You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

fourthleafluckart's profile picture

fourthleafluckart 's review for:

Shade Spells with Strangers by S.O. Callahan, Sarah Wallace
3.75
emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Wallace and Callahan have once again created a book that feels like basking in simple luxury— like lying on soft grass under a patch of golden sunlight. 

This book is 1 part plot, 2 parts spice, and 4 parts yearning— overall, a delightfully cozy summer romance. Silas and Keelan are both absolute sweethearts in different ways, and it is hard not to root for them. 

The way the conflict was resolved left something to be desired— at least to my taste. Based off the conflict setup, I was hoping that the resolution would require a little more growth from Keelan's relationship with his family. Instead, the conflict resolution felt disappointingly deus-ex-machina-esque. I spent much of the book rooting for Keelan grow a sense of personal agency that never sprouted.

That said, it's always a treat to see the cameos from all the characters we've met in the series so far. I'm hoping we'll see more of Silas and Wyndham working together, I really enjoyed their comraderie.

As always, I am hoping for a Sage Ravenwing sequel, but I will likely enjoy whatever our winsome writers cook up next!