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pinxsol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy shit. This book was almost too hard to read. I have 3 more books with these characters to go, and yet in the middle of this I was genuinely worried that they were both gonna die. The story is just that well written, the suffering so real that my brain can't even comprehend the obvious, logical conclusion that they're gonna get through this. I had to take so many breaks in between some chapters to clear my head, because some scenes were just that oppressive.
I honestly applaud this book, for how much of a challenge it was. The emotions it put me through, I swear. It's like, the tea is piping hot, but it's the wrong kind of tea and you're choking on it but also kinda hating it and loving it both at the same time.
Traitor's Moon had me by the throat, but this one... has me like that *gestures at Khenir's nethers*
I honestly applaud this book, for how much of a challenge it was. The emotions it put me through, I swear. It's like, the tea is piping hot, but it's the wrong kind of tea and you're choking on it but also kinda hating it and loving it both at the same time.
Traitor's Moon had me by the throat, but this one... has me like that *gestures at Khenir's nethers*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, and Body horror
Moderate: Child death and Sexual assault
sofiagal's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rockwrengj's review
5.0
Another great installment in this series. This book has the definite feeling of being the beginning of a larger story-arc. As always, I enjoyed the plot and character development. I think Shadow's Return is the best of the series so far.
skycrane's review against another edition
1.0
I just couldn't get into this book. I was super invested at the beginning, because it seemed like a continuation of the fantasy political/espionage story of Traitor's Moon. The mission Seregil and Alec are given promises to be dangerous because of its delicacy. The paranoid queen sends them to retrieve her younger sister, whom she suspects of conspiring with the Aurenfaie to undermine or even overthrow her. It's the kind of mission where numerous different factions all want Seregil and Alec to fail, even including the person who assigned it to them.
But then all that is thrown away when the two of them are kidnapped by pirates and sold as slaves because the bad guys want Alec's blood, which has some hitherto unmentioned magical properties. I soured on this series after the second book focused way more on this kind of childish fantasy narrative instead of the politics and spying, but when I finally came back to read the third book I was really glad I did. Now the fourth is so bad that I had to drop it after barely even starting it. After that, I doubt I'll ever give this another chance.
But then all that is thrown away when the two of them are kidnapped by pirates and sold as slaves because the bad guys want Alec's blood, which has some hitherto unmentioned magical properties. I soured on this series after the second book focused way more on this kind of childish fantasy narrative instead of the politics and spying, but when I finally came back to read the third book I was really glad I did. Now the fourth is so bad that I had to drop it after barely even starting it. After that, I doubt I'll ever give this another chance.
dreamreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Honestly, I was afraid to read this for a long time, because the first three books are basically flawless and I was nervous that the publication gap between those three and this one would result in a story that just didn't feel the same. To my relief, I had nothing to worry about. Seregil and Alec, despite experiencing one of their most harrowing adventures yet, are steadfast in their characterization and personalities, and Flewelling's writing is as engaging and compelling as ever. I didn't love this quite as much as the first two books, but I liked it just as much as the third one, and the ending has blown the story so wide open that I really want to just pick the next book up right away. I'm so excited to see where this goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Slavery, and Body horror
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
mariks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
aliceboule's review against another edition
4.0
I really am falling deeper in love with every passing novel. I always believe that 'this' will be the one that feels like an addition: an add on for more money. But Flewelling carries out on the promises she made in the very first Nightrunner. I look forward to seeing how the characters evolve from here!
toastea's review against another edition
5.0
Audio: (4) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
& Story: (5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I adore this series with my whole heart & have been waiting impatiently to read this next book in the series! There were definitely things about this book I wasn't crazy about, so let's start there.
Seregil & Alec can never catch a break! Seriously, Seregil has got to have some of the worst luck I've ever seen from a series protagonist, as misfortune follows him around like a heavy cloud. The title was apt for this book as some "shadows" from his past come back to haunt him – and I didn't know if I should be proud to see Seregil start that long process of forgiveness or disappointed that the man in question disappeared before we got any sort of resolution between the two. I also was intrigued by the alchemy, the "child" and all the lore surrounding the fae, but none of it was really revealed to me in this book which was disappointing. It felt like this book should have been a lot longer, like there was more to be told but it either was left for the next book or cut out entirely.
Despite having things I didn't love in this book, there were so many moments that brought the book back around, especially the reveal at the end! Honestly, I love both Seregil & Alec so much, I doubt I could ever dislike a book involving them in it! And seeing Sebrahn live up to that prophecy in the last book was so satisfying! (Not to mention the wholesome parent/child interactions between Sebrahn & the boys were so cute!) That's what I really loved about this book, the way it drew back on past events, past experiences and past relationships is what made this a juicy entry into the story and I can't wait to learn more!
& Story: (5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I adore this series with my whole heart & have been waiting impatiently to read this next book in the series! There were definitely things about this book I wasn't crazy about, so let's start there.
Seregil & Alec can never catch a break! Seriously, Seregil has got to have some of the worst luck I've ever seen from a series protagonist, as misfortune follows him around like a heavy cloud. The title was apt for this book as some "shadows" from his past come back to haunt him – and I didn't know if I should be proud to see Seregil start that long process of forgiveness or disappointed that the man in question disappeared before we got any sort of resolution between the two. I also was intrigued by the alchemy, the "child" and all the lore surrounding the fae, but none of it was really revealed to me in this book which was disappointing. It felt like this book should have been a lot longer, like there was more to be told but it either was left for the next book or cut out entirely.
Despite having things I didn't love in this book, there were so many moments that brought the book back around, especially the reveal at the end! Honestly, I love both Seregil & Alec so much, I doubt I could ever dislike a book involving them in it! And seeing Sebrahn live up to that prophecy in the last book was so satisfying! (Not to mention the wholesome parent/child interactions between Sebrahn & the boys were so cute!) That's what I really loved about this book, the way it drew back on past events, past experiences and past relationships is what made this a juicy entry into the story and I can't wait to learn more!
callunavulgari's review against another edition
4.0
For the first third or so of this book, I wasn't sure I would like it. The bits that I read were... boring isn't the right word, but the pages lacked that instant grab that I appreciated so much of the past few books. Then there's the fact that for a good portion of this book, alec and seregil are separated. So, I thought, okay, hey maybe some of the magic is gone. Whatever, one not so brilliant book out of the first four isn't a bad thing. And then i read the majority of the rest of it in one sitting. The alchemy in this book is a good deal darker than things have been in the last few books. Probably the darkest things since the necromancer in the second book. But it was interesting and parts were horrifying, but all in all, I'm definitely more pleased with it than I thought I'd be.
premium_huhn's review against another edition
3.0
Wie gesagt ein sehr düsteres Buch, in dem, ich lehne mich mal an eine der anderen Rezensionen auf Goodreads an, die Protagonisten entführt, versklavt, vergiftet, gefoltert, gedemütigt und missbraucht werden - und das ist nur die erste Hälfte. Mir persönlich wars stellenweise zu viel. Insbesondere deswegen, weil die beiden Helden der Geschichte die meiste Zeit über absolut chancenlos sind. Sie können sich weder wehren, noch flüchten und haben keine Aussichten auf Besserung und keine Hoffnung, zumal sie über weite Teile des Buches nicht einmal sicher sind, ob der jeweils andere überhaupt noch am Leben ist. Und dieses alchemistische Experiment ist rundweg... weird. Nichtsdestotrotz war das Buch spannend und ab einem gewissen Punkt gehts auch wieder bergauf. Dennoch... die ein oder andere "der Protagonist wird halbtot geprügelt"-Szene weniger hätte dem Ganzen sicher nicht geschadet.