A review by the_discworldian
Shadowblade by Anna Kashina

3.0

Enjoyable and another fairly strong argument for picking a book at semi-random off a library shelf (although prior picks [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825] and [b:Lightless|29092928|Lightless (Lightless, #1)|C.A. Higgins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456690479l/29092928._SX50_.jpg|44848461] are significantly stronger). It went quickly, but I don't think I'll really remember much about it in a year. The crystal leech plot thread was the most interesting and the only piece I didn't find standard fare for a lost heir, young woman coming-of-age and being good at swords kind of book. Because it's well-written and made me want to keep reading, I might have given it four stars, but the world-building just wasn't there, so down to three.