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peachywrites's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic!
The world building alone is worth your time. While there are still mysteries to unlock, you feel a part of the world, wanting to know more and more. Mercedes's writing is enticing and keeps you wanting to know what happens next. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of similar YA authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo.
The world building alone is worth your time. While there are still mysteries to unlock, you feel a part of the world, wanting to know more and more. Mercedes's writing is enticing and keeps you wanting to know what happens next. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of similar YA authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo.
tellie's review against another edition
4.0
For me, this was totally a 'judge a book by the cover' moment. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to read it. Surely something with cover art this awesome had to be a fantastic read right? For me, book one did not disappoint. The world that had been created for this series is like none I have seen before, and the entire concept of 'shades' is fascinating. I love some of the characters and I am keen to see how they grow in future books.
chaebe's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
unapologetic_romantic's review
4.0
I can only assume I was being a wee bit harsh on my first reading of Daughter of Shades.
This was a good book! A captivating story with interesting characters and a teasing subplot that I hope developed more in the last two books.
Both Ayleth and Terryn where much more enjoyable (and I really enjoyed both to begin with!) the second time around, I just really really loved reading this story again and don’t know why I only gave it 3 stars the first time around!
————————————————————————————————
Yes I’m giving this book 3 stars, but I’m actually really pleased with it.
The beginning was slow and the action didn’t start to pick up until over halfway through, but then it got interesting.
I’m loving the Witchwood, a dark malevolent forest where shades/shade-taken live, along with evil witches who fought in a devastating war against the chosen king. They’re trapped in this forest by the great barrier, which was made and created by the Red Hoods, or the Order of Evandier, guardians of sorts.
Ayleth, our main heroine is a young, untested veneatrix, one of the Order of Evandier. She’s restless, stuck in a backwater station, and wants to break free, to be more! Cut to running away from ‘home’ and into a dangerous new reality we meet Terryn, tall, stoic dude whose been groomed for an all important role in guarding the great barrier. However Ayleth has just stepped right into his path, challenging him for the role he’s been waiting for for whoever knows how long.
From there we venture into the Witchwood and it’s a delightful turn to the story. I really enjoyed this part. I want more!
To sum up, the 400 pages of this book don’t feel that long. I feel as if I’ve just finished the first half of the novel and I’m ready to dive into the rest of the adventure. Push through the first half and you’ll be rewarded with an intriguing adventure that’s spread out before you!
This was a good book! A captivating story with interesting characters and a teasing subplot that I hope developed more in the last two books.
Both Ayleth and Terryn where much more enjoyable (and I really enjoyed both to begin with!) the second time around, I just really really loved reading this story again and don’t know why I only gave it 3 stars the first time around!
————————————————————————————————
Yes I’m giving this book 3 stars, but I’m actually really pleased with it.
The beginning was slow and the action didn’t start to pick up until over halfway through, but then it got interesting.
I’m loving the Witchwood, a dark malevolent forest where shades/shade-taken live, along with evil witches who fought in a devastating war against the chosen king. They’re trapped in this forest by the great barrier, which was made and created by the Red Hoods, or the Order of Evandier, guardians of sorts.
Ayleth, our main heroine is a young, untested veneatrix, one of the Order of Evandier. She’s restless, stuck in a backwater station, and wants to break free, to be more! Cut to running away from ‘home’ and into a dangerous new reality we meet Terryn, tall, stoic dude whose been groomed for an all important role in guarding the great barrier. However Ayleth has just stepped right into his path, challenging him for the role he’s been waiting for for whoever knows how long.
From there we venture into the Witchwood and it’s a delightful turn to the story. I really enjoyed this part. I want more!
To sum up, the 400 pages of this book don’t feel that long. I feel as if I’ve just finished the first half of the novel and I’m ready to dive into the rest of the adventure. Push through the first half and you’ll be rewarded with an intriguing adventure that’s spread out before you!
trippalli's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fast paced adventures magic journey. Interesting characters and world. Not much depth or complexity
khaleesimod93's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
SPOILERS
I will give this author some major props for creativity. This is definitely a unique story. I really like Alyeth. Though she is super strong willed and stubborn. There is so much more to her than meets the eye. I'm super curious to what Hollis is hiding. Obviously Hollis was there in the forest the night the Witch was killed and the baby was hidden. Was Aleyth that baby? So many answers. The story itself isn't as constructed and easy to follow as I would like it to be. It gets super confusing there in the middle. Then it switches gears and goes propelling forward. The transitions were just not there. But overall, I did enjoy the story. And I'm beyond curious to see wtf is going on with Ayleth. And what hollis is so devastated for. I need some answers. The Witchwood is weird as heck. Terryn has some secrets of his own. So many questions. So on to the next book I go. I just hope it's more concise and flows better than this one.
I will give this author some major props for creativity. This is definitely a unique story. I really like Alyeth. Though she is super strong willed and stubborn. There is so much more to her than meets the eye. I'm super curious to what Hollis is hiding. Obviously Hollis was there in the forest the night the Witch was killed and the baby was hidden. Was Aleyth that baby? So many answers. The story itself isn't as constructed and easy to follow as I would like it to be. It gets super confusing there in the middle. Then it switches gears and goes propelling forward. The transitions were just not there. But overall, I did enjoy the story. And I'm beyond curious to see wtf is going on with Ayleth. And what hollis is so devastated for. I need some answers. The Witchwood is weird as heck. Terryn has some secrets of his own. So many questions. So on to the next book I go. I just hope it's more concise and flows better than this one.
nishagujaran28's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
zondo22's review
5.0
Great world building, interesting characters, and plenty of room to develop back stories. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
koops333's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this one!
In this story we have our h, Ayleth, a young shade bound apprentice working for a government entity called the Holy Order. Being shade bound basically means you have a conscious spirit inside of you that can give you strength and power if you learn to harness it, or can complete take over and destroy your body if you let it free. (But it really depends on what kind of shade you get though. Some are content to just experience a life outside of their realm)
The book starts with Ayleth trying to impress upon her mentor that she is ready to take on the responsibility of going on her own hunts, and starting a new chapter in her life. While Ayleth and those in her Order are Shade bound- it is their duty to eliminate other people infested with shades, and return freed Shades back to their realm.
When Ayleth realizes that her mentor might be keeping things from her- as well as holding her back- she strikes out on her own to meet the famed Golden Prince to get her new assignment and start an adventure of her own.
I really liked the characters, world building, and magic systems. Oh, and the banter/competition between Terryn and Ayleth was pretty hilarious.
In this story we have our h, Ayleth, a young shade bound apprentice working for a government entity called the Holy Order. Being shade bound basically means you have a conscious spirit inside of you that can give you strength and power if you learn to harness it, or can complete take over and destroy your body if you let it free. (But it really depends on what kind of shade you get though. Some are content to just experience a life outside of their realm)
The book starts with Ayleth trying to impress upon her mentor that she is ready to take on the responsibility of going on her own hunts, and starting a new chapter in her life. While Ayleth and those in her Order are Shade bound- it is their duty to eliminate other people infested with shades, and return freed Shades back to their realm.
When Ayleth realizes that her mentor might be keeping things from her- as well as holding her back- she strikes out on her own to meet the famed Golden Prince to get her new assignment and start an adventure of her own.
I really liked the characters, world building, and magic systems. Oh, and the banter/competition between Terryn and Ayleth was pretty hilarious.
Spoiler
heres hoping for an enemy to lovers arc
rdimeo2021's review
1.0
This books sounds interesting but is definitely written for a young audience. The plot was easy to predict and there was little to no character development.