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x_chrissie_reads_x's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
New favourite of 2022? I think so! ๐
Shadowfall contained lush features that made it come across as an entire universe, filled with amazing details and plot twists that were brilliantly written by James Clemens ๐
The author has a way of just bringing the story to life, and that, for me, was an amazing experience since itโs such a complex thing to do. I canโt recall how many times I gasped out loud ๐ There were greatly planned plot twists that ๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ had the shock factor involved!!
Not only was the plot a masterpiece, the characters pushed the story up a notch...
Tylar, our MC, was a great character to follow, he was interesting and how his emotions were portrayed were significant and controlled, this goes for all the other characters of Shadowfall too. James Clemens didnโt go overboard with emotions and managed to keep everything in a great balance!
Donโt even get me started on the friendships between Tylar and the outcasts!! I loved how there were moments for the characters to connect and form unbreakable bonds, it was so wholesome ๐ญ๐
Shadowfall is a thrilling read, there is no doubt about it. The story is one of intrigue and magnificence, and based off of such a unique idea. My review will not do it justice, for I am incapable of expressing my awe to its full extent. It was truly a story of knack and skill โจ
Iโd recommend it to those who love fantasy, high fantasy, epic fantasy, thriller, adventure, and a mixture of unseen plot twists.
Rating: 5/5 โจ
Shadowfall contained lush features that made it come across as an entire universe, filled with amazing details and plot twists that were brilliantly written by James Clemens ๐
The author has a way of just bringing the story to life, and that, for me, was an amazing experience since itโs such a complex thing to do. I canโt recall how many times I gasped out loud ๐ There were greatly planned plot twists that ๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ had the shock factor involved!!
Not only was the plot a masterpiece, the characters pushed the story up a notch...
Tylar, our MC, was a great character to follow, he was interesting and how his emotions were portrayed were significant and controlled, this goes for all the other characters of Shadowfall too. James Clemens didnโt go overboard with emotions and managed to keep everything in a great balance!
Donโt even get me started on the friendships between Tylar and the outcasts!! I loved how there were moments for the characters to connect and form unbreakable bonds, it was so wholesome ๐ญ๐
Shadowfall is a thrilling read, there is no doubt about it. The story is one of intrigue and magnificence, and based off of such a unique idea. My review will not do it justice, for I am incapable of expressing my awe to its full extent. It was truly a story of knack and skill โจ
Iโd recommend it to those who love fantasy, high fantasy, epic fantasy, thriller, adventure, and a mixture of unseen plot twists.
Rating: 5/5 โจ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Gore and Murder
mapetiteliseuse's review against another edition
1.0
I was excited about starting this book. An unknown author, an unknown title. It also felt good in my hands and smelled like a real book should.
There aren't many books I've had to drag myself through, this was one of them.
I didn't get engaged with the characters, the plot or the world. I could barely tell you their names now.
I think there was too much too soon, characters and gods and Knights and conflict and demons and boats PLUS a character subplot to tackle. Saying that, the side plot was the one part I found enjoyable; Dart's story is everything that the rest of the book could have been.
As far as reviews go-this one doesn't say much. But I really didn't enjoy reading the book at all
(the same feeling of disappointment at Stephen Kings Gunslinger)
There aren't many books I've had to drag myself through, this was one of them.
I didn't get engaged with the characters, the plot or the world. I could barely tell you their names now.
I think there was too much too soon, characters and gods and Knights and conflict and demons and boats PLUS a character subplot to tackle. Saying that, the side plot was the one part I found enjoyable; Dart's story is everything that the rest of the book could have been.
As far as reviews go-this one doesn't say much. But I really didn't enjoy reading the book at all
(the same feeling of disappointment at Stephen Kings Gunslinger)
dmalmond's review
5.0
James Clemens created such an interesting, unique, fantasy world in Shadowfall. I'm looking forward to seeing where he takes it in Hinterland.
elysiumdream's review
4.0
Extremely interesting book. The seven graces (bodily fluids) sound so disgusting at first (mostly because my boyfriend was trying to describe how amazing this book was before I read it) but none of the characters find this gross and the author shows you this world where this is normal. And makes you believe. That I loved. But the character development isn't so good. I felt like some of the characters were just saying things to drive the plot. It didn't flow with who the character was. But I didn't know the character much to begin with. Not that it is terrible, I just love when authors focus on character development. I still really enjoyed this book, I just think this could have become one of my favorites if the charaters were fleshed out more.
tharina's review
4.0
Full disclosure: I am not generally an eager reader of fantasy novels; I find that the characterisations are often far too simplistic and idealistic to create any sort of enjoyable story. It's as though the introduction of magic and dragons is supposed to compensate for the elements of what makes a story truly great.
