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A review by _isabel_
A Shadow and a Storm by Adelaide Blaike
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Well, what a third installment!
This one's my favourite out of them all for now: I adored "A Shadow and a Storm", and I managed to devour it, start to finish.
I was absolutely hooked!
I'm so glad I decided to give this series another go, after not loving book one, because I swear these keep getting better and better. The writing is wonderful, despite some word usage being a bit too modern and jarring for the high fantasy atmosphere, and the pacing is absolutely fantastic: I swear I was on the edge of my seat the whole damn time, drowning in what-the-hell-will-happen-now anxiety, but I still managed to enjoy the story a whole lot. I loved seeing Mat and Ren (finally, FINALLY) at such a good point in their relationship, and I adored seeing them both so devoted and in love with one another. I swooned a whole lot.
Also, I think this is the first time I've actually loved them wholeheartedly start to finish: character arc and development, better writing, or maybe I've just given in and my heart is firmly in the "they're my sons, your honour" stage now? I don't know, and I don't care. I loved them, and I loved them as a couple too. The kinky D/s relationship they share is explored a smidge more, and whew *fan herself*, thank you Adelaide Blaike for that.
I loved the side characters a whole lot too: Mat's siblings, and of course El and Luis and Jiron (AND if something were to happen to them, especially after losing Ad.... I swear I'll- *sobs*). I cannot wait to read book four: I already know it's going to be epic, especially after THAT cruel, cruel ending.
This one's my favourite out of them all for now: I adored "A Shadow and a Storm", and I managed to devour it, start to finish.
I was absolutely hooked!
I'm so glad I decided to give this series another go, after not loving book one, because I swear these keep getting better and better. The writing is wonderful, despite some word usage being a bit too modern and jarring for the high fantasy atmosphere, and the pacing is absolutely fantastic: I swear I was on the edge of my seat the whole damn time, drowning in what-the-hell-will-happen-now anxiety, but I still managed to enjoy the story a whole lot. I loved seeing Mat and Ren (finally, FINALLY) at such a good point in their relationship, and I adored seeing them both so devoted and in love with one another. I swooned a whole lot.
Also, I think this is the first time I've actually loved them wholeheartedly start to finish: character arc and development, better writing, or maybe I've just given in and my heart is firmly in the "they're my sons, your honour" stage now? I don't know, and I don't care. I loved them, and I loved them as a couple too. The kinky D/s relationship they share is explored a smidge more, and whew *fan herself*, thank you Adelaide Blaike for that.
I loved the side characters a whole lot too: Mat's siblings, and of course El and Luis and Jiron (AND if something were to happen to them, especially after losing Ad.... I swear I'll- *sobs*). I cannot wait to read book four: I already know it's going to be epic, especially after THAT cruel, cruel ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment and War
Minor: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Transphobia