Leigh Bardugo is a bestselling American author of young adult and adult fantasy novels. She was born on April 6, 1975, in Jerusalem and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in English and worked in advertising and journalism before becoming a full-time author.
Bardugo's first novel, Shadow and Bone, was published in 2012 and is the first book in the Grisha Trilogy. The series is set in the fictional world of Ravka, a place inspired by Tsarist Russia, and follows the story of Alina Starkov, a young orphan who discovers she has magical powers and is recruited by the powerful Grisha army.
Bardugo went on to write two more books in the Grisha Trilogy, Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising. She also wrote two spin-off novels set in the same world: Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. Six of Crows follows the story of a gang of outcasts who undertake a dangerous heist, while Crooked Kingdom continues their story as they face even greater challenges.
Bardugo has also written several other books, including The Language of Thorns, a collection of short stories set in the Grishaverse, and the standalone novels Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Ninth House.
Bardugo's writing is known for its vivid world-building, complex characters, and intricate plots. Her work has been praised for its diverse representation and exploration of themes such as power, identity, and belonging.