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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I must confess that this book did grow on me. For the first 100 pages I was deeply unimpressed since it started off the same as every YA romantasy I've ever read, but over time, it started to find its own voice. Granted, the characters themselves don't deviate much from your typical YA fantasy archetypes. We have the fiery, headstrong, red-headed FMC who's tiny but who's spent years training to be a super skilled fighter, and the broody and brutal MMC who becomes a complete teddy bear for her and her alone. However, I think once this book started leaning into its mythology and lore, it did enough to craft a compelling story that didn't feel as guided by your typical paint-by-numbers fantasy progression.
Is this one that will particularly stick in my brain? Probably not. But it managed to keep my interest and tell a story I was actually interested in seeing play out, so I'm glad I gave it the chance to improve.
Is this one that will particularly stick in my brain? Probably not. But it managed to keep my interest and tell a story I was actually interested in seeing play out, so I'm glad I gave it the chance to improve.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m really hoping that we get more world-building with the second book in the series – or at least an expansion of our knowledge so far. I am a firm believer in fantasy maps (or any genre to be honest) and I think that one for this series would be beneficial. I like seeing where things are in comparison to one another, and Asidia is a kingdom… but what surrounds it? Especially curious are those from the north and the warriors of the Rine. I am really interested in seeing more of the lore, learning more about the gods/goddesses, and a list of them and their abilities would be helpful.
This book wasn’t too terribly dark until around the second half, I was not expecting the gruesome scenes but I’m definitely here for it. Asidia has become brutal and it is dying – it was really nice that the story reflected that. Fair warning – it’s sneaky about it too. The second half of this book is definitely the star of the show – the pacing picks up substantially and it more than made up for the slow beginning. I guessed a couple of the plot twists but some of my guesses weren’t quite right.
Kiara’s character was a nice change – a strong FMC who is confident, snarky, and doesn’t fall into an internal monologue about how she isn’t good enough. On the flipside that internal monologue was very much Commander Maddox. Their reaction and relationship cozies up to insta-love but is relieved (for me, at least) by their snarky banter. If you love found family, this book has it in spades – I LOVED the side characters, especially Jake and Nic. The friendship that blooms between Kiara and the boys is like a hug – their banter just makes it even better.
All of our jagged pieces might not have fit together perfectly, but what a beautiful, disastrous mosaic we made.
I had to laugh at myself for initially thinking that this was a standalone novel. Towards the last quarter, I had to look and make sure it wasn’t just to save my sanity. I would like to thank Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book – I can’t wait to see what book two holds. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am blown away, this is by far my favorite book of the year it is mesmerizing, immersive, mind-bending, everything I want a book to be and so much more.
I'm sitting here thinking about what I just read, going over it in my head, wondering how I missed some of the things that I missed, how we got to where it ended, and where on earth we go from here.
Kiara is my favorite kind of character, one who has a chip on her shoulder, wants revenge, and isn't afraid to break the rules to get what she wants.
Jude is an assassin and the commander of the king's elite guard known as the Knights of the Eternal Star and has a past more clouded than his eye after a certain evil King orders his goons to remind Jude of what his mission is.
One act of selflessness in trying to protect her brother sets Kiara and Jude on a collision course that will alter the very world they live in and make them both question everything they think they know.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm sitting here thinking about what I just read, going over it in my head, wondering how I missed some of the things that I missed, how we got to where it ended, and where on earth we go from here.
Kiara is my favorite kind of character, one who has a chip on her shoulder, wants revenge, and isn't afraid to break the rules to get what she wants.
Jude is an assassin and the commander of the king's elite guard known as the Knights of the Eternal Star and has a past more clouded than his eye after a certain evil King orders his goons to remind Jude of what his mission is.
One act of selflessness in trying to protect her brother sets Kiara and Jude on a collision course that will alter the very world they live in and make them both question everything they think they know.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'To Kill a Shadow' by Katherine Quinn is a split POV tale that follows the mingled paths of a Knight Commander named Jude Maddox and Kiara Frey, a young woman from a poor village, whose decision to protect her brother lands her in conscription.
Jude, also known as the Hand of Death, is a brutally scarred warrior who is said to belong to the King. Marked inside and out, he's suffered greatly at the hands of those who should have loved him.. as much or more than he has from the enemies he has encountered. He's considered cold, hard, and unreachable, considering himself as much monster as the beasts he has felled.
Kiara is an outcast in her village. Her connection with anyone left beyond her younger brother, is tenuous at best. Defiant, she's quick to anger and quick to fight, relishing the adrenaline of the challenge.. and that's exactly what puts her in peril.
Though there is an overarching plot and clearly intentions for more in a series, I felt most of the book centered on the characters themselves. Quinn seemed to focus largely on the development of Jude and Kiara.. both as individuals.. and on the story growing between them.
Pacing was moderate.. seemingly to allow time for things to expand between not only the main characters, but the cast of supporting characters as well. As is often the case, for me.. that meant it dragged just a little. Not enough that I ever wanted to stop reading, just enough that it felt like it took me a bit longer to read than it needed to. That's just my personal preference though and in no way does it reflect on the quality of the writing.
That being said, I did feel there were moments the writing felt a little clumsy, but they were mostly brief and really subject to the same things 90% of modern authors seem to struggle with. Transitional moments in relationships and natural dialogue have got to be two of the most common I see. While these emotional transitions were a little off-balance, the dialogue here is largely pretty good.
