lives. Readers love this dilogy for Leigh Bardugo’s complex and unique magic system and intense, emotional plot.
2. “Shadow and Bone”
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Available at Bookshop and Amazon, from $7.82
“Shadow and Bone” was Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel in 2012 and was adapted into a Netflix show of the same name in 2021. This romantic young adult fantasy follows Alina Starkov, a teenage orphan, who unleashes a dormant power she didn’t know she had to save her best friend’s life. Suddenly of great intrigue to the royal court of Ravka, Alina is brought to the capital to train as one of the elite Grisha and help defeat the Shadow Fold that has encompassed their once great nation.
1. “Six of Crows”
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Available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.99
With nearly 600,000 ratings and 89% of reviewers giving it 4- or 5-star reviews, “Six of Crows” is the most popular Leigh Bardugo book among Goodreads reviewers. This young adult fantasy follows a group of six vastly different characters including a spy, a thief, and a sharpshooter, who join together with criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker to pull off a deadly, high-stakes heist.