I picked up Shadowfall rather reluctantly, prompted out of boredom and an enthusiastic review from a friend.
And I loved it.
A story with a mystery, adventure, some drama and - at the heart of it - characters who weren't just paint-by-number stereotypes, but actual human beings.
I picked up Shadowfall rather reluctantly, prompted out of boredom and an enthusiastic review from a friend.
And I loved it.
A story with a mystery, adventure, some drama and - at the heart of it - characters who weren't just paint-by-number stereotypes, but actual human beings.
annastarlight's review against another edition
4.0
In Myrillia the gods live between the humans. A hundred of them settled and claimed their land, and made their Grace flow into it. The solitaries live far away, in barbaric land. Then, one day, one of the Hundred is killed. And Tylar de Noche is falsely accused of the slaying of a god.
We follow Tylar in his journey to clean his name. The story starts off very slow, especially since there are a lot of characters introduced pretty early on. The strength of this book is that it ties up all these characters so neatly in the end, without giving too much away for the sequel, Hinterland. There were a lot of twists I did not see coming. I loved how corruption is so wide spread and that not even the gods are spared. The desperation was so heartfelt it made me uncomfortable.
Of course, you cannot write a review about Shadowfall without mentioning the magic system. It's awesome. It is different, it is gross, and it even is well thought through. I did wonder a few times why Tylar wasn't just throwing his blood at his enemies. It should work, right?
Tylar undergoes a great transformation. He is turned from a broken man into a perfect knight, and his mind slowly grows into it. It goes very gently and with little steps at a time he is accepting his new fate. I also really liked how things aren't easily resolved between Tylar and Kathryn. It made this book feel so more credible. And that's quite an achievement in a book where it is common to be covered in someone's faeces.
We follow Tylar in his journey to clean his name. The story starts off very slow, especially since there are a lot of characters introduced pretty early on. The strength of this book is that it ties up all these characters so neatly in the end, without giving too much away for the sequel, Hinterland. There were a lot of twists I did not see coming. I loved how corruption is so wide spread and that not even the gods are spared. The desperation was so heartfelt it made me uncomfortable.
Of course, you cannot write a review about Shadowfall without mentioning the magic system. It's awesome. It is different, it is gross, and it even is well thought through. I did wonder a few times why Tylar wasn't just throwing his blood at his enemies. It should work, right?
Tylar undergoes a great transformation. He is turned from a broken man into a perfect knight, and his mind slowly grows into it. It goes very gently and with little steps at a time he is accepting his new fate. I also really liked how things aren't easily resolved between Tylar and Kathryn. It made this book feel so more credible. And that's quite an achievement in a book where it is common to be covered in someone's faeces.
marktimmony's review
4.0
In a genre fit to bursting with divine wars and magic Knights, Clemens walks familiar territory with the first book in his new series Godslayer. But, with a deft hand, he weaves a tale that has far more originality than is at first apparent.
In the world of Myrillia, the gods walk amongst men. 4,000 years ago, the Heavens were Sundered during the War of the Gods and they fell to the earth. Binding themselves to the land to offset the madness that was falling upon them, the Gods are confined to the kingdoms they have chosen, or which have sprung up around them and have brought peace and prosperity to mankind. They have taught their Hands - men and women specially trained to serve them - how to harvest the humours of their bodies (Blood, Masculine Seed/Female Menses, Sweat, Tears, Saliva, Phlegm, Yellow Bile and Black Bile) and trained Alchemists make of these humours Blessings that, when applied to either a mortal or inanimate object, instil that human, or object with โGraceโ.
