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melissasfandomworld's review against another edition
5.0
Omygodddd!! 5 beautiful stars for this amazing sequel!!
What a rush this read has been! Non-stop space adventure at it's best. I thought the first book, Shadow Run, was already amazing but this book blew me away even more so. The development of everything was incredibly well done; the character developments, the story-line development. Just amazing! And then those plot twists.. holy SH*T! Everything I came to love in the first book, was present in this one AND then some. I'm still on a high right now and I probably won't get off for a while, lol. What a great read!!
I sat on the edge of my seat non-stop! I cried, I loved, I hated, I fell apart... I experienced so many emotions! I FELT non-stop from beginning till end and this is how I need books to be. What a thrilling and amazing read Shadow Call has been and because of that wonderful first book and this amazing second book, this series so far is now definitely one of my favorites among the YA sci-fi genre. It may even be battling with the #1 spot that the Illuminae Files has conquered, so that’s saying something if you know how much I loooove the Illuminae books. There’s not 1 negative thing I could possibly say about this book. Whereas second books often tend to have that typical ‘second book syndrome’ thing going on, this was thankfully not the case with Shadow Call. At all. This book was even better than the first book, which was already amazing.
I love the characters all so much and their development in this sequel is astonishingly well done I think. They gained even more depth this time around and I loved experiencing this story with them. My heart broke for them, I cried with and for them, I loved alongside them, I fought with them. I just couldn’t get enough of it all and I NEED that next book like NOW.
The storyline development is out of this world good – literally, lol – and contained a lot of twists I didn’t see coming, which is something I’m sooo thrilled about. I love it when books surprise me story wise so A LOT OF KUDOS to both authors for accomplishing this.
The action scenes are so awesome and vividly written and it feels like I’m really watching a non-stop adventure movie in my head; just awesome! Safe to say I love the sci-fi settings in outer space and I loved exploring more worlds in this galaxy and I can’t wait to see how the story is going to continue knowing what happened in this book and how new stuff got introduced.
Shadow Call exceeded all my expectations and It’s safe to say that if you liked Shadow Run, you are going to devour Shadow Call and fall even harder for this amazing sci-fi story and these amazing characters.
What a rush this read has been! Non-stop space adventure at it's best. I thought the first book, Shadow Run, was already amazing but this book blew me away even more so. The development of everything was incredibly well done; the character developments, the story-line development. Just amazing! And then those plot twists.. holy SH*T! Everything I came to love in the first book, was present in this one AND then some. I'm still on a high right now and I probably won't get off for a while, lol. What a great read!!
I sat on the edge of my seat non-stop! I cried, I loved, I hated, I fell apart... I experienced so many emotions! I FELT non-stop from beginning till end and this is how I need books to be. What a thrilling and amazing read Shadow Call has been and because of that wonderful first book and this amazing second book, this series so far is now definitely one of my favorites among the YA sci-fi genre. It may even be battling with the #1 spot that the Illuminae Files has conquered, so that’s saying something if you know how much I loooove the Illuminae books. There’s not 1 negative thing I could possibly say about this book. Whereas second books often tend to have that typical ‘second book syndrome’ thing going on, this was thankfully not the case with Shadow Call. At all. This book was even better than the first book, which was already amazing.
I love the characters all so much and their development in this sequel is astonishingly well done I think. They gained even more depth this time around and I loved experiencing this story with them. My heart broke for them, I cried with and for them, I loved alongside them, I fought with them. I just couldn’t get enough of it all and I NEED that next book like NOW.
The storyline development is out of this world good – literally, lol – and contained a lot of twists I didn’t see coming, which is something I’m sooo thrilled about. I love it when books surprise me story wise so A LOT OF KUDOS to both authors for accomplishing this.
The action scenes are so awesome and vividly written and it feels like I’m really watching a non-stop adventure movie in my head; just awesome! Safe to say I love the sci-fi settings in outer space and I loved exploring more worlds in this galaxy and I can’t wait to see how the story is going to continue knowing what happened in this book and how new stuff got introduced.
