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A review by _ckarys
An Incarnation of Shadow and Light by S.A. Christianson
4.0
AN INCARNATION OF SHADOW AND LIGHT is a solid New Adult debut strong for its world building, unique magic system, but most importantly for the diverse and intriguing cast of morally gray characters. This is a read I especially recommend to fans of A Darker Shade of Magic and Six of Crows!
I was a huge fan of the world building and unique magic system. I love the sun and moon dichotomy, so I was extremely pleased with the whole aesthetic. But most of all I loved that magic wasn’t a simple accessory in the plot. It played a pivotal role in the political intrigue, especially since depending on the location, having magic is perceived in a completely different way. This story was compelling, high stakes and full of plot twists! The characters, however, were the book’s greatest strength. An Incarnation of Shadow and Light counts on a diverse, morally gray cast, with great LGBTQIA+ representation (including bisexual, lesibian and non binary characters). I especially enjoyed characters like Ada Vard, an ambitious woman with an instinct for profit and one of the most influential conlords, and Gabriel Capello, the Incarnate of the Moon, who delivered charm, ambition, and a vein of ruthlessness.
All my friends who don’t love cliffhangers will be happy to know the story wraps up nicely, although there are some loose threads that hint at a possible sequel. Which I hope is true because I’m very much looking forward to see more of the dynamic between certain princes.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
I was a huge fan of the world building and unique magic system. I love the sun and moon dichotomy, so I was extremely pleased with the whole aesthetic. But most of all I loved that magic wasn’t a simple accessory in the plot. It played a pivotal role in the political intrigue, especially since depending on the location, having magic is perceived in a completely different way. This story was compelling, high stakes and full of plot twists! The characters, however, were the book’s greatest strength. An Incarnation of Shadow and Light counts on a diverse, morally gray cast, with great LGBTQIA+ representation (including bisexual, lesibian and non binary characters). I especially enjoyed characters like Ada Vard, an ambitious woman with an instinct for profit and one of the most influential conlords, and Gabriel Capello, the Incarnate of the Moon, who delivered charm, ambition, and a vein of ruthlessness.
All my friends who don’t love cliffhangers will be happy to know the story wraps up nicely, although there are some loose threads that hint at a possible sequel. Which I hope is true because I’m very much looking forward to see more of the dynamic between certain princes.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.