Scan barcode
A review by nbwessler
As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool
5.0
This book was so much better than the first, which I felt got off to a rough, slow start. Not so here. The story moves along at a nice pace, and I found myself engrossed, rapturously flipping those pages right from the beginning. I’m a sucker for an ensemble cast, and an even big sucker for unlikely (if not unexpected) pairings--both romantic and not--and this series more than delivers. (Consider me fully suckered. Anton and Jude totally own my heart)
The story remains character driven, each protagonist undergoing their share of growth and turmoil--though perhaps some more so than others--and I remain impressed by Poole’s ability to milk her character’s flaws in a way that is entirely realistic. They manage to frustrate as well as endear. You cannot help but root for them even as you know they are making terrible or even devastating decisions, and I am invested in each and every one of them.
That said, the plot does not dither. It moves steadily forward, world building and dropping twists along the way. It’s a cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to languish during the wait for book three.
All in all, a wonderful second entry that does not suffer middle book syndrome in the slightest. The first book introduced the playing pieces and set up the board, but now, dear reader, we get to play!
ARC provided by NetGalley.
The story remains character driven, each protagonist undergoing their share of growth and turmoil--though perhaps some more so than others--and I remain impressed by Poole’s ability to milk her character’s flaws in a way that is entirely realistic. They manage to frustrate as well as endear. You cannot help but root for them even as you know they are making terrible or even devastating decisions, and I am invested in each and every one of them.
That said, the plot does not dither. It moves steadily forward, world building and dropping twists along the way. It’s a cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to languish during the wait for book three.
All in all, a wonderful second entry that does not suffer middle book syndrome in the slightest. The first book introduced the playing pieces and set up the board, but now, dear reader, we get to play!
ARC provided by NetGalley.