Shadow Call exceeded all my expectations and It’s safe to say that if you liked Shadow Run, you are going to devour Shadow Call and fall even harder for this amazing sci-fi story and these amazing characters.
memoryoflife's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
This was such a good read!
Right off the bat, "Shadow Call" launches straight into the action, kicking off with a first chapter from the POV of Solara, who is set up to be the main antagonist of the book. And it doesn't slow down from there; within a few chapters, the inciting incident has occurred, triggering a chain of events that doesn't slow down until the very end of the book. Honestly, this book was much more fast-paced than the previous one — not that that's a bad thing, by any means, merely an observation!
Much like "Shadow Run," the characters are the real highlight of the story. Since everyone has already been established in the first book, "Shadow Call" takes the time to delve deeper into the characters, exploring more of them and their backstories. I'd say everyone got a good amount of screen time, though I am a little miffed at less Basra than before — but then again, he did have a lot to do in the final act of "Shadow Run" so I'm willing to let it slide. Telu got some more focus, with plenty of moments spent interacting with both Qole and Nev. But it's Eton who finally gets the spotlight; the book delves into more of his backstory, a backstory I won't touch on here. But it's well worth the wait to find out more about him. Aside from that, I enjoyed Devrak a lot; his presence in the story felt natural and I really liked his character. Also, Solara is a FANTASTIC antagonist! I enjoyed how stubborn she was, how much she worked for her own selfish gains. She felt like a genuine threat and was a great addition to the story.
I really liked how much greyer everyone’s morals felt in this book. Things like Eton taking matters into his own hands and sabotaging Nev to save Qole, against Qole’s wishes, but also Nev finally internalising the lesson he rejected in the first book, that there will always be sacrifices for the greater good. In the end, the thing that makes him different from his father, from the people before him, is what he chooses to fight for — in his case, the people he loves. In the end, it felt much more complex, and that added to my enjoyment of the novel.
One thing I appreciate is that “Shadow Call” wraps things up at the end. That’s not to say everything is done and over with; there are plenty of loose plot threads that seemed to have been setting up for a third book, one that I doubt we’ll get considering it’s been five years without another addition to the series. But the story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It ends with a moment of peace and tenderness, and a feeling of finality, despite the fact that there so obviously could be more. And I do truly appreciate that.
jacquibear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a strong follow up novel. I really still liked both POV that we got and thought it was unexpected twists and turns this novel took. I really liked how the world was expanded and how much more information we got about the world. I also liked the new villain the rose and also getting into that characters head was so fascinating. I grew to love the crew so much in this novel and loved how so many dynamics changed int his novel. I still enjoy the romance a lot and loved all the various twists and turns that occurred. This was a super fast read and I look forward to more books in this series
jenabrownwrites's review against another edition
4.0
"I know what you sound like when you're afraid. I know what you look like when you think you're about to die." Before everything could get too serious, he added, "What I don't know is what your favorite color is."
The crew of the Kaitan Heritage are back and they aren't taking prisoners! Harboring fugitives maybe, but definitely not prisoners.
Even though they've managed to escape with their lives, things aren't exactly back to normal. Nev is hiding on Alaxak, pretending to be a Shadow fisherman with the rest of the crew, exiled and disinherited, he is simply trying to figure out his new life. It isn't easy with Arjan, still angry at Nev for what his family inflicted on him. Or with Eton, still holding a grudge and willing to throw him out of an airlock, even though Nev saved his life. Only Telu and Basra seem to be willing to accept Nev for who he is. Not even Qole knows how to sort out her feelings for the ex-royal.
Before anyone has time to figure out how they feel, the Dracorte family pays Alaxak a visit. In an afternoon, the crew once again find themselves in the heart of turmoil. Nev accused of murder. Alaxak attacked. The Kaitan crew facing insurmountable odds at survival. Nev and Qole have to figure out how to stay one step ahead in order to stay alive. Even if it means surrendering themselves to the destinies they desperately fear.
"Loving someone didn't mean protecting them. It meant being willing to risk your life for something you believed to be greater."
