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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
i’m so far loving the series! scarlett has gotten on my nerves a few times but i’m enjoying the story nonetheless!
also that ending?!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FMC gets annoying in so many ways which I am trying really hard to rationalize as a trauma response to years of abuse and hardships. However, the plot does have depth and the author expands the tension/romantic agony across the first two books and I'm sitting here rolling my eyes as it stretches. FMC gets annoying MMC is also dense. They fall into very typical tropes of withholding information, acceptance, love, and REPEATING THE CYCLE OVER AND OVER. There's quite a few more books after this and I'm not sure how much more I can take.
However, I do enjoy the world building. It is done pretty well although it does get confusing sometimes.
However, I do enjoy the world building. It is done pretty well although it does get confusing sometimes.
Holy crap—this book! I never thought I’d find a series that could rival Throne of Glass, let alone surpass it, but this one? It did exactly that. Lady of Shadows is part of a series that delivers an incredible depth of maturity, masterful world-building, and characters so complex and layered, they feel entirely real. This has officially become my new Roman Empire—I can’t stop thinking about it, and I don't want to.
One of the things I love most is how the author plays with perception. Characters you initially dislike slowly unfold into something far more compelling as you begin to understand their backstories and perspectives. They aren’t villains—they’re human, shaped by trauma, duty, and heartache. The emotional payoff from these arcs is incredibly satisfying.
And that ending? That final sentence? Absolutely criminal. Straight to jail.
If you love high-stakes fantasy with deep emotional resonance and unforgettable characters, go read this book. Immediately.
One of the things I love most is how the author plays with perception. Characters you initially dislike slowly unfold into something far more compelling as you begin to understand their backstories and perspectives. They aren’t villains—they’re human, shaped by trauma, duty, and heartache. The emotional payoff from these arcs is incredibly satisfying.
And that ending? That final sentence? Absolutely criminal. Straight to jail.
If you love high-stakes fantasy with deep emotional resonance and unforgettable characters, go read this book. Immediately.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
99% of their issues would be resolved with communication
More Scarlett tantrums, when she can't have her way. Everyone has to cater to what she wants. In one scene, she can't go with Sorin to a meeting with the Fey Queens and their seconds, as there are laws and rules within Fey politics (ones that have dangerous nuances, to boot) and yet she totally blows up like a toddler. She literally gets snotty when it's clear she can't win the argument, and shouts "I do not care, and you can all go to hell".
Seriously? All the scene needed to make it a true little kid tantrum was for her to throw herself on the floor of the proverbial produce aisle and flail her legs, while screaming.
It all just reinforces how absolutely immature Scarlett is, and she's absolutely not changing or learning as the story goes on. It's annoying, as a reader.
The whole situation with Callan is ridiculous, too. No one's setting FIRM boundaries about the fact that Scarlett doesn't want to be romantically linked with him ever again. He's an asinine child for continually refusing to accept the reality of the situation (especially when she explains it to him more than once), but when it becomes obvious how obtuse and delusional he is about it, they don't really move to shut down his bullshit and make it clear to him how serious she is. Scarlett continues spending time alone with him, which allows him to continually bring it up and repeatedly push her about it.
I'll probably read the third book, but I don't know that I can take much more of this.
Seriously? All the scene needed to make it a true little kid tantrum was for her to throw herself on the floor of the proverbial produce aisle and flail her legs, while screaming.
It all just reinforces how absolutely immature Scarlett is, and she's absolutely not changing or learning as the story goes on. It's annoying, as a reader.
The whole situation with Callan is ridiculous, too. No one's setting FIRM boundaries about the fact that Scarlett doesn't want to be romantically linked with him ever again. He's an asinine child for continually refusing to accept the reality of the situation (especially when she explains it to him more than once), but when it becomes obvious how obtuse and delusional he is about it, they don't really move to shut down his bullshit and make it clear to him how serious she is. Scarlett continues spending time alone with him, which allows him to continually bring it up and repeatedly push her about it.
I'll probably read the third book, but I don't know that I can take much more of this.
3.5⭐️
Overall I remain intrigued by the world and characters. I think some pacing issues still here as the first 60% but especially like 30-60% could have been better. Last 40% though was great. Sorin I honestly find a bit bland but love the other members of fire court and many from other courts.
Overall I remain intrigued by the world and characters. I think some pacing issues still here as the first 60% but especially like 30-60% could have been better. Last 40% though was great. Sorin I honestly find a bit bland but love the other members of fire court and many from other courts.