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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Maressa Voss’ debut novel When Shadows Grow Tall fulfilled all my requirements for enjoying a high fantasy novel. Firstly, two adventurers who can control two out of the four elements are trekking through the land while trying to rescue/find a powerful person before their enemies can. Secondly, two bold and boisterous boys sneakily join them on their adventure. Honestly, Pif was probably my favourite character in this entire book. His enthusiasm and childish glee ensured that the book has humorous elements woven into the more serious conflicts and murders described in the book. Pif also made sure a lot of my questions about the world got answered, since I was still a bit unsure about how the dactily exactly operated. Thirdly, we have a headstrong intelligent girl who sets out on a quest to find her father. Lastly, add an extremely powerful and apparently evil fire-controlling enemy in the mix and you have my attention.
The pacing of the book was on point, and there was always something new and exciting happening when the story started to slow down. Lovelace and Gunnar’s personalities played off each other quite well and I enjoyed their light banter throughout the book.
Overall, I loved this book and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the story goes. I am excited to see Maressa Voss writing the next instalment in this series (my only question would be if this is a duology or a trilogy?). To me, this book read like a mixture of Shadow and Bone, The Witcher, and some Avatar the Last Airbender thrown in, all series which I have greatly enjoyed. I will definitely be buying this book when it is released!
When it comes to possible improvements, I think the book could use a short glossary at the beginning of the book which readers can go back to be reminded of what exactly luth, dactily, the Grasp, the Fingers, and Kapnobatai are.
Slight spoiler in this last part of my review, so beware:
A sole negative was that sadly, the advanced reader copy I got of this book did not have any indication of when new chapters began, so I might have gotten lost at some points and am not sure if the plot point of Cora’s identity was intended to be more obvious than when I linked Cora’s faded yellow dress and the outfits of the Kapnobatai were described wearing. I think it was a good twist nonetheless and hope it is not obvious in the naming of the chapters of this book.
- This review was based on an Advanced Reader Copy
The pacing of the book was on point, and there was always something new and exciting happening when the story started to slow down. Lovelace and Gunnar’s personalities played off each other quite well and I enjoyed their light banter throughout the book.
Overall, I loved this book and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the story goes. I am excited to see Maressa Voss writing the next instalment in this series (my only question would be if this is a duology or a trilogy?). To me, this book read like a mixture of Shadow and Bone, The Witcher, and some Avatar the Last Airbender thrown in, all series which I have greatly enjoyed. I will definitely be buying this book when it is released!
When it comes to possible improvements, I think the book could use a short glossary at the beginning of the book which readers can go back to be reminded of what exactly luth, dactily, the Grasp, the Fingers, and Kapnobatai are.
Slight spoiler in this last part of my review, so beware:
- This review was based on an Advanced Reader Copy
inspiring
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:
No
As a debut novel, "When Shadows Grow Tall" is absolutely outstanding!
Maressa Voss is highly skilled with synonyms and antonyms, without being overbearing. It's like a glassblower creating a vase, you see the shape, but the glassbower breathes life into it, clips and shapes, rolls and expands. This is the best way I can describe the writing style
I was absolutely hooked from page one, sucked in and gripped. The worldbuilding is awesome, the world and elemental magic unique and the charatsers relatable.
This. Book. Is. Incredible.
A powerhouse debut that will knock your socks off and help you put them back on again and give you a cuppa. Fantastic
Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC. I leave this review with a huge smile voluntarily
Maressa Voss is highly skilled with synonyms and antonyms, without being overbearing. It's like a glassblower creating a vase, you see the shape, but the glassbower breathes life into it, clips and shapes, rolls and expands. This is the best way I can describe the writing style
I was absolutely hooked from page one, sucked in and gripped. The worldbuilding is awesome, the world and elemental magic unique and the charatsers relatable.
This. Book. Is. Incredible.
A powerhouse debut that will knock your socks off and help you put them back on again and give you a cuppa. Fantastic
Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC. I leave this review with a huge smile voluntarily
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
No
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"When Shadows Grow Tall" is a Fantasy novel, set in a fictional realm called The Grasp. This is the first book of the The Cycles of Night series.
This novel follows Lovelace and Gunnar, members of a mysterious brotherhood of "dactyli." They find themselves in a realm on the edge of enlightenment, gathering the "truest truth". When the order faces a fatal threat from a rogue member, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous journey where they discover more than the welfare of the order is at stake. Their former compatriot, Alev, amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, who possess the ability to wield impossible magic.
Meanwhile, A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey of her own to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition against the overbearing ruler, Osbert.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
Elemental Magic
Mysterious Societies
Epic Quests
Unlikely Heroes
Strong Female Characters
Gaelic Influences
Battles of Good vs. Evil
Vibe Check
When Shadows Grow Tall gave me Robin Hood vibes in the best way. You can't help but root for the cast of loveable underdogs as they journey through nature to restore order to The Grasp at the hands of the oppressive rule of the mysterious Osbert.
Minor Content Warning for the murder of a child. This isn't particularly gory; it is a minor, isolated incident within the novel.
Overall, I enjoyed When Shadows Grow Tall and give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As with any fantasy series, you'll spend the opening chapters meeting the cast of characters and learning the vocabulary of the realm and its particular brand of magic. With the exposition well-established, and the first part of this adventure well underway, I'm excited to see what journeys await in Book 2!
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows Lovelace and Gunnar, members of a mysterious brotherhood of "dactyli." They find themselves in a realm on the edge of enlightenment, gathering the "truest truth". When the order faces a fatal threat from a rogue member, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous journey where they discover more than the welfare of the order is at stake. Their former compatriot, Alev, amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, who possess the ability to wield impossible magic.
Meanwhile, A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey of her own to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition against the overbearing ruler, Osbert.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
Elemental Magic
Mysterious Societies
Epic Quests
Unlikely Heroes
Strong Female Characters
Gaelic Influences
Battles of Good vs. Evil
Vibe Check
When Shadows Grow Tall gave me Robin Hood vibes in the best way. You can't help but root for the cast of loveable underdogs as they journey through nature to restore order to The Grasp at the hands of the oppressive rule of the mysterious Osbert.
Minor Content Warning for the murder of a child. This isn't particularly gory; it is a minor, isolated incident within the novel.
Overall, I enjoyed When Shadows Grow Tall and give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As with any fantasy series, you'll spend the opening chapters meeting the cast of characters and learning the vocabulary of the realm and its particular brand of magic. With the exposition well-established, and the first part of this adventure well underway, I'm excited to see what journeys await in Book 2!
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
A great slow-burn, elemental fantasy!
I enjoyed this from the start, and as a debut it’s a ringer.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Intrigue: 10/10
Logic/Relationships: 8/10
Enjoyment/Vibes: 10/10
Total: 63/70
Star Rating: 5⭐️
I enjoyed this from the start, and as a debut it’s a ringer.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Intrigue: 10/10
Logic/Relationships: 8/10
Enjoyment/Vibes: 10/10
Total: 63/70
Star Rating: 5⭐️