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mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
Caim's traveling to the snow covered rebellious North to see if he can find "her" or more about "her" as Levictus mentioned at the end of Shadow's Son she was up North somewhere. The land he left when he was eight after that horrid night that haunts Caim's dreams still. Caim travels light, with his usual weapons, the dark sword that was waiting for him at Kas's cabin, and the personal journal of Arch-priest Vassili. Caim finds himself fighting with untrained men at his back, yet still alone as Kit disappears. Yet what Kit has to learn could come in handy as well.
Josey has come into the seat of Empress as her blood right is, but is still learning and tending with the reminder of how she got here. With the Church over thrown and the new order short on funds some Nobles have started to take advantage of a weakened moment and harass each other along with banditry increasing. Josey seems to be sitting as a figure head, but she speaks up with a solution to problems and starts to take control for her subjects. There is a creature sent to assassinate Josey and has her running around to stay alive and find the assassin along with who sent it.
Quickly in the first Chapter we are reminded of the character strength in Caim. Although we get a small feeling he is tired and a little run down. In these moments we get the reminder of things and people important in his life. Wonderful start off the bat here. I remember where things left off as this refreshes easily and opens doors to more possibilities simultaneously. Makes me want to know more.
We follow two basic story lines in this book. One of Caim in the north fighting with the rebels against the duke and his witch, then with Josey as she fights for her life and tries to find her would be assassin. I enjoy both lines greatly! Josey's story line shows to me how greatly in strength her character grows. There is a great amount going on in both story lines and in the end start to tie together. In doing this we do follow a few different point of views. This is well done with Caim and Josey. Even Kit has her own view point in this book as well.
Then we meet our new characters in the series. We do follow a view point from the witch Sybelle as well. Which really starts to give us a view into the Shadows side of things. There is many interesting things to learn here. And many North clan men make the roaster as well. A few seem to become bigger players in the end. And I look forward to see where all the characters, new and old, go with Caim in the next book.
The world created here expands in this book. We get to see more from the broken Northern side, the crumbling of Othir, and new worlds that seem to be of a fey type origin. We have Kit's world and the Shadow world. I like these glimpses and still want more.
Oh, I'll be watching for the third installment of this series to come along. I WANT to read more of what is hidden in the shadows for Caim, Kit, Josey, and many others.
Josey has come into the seat of Empress as her blood right is, but is still learning and tending with the reminder of how she got here. With the Church over thrown and the new order short on funds some Nobles have started to take advantage of a weakened moment and harass each other along with banditry increasing. Josey seems to be sitting as a figure head, but she speaks up with a solution to problems and starts to take control for her subjects. There is a creature sent to assassinate Josey and has her running around to stay alive and find the assassin along with who sent it.
Quickly in the first Chapter we are reminded of the character strength in Caim. Although we get a small feeling he is tired and a little run down. In these moments we get the reminder of things and people important in his life. Wonderful start off the bat here. I remember where things left off as this refreshes easily and opens doors to more possibilities simultaneously. Makes me want to know more.
We follow two basic story lines in this book. One of Caim in the north fighting with the rebels against the duke and his witch, then with Josey as she fights for her life and tries to find her would be assassin. I enjoy both lines greatly! Josey's story line shows to me how greatly in strength her character grows. There is a great amount going on in both story lines and in the end start to tie together. In doing this we do follow a few different point of views. This is well done with Caim and Josey. Even Kit has her own view point in this book as well.
Then we meet our new characters in the series. We do follow a view point from the witch Sybelle as well. Which really starts to give us a view into the Shadows side of things. There is many interesting things to learn here. And many North clan men make the roaster as well. A few seem to become bigger players in the end. And I look forward to see where all the characters, new and old, go with Caim in the next book.
The world created here expands in this book. We get to see more from the broken Northern side, the crumbling of Othir, and new worlds that seem to be of a fey type origin. We have Kit's world and the Shadow world. I like these glimpses and still want more.
Oh, I'll be watching for the third installment of this series to come along. I WANT to read more of what is hidden in the shadows for Caim, Kit, Josey, and many others.
jeremybost's review against another edition
3.0
I hate the POV switching. Caim's is exciting, but Josey is dumb, spoiled, helpless, and foolish.
queenterribletimy's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a few days since I finished this one. I couldn't quite put my finger on the thing that bothered me. Now I think a know. It's still a good story, fast, full of actions which is good. The characters are not bad but there are a few things I don't understand. First of all why does Caim and Kit fall in love with each other?? Why?? I mean I like both of them, it's just not logical. They were together for more than 20 years, why now? And why did he fall in love with Josey in the first place? It maddens me, really. I still think about reading the third book, but I don't know.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
My thoughts:
I know I have been raving over a lot of fantasy books lately but who could blame me, it is the best genre in the whole world, and when I love I love.
