861 reviews for:

The Shadow Wand

Laurie Forest

3.95 AVERAGE


Overall an enjoyable edition to the series but it seemed to drag on in the middle. I feel like part of the story could have been cut out and still achieved the same impact and ending. I am glad I was right about Lukas - I really hope he isn’t actually dead. I had a feeling Yvan wasn’t dead but I’m glad this was confirmed. I wonder how she is going to explain her cheating but she just took there word that Yvan was dead with no real proof. Girl is unfaithful. I personally liked Lukas better than Yvan but she told him she would wait for him so like ????! Anyways I need a break from this series it’s feeling never ending. 

At this point I’m not sure if I like this book or if I just want to know what happens. This book felt like a filler. It was too long, nothing really happened but also lots of things happened? I’m going to read the next one. I struggle with weak female characters and Elloren is exhausting. I’m hoping she is finally “strong” in the next one. 
adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I love this series! I can’t believe I have to wait until September for the next book!!

I’m terrified for the next book

I really liked getting other perspectives?? I did not enjoy Elloren demanding to train and then getting upset when training was hard. Oh man, what a series. I don't even know.

I really enjoyed this book apart from
the bits where Lukas and Elloren had to have sex to keep the magic shield up that was protecting Elloren. Really? Was that necessary? To the point that even when they were escaping from the evil that was pursuing them, they needed regular breaks to have make-out sessions to strengthen the shield. It just felt forced.


I enjoyed the perspective on purity culture, natalism, and religious ideologies. I loved the characters of the friend of all winged creatures, Wynter and the water Fae, Tierney. 

I liked how the author hadn't made Elloren overpowered - Elloren still faced issues with confidence and paralysing fear. It was nice to read the growth of her skills. 

I'm looking forward to reading the next book!
adventurous emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous sad fast-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

The only (actually 2) good thing about this book was Tierney's and Trystan's story. I would love to read more of their stories than the arranged-marriage trope we were presented with.

This book felt like an ENTIRELY new book. Where was the character growth we spectated for the last two books? Where's Yvan? Why this Yvan-is-dead drama took place? I didn't even believe for a second he was dead. So why this Lukas-Elloren drama took place? Why???!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so angry I can't even orderly write down the reasons why I didn't like this book. So please bear with me as I try to write down my jumbling thoughts.

Diana. Aislinn. Rafe. Andras. Jarod. Where are the gangs? We see Aislinn for a second and then she's out. The characters we come to love and care for are gone. [Also I was hoping Ariel survived somehow. But she's dead?!! Then why her death was handled so poorly? It had no impact on me:"(]

Lukas. I wrote in my first review that I was glad Lukas wasn't some royal-looks-hardcore-but-actually-a- softy. But guess WHAT! He actually is! Also cherry on top he had a traumatic childhood. This sudden transformation is absurd. Suddenly Lukas is a Hero?! I mean I liked him as the practical, somewhat cold but flirty character but now he's a softy hero who plays the role of a playboy (like EVERY cliche character ever). And don't even start me on the romance. The forced romance was cringe at best. Just waste. Waste of plot.

Elloren. Like I said, the character growth we saw somehow vanished in this book. If you start from this book without reading the previous two, it's unlikely you'll be able to tell what you've missed. Except why Vogel is a threat. But then again, the fear of him are like nonexistent in this book. The tension that was built in book 2, we can't feel it anymore. And Elloren wasste one FREAKING book playing the role of damsel-in-distress. I can't believe it.

Well, I hope the next book will be better. I hope Laurie Forest can move past the horror that took place in this book and write an amazing sequel. Finger Crossed.