Reviews - Cień utraconego świata

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3.79k reviews for:

Cień utraconego świata

James Islington

4.06 AVERAGE

gavbabyy's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

hastyentreads's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kliolupa's review against another edition

3.5

The Shadow of What Was Lost is an ambitious start to James Islington’s The Licanius Trilogy. Although it is not the best fantasy i have read, it’s a solid entry in modern epic fantasy.

The book offers good action and a plot that, despite its complexity, remains easy to follow. The pacing is also steady enough that I never felt lost in the details, which is impressive for a debut.

That said, there were moments that broke the immersion for me. Early in the journey, for example, the protagonists are locked in a room with the dead body of someone they just saw murdered. Hours later, they simply move on as if nothing had happened, no reflection, no emotional fallout. It made the characters feel far too “green,” almost detached, and I struggled to believe they wouldn’t be more deeply affected by what they experienced. This lack of consequence made some of the character work feel shallow.

Overall, I liked the book but didn’t love it. The foundation is good, the action is engaging, and the story has real potential, but the characters could use more depth and nuance. Still, I’ve heard the series improves as it goes, and I’m curious enough to pick up the sequel down the line.

madluck's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark tense 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

bgirard342's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

mbs1236's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A book of 3 parts. The first third I enjoyed it but it was your usual epic fantasy tale. The next third i began to enjoy it more and was much more involved as more of the lore began to be revealed and more questions and mysteries were there to be seen. The final third or about 300 pages were magnificent. I loved them so much that I managed to read it all within a day. I have not read this many pages in a day in many months and I have no regret that it was this book that made me read this much.

From this book I can see many of the similarities to The Wheel of Time and some to The Cosmere as well though more to The Wheel of Time with especially the prologue. All 4 of the POVs (Davian, Wirr, Asha and Caeden) were great and I loved all of them and their stories. The action was great, the lore was great and the time travelling aspect also really interests me (though I am not usually a fan of this trope). The amount of questions of what is happening were great and showed a great amount of care done by the author in this book with none of these conflicting each other too.

The final battle was very enjoyable and some reveals were insane to me (Northwarden). I really liked Caeden taking Licanius to me (gave me WOT vibes with Rand taking Callandhor). Also the epilogue was just amazing and had me shocked. A great and amazing 1st book to the Licanius Trilogy.