Strickland and Miller do a fantastic job holding their cards close. The twists and turns in Shadow Call are surprising and well placed. Just when you think you understand a character, a motivation, or where you think the plot is going, they turn around and punch you in the face.
I loved how we got a deeper look into these characters in this sequel. Motivations are revealed, and the true nature of who they are begins to get clearer for everyone. We don't get all the answers we want, but we do get a better understanding of what secrets from the past cause the hurts of the present. Both in the specific instance of character development, but also in the history of the galaxy. While we are still left with plenty of questions unanswered, we get a solid glimpse of the path ahead. And holy hell is this ride far from over!
"The look that said, Someday, this lid will open, and then the screaming all commence in earnest."
The action is once again breathtaking, heart pounding, and intense. The stakes are raised in their fight for survival, and the battles are scaled up in tandem. Before this was one crew fighting to survive. We move to the larger galactic battle field in Shadow Call and it's spectacular! Nev has to face his true calling as King, and face everything that really means about who he is and what he wants. While Qole has to face the Shadow that lives in her body, with all it's lethal consequences.
Again I was struck with how well balanced this book is. The plot hangs perfectly between character driven momentum and action packed pacing. We get to see not just the fights and explosions but the reality of how that impacts the people behind them. Decisions on any scale have consequences, and Strickland and Miller give us the entire picture of what that burden feels like on all levels. How to find the strength to lead. How to do the right thing, especially when it's the hard thing. How to figure out what the greater good really is.
"Power is always dangerous to those who have none, and you cannot effect change without power."
Shadow Call is a solid sequel. We get more of everything. More of the characters. More action. More to lose. We meet new allies and face new villains. It's satisfying while simultaneously making you desperate for more. I do love how Strickland and Miller manage to write endings that feel like endings while leaving plenty of room for the next book.
This is fast-paced, non-stop space action. Even the slower moments are filled with tension as schemes unfold all around. If you loved Shadow Run, you'll devour Shadow Call. The perfect blend of action, intrigue, and a dash of slow-burn romance. I loved every minute!
Thank you Rockstar Book tours for including me on this awesome tour!
The crew of the Kaitan Heritage are back and they aren't taking prisoners! Harboring fugitives maybe, but definitely not prisoners.
Even though they've managed to escape with their lives, things aren't exactly back to normal. Nev is hiding on Alaxak, pretending to be a Shadow fisherman with the rest of the crew, exiled and disinherited, he is simply trying to figure out his new life. It isn't easy with Arjan, still angry at Nev for what his family inflicted on him. Or with Eton, still holding a grudge and willing to throw him out of an airlock, even though Nev saved his life. Only Telu and Basra seem to be willing to accept Nev for who he is. Not even Qole knows how to sort out her feelings for the ex-royal.
Before anyone has time to figure out how they feel, the Dracorte family pays Alaxak a visit. In an afternoon, the crew once again find themselves in the heart of turmoil. Nev accused of murder. Alaxak attacked. The Kaitan crew facing insurmountable odds at survival. Nev and Qole have to figure out how to stay one step ahead in order to stay alive. Even if it means surrendering themselves to the destinies they desperately fear.
"Loving someone didn't mean protecting them. It meant being willing to risk your life for something you believed to be greater."
Strickland and Miller do a fantastic job holding their cards close. The twists and turns in Shadow Call are surprising and well placed. Just when you think you understand a character, a motivation, or where you think the plot is going, they turn around and punch you in the face.
I loved how we got a deeper look into these characters in this sequel. Motivations are revealed, and the true nature of who they are begins to get clearer for everyone. We don't get all the answers we want, but we do get a better understanding of what secrets from the past cause the hurts of the present. Both in the specific instance of character development, but also in the history of the galaxy. While we are still left with plenty of questions unanswered, we get a solid glimpse of the path ahead. And holy hell is this ride far from over!
"The look that said, Someday, this lid will open, and then the screaming all commence in earnest."
