A review by megatza
Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 

Walking backwards in our timeline (a few weeks? A few months?I’ve lost track…) to the same time period as Lothaire, Shadow’s Claim is the first of the Dacians books. Dacia is the vampire kingdom hidden by the mist, with closed borders, and that is so secret that few outsiders can claim knowledge of its existence. Trehan Daciano is one of the members of the ruling family caught up in centuries of blood feuds and is the family assassin. Bettina, half-demon half-sorceri, is heir to the Kingdom of Abaddon. After barely surviving an encounter with Vrekeners and losing her soceri power (akin to losing her soul), Bettina agrees to her guardians’ suggestion that she marry the victor of a tournament which will restore her power and give her a champion and protector. 

While our group had mixed feelings on this one, I really enjoyed it. There was a very medieval and fairy-tale-like tone to the book - we have a princess locked in a tower, godparents who may or may not have the best interest of the heroine in mind, and a tournament for her hand in marriage. It takes place largely in the plane of Abaddon, with flashes in New Orleans and Dacia, and is even more closely confined to the castle and tournament grounds. And yet unlike other “small setting” books in the series the book still focuses a lot on plot rather than strictly the relationship between our hero and heroine. 

I found Bettina to be a sympathetic character with her very recent trauma and controlling guardians. She’s innocent in many ways, but I liked watching her story arc as she learned to overcome her fear and recognizes when she is being manipulated. And Trehan… he may be one of my favorite of the IAD heroes now, as our most well-adjusted male Lorean. Not only does he see Bettina for herself, he helps her become more emotionally stronger as she conquers her fears on her own. His strength (aside from being a cold-blooded assassin) is in his ability to nurture Bettina, being a guide for her growth but not dictating it himself.

I’m not yet sold on the advantage of reading this out of order from the main arc. If I reread the series, I’ll likely read it after Lothaire.