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muggleborntrash's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.25
jedidiah_blake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
leeleet's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The Greatcoats universe has to be one of my favorite fantasy universes and at this point Sebastian de Castell is an auto buy author. He makes amazing characters, and his stories make you want to laugh, cry, and shout all at once. The novel is a great mixture of character and plot. Our main character Damelas is loveable and brave and strong in his own way without being some weird overpowered protagonist. I even like the romances that the author creates. The ending gives hope for the future even as our lovely actors head out into even more danger. I just hope Damelas doesn’t take as much of a beating as Falcio does in the original quartet. I’m about to go and preorder the next book, right now.
bellewritesbooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.5
cxrriemc's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? N/A
4.0
*Arc received from Netgalley. All opinions are my own*
TLDR: Play of Shadows will be an acquired taste for some, especially if they're not used to de Castells worldbuilding and storytelling. Despite not being a fan of this type of story I absolutely loved it (despite the slow beginning) and think that most people would find Play of Shadows to be a worthwhile read.
I’m unsure why I requested Play of Shadows as it isn’t my typical kind of story to read but it was a great accidental find! The beginning is definitely a little slow to get going but if you can push through the initial first chapters you’ll find a very homely book with a very strong sense of “found family” and well fleshed out characters who each, despite the small parts some play, have big and distinct personalities.
I can’t speak to how well this ties in or moves on from the other books in the Greatcoats world, but for a first time reader, I didn’t feel like I needed to read previous books or felt lost in any way.
I am aware that this is part of a new series, however, despite liking Play of Shadows, I am unsure of whether I will read the next instalments as the ending is quite neatly tied up for the most part. I will have to wait and see when the next book is out to see whether I'll follow on with the story, but for now, I’m happy to have had the chance to Play of Shadows and would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes the sound of the blurb.
particlesreads's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to from Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in order to post an honest review of this story!
Unfortunately, I ended up DNF this at 28%. I was promised fantasy, sword fighting, and it was there, but I really just could not get myself to care for the main character and the theatre parts.
I think if you are a theatre kid, you will love this world, you will enjoy it because the writing is great, the characters are interesting but I just got really bored of it unfortunately.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNF this at 28%. I was promised fantasy, sword fighting, and it was there, but I really just could not get myself to care for the main character and the theatre parts.
I think if you are a theatre kid, you will love this world, you will enjoy it because the writing is great, the characters are interesting but I just got really bored of it unfortunately.
books_and_cocktails_afterhours's review
4.0
How have I not heard of Sebastian De Castelo until now? I’m honestly shocked, as it appears there is a Greatcoats series that I’ve now added to my TBR as it sounds amazing.
Alas, let’s talk about Play of Shadows, which I read as a standalone. I’m not sure how this book fares as a continuation of a series, but for me it was a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre. It has everything to make a great fantasy novel (and a beginning of a series), from the world building, dueling, complex characters and conspiracies… mixed with the art of theatre. It added a dramatic and over the top layer that, somehow, works beautifully.
Our main character is a man, descendant of Greatcoats and of whom much is expected because of that, that takes refuge in a theatre after running away from a duel. Eventually, he finds out that he has a rare talent that allows him to re-enact scenes of the past and to discover that history, as it is known, is a lie. So he is swept in a conspiracy based on historical events that transpired one hundred years before.
The only less positive thing I have to point out is that the beginning felt a bit slow. But eventually picked up the pace and became fast paced and exciting.
The characters are incredibly flawed but charming, with a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud in some scenes. The eccentric theatre troupe and their attempts to survive violence, danger, the judgement of their audience and political threats, while always keeping hope and sight of what is right, made this such an enjoyable read for me.
I am definitely continuing this series, as I expect that the next book will be even better as it will expand on the mystery and adventure with this cast of wonderful characters.
Thank you very much Quercus Books, Jo Fletcher Books and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
Alas, let’s talk about Play of Shadows, which I read as a standalone. I’m not sure how this book fares as a continuation of a series, but for me it was a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre. It has everything to make a great fantasy novel (and a beginning of a series), from the world building, dueling, complex characters and conspiracies… mixed with the art of theatre. It added a dramatic and over the top layer that, somehow, works beautifully.
Our main character is a man, descendant of Greatcoats and of whom much is expected because of that, that takes refuge in a theatre after running away from a duel. Eventually, he finds out that he has a rare talent that allows him to re-enact scenes of the past and to discover that history, as it is known, is a lie. So he is swept in a conspiracy based on historical events that transpired one hundred years before.
The only less positive thing I have to point out is that the beginning felt a bit slow. But eventually picked up the pace and became fast paced and exciting.
The characters are incredibly flawed but charming, with a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud in some scenes. The eccentric theatre troupe and their attempts to survive violence, danger, the judgement of their audience and political threats, while always keeping hope and sight of what is right, made this such an enjoyable read for me.
I am definitely continuing this series, as I expect that the next book will be even better as it will expand on the mystery and adventure with this cast of wonderful characters.
Thank you very much Quercus Books, Jo Fletcher Books and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
marciabrilhante's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I’ll start this review by saying that Sebastian de Castell is a master at creating characters and stories. Play of Shadows is a Renaissance Era kind of book, and the theatre is the stage for magic, since the story is told by the lens of a play. However, just as in Crucible of Chaos (the other book in the Court of Shadows series), there are some spoilers for The Greatcoats, so depending on where you’re in the series, proceed with caution before diving into these one.
The action throughout this story takes place in only one city and it’s set in The Greatcoats universe, and it gives us a little more detail about this world. We have plotting, drama, villains, and darkness all with a dose of humor in it. The writing is amazing, and I could feel the pretentious language of the theater through the book. The plot of this story is well drawn out, and we have self-discovery moments within the story while we unravel the secrets.
Overall, this was a story full of snarky characters, conspiracies and politics set in the world of theater, which is a very different way to read a fantasy book. It has a slow start but then it really picks up. The fact that the romance never takes over the main plot was a great touch, and I really enjoyed this story. To those who are diving into Castell books, and specially into the Greatcoats, this is a great introduction to this world.
Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
eli_sa's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall it was an enjoyable read, the pace was fairly slow and low on action. I'm intrested in continuing with the story but not at the top of my priorities.