The action is once again breathtaking, heart pounding, and intense. The stakes are raised in their fight for survival, and the battles are scaled up in tandem. Before this was one crew fighting to survive. We move to the larger galactic battle field in Shadow Call and it's spectacular! Nev has to face his true calling as King, and face everything that really means about who he is and what he wants. While Qole has to face the Shadow that lives in her body, with all it's lethal consequences.
Again I was struck with how well balanced this book is. The plot hangs perfectly between character driven momentum and action packed pacing. We get to see not just the fights and explosions but the reality of how that impacts the people behind them. Decisions on any scale have consequences, and Strickland and Miller give us the entire picture of what that burden feels like on all levels. How to find the strength to lead. How to do the right thing, especially when it's the hard thing. How to figure out what the greater good really is.
"Power is always dangerous to those who have none, and you cannot effect change without power."
Shadow Call is a solid sequel. We get more of everything. More of the characters. More action. More to lose. We meet new allies and face new villains. It's satisfying while simultaneously making you desperate for more. I do love how Strickland and Miller manage to write endings that feel like endings while leaving plenty of room for the next book.
This is fast-paced, non-stop space action. Even the slower moments are filled with tension as schemes unfold all around. If you loved Shadow Run, you'll devour Shadow Call. The perfect blend of action, intrigue, and a dash of slow-burn romance. I loved every minute!
Thank you Rockstar Book tours for including me on this awesome tour!
morgarelibrare's review against another edition
3.0
*Read at work for review for ROYAL*
Shadow Call, the sequel to Shadow Run, greatly improves upon the world built in book one, taking the characters we’ve already come to know and throwing them almost immediately into a political war full of action, adventure, betrayal, and love.
I am a huge fan of YA space operas; they’re most definitely my favorite genre to read, so when I saw this title at my review group for work, I snatched it up, already having had previous intentions of starting the series. Book one ended up being a bit of a drag, and while book two was a vast improvement, it still wasn’t my favorite of all the space adventures I’ve read.
Beginning not long after book one ends, Shadow Call opens with Nev, Qole, and their band of misfits faced with an accusation of murder and a new villain that they once thought of as an ally. The pacing felt a bit faster than book one, which is one of the improvements. There were fewer areas that felt dense or like they dragged on forever. I enjoyed the back and forth between all the characters, especially Telu. I adored her ability to sass people even in the heat of battle. Eton continues to be a wildcard, not trusting Nev, and going against his captain’s orders, which gets a little annoying from time to time. However, it is further explained where he came from, and some things from his past he endured which make his intentions a little more clear.
Basra continues to be wonderful, but needs so much more development. I enjoy Nev and Qole, but they get a little tedious after a while, going back and forth on why they can’t be together. I’d much rather have been given more information on Basra and his back story and how he came to be so powerful , rather than another repetitious scene of Nev and Qole once again rehashing the doomed future of their relationship.
Nev’s sister Solara is a bigger power player this time around, showing her true colors and thirst for villainy. Her plan was somewhat masterful and centered around her avoiding marriage and becoming sole ruler of basically the whole galaxy, but of course our heroes are not so in to letting that happen. The final battle at the end felt a little rushed to me, and it seemed as though Solara gave up way too quickly. She started strong, but in the end, she wasn’t the greatest villain. I feel like she had more layers that could have been unpacked to add to the story, and while there were some chapters from her point of view, I don’t know if they were enough.
Overall, this is a pretty solid series so far, and will definitely find love amongst readers, but it just didn’t stand out to me among some of the other YA Sci-Fi space operas out there.
Shadow Call, the sequel to Shadow Run, greatly improves upon the world built in book one, taking the characters we’ve already come to know and throwing them almost immediately into a political war full of action, adventure, betrayal, and love.
I am a huge fan of YA space operas; they’re most definitely my favorite genre to read, so when I saw this title at my review group for work, I snatched it up, already having had previous intentions of starting the series. Book one ended up being a bit of a drag, and while book two was a vast improvement, it still wasn’t my favorite of all the space adventures I’ve read.