This is then book two and Caim has left the city to go and search for clues about his past. Why was his father and everyone else killed? Is his mother alive and who took her? So he goes north, a land troubled by shadows and strife and he will learn more about why he can command shadows. The book is also about Josey who is now empress and has a lot to deal with, for example the church who calls her a usurper whore. Those bastards. Down with the church! She is also missing Caim. I will take any hint of romance I can.
Caim and his shadows, in this book we get to see him even darker. He is a hero, but he is a dark murderous hero and I love him. Because that goodness in him is the best. In this book he again protects those who need it and join in to fight those who try to damn the north with dark magic and blood. And of course his sidekick, Kit, the strange fairy always brings something to the table. Humour and fun. Josey then, well she struggles with her new power, misses Caim and makes me wonder if these two will have a HEA. After book 1 I let that thought fade, only to pick it up again in this book and then leave it again. An assassin and an empress, sadly very unlikely but I shall not say more because lots will happen.
The book is filled with fights, action, dark magic, plots to take power and an intensity that makes me read fast to get all the information at once. There is darkness, but still the book does not feel dark. People get hurt, people die, that's life.
I liked book 1, I liked book 2 even more. They keep on getting better and I can't wait to read book 3 and see what happens. He has a way of taking you along for the ride and you will forget about other things. There is only this book and you.
Conclusion:
Awesome! Good fantasy makes me smile and become all giddy inside. I want book 3 at once, sadly I must wait. But in the mean time I will recommend this series to you all. It is great fantasy and when you start you will not want to put it down.
Rating:
Recommended
I know I have been raving over a lot of fantasy books lately but who could blame me, it is the best genre in the whole world, and when I love I love.
This is then book two and Caim has left the city to go and search for clues about his past. Why was his father and everyone else killed? Is his mother alive and who took her? So he goes north, a land troubled by shadows and strife and he will learn more about why he can command shadows. The book is also about Josey who is now empress and has a lot to deal with, for example the church who calls her a usurper whore. Those bastards. Down with the church! She is also missing Caim. I will take any hint of romance I can.
Caim and his shadows, in this book we get to see him even darker. He is a hero, but he is a dark murderous hero and I love him. Because that goodness in him is the best. In this book he again protects those who need it and join in to fight those who try to damn the north with dark magic and blood. And of course his sidekick, Kit, the strange fairy always brings something to the table. Humour and fun. Josey then, well she struggles with her new power, misses Caim and makes me wonder if these two will have a HEA. After book 1 I let that thought fade, only to pick it up again in this book and then leave it again. An assassin and an empress, sadly very unlikely but I shall not say more because lots will happen.
The book is filled with fights, action, dark magic, plots to take power and an intensity that makes me read fast to get all the information at once. There is darkness, but still the book does not feel dark. People get hurt, people die, that's life.
I liked book 1, I liked book 2 even more. They keep on getting better and I can't wait to read book 3 and see what happens. He has a way of taking you along for the ride and you will forget about other things. There is only this book and you.
Conclusion:
Awesome! Good fantasy makes me smile and become all giddy inside. I want book 3 at once, sadly I must wait. But in the mean time I will recommend this series to you all. It is great fantasy and when you start you will not want to put it down.
Rating:
Recommended
strider23's review against another edition
3.0
This was an enjoyable read. Several things were better than in the first book. The characters are getting more and more complex. I also like the magic system.
iam_griff's review
2.0
This book was better than the first, but not by much. There's a lot more action in this one than the previous, but the magic system is vague in its description & I can't make much sense of it. Graphic Audio does make it better, but like the previous this would've been a DNF if I tried to read the book.
kodermike's review against another edition
4.0
Shadow's Lure is the second book of Sprunk's Shadow Saga, following the debut of "Shadow's Son" last year (2010). In this volume, we return to Othir immediately after the events of "Shadow's Son" as Caim heads north, looking for answers to his past and the murder of his parents. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darken the land. Meanwhile, Josey, as Empress, is struggling with the politics of a land that seems beset with chaos, not to mention assassins out to remove her. And then there's the fae Kit, who early in the book is whisked away from Caim as she has to deal with her own troubles.
"Shadow's Lure" needs to be read in sequence with the rest of the series, unfortunately. Sprunk gives the new reader nothing to identify with with the characters, plunging the reader into a world where the three main characters have very little direct interaction with one another. readers coming to this book directly from the end of book one, though, will appreciate that this book picks up within days of the first book.
Sprunk keeps the secrets of his world at bay, giving us only hints and suggestions. For now, this is enough, though the third book, "Shadow's Master," has a lot of promises to deliver on. Sprunk's books will appeal to the sword and sorcery fans - assassins, magic, and action litter the novel, leaving very little room for the doldrums to creep in.
