Leigh Bardugo

Born: 1975

Leigh Bardugo is an Israeli-American author and short story writer, best known for creating the Grishaverse, an expansive fantasy world that has captivated millions of readers worldwide. Born on April 6, 1975, in Jerusalem, she was raised in Southern California and grew up to become one of the most influential voices in young adult fantasy literature. Bardugo graduated from Yale University with a degree in English, where she was a member of the prestigious Wolf's Head secret society. Before finding success as an author, she worked an eclectic mix of jobs including journalist, makeup artist, movie trailer writer, and transcriber. These diverse experiences would later inform the rich detail and authenticity she brings to her fictional worlds. Her debut novel, "Shadow and Bone" (2012), introduced readers to the Grishaverse—a fantasy world inspired by Tsarist Russia that Bardugo describes as "Tsarpunk." The success of the Shadow and Bone trilogy led to the critically acclaimed Six of Crows duology (2015-2016), which follows a crew of criminal outcasts on an impossible heist. These books are beloved for their morally complex characters, intricate plotting, and themes of found family. Bardugo has also written adult fantasy, including "Ninth House" (2019), set at Yale University and dealing with secret societies and dark magic. Her work has been adapted by Netflix into the popular "Shadow and Bone" series, in which she made a cameo appearance. She has osteonecrosis, a mobility-limiting condition, and sometimes walks with a cane—much like her beloved character Kaz Brekker. She currently lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide, cementing her status as a master of fantasy world-building.