Beginning not long after book one ends, Shadow Call opens with Nev, Qole, and their band of misfits faced with an accusation of murder and a new villain that they once thought of as an ally. The pacing felt a bit faster than book one, which is one of the improvements. There were fewer areas that felt dense or like they dragged on forever. I enjoyed the back and forth between all the characters, especially Telu. I adored her ability to sass people even in the heat of battle. Eton continues to be a wildcard, not trusting Nev, and going against his captain’s orders, which gets a little annoying from time to time. However, it is further explained where he came from, and some things from his past he endured which make his intentions a little more clear.
Basra continues to be wonderful, but needs so much more development. I enjoy Nev and Qole, but they get a little tedious after a while, going back and forth on why they can’t be together. I’d much rather have been given more information on Basra and his back story and how he came to be so powerful , rather than another repetitious scene of Nev and Qole once again rehashing the doomed future of their relationship.
Nev’s sister Solara is a bigger power player this time around, showing her true colors and thirst for villainy. Her plan was somewhat masterful and centered around her avoiding marriage and becoming sole ruler of basically the whole galaxy, but of course our heroes are not so in to letting that happen. The final battle at the end felt a little rushed to me, and it seemed as though Solara gave up way too quickly. She started strong, but in the end, she wasn’t the greatest villain. I feel like she had more layers that could have been unpacked to add to the story, and while there were some chapters from her point of view, I don’t know if they were enough.
Overall, this is a pretty solid series so far, and will definitely find love amongst readers, but it just didn’t stand out to me among some of the other YA Sci-Fi space operas out there.
aggiew3thrgirl's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series and cannot wait for more. The characters feel real, even though they are set in the future in another galaxy with royals and shadow fisherpeople. There's tons of action from the very start. The different points of view are wonderful. I love how all the characters are flawed in some way, and sometimes even their strengths can be flaws given the circumstance. Things are easy, and it just feels real.
Oh, and the twists and turns caught me totally off guard! I could not put Shadow Call down!
Oh, and the twists and turns caught me totally off guard! I could not put Shadow Call down!
britneys_reading_story's review
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? Yes
5.0
hollymbryan's review against another edition
5.0
This review and more can be found at my blog, Book-Keeping.
Wow, wow, wow. This series has become an instant favorite in the past two weeks or so as I have read - no, devoured - these two books. What a wild ride! I absolutely love science fiction, and as Beth Revis says, *everything* is better in space, right?! Well, this story is no exception! What a brilliant idea someone had for these two lovely folks to begin writing together. I initially thought they were married until I read the authors’ note at the end of the first book, where they mentioned their respective life partners. It amazes me that two people can be so mind-melded without that extra connection - like Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, or Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Well, you can now add AdriAnne and Michael to that esteemed list!
I had pre-ordered Shadow Run last year before it released, but I hadn’t had the chance to read it yet, so when I saw this tour announcement for Shadow Call, I jumped at the chance to take part. Lucky for me, I was slotted for a review, and then I got to binge read both books. I was blown away after reading the first book, and after coming down a bit from the exhilaration high, I jumped right in to the second book. It’s safe to say I was blown away by this one, too! These authors have created an amazing system (they don’t call it a solar system, but imagine that’s what it is), where each of the many planets are run by one of the eight ruling families. They’re basically monarchs over not just their own home planet, but multiple planets in the system. The planets often chafe at the heavy-handed rule-from-afar tactics, and often the people are doing their best to barely scrape by while the monarchs live in the lap of luxury. Nev and Qole are, therefore, basically oil and water, but they are determined to make their mixture work. But first, they must endure betrayals (even, sometimes, their own) and backstabbings and space battles that might just remind you of another scrappy ship captain and crew taking on a brutal dictatorial government with the help of a disguised monarch. :) I mean, doesn’t that sound amazing?! It is!!
The characters are my absolute favorite part of this series. Nev and Qole are amazing, of course, but truly every character is fleshed out and plays a part in one way or another. Basra is probably my favorite outside of our leads; what a badass, stunning character! Love, love, love Basra! The alternating chapters, told from the perspectives of Qole and Nev (and a special third voice in the second book), do an amazing job of keeping us in the know from all sides. It is such a joy to see Qole and Nev discover each other and figure out their place in each other’s lives, if such a place exists. The twists in the plot often had me gasping (and it’s not easy to really surprise me while reading!), and the betrayals had me repeating “OMG, OMG, OMG” or “nooooo!” or, I admit it, a curse word or two (in private!). I now feel like I’m in a relationship with these characters myself, like I’m on the Kaitan Heritage with the rest of the crew, seeing the swirl of colors and inky blackness of Shadow out in space. What. A. Ride.
