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heabooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
SHADOWBLADE was an interesting fantasy adventure that follows the plucky and determined Naia as she gains her Jaihair status and then embarks on her first mission. I enjoyed the world that Anna Kashina has created; it's filled with intrigue, manipulations, and several powerful entities all vying for control. The first half of the book was a bit slow and it took awhile for me to really get into the meat of the story. I wasn't expecting so much time to be spent on Naia's training but it does allow the reader to get to know her character.
At first Naia comes across as very young for her age. She starts the book at 17 but her voice and her actions "feel" younger. There are a few time jumps that in my opinion didn't work too smoothly but as the book continues, we see Naia start to come into herself more. While Naia certainly holds her own as a warrior and deserved every bit of her rank, I was bothered by the fact that Naia doesn't seem like the main character in her own story. Throughout the book Naia is led and manipulated into most of her actions and she spends much of the story simply reacting to things already happening or following the orders of others. There are very few instances where Naia is actually making her own decisions to progress the story. While a portion of Naia's lack of choice is built into the actual plot, she's far too passive for a main character.
The majority of plot progression came from side characters like Karrim, Mehtab, and Gassan. I enjoyed these characters and how they shaped the story, each with their own wants and desires for the empire. There is a bit of a love story between Naia and Karrim but it does happen very quickly. Naia and Karrim are pretty much smitten with each other after a single day for no apparent reason other than how much they enjoy sparring with each other. I would have liked to see better development in this part of the story because it felt a bit tacked on to give Karrim a reason to support Naia.
Overall, SHADOWBLADE was a good read with an interesting world, but it needed a stronger portrayal of it's main character.
ARC provided by author for honest review
At first Naia comes across as very young for her age. She starts the book at 17 but her voice and her actions "feel" younger. There are a few time jumps that in my opinion didn't work too smoothly but as the book continues, we see Naia start to come into herself more. While Naia certainly holds her own as a warrior and deserved every bit of her rank, I was bothered by the fact that Naia doesn't seem like the main character in her own story. Throughout the book Naia is led and manipulated into most of her actions and she spends much of the story simply reacting to things already happening or following the orders of others. There are very few instances where Naia is actually making her own decisions to progress the story. While a portion of Naia's lack of choice is built into the actual plot, she's far too passive for a main character.
The majority of plot progression came from side characters like Karrim, Mehtab, and Gassan. I enjoyed these characters and how they shaped the story, each with their own wants and desires for the empire. There is a bit of a love story between Naia and Karrim but it does happen very quickly. Naia and Karrim are pretty much smitten with each other after a single day for no apparent reason other than how much they enjoy sparring with each other. I would have liked to see better development in this part of the story because it felt a bit tacked on to give Karrim a reason to support Naia.
Overall, SHADOWBLADE was a good read with an interesting world, but it needed a stronger portrayal of it's main character.
ARC provided by author for honest review
per_fictionist's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely unpredictable and unputdownable Shadowblade by Anna Kashina has definitely own a spot on my top fantasies of 2019. Shadowblade has all the elements of a perfect fantasy betrayals, plot twists, strong characters, brilliant writing and a gripping storyline you name it.
Shadowblade centers around our protagonist Naia,the who is in the verge of to be expelled from her training academy on the pretext of attacking her mentor. But a visit from Dal Gassan,a honorary member of the Daljeer circle changes everything and Naia is deemed as one of the prospects eligible to be a Jaihar Blademaster,the top most position in her academy. The story then continues with Naia's training and later we get to see her impersonate princess Xarimet of Challimar. But for Naia, challenges donot cease and every step of the way she has to fight her way out of the mess her enemies create.
Anna Kashina has expectionally crafted the character of Naia, who luminescence as a fierce warrior who also doesn't hesitate in taking orders from her mentors when required. The camaraderie and respect she has for her seniors and her iron-will to always stand up for what is right is visible from the initial chapters. The chemistry between Naia and Jai Karim cannot be left without a mention because it was one thing that I lived for. The slowburn romance and the tug of love between the two warriors made the book every bit spicy.