"Shadow's Lure" needs to be read in sequence with the rest of the series, unfortunately. Sprunk gives the new reader nothing to identify with with the characters, plunging the reader into a world where the three main characters have very little direct interaction with one another. readers coming to this book directly from the end of book one, though, will appreciate that this book picks up within days of the first book.
Sprunk keeps the secrets of his world at bay, giving us only hints and suggestions. For now, this is enough, though the third book, "Shadow's Master," has a lot of promises to deliver on. Sprunk's books will appeal to the sword and sorcery fans - assassins, magic, and action litter the novel, leaving very little room for the doldrums to creep in.
leontiy's review
5.0
FULL REVIEW AVAILABLE HERE: http://bit.ly/opRquf
Excellently written, and brimming with dark imagination, monstrous creativity and a deftness for combat, Shadow’s Lure picks up where Shadow’s Son left off and sweeps the reader away on a dark and gritty adventure, where it’s not just the cold that will test a man’s mettle. Displaying a flair for action and pulse-quickening fight-scenes, Sprunk’s second novel is an excellent sword and sorcery yarn that will have you reading for your rapiers and buckling your swash as you follow Caim into the snow-steeped new lands of Eregoth.
The speed and deftness of Caim’s story is countered by the intrigue of Josey’s story, and both POVs are as exciting as one another—never is the reader left longing to return to one over the other. Both characters are excellently portrayed, and we see both of them grow immensely throughout the novel---Josey hardens, whilst Caim yields to his “better nature”, bringing them both closer to one another despite the yawning distance between them.
Quick-pacing and an intriguing plot drive the story forward, toward an exhilarating epic showdown that sets up the story to lead seamlessly into the final book, Shadow’s Master. A brilliantly presented sword and sorcery yarn, laced with romance, humanity, strength and sacrifice, Shadow’s Lure doesn’t fall into the usual trap of “middle novels” in that the excitement dips after the first novel, before returning in the last. Instead, this middle novel is a sheer pleasure to read, and with adventure, revenge and truth at the heart of the story, it becomes a page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.
A wonderful novel and a pleasure to read.
Excellently written, and brimming with dark imagination, monstrous creativity and a deftness for combat, Shadow’s Lure picks up where Shadow’s Son left off and sweeps the reader away on a dark and gritty adventure, where it’s not just the cold that will test a man’s mettle. Displaying a flair for action and pulse-quickening fight-scenes, Sprunk’s second novel is an excellent sword and sorcery yarn that will have you reading for your rapiers and buckling your swash as you follow Caim into the snow-steeped new lands of Eregoth.
The speed and deftness of Caim’s story is countered by the intrigue of Josey’s story, and both POVs are as exciting as one another—never is the reader left longing to return to one over the other. Both characters are excellently portrayed, and we see both of them grow immensely throughout the novel---Josey hardens, whilst Caim yields to his “better nature”, bringing them both closer to one another despite the yawning distance between them.
Quick-pacing and an intriguing plot drive the story forward, toward an exhilarating epic showdown that sets up the story to lead seamlessly into the final book, Shadow’s Master. A brilliantly presented sword and sorcery yarn, laced with romance, humanity, strength and sacrifice, Shadow’s Lure doesn’t fall into the usual trap of “middle novels” in that the excitement dips after the first novel, before returning in the last. Instead, this middle novel is a sheer pleasure to read, and with adventure, revenge and truth at the heart of the story, it becomes a page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.
A wonderful novel and a pleasure to read.
queenterribletimy's review
3.0
It's been a few days since I finished this one. I couldn't quite put my finger on the thing that bothered me. Now I think a know. It's still a good story, fast, full of actions which is good. The characters are not bad but there are a few things I don't understand. First of all why does Caim and Kit fall in love with each other?? Why?? I mean I like both of them, it's just not logical. They were together for more than 20 years, why now? And why did he fall in love with Josey in the first place? It maddens me, really. I still think about reading the third book, but I don't know.
rouver's review
1.0
I thought I'd give the author one more try. Book 2 was even worse 'cause I REALLY didn't care what happened to the main character/assassin. He's wandering up in the war-torn north to sort of figure out who his parents are...maybe? I wasn't ever really sure. I don't think HE knew what the hell he was doing. Oh, and there is a not-at-all-surprise twist of a pregnancy. Look, if you're going to club us over the head with clues, then it's not going to be a shock when you reveal it. And while I personally have never experienced an infection that approached gangrene, I'm pretty sure it's not just itchy & stiff feeling. Gah! I wanted these books to be good. An assassin who can control the shadows & has a ghost-like companion should make for an awesome story. I almost always finish books, even if they suck. Congratulations, I only made it through 5/8ths. You've made it into the extremely small category of books I've given up on. Don't waste your time.