Thank you so much to Rockstar Book Tours for having me on this blog tour, to Delacorte Press for the gorgeous copy of Shadow Call, and especially to AdriAnne and Michael for this story, these amazing characters, and the experience I had reading this series. Seriously, it rocketed straight to the top of my “favorite series” list while I was still reading book one, and the fact that book two was just as good, if not better, has me in awe of this writing partnership. To AdriAnne and Michael, I’d like to say: I am ready for more, y’all!!!
Rating: 5 out-of-this-world stars in the Shadow-filled reaches of space!
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part, and this is my honest rating and review.
Wow, wow, wow. This series has become an instant favorite in the past two weeks or so as I have read - no, devoured - these two books. What a wild ride! I absolutely love science fiction, and as Beth Revis says, *everything* is better in space, right?! Well, this story is no exception! What a brilliant idea someone had for these two lovely folks to begin writing together. I initially thought they were married until I read the authors’ note at the end of the first book, where they mentioned their respective life partners. It amazes me that two people can be so mind-melded without that extra connection - like Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, or Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Well, you can now add AdriAnne and Michael to that esteemed list!
I had pre-ordered Shadow Run last year before it released, but I hadn’t had the chance to read it yet, so when I saw this tour announcement for Shadow Call, I jumped at the chance to take part. Lucky for me, I was slotted for a review, and then I got to binge read both books. I was blown away after reading the first book, and after coming down a bit from the exhilaration high, I jumped right in to the second book. It’s safe to say I was blown away by this one, too! These authors have created an amazing system (they don’t call it a solar system, but imagine that’s what it is), where each of the many planets are run by one of the eight ruling families. They’re basically monarchs over not just their own home planet, but multiple planets in the system. The planets often chafe at the heavy-handed rule-from-afar tactics, and often the people are doing their best to barely scrape by while the monarchs live in the lap of luxury. Nev and Qole are, therefore, basically oil and water, but they are determined to make their mixture work. But first, they must endure betrayals (even, sometimes, their own) and backstabbings and space battles that might just remind you of another scrappy ship captain and crew taking on a brutal dictatorial government with the help of a disguised monarch. :) I mean, doesn’t that sound amazing?! It is!!
The characters are my absolute favorite part of this series. Nev and Qole are amazing, of course, but truly every character is fleshed out and plays a part in one way or another. Basra is probably my favorite outside of our leads; what a badass, stunning character! Love, love, love Basra! The alternating chapters, told from the perspectives of Qole and Nev (and a special third voice in the second book), do an amazing job of keeping us in the know from all sides. It is such a joy to see Qole and Nev discover each other and figure out their place in each other’s lives, if such a place exists. The twists in the plot often had me gasping (and it’s not easy to really surprise me while reading!), and the betrayals had me repeating “OMG, OMG, OMG” or “nooooo!” or, I admit it, a curse word or two (in private!). I now feel like I’m in a relationship with these characters myself, like I’m on the Kaitan Heritage with the rest of the crew, seeing the swirl of colors and inky blackness of Shadow out in space. What. A. Ride.
Thank you so much to Rockstar Book Tours for having me on this blog tour, to Delacorte Press for the gorgeous copy of Shadow Call, and especially to AdriAnne and Michael for this story, these amazing characters, and the experience I had reading this series. Seriously, it rocketed straight to the top of my “favorite series” list while I was still reading book one, and the fact that book two was just as good, if not better, has me in awe of this writing partnership. To AdriAnne and Michael, I’d like to say: I am ready for more, y’all!!!
Rating: 5 out-of-this-world stars in the Shadow-filled reaches of space!
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part, and this is my honest rating and review.