As much as I loved the refreshing plot, at times I felt that it would have been better if we got a decent explanation or foundation course on how the Jaihar and Gassan society actually worked and the intricacies of their classes. But, I was also delighted to spot inclusions of various Indian elements like Shatranj ( chess) . It definitely has plenty of action and plotting with people changing sides often, a lot of court politics and unanswered questions.
I personally would have liked to experience more of Naia-Karim banter, of what happened in the three years of training(the author basically skips those years) and a more character driven plot rather than a plot that drives the characters.
But on the positive side: no cliched tropes, a relatable protagonist, intriguing court politics definitely stamps my four stars for this book.
Shadowblade centers around our protagonist Naia,the who is in the verge of to be expelled from her training academy on the pretext of attacking her mentor. But a visit from Dal Gassan,a honorary member of the Daljeer circle changes everything and Naia is deemed as one of the prospects eligible to be a Jaihar Blademaster,the top most position in her academy. The story then continues with Naia's training and later we get to see her impersonate princess Xarimet of Challimar. But for Naia, challenges donot cease and every step of the way she has to fight her way out of the mess her enemies create.
Anna Kashina has expectionally crafted the character of Naia, who luminescence as a fierce warrior who also doesn't hesitate in taking orders from her mentors when required. The camaraderie and respect she has for her seniors and her iron-will to always stand up for what is right is visible from the initial chapters. The chemistry between Naia and Jai Karim cannot be left without a mention because it was one thing that I lived for. The slowburn romance and the tug of love between the two warriors made the book every bit spicy.
As much as I loved the refreshing plot, at times I felt that it would have been better if we got a decent explanation or foundation course on how the Jaihar and Gassan society actually worked and the intricacies of their classes. But, I was also delighted to spot inclusions of various Indian elements like Shatranj ( chess) . It definitely has plenty of action and plotting with people changing sides often, a lot of court politics and unanswered questions.
I personally would have liked to experience more of Naia-Karim banter, of what happened in the three years of training(the author basically skips those years) and a more character driven plot rather than a plot that drives the characters.
But on the positive side: no cliched tropes, a relatable protagonist, intriguing court politics definitely stamps my four stars for this book.
sarahrosebooks's review against another edition
2.0
This was a strange one. Strange in that it was compulsively readable, but also incredibly predictable, with bland characters and no real tension or conflict.
The main character, Naia, was intriguing at first, which is why I kept reading, but she ends up being one of those characters that defeats every obstacle put in front of her. She also falls for the first guy who is even remotely nice to her. The author takes care to note that she's not incredibly beautiful, but most men seem to fawn over her anyway.
Her Super Specialness is joined by Jai Karrim, a shadowblade who helps Naia at the start of the book, and after spending one day with her decides she's the best thing since sliced bread and he wants her. Likewise for Naia. Apparently all you need is one day to become obsessed with someone.
The two spend very little time together, but at the first opportunity jump into bed together and declare their undying love for each other after virtually no time spent together (despite it being over three years since their first meeting). I felt no real chemistry, no build up, no getting to know each other, no nothing. The romance is just there for the sake of it, and it annoyed the hell out of me. I don't mind a well-written romance in a fantasy story, but I hate insta-love romances that are just there for the sake of it.
The plot was completely predictable, to the point where I knew who the villain was almost straight away. As stated before, Naia overcomes what little obstacles appear in her way with little effort, mostly because other people swarm around her to make the journey she has incredibly easy. Naia is also gullible enough to believe everything she's told, which is one of her only faults, really.
The writing was okay, enough to keep me reading, but as said before, I wasn't really enamoured with any of the characters, I predicted the plot, the romance was bland and uninteresting a bit insta-lovey for my tastes, and the ending fell a bit flat.
I should probably note that one of the few good points about this, apart from how readable it was, was the whole 'atmosphere' - set in a desert-like world, it seems to take inspiration from various cultures, and this too made me want to keep reading. I liked the world, what little we saw of it, and I wished the rest of the story could have made it worth my while to keep reading this one.
Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this an outstanding fantasy story - there are much better ones out there. It can pass away a day or so if you've nothing better to do, though.