Among the Graced are the Shadowknights of Tashijan, a military order whose knights are the most sought-after guards, bodyguards and couriers in the world. Tylar de Noche is a disgraced Shadowknight. Betrayed by those he held dearest, he has been stripped of his Grace and had his body broken by a sentence of five years amongst the slave pits and gladiatorial circuses. Trying to hide away and forget his past life in the small realm of the Summering Isles, he is caught up in intrigue and darkness when he comes to the aid of a woman being pursued through the cityโs dark alleys. Arriving too late to offer her help, he comforts her in her final moments, only to discover that the woman is Meeryn, the Goddess of the Isles. With her dying breath, Meeryn gifts, or curses, Tylar with untold Grace and charges him to find Rivenscryr.
Apprehended by her late-arriving guards, Tylar is charged with slaying a god. Discovering the terrible Grace that Meeryn has bestowed upon him, Tylar manages to escapes a fate worse than the torture of the slaves pits and sets out on a desperate quest to find out who had the power to kill a Goddess and to uncover the mystery of Rivenscryr; a journey that will lead him back to the Citadel of Tashijan and the women whose testimony had him cast out of the Order five years before, the woman he loved, and into corruption hiding in the heart of the First Land itself.
Clemens skilfully weaves various characters and storylines together creating a fast-paced page-turner. Unafraid to explore the darker aspects of human nature some scenes will make you squirm, yet they hold that inexplicable attraction similar to being unable to turn away from viewing an accident scene.
I really wish he'd come back and finsh this series off - and write more fantasy!
In the world of Myrillia, the gods walk amongst men. 4,000 years ago, the Heavens were Sundered during the War of the Gods and they fell to the earth. Binding themselves to the land to offset the madness that was falling upon them, the Gods are confined to the kingdoms they have chosen, or which have sprung up around them and have brought peace and prosperity to mankind. They have taught their Hands - men and women specially trained to serve them - how to harvest the humours of their bodies (Blood, Masculine Seed/Female Menses, Sweat, Tears, Saliva, Phlegm, Yellow Bile and Black Bile) and trained Alchemists make of these humours Blessings that, when applied to either a mortal or inanimate object, instil that human, or object with โGraceโ.
Among the Graced are the Shadowknights of Tashijan, a military order whose knights are the most sought-after guards, bodyguards and couriers in the world. Tylar de Noche is a disgraced Shadowknight. Betrayed by those he held dearest, he has been stripped of his Grace and had his body broken by a sentence of five years amongst the slave pits and gladiatorial circuses. Trying to hide away and forget his past life in the small realm of the Summering Isles, he is caught up in intrigue and darkness when he comes to the aid of a woman being pursued through the cityโs dark alleys. Arriving too late to offer her help, he comforts her in her final moments, only to discover that the woman is Meeryn, the Goddess of the Isles. With her dying breath, Meeryn gifts, or curses, Tylar with untold Grace and charges him to find Rivenscryr.
Apprehended by her late-arriving guards, Tylar is charged with slaying a god. Discovering the terrible Grace that Meeryn has bestowed upon him, Tylar manages to escapes a fate worse than the torture of the slaves pits and sets out on a desperate quest to find out who had the power to kill a Goddess and to uncover the mystery of Rivenscryr; a journey that will lead him back to the Citadel of Tashijan and the women whose testimony had him cast out of the Order five years before, the woman he loved, and into corruption hiding in the heart of the First Land itself.
Clemens skilfully weaves various characters and storylines together creating a fast-paced page-turner. Unafraid to explore the darker aspects of human nature some scenes will make you squirm, yet they hold that inexplicable attraction similar to being unable to turn away from viewing an accident scene.
I really wish he'd come back and finsh this series off - and write more fantasy!
kheel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Reads a lot faster than the page-count suggests. You can see why the author pursues a career in thrillers, he's good at it. Sadly, the trilogy is unlikely to be finished.
julieputty's review against another edition
3.0
There's some really ynteresting world-bylding yn thys, and the idea of the characters ys good. But the karakteryzations themselves are less than full and the plot, while solyd, ysn't extraordynary. The pages dyd blow by, though I would have liked fewer sylly spellyngs. Just styking a y yn your wyrds doesn't make thym fantastikal, okayyyy?