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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Rating: 3.5 stars
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this copy in exchange for an honest review
**Reign of Shadows comes out February 9, 2016**
You think to yourself, here is a princess in a tower. Isolated in the middle of nowhere. Yearning for freedom. Doesn't that sound a little familiar?
Uh, Rapunzel, anyone?
But oh no, that is where the only similarities start and stop.
Here is the setting of Reign of Shadows. On the day the princess was born (aka Luna), a deep darkness in the form of an eclipse settled on the land. And stayed there. Permanently.
In the midst of this, the kingdom was overthrown and Luna barely escaped unscathed to her little tower with two guardians. Now, after 17 years of almost total darkness, her world is shaken up by the arrival of....you guessed it. A boy. Or, young man I guess. Fowler's too manly to be called a boy. At least, I think so from the REALLY detailed descriptions of his strong physique...
This isn't my first Sophie Jordan book, but the storylines are so different that it almost feels like it is. She is still amazing at weaving together characters that seem real and tangible. Fowler is not a happy guy in the beginning. Being in a dog-eat-dog world, you learn to look out for yourself. Only the selfish survive, as he'd say.
Enter Luna. She's an absolutely amazing character. I don't REALLY want to ruin any surprise or anything, but she totally thrives in this world of darkness. She was born into it and therefore never knew what it was like to see with light. Her other senses are magnified which make her more capable in surviving these lands than most other people. I love that she can hold her own. She doesn't require Fowler to save her everything. In fact, she saved him a couple times. She wasn't a warrior or anything. Just an average girl who did what she had to for those she cared for. I can connect with her in that sense so much better than some kick-ass heroine, though those girls are great too.
Anyway, the romance and chemistry was almost tangible in the air. It wasn't insta-love which I appreciated. Fowler was coming from a place where trust wasn't earned so easily, so it wouldn't make sense to feel anything too strong immediately. It had to build and grow into friendship and then into something more. Luna was good for him. Being locked in that tower protected her from the nastiness of the world. Yes, that might make her naive to the ugliness that humanity was, but it also made her hope more for a better outcome. And Fowler desperately needed that, in my opinion. Hope and love.
Although I loved the characters (the cast was really limited to those few small essential people), I can't say the plot wasn't dragging at times. They travelled. A lot.
Fought some night-adapted creatures called dwellers. And travelled some more. Fought some people more on the desperate and evil side. And, of course - you guessed it - they travelled some more.
So basically, the plot revolved around travelling and journeying towards some distant land for their various reasons, while trying to stay alive in the process from all the particular hazards. In the meantime, they fall in love (yay). That pretty much sums it up.
The world building wasn't particularly strong in this first novel. It focused a lot on getting to know Luna and Fowler, and only peeking a little into Fowler's backstory. I have some suspicions about certain elements of his backstory coming back to haunt him...but that may just be my overactive imagination. I am sure book 2 will open up a lot more of what evil darkness lives in the land and how to get rid of it.
The ending was a cliffhanger, and that was the only part where the story was potentially finally changing its course. Kinda sucks that I have to wait a long while before I can understand the hints that Jordan had slipped into Reign of Shadows.
However, this just means that the next novel is bound to get exciting from where this one left off. Hold on tight in this one. It's a sweet, slow journey in acquainting ourselves with our dear protagonists. I don't think it was badly prioritized, and I hope you would enjoy it too for what it is. I promise, the action will most definitely escalate later.
Overall Recommendation:
With a very small cast of characters, Reign of Shadows allows us to really get to know and love Luna and Fowler. Luna is a strong character who doesn't let her "handicap" slow her down. Fowler is that bad boy who doesn't trust anyone due to some tragic past, but the development of his character was realistic and sweet. Together, their journey towards a better land where there is freedom from danger truly highlights their chemistry, albeit lacking a little in the sense of adventure. All in all, it is a decent start to a series, and the ending hints for greater and more exciting things. At least you don't have to wait as long as I do for the next installment.
