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katyanaish's review
2.0
This one was meh to me.
I think the problem was mostly that I didn't like Simon. I found him to be a judgmental douchecanoe. And Lily was ... eh, she had no backbone.
I was disappointed, because I thought the world was interesting. But the combination of the hypocritical Simon (I can lie to you and manipulate you, but if you keep one thing from me, you're an irredeemable whore) and the doormat Lily (no one will ever love me, I don't deserve it *gets emo snake-bite piercing*)... plus the asinine secondary characters (I hate the crusader types, so the Templars, and the Fae with their egomaniacal shitty behavior, were really really irritating).
Also, there was an alternating first-person POV in this book, and I have to admit it bugged the heck out of me.
Meh.
I think the problem was mostly that I didn't like Simon. I found him to be a judgmental douchecanoe. And Lily was ... eh, she had no backbone.
I was disappointed, because I thought the world was interesting. But the combination of the hypocritical Simon (I can lie to you and manipulate you, but if you keep one thing from me, you're an irredeemable whore) and the doormat Lily (no one will ever love me, I don't deserve it *gets emo snake-bite piercing*)... plus the asinine secondary characters (I hate the crusader types, so the Templars, and the Fae with their egomaniacal shitty behavior, were really really irritating).
Also, there was an alternating first-person POV in this book, and I have to admit it bugged the heck out of me.
Meh.
samrushingbooks's review
5.0
This book was addictive. Though it is a cliche to say so, with this book it is also fitting to say that I was drawn into the story and the characters' lives like a moth to a flame. These main two characters had secrets that they held from each other and they were written in such a beautiful way that it was difficult for the reader to discern those secrets either, which just increased that urge to read further. And though we knew the male lead--Simon's--name from the beginning, it took until page 89 or so to discover the female lead's name as most just referred to her as Shadow. I love the steampunky world and I absolutely cannot wait to read the second book--Blood Kin--closely followed by the third book--Iron Kin. Seriously, I am that in love with M.J. Scott. I will definitely be watching closely for more books by this wonderful author.
nickystrickland's review
4.0
I was very much looking forward to reading Shadow Kin & had been holding onto it as a reward book. I wasn't disappointed and look forward to Book 2.
I loved the world building that came through seamlessly as Lily and Simon told the story. The story was interesting all the way to the end and I ended up doing the sign of a very good book - I stayed up until I finished it (1.30am) to see what happened to both Lily and Simon. I also very much enjoyed the way the story was written, using two 1st person pov (& the markers in my edition of sun & moon made for easy, seamless switching).
All the characters were intriguing, well developed and had depths from Liam to Atherton to Ricco to Bryony and I felt a connection to each. I wonder if Guy will one day have his own story to tell.
A sign of a very good story is when the world and the characters linger which this book as accomplished.
I loved the world building that came through seamlessly as Lily and Simon told the story. The story was interesting all the way to the end and I ended up doing the sign of a very good book - I stayed up until I finished it (1.30am) to see what happened to both Lily and Simon. I also very much enjoyed the way the story was written, using two 1st person pov (& the markers in my edition of sun & moon made for easy, seamless switching).
All the characters were intriguing, well developed and had depths from Liam to Atherton to Ricco to Bryony and I felt a connection to each. I wonder if Guy will one day have his own story to tell.
A sign of a very good story is when the world and the characters linger which this book as accomplished.
deballen21's review
5.0
Wonderful debut by Mel Scott. Loved the world full of fae, wraiths and sunmages.
diaryofthebookdragon's review
3.0
Lily is Shadow kin, wraith, soulless, abomination... Enslaved by vampires, despised by fae, feared by most, her fan club has no members. Until she meets Simon. He is a sunmage, healer, personification of everything good and pure. And he likes her and wants to help her. That's when the trouble starts...
This book did not feel very original to me. Lily is a kick-ass heroine dressed in leathers and black (you for sure can name at least one more that fits that description...)
Everything is written in first person point of view and it alternates between Simon and Lily. It was very confusing and Simon's voice felt somehow girly to me...
