Reviews - Shadows So Cruel

2.07k reviews for:

Shadows So Cruel

Liv Zander

3.89 AVERAGE

alaynamc's review

2.0

dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I almost did not finish this book soooo many times but I pushed through. It was incredibly underwhelming, predictable, slow, and just boring. Couldn’t keep my attention. The first book was way better, and I even wouldn’t really say I loved that one. Oh well, onto the next!

sorceryandstarlight's review

3.5

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lsharpe's review

3.25

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

whalesharkww's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

This is dark (read the trigger warnings!) but I thought the character went above and beyond run of the mill romantasy books. It was unexpectedly good from that perspective.

christajdg's review

5.0

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

6 star read, this will stick with me for a while... I'm going to be thinking about these books and chasing this high 😭

thebookishbiker's review

4.5

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

That. Was. Rude. 😭 The shadows may be cruel but so is Liv Zander for putting the readers through whatever that was. I thought I’d prepared myself for the turmoil I had heard this book would cause… I was not ready. Nothing could have prepared me. This duology is beautiful, dark, emotional story with great character growth, political intrigue, and world building with found family vibes. This book in particular seemed a little less spicy than the first but the plot was quickly moving and evolving. The relationships between Galantia, Malyr and Sebian were raw and believable. The multiple POV perspectives added depth to the storytelling that, ultimately, added to the emotional damage dealt by this heart-wrenching story. It may be one of the darkest fantasy series I have read mind the triggers, especially if you have a weak stomach against gore. Overall, I am in awe that a relatively short duology could invoke the feelings these two books just put me through. I’m going to be thinking and talking about this duology for a while. It did not disappoint.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
#shadowssocruel #emotionaldamage #livzander #sebianandmalyr #romantasy

Content Warnings

all_about_them_audiobooks's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Enjoyed the second book but was not happy with one of the main characters being killed 😫 this book also had a few parts that felt dragged out (only because it was so predictable)…Also, again very, very dark and some scenes are just brutal.

❤️ Malyr x Galanita