-------------------------------------------
For more of my reviews, please check out my website Down the Rabbit Hole:
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this copy in exchange for an honest review
**Reign of Shadows comes out February 9, 2016**
You think to yourself, here is a princess in a tower. Isolated in the middle of nowhere. Yearning for freedom. Doesn't that sound a little familiar?
Uh, Rapunzel, anyone?
But oh no, that is where the only similarities start and stop.
Here is the setting of Reign of Shadows. On the day the princess was born (aka Luna), a deep darkness in the form of an eclipse settled on the land. And stayed there. Permanently.
In the midst of this, the kingdom was overthrown and Luna barely escaped unscathed to her little tower with two guardians. Now, after 17 years of almost total darkness, her world is shaken up by the arrival of....you guessed it. A boy. Or, young man I guess. Fowler's too manly to be called a boy. At least, I think so from the REALLY detailed descriptions of his strong physique...
This isn't my first Sophie Jordan book, but the storylines are so different that it almost feels like it is. She is still amazing at weaving together characters that seem real and tangible. Fowler is not a happy guy in the beginning. Being in a dog-eat-dog world, you learn to look out for yourself. Only the selfish survive, as he'd say.
Enter Luna. She's an absolutely amazing character. I don't REALLY want to ruin any surprise or anything, but she totally thrives in this world of darkness. She was born into it and therefore never knew what it was like to see with light. Her other senses are magnified which make her more capable in surviving these lands than most other people. I love that she can hold her own. She doesn't require Fowler to save her everything. In fact, she saved him a couple times. She wasn't a warrior or anything. Just an average girl who did what she had to for those she cared for. I can connect with her in that sense so much better than some kick-ass heroine, though those girls are great too.
Anyway, the romance and chemistry was almost tangible in the air. It wasn't insta-love which I appreciated. Fowler was coming from a place where trust wasn't earned so easily, so it wouldn't make sense to feel anything too strong immediately. It had to build and grow into friendship and then into something more. Luna was good for him. Being locked in that tower protected her from the nastiness of the world. Yes, that might make her naive to the ugliness that humanity was, but it also made her hope more for a better outcome. And Fowler desperately needed that, in my opinion. Hope and love.
Although I loved the characters (the cast was really limited to those few small essential people), I can't say the plot wasn't dragging at times. They travelled. A lot.
Fought some night-adapted creatures called dwellers. And travelled some more. Fought some people more on the desperate and evil side. And, of course - you guessed it - they travelled some more.
So basically, the plot revolved around travelling and journeying towards some distant land for their various reasons, while trying to stay alive in the process from all the particular hazards. In the meantime, they fall in love (yay). That pretty much sums it up.
The world building wasn't particularly strong in this first novel. It focused a lot on getting to know Luna and Fowler, and only peeking a little into Fowler's backstory. I have some suspicions about certain elements of his backstory coming back to haunt him...but that may just be my overactive imagination. I am sure book 2 will open up a lot more of what evil darkness lives in the land and how to get rid of it.
The ending was a cliffhanger, and that was the only part where the story was potentially finally changing its course. Kinda sucks that I have to wait a long while before I can understand the hints that Jordan had slipped into Reign of Shadows.
However, this just means that the next novel is bound to get exciting from where this one left off. Hold on tight in this one. It's a sweet, slow journey in acquainting ourselves with our dear protagonists. I don't think it was badly prioritized, and I hope you would enjoy it too for what it is. I promise, the action will most definitely escalate later.
Overall Recommendation:
With a very small cast of characters, Reign of Shadows allows us to really get to know and love Luna and Fowler. Luna is a strong character who doesn't let her "handicap" slow her down. Fowler is that bad boy who doesn't trust anyone due to some tragic past, but the development of his character was realistic and sweet. Together, their journey towards a better land where there is freedom from danger truly highlights their chemistry, albeit lacking a little in the sense of adventure. All in all, it is a decent start to a series, and the ending hints for greater and more exciting things. At least you don't have to wait as long as I do for the next installment.