I'm gonna give it another chance and read the next book because I hate not finishing series...
This book did not feel very original to me. Lily is a kick-ass heroine dressed in leathers and black (you for sure can name at least one more that fits that description...)
Everything is written in first person point of view and it alternates between Simon and Lily. It was very confusing and Simon's voice felt somehow girly to me...
I'm gonna give it another chance and read the next book because I hate not finishing series...
nakedsushi's review
3.0
A fun little romp into a vampire, werewolf, fairy world. I had misgivings because of the whole fairy thing, but the author tied all the paranormal elements in with the humans neatly. The lead character was kick-ass without being annoying and the love interest wasn't all caveman alpha-male except in some situations, which was okay. Toward the end, I wanted to bash Simon's head in because he was being so righteous but clueless, but he redeemed himself. There was enough sexy-time without it being too embarrassing. Will probably read the next book in the series.
snarkymotherreader's review
4.0
The assassin known simply as shadow among the Blood and the Night World is sent to kill the one being that can trap her in the light – a sunmage, able to summon light to illuminate her darkness. And he is not just any sunmage, either, but the brother of a Templar warrior who doesn’t take kindly to being attacked in his own home. Instead of killing the would-be assassin, the sunmage offers sanctuary and an escape from her psychotic vampiric master.
Shadow Kin by M. J. Scott takes a dash of fantasy, a splash of romance, and a pinch of badass monsters and mixes it up into a highly-enjoyable historical urban fantasy. There isn’t anything particularly new about the mythos involved in the story, and the politics of vampires, shapeshifters and fae are pretty cut and dry, but I still found myself unable to put the book down. Shadow’s place in the Night World and her struggle to free herself from the chains that bind her tugged at my heart strings. Granted, there are a few “what do you think you’re doing?!” moments, but that’s to be expected in a character’s journey from flunky to free woman.
Simon, on the other hand, lives up to too many hero clichés. He has the perfect name for a Templar relative – I couldn’t quit thinking about Val Kilmer in The Saint – and exhibits all the classic traits of a Good Hero, but there are times he treats shadow poorly. Yes, she’s an assassin, she was sent to kill him, and she has a Deep, Dark Secret. I get that. But you don’t treat someone you claim to care about the way he does. This is a common occurrence in fantasy/paranormal novels with a love angle, so it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story.
I hope future books in the Half-Light City focus on some of the side characters I met along the way, especially Atherton and Guy. Out of all the creatures, killers, and warriors in this crazy/intriguing world, they caught my attention the most. Trust me, once you read Shadow Kin, you’ll understand why.
Shadow Kin by M. J. Scott takes a dash of fantasy, a splash of romance, and a pinch of badass monsters and mixes it up into a highly-enjoyable historical urban fantasy. There isn’t anything particularly new about the mythos involved in the story, and the politics of vampires, shapeshifters and fae are pretty cut and dry, but I still found myself unable to put the book down. Shadow’s place in the Night World and her struggle to free herself from the chains that bind her tugged at my heart strings. Granted, there are a few “what do you think you’re doing?!” moments, but that’s to be expected in a character’s journey from flunky to free woman.
Simon, on the other hand, lives up to too many hero clichés. He has the perfect name for a Templar relative – I couldn’t quit thinking about Val Kilmer in The Saint – and exhibits all the classic traits of a Good Hero, but there are times he treats shadow poorly. Yes, she’s an assassin, she was sent to kill him, and she has a Deep, Dark Secret. I get that. But you don’t treat someone you claim to care about the way he does. This is a common occurrence in fantasy/paranormal novels with a love angle, so it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story.
I hope future books in the Half-Light City focus on some of the side characters I met along the way, especially Atherton and Guy. Out of all the creatures, killers, and warriors in this crazy/intriguing world, they caught my attention the most. Trust me, once you read Shadow Kin, you’ll understand why.
chllybrd's review
4.0
reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
Another fabulous cover that reeled me in. Lily is a wraith. She is hated by every Fae because she is a wraith and feared because she is the assassin slave to Lucius. The day Lucius sends Lily out to kill a human named Simon everything in Lily's life changed.