The main character, Naia, was intriguing at first, which is why I kept reading, but she ends up being one of those characters that defeats every obstacle put in front of her
Spoiler
and only ends up being bettered by hypnosis, and even that doesn't entirely work on herHer Super Specialness is joined by Jai Karrim, a shadowblade who helps Naia at the start of the book, and after spending one day with her decides she's the best thing since sliced bread and he wants her. Likewise for Naia. Apparently all you need is one day to become obsessed with someone.
The two spend very little time together, but at the first opportunity jump into bed together and declare their undying love for each other after virtually no time spent together (despite it being over three years since their first meeting). I felt no real chemistry, no build up, no getting to know each other, no nothing. The romance is just there for the sake of it, and it annoyed the hell out of me. I don't mind a well-written romance in a fantasy story, but I hate insta-love romances that are just there for the sake of it.
The plot was completely predictable, to the point where I knew who the villain was almost straight away. As stated before, Naia overcomes what little obstacles appear in her way with little effort, mostly because other people swarm around her to make the journey she has incredibly easy. Naia is also gullible enough to believe everything she's told, which is one of her only faults, really.
The writing was okay, enough to keep me reading, but as said before, I wasn't really enamoured with any of the characters, I predicted the plot, the romance was bland and uninteresting a bit insta-lovey for my tastes, and the ending fell a bit flat.
I should probably note that one of the few good points about this, apart from how readable it was, was the whole 'atmosphere' - set in a desert-like world, it seems to take inspiration from various cultures, and this too made me want to keep reading. I liked the world, what little we saw of it, and I wished the rest of the story could have made it worth my while to keep reading this one.
Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this an outstanding fantasy story - there are much better ones out there. It can pass away a day or so if you've nothing better to do, though.
bookfortbuilder's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
leahlo's review against another edition
5.0
The cover missed the mark, but as they say, "Never judge a book..." This was a quality fantasy read with original magical themes, badass warriors involved in realistic battle scenes, a well thought out and perfectly paced plot, a romantic subplot that didn't overreach, and a protagonist I believed in. Great stuff.
thewoollygeek's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing read, Anastasia retelling and I love it so much. Fast paced, full of action. Keeps you guessing all the time with lots f twists and turns. Great characters and chemistry. A highly recommended read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
i_hype_romance's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the original concept of this plot. The heroine is part of an elaborate scheme and poses as the long lost heir to the throne. However, the love at first sight aspect of the story was unbelievable and unrealistic. It felt contrived and rushed, undermining the other solid elements. The secondary character development fell short as well.
There were several grammatical errors, primarily in sentence structure, and word choices that did not fit into the context of the paragraph.
There were several grammatical errors, primarily in sentence structure, and word choices that did not fit into the context of the paragraph.
the_discworldian's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable and another fairly strong argument for picking a book at semi-random off a library shelf (although prior picks [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825] and [b:Lightless|29092928|Lightless (Lightless, #1)|C.A. Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456690479l/29092928._SX50_.jpg|44848461] are significantly stronger). It went quickly, but I don't think I'll really remember much about it in a year. The crystal leech plot thread was the most interesting and the only piece I didn't find standard fare for a lost heir, young woman coming-of-age and being good at swords kind of book. Because it's well-written and made me want to keep reading, I might have given it four stars, but the world-building just wasn't there, so down to three.
jaclynder's review against another edition
2.0
It's rare for there to be fantasy romances right now, so I am so disappointed that Shadowblade missed the mark for me. Insta romance is just not my thing, although the audio narrator did keep me invested much longer than I would have had I read this exclusively in print. Not a bad book, just a "meh" for me.
lindzy's review against another edition
4.0
Full review here
I was dubious about Shadowblade as the average rating on Goodreads is around 3*. While I often feel disappointed by books that have a lot of hype surrounding them, I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite was true this time.
Naia is an orphan with no clue to who she is. Taken in by elite warriors, she works to prove herself as a powerful fighter to join their ranks. Her temper makes her enemies, while her good heart gets her into trouble.
