Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Shadows Return

Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling

9 reviews

pinxsol's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holy shit. This book was almost too hard to read. I have 3 more books with these characters to go, and yet in the middle of this I was genuinely worried that they were both gonna die. The story is just that well written, the suffering so real that my brain can't even comprehend the obvious, logical conclusion that they're gonna get through this. I had to take so many breaks in between some chapters to clear my head, because some scenes were just that oppressive.

I honestly applaud this book, for how much of a challenge it was. The emotions it put me through, I swear. It's like, the tea is piping hot, but it's the wrong kind of tea and you're choking on it but also kinda hating it and loving it both at the same time.

Traitor's Moon had me by the throat, but this one... has me like that *gestures at Khenir's nethers*

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dreamreader's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Honestly, I was afraid to read this for a long time, because the first three books are basically flawless and I was nervous that the publication gap between those three and this one would result in a story that just didn't feel the same. To my relief, I had nothing to worry about. Seregil and Alec, despite experiencing one of their most harrowing adventures yet, are steadfast in their characterization and personalities, and Flewelling's writing is as engaging and compelling as ever. I didn't love this quite as much as the first two books, but I liked it just as much as the third one, and the ending has blown the story so wide open that I really want to just pick the next book up right away. I'm so excited to see where this goes.

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linda_1410's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was just as grim and infuriating to read this time around as the first time. Though at least this time, I at least knew how it would end to help me get through it. There's not much room for the trademark humor in this one, and the trials our heroes go through will forever mark them, Alec especially. Seeing Alec and Seregil brought to such lows was hard to read. :(

I hated Yuckibin (as we decided to call him in our BR group) and couldn't wait for him to get what was coming to him.

And, boy, was it satisfying to see Seregil gut him like a fish.

As for

Ilar, I don't like him in the slightest, and I'm not even sure I pity him. He did help Alec and Seregil though, and I do sympathize with what he's become and what he's had to endure all these long years. He didn't deserve any of that. But he did deserve Alec shoving him in the water and decking him. Leave Seregil alone, Ilar! Hopefully, we'll not see him again.

And also hopefully,

Ulan will get what's coming to him. It's so frustrating to think there might not be anything that can be done to him through official channels, but there are always unofficial ones.

😈

As for

Sebrehan, that's going to cause problems going forward. He's a powerful creature and people are going want him if/when word gets out of the things he's capable of doing. I forgot the part about him having a dragon in him somehow? Probably not literally, though, but who knows.

Anything's possible in this world, which is part of the fun.

Adam Danoff took over as narrator for this series with this book, thank the lord. He's not the most performative narrator out there, but he's easy to listen to and does a decent job with the voices.

Thanks for the BR, Rosa and Elena! <3

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the_real_al_cal's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

Wow. Okay, so before I started this book, I spoiled myself on some of it by reading the other reviews, and I have to say, I completely agree with the assessments that this book is basically a bunch of different literary tropes in a trenchcoat. But at the same time... I kind of loved it. I thought I would hate it, but where book three in the series took me a month to finish, this one took me three days. I could not put it down.

Don't get me wrong, the tropes are definitely overdone at this point but Flewelling has a way of breathing new life into them through the tactile nature of her world's magic systems. To be honest, sometimes it still put me off and I was originally going to rate this a 3.5 or 4, but the last few pages really brought the entire story together so neatly that I actually gasped at the surprise revelation at the end:

Finding out from Magyana that Sebrahn is dragon-like! What does it mean?!

What struck me right away is how much Flewelling's writing style changed between book 3's release in 1999 and book 4's release in 2008. Neither style is bad, and I enjoy both a lot, but it was very noticeable! I would say the earlier three had more of a classically-rosy style similar to Robin Hobb or George R.R. Martin. Book 4's style felt very fluid and was easier for me to read (because my attention span is garbage these days), but perhaps more along the lines of the quick action/short descriptions that a lot of popular authors follow these days. Again, neither is bad, and I inhaled this book all the same.

At the end of the day, I enjoy these stories because I enjoy the characters. They have all come such a long way from book 1, thanks to Flewelling's masterful character development. Where I enjoyed the characters before, now I feel invested in what they will do next.

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jitterbugbear's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Ah, this one has the worst trope imaginable: fantasy slavery. Absolutely the least enjoyable book in this series, though I did enjoy the demon child. Had to skim in parts because, you know, THE SLAVERY.

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teargarden's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

this one was miserable to get through but very good still 😵‍💫 i just want some peace for alec please can i get th- *gunshot sounds*

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ryllio's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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tinyelfarcanist's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense 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

4.0

You can tell almost a decade went by between the previous book and this one was published. There are some continuity mistakes and a time jump where nothing seemed to change.

I liked going into this without reading the summary as it kind of spoils a twist that turns the book's direction. It's darker than the previous ones but not as graphic as Stalking Darkness.

I wouldn't recommend waiting long after Traitor's Moon as some of the characters mentioned there are still relevant. New characters are introduced and some threads are left open for the rest of the saga.

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charlieleelee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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