The world that Lily grows up in has made her think very little of herself so she keeps to herself, doesn't show any feelings and kills who and when she is told to. She is sent out to kill Simon and when it doesn't go as planned he is the first person to treat her like she is someone worth knowing. The story switches back and forth between Simon and Lily's POV. It was easy to keep up with things and it only added to the story to read what either person was feeling about things at the time. I was happy with the way the story progressed at most points but i found the middle to be a tad bit slow. There was times where I wanted to yell at one or the other for not understanding the other better but that is all part of a great story. The emotions came across well. Simon and Lily had great chemistry. There is a great mixture of paranormal creatures. The world that the story takes place is well described. SHADOW KIN lived up to its cover and I will be picking up book 2 BLOOD KIN in June so I can continue the story.
Another fabulous cover that reeled me in. Lily is a wraith. She is hated by every Fae because she is a wraith and feared because she is the assassin slave to Lucius. The day Lucius sends Lily out to kill a human named Simon everything in Lily's life changed.
The world that Lily grows up in has made her think very little of herself so she keeps to herself, doesn't show any feelings and kills who and when she is told to. She is sent out to kill Simon and when it doesn't go as planned he is the first person to treat her like she is someone worth knowing. The story switches back and forth between Simon and Lily's POV. It was easy to keep up with things and it only added to the story to read what either person was feeling about things at the time. I was happy with the way the story progressed at most points but i found the middle to be a tad bit slow. There was times where I wanted to yell at one or the other for not understanding the other better but that is all part of a great story. The emotions came across well. Simon and Lily had great chemistry. There is a great mixture of paranormal creatures. The world that the story takes place is well described. SHADOW KIN lived up to its cover and I will be picking up book 2 BLOOD KIN in June so I can continue the story.
ria_mhrj's review
2.0
Shadow Kin boasts an interesting world with a unique take on familiar fantasy creatures. The heroine's struggle to find a place to belong had a huge amount of potential and when the politics of the society were explored, my interest was held.
But alas, the majority of the characters didn't work for me. Starting with the villain, Lucius is meant to be a creature of terror with sinister plans for both our heroes and the city as a whole. He is just plain bad without any real depth or clear motivations beyond a lust for power and this bothered me - given the relationship with Lily and his role in society, I felt much more could have been done with this character.
Worryingly, I preferred Lucius to Simon, the ostensible hero. Gah! He made me so mad. Self-righteous, smug and frustratingly blinkered to all views but his own, Simon got off to a good start but did not experience any growth or development as the novel progressed - the traits I listed before are not always unforgivable, provided there is some hint of change, but there was no such hope for Simon.
Finally, there's Lily. Again, there was huge potential with this character given her circumstances, but ultimately she was the sum of her history and her abilities and little else, and I never felt I got under her skin at any point. And she lost my respect for offering an unnecessary apology to a certain character. There should have been more to her.
The world building deserves praise but when it comes to the books I read, I need to care and sympathise with SOMEONE and sadly this was missing for me in Shadow Kin.
But alas, the majority of the characters didn't work for me. Starting with the villain, Lucius is meant to be a creature of terror with sinister plans for both our heroes and the city as a whole. He is just plain bad without any real depth or clear motivations beyond a lust for power and this bothered me - given the relationship with Lily and his role in society, I felt much more could have been done with this character.
Worryingly, I preferred Lucius to Simon, the ostensible hero. Gah! He made me so mad. Self-righteous, smug and frustratingly blinkered to all views but his own, Simon got off to a good start but did not experience any growth or development as the novel progressed - the traits I listed before are not always unforgivable, provided there is some hint of change, but there was no such hope for Simon.
Finally, there's Lily. Again, there was huge potential with this character given her circumstances, but ultimately she was the sum of her history and her abilities and little else, and I never felt I got under her skin at any point. And she lost my respect for offering an unnecessary apology to a certain character. There should have been more to her.
The world building deserves praise but when it comes to the books I read, I need to care and sympathise with SOMEONE and sadly this was missing for me in Shadow Kin.