Naia is a likeable character. At times, her temper does seem extreme and I doubted whether someone would lash out with such violence given the circumstances. But you understand why she does. She is always anxious to prove herself, whether to her superiors or to herself. She feels things deeply; determined to protect those less able than herself and unwillingly to sacrifice the love she felt for someone even when things turn against her. She doesn’t see things in black and white, which meant her reactions weren’t predictable.
Karrim, part love-interest, part-strongest-warrior-in-the-land was my favourite character. No one can match him with weapons, but he, too, has a good heart and he lightened a number of scenes with his humour.
Other characters – Gassan, the man who set the whole thing in motion, Mehtab, Naia’s teacher and Arsat, head of the Jaihar warriors – help shape Naia into the woman she becomes and you like/dislike them just the way you’re supposed to, following Naia’s emotions.
When a betrayal was revealed (I’m not mentioning names here), I was unsure of its positioning in the book, despite starting to have suspicions. However, the change in narration and switch in view point to other characters worked to keep the plot moving forward, even when Naia isn’t fully aware of a situation.
The pacing felt slow: the majority of the book is setting up Naia’s skills and chance to take on the assignment. But it meant you connected with the characters and while the tension wasn’t high, it didn’t drag. You got invested in the characters as well as the plot.
The latter part of the book had a much stronger pace and the tension was higher, helped by the changes in narration. It could have been a very strong book if this stretched for the entire thing, but I still found it enjoyable.
There are a few explicit sex scenes in the book: two in particular. The first one didn’t work for me; it completely stalled the rhythm just to explore the emotions from both parties involved, which made it feel it dragged. Again, that worried me about the rest of the book, but it thankfully picked up momentum after that. The second scene felt more natural. The scenes work if they advance the plot, but the initial one felt it was in there for the sake of it.
I enjoyed this book. It was well-developed and had a satisfying end, which makes a change from leaving it open for a sequel.
I was dubious about Shadowblade as the average rating on Goodreads is around 3*. While I often feel disappointed by books that have a lot of hype surrounding them, I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite was true this time.
Naia is an orphan with no clue to who she is. Taken in by elite warriors, she works to prove herself as a powerful fighter to join their ranks. Her temper makes her enemies, while her good heart gets her into trouble.
Naia is a likeable character. At times, her temper does seem extreme and I doubted whether someone would lash out with such violence given the circumstances. But you understand why she does. She is always anxious to prove herself, whether to her superiors or to herself. She feels things deeply; determined to protect those less able than herself and unwillingly to sacrifice the love she felt for someone even when things turn against her. She doesn’t see things in black and white, which meant her reactions weren’t predictable.
Karrim, part love-interest, part-strongest-warrior-in-the-land was my favourite character. No one can match him with weapons, but he, too, has a good heart and he lightened a number of scenes with his humour.
Other characters – Gassan, the man who set the whole thing in motion, Mehtab, Naia’s teacher and Arsat, head of the Jaihar warriors – help shape Naia into the woman she becomes and you like/dislike them just the way you’re supposed to, following Naia’s emotions.
When a betrayal was revealed (I’m not mentioning names here), I was unsure of its positioning in the book, despite starting to have suspicions. However, the change in narration and switch in view point to other characters worked to keep the plot moving forward, even when Naia isn’t fully aware of a situation.
The pacing felt slow: the majority of the book is setting up Naia’s skills and chance to take on the assignment. But it meant you connected with the characters and while the tension wasn’t high, it didn’t drag. You got invested in the characters as well as the plot.
The latter part of the book had a much stronger pace and the tension was higher, helped by the changes in narration. It could have been a very strong book if this stretched for the entire thing, but I still found it enjoyable.
There are a few explicit sex scenes in the book: two in particular. The first one didn’t work for me; it completely stalled the rhythm just to explore the emotions from both parties involved, which made it feel it dragged. Again, that worried me about the rest of the book, but it thankfully picked up momentum after that. The second scene felt more natural. The scenes work if they advance the plot, but the initial one felt it was in there for the sake of it.
I enjoyed this book. It was well-developed and had a satisfying end, which makes a change from leaving it open for a sequel.