-------------------------------------------
For more of my reviews, please check out my website Down the Rabbit Hole:
Cover: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
I didn't realize this was a Rapunzel retelling, but I was excited when I realized it. I think it was good. The world was creepy and scary. Some things weren't explained, but it didn't really matter to me. I liked the main characters Luna and Rowler. I thought they were solid. I liked their interactions and their romance. I don't think it was insta-love... more like insta-lust.If there was any insta-love it was more on his side. He said he loved her at the end of the book... she just thought about how much she cared about him I think the setting and plot were appropriate for how fast these two moved with each other. No guarantee of tomorrow will definitely cause a high emotional state.
This is definitely a character-driven story. The plot kind of takes a back seat and it's kind of nonexistent.I understand why Luna thought if she gave herself up, it would end the killing of the girls, but I was disappointed that's the only solution she came up with. I think I was hoping for something more epic. It's fine, but just that... fine.
I will be reading the next one. The ending was a cliffhanger and I enjoyed it enough to want to know what happens next.
Reread? Depends on whether I like the sequel
Challenges:
2018 Goodreads Challenge
2018 Mount TBR Challenge
Story: 3.5/5
I didn't realize this was a Rapunzel retelling, but I was excited when I realized it. I think it was good. The world was creepy and scary. Some things weren't explained, but it didn't really matter to me. I liked the main characters Luna and Rowler. I thought they were solid. I liked their interactions and their romance. I don't think it was insta-love... more like insta-lust.
This is definitely a character-driven story. The plot kind of takes a back seat and it's kind of nonexistent.
I will be reading the next one. The ending was a cliffhanger and I enjoyed it enough to want to know what happens next.
Reread? Depends on whether I like the sequel
Challenges:
2018 Goodreads Challenge
2018 Mount TBR Challenge
Upon reflection, I've lowered my rating to 2 stars
I was super intrigued by the synopsis for this one. However, I really didn't like how Luna being blind was used as a plot twist and a plot device. It really sucks when a disability is used in this way. It also really sucked how Fowler responded to this revelation - she was good despite her disability...
There were also multiple plot holes in this narrative including the fact that it had only been 17 years of darkness but already a new species had evolved and common bats were now 4 feet tall... it happened so quickly! Also wouldn't trees die if they didn't get sunlight for nearly 20 years?
I was super intrigued by the synopsis for this one. However, I really didn't like how Luna being blind was used as a plot twist and a plot device. It really sucks when a disability is used in this way. It also really sucked how Fowler responded to this revelation - she was good despite her disability...
There were also multiple plot holes in this narrative including the fact that it had only been 17 years of darkness but already a new species had evolved and common bats were now 4 feet tall... it happened so quickly! Also wouldn't trees die if they didn't get sunlight for nearly 20 years?
3.5 stars. The first third of the book is very slow, but once the plot picks up, it is an engaging read.
I am silently raging. I need this sequel and I need it now! I won't lie, I was apprehensive to start this book with the reviews but oh my god, I couldn't put it down! I'm a bitter soul that the sequel isn't up on goodreads yet but the second it is, it's going on my to-read list!
This book is perfectly alright, but that’s it. I struggled to really get into the book, and it quickly became one that I just read to get it finished rather than enjoy.
It is written in quite a young style, but some of the sections wouldn’t be suitable for that age range so it’s not my favourite
It is written in quite a young style, but some of the sections wouldn’t be suitable for that age range so it’s not my favourite
This book was just a lot of set up, a lot of prep work, but not that much happened (I anticipate that as the series goes on, it will drastically pick up). But this was more like the first 1/2 of a book to me, where no real progress is made towards what seems like a huge, overarching plot of a queen, a coup, a tyrannical false king, a mythical darkness over all the land, etc. It is just that a LOT would have to happen before this story could be resolved, and I can't imagine that we're more than one step towards that ending. Girl meets boy, girl leaves tower, the end.
Rapunzel retelling, but she's also blind and a bad ass ninja to boot? Yes please.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am giving this a 3.75 stars out of 5. There were just somethings that I did not really like. This book did not feel as if a lot of stuff happened in it. But the romance was amazing. It was very slow. BUT the ending was not necessary. It really was not necessary.