My only complaint is probably the actual statement that Kiara 'isn't like others.' I mean, we get it. We get tired of it.. but we get it. You don't have to say it. Again, that's personal taste. On that note, Quinn does have a habit of repeating things she doesn't want the reader to miss, which irks me because I pay attention. However, seeing as most readers seem to lose the plot easily, I can understand her choice to do so.
Quinn did do a fantastic job on settings, in my opinion. From the grittiness of the small village, to the opulent, oppressive nature of the Knights home.. and later.. within the mist.. where all manner of vile and carnivorous thing might dwell, her descriptions are visually lush.
I really loved Jude though and Kiara is a pretty good co-lead. I found her to be kind and funny.. and she managed not to annoy me.. which is really what I ask most in a 'strong, female character' design. I do hope Quinn continues the story as I am hooked enough that I want to see what Jude has planned.. and there's a villain I'm waiting to find out about in-depth.
While I will happily recommend a read, there is a fair bit of violence and gore, and some subjects certain readers might find uncomfortable.. as it is a horror fantasy.
(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)
Jude, also known as the Hand of Death, is a brutally scarred warrior who is said to belong to the King. Marked inside and out, he's suffered greatly at the hands of those who should have loved him.. as much or more than he has from the enemies he has encountered. He's considered cold, hard, and unreachable, considering himself as much monster as the beasts he has felled.
Kiara is an outcast in her village. Her connection with anyone left beyond her younger brother, is tenuous at best. Defiant, she's quick to anger and quick to fight, relishing the adrenaline of the challenge.. and that's exactly what puts her in peril.
Though there is an overarching plot and clearly intentions for more in a series, I felt most of the book centered on the characters themselves. Quinn seemed to focus largely on the development of Jude and Kiara.. both as individuals.. and on the story growing between them.
Pacing was moderate.. seemingly to allow time for things to expand between not only the main characters, but the cast of supporting characters as well. As is often the case, for me.. that meant it dragged just a little. Not enough that I ever wanted to stop reading, just enough that it felt like it took me a bit longer to read than it needed to. That's just my personal preference though and in no way does it reflect on the quality of the writing.
That being said, I did feel there were moments the writing felt a little clumsy, but they were mostly brief and really subject to the same things 90% of modern authors seem to struggle with. Transitional moments in relationships and natural dialogue have got to be two of the most common I see. While these emotional transitions were a little off-balance, the dialogue here is largely pretty good.
My only complaint is probably the actual statement that Kiara 'isn't like others.' I mean, we get it. We get tired of it.. but we get it. You don't have to say it. Again, that's personal taste. On that note, Quinn does have a habit of repeating things she doesn't want the reader to miss, which irks me because I pay attention. However, seeing as most readers seem to lose the plot easily, I can understand her choice to do so.
Quinn did do a fantastic job on settings, in my opinion. From the grittiness of the small village, to the opulent, oppressive nature of the Knights home.. and later.. within the mist.. where all manner of vile and carnivorous thing might dwell, her descriptions are visually lush.
I really loved Jude though and Kiara is a pretty good co-lead. I found her to be kind and funny.. and she managed not to annoy me.. which is really what I ask most in a 'strong, female character' design. I do hope Quinn continues the story as I am hooked enough that I want to see what Jude has planned.. and there's a villain I'm waiting to find out about in-depth.
While I will happily recommend a read, there is a fair bit of violence and gore, and some subjects certain readers might find uncomfortable.. as it is a horror fantasy.
(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for the free eARC. I was intrigued by the very pretty first edition special sprayed edges, so I did pre-order the book.
What happens if the sun never rises? You get a land that no longer knows the sun, and lives in darkness, but 50 years has past and the people are getting desperate.
Kiara doesn't think her brother should be chosen to be conscripted into the guard, and defends her brother from a bully, gaining the attention of the one person she doesn't want looking her way. Jude Maddox is intrigued by the red-head female and conscripts her instead of the brother. Kiara has to survive the training, by any means possible.
There is so much going on, and at the beginning of each chapter you get a short note about various information pertinent to the plot, but they also have tidbits about the characters, which is incredibly interesting.
Going into this, I was immediately reminded of one of my absolute favorite series of all time, Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce. Come to find out that the author is also a huge fan, made all of the reminders make sense.
This is a fantastic beginning of a new series and I am looking forward to what happens next.
5 out of 5 stars.
What happens if the sun never rises? You get a land that no longer knows the sun, and lives in darkness, but 50 years has past and the people are getting desperate.
Kiara doesn't think her brother should be chosen to be conscripted into the guard, and defends her brother from a bully, gaining the attention of the one person she doesn't want looking her way. Jude Maddox is intrigued by the red-head female and conscripts her instead of the brother. Kiara has to survive the training, by any means possible.
There is so much going on, and at the beginning of each chapter you get a short note about various information pertinent to the plot, but they also have tidbits about the characters, which is incredibly interesting.
Going into this, I was immediately reminded of one of my absolute favorite series of all time, Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce. Come to find out that the author is also a huge fan, made all of the reminders make sense.
This is a fantastic beginning of a new series and I am looking forward to what happens next.
5 out of 5 stars.
Wow. Just wow! Phenomenal story/plot. Great characters and the pace of this book is *chefs kiss* perfect! It took me a couple of chapters to actually get into it but once I did it was something I couldn’t put down. Finished it in one sitting. I keep trying to figure out who my favorite characters are and I can’t choose. I loved them all for their own reasons. Beautifully written book. Well done!
