Shadow and Soul Series, Book Two A perfect weekend read! I'll keep this review spoiler free, but in Soul of the Sorceress we're back in Runswick with Cordelia and Percy! I have to admit to having missed these two, so I was looking forward to settling into this second book in the Shadow and Soul series. While the book opens quickly on our two main characters, it's made apparent early on that this book has not been written for new readers in mind. If you pick this book up without realising it's book two, you're going to find yourself very lost, very quickly. There's little-to-no recap, and it has sections that allude to character histories that, without context, simply mean nothing to the reader but, honestly, I'm nitpicking. This *is* a second book, and it has deep lore, established backstory and character histories that I was aware of going in. Despite these small areas of potential improvement, Cassandra's skillful storytelling pulls us into a world of magic and romance very quickly. I devoured this book in just a few hours, but it's got a lovely pacing that lends its content to a quiet evening and a glass of wine, or a relaxed weekend perusal. There is intrigue and high stakes, but you never feel pushed to rush the story. It's cleverly interspersed with periods of soft romance, and quiet affection between Cordelia and Percy and despite my ever growing desire to understand the motivations behind the other players on the board, and what allies or dangers they might turn out to be, it was my love of Percy and Cordelia's relationship that truly captured my attention throughout. A gorgeous addition to the series, and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next installment to add to my collection! You can purchase a copy of Soul of the Sorceress, in e-book or paperback form via;
Amazon UK or Amazon US Barnes & Noble Kobo
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Trying my best to make these monthly updates a habit, and clearly I'm failing at that! I've been busy this month though, which strangely helps. It makes me feel like I've got more to tell you than; "Did writing. Did more writing."
So, let's dig in! The Dark Between, Book Three It's a "just one more chapter!" kind of book! I have to start this review off by saying, I adore this book, I adore this series, I adore Jess, and I especially adore Rae Else's writing style. The way she weaves a story and draws me in is something I've not encountered from an author in a really long time, and the more books I read from her the higher she climbs on my favourite author list. Having said that, Umbra left me torn. Not in a bad way, not at all, but this installment of the series pulled my heart in half a dozen directions and left it a little battered, much like Jess. Umbra also felt like a very short book. It's actually not, but I devoured it so fast, in one sitting, that I finished and instantly wanted more. All of these are good things for the book, and bad things for me as the reader! I want to wrap Jess in a hug after the trials she's gone through in Umbra, and that's also part of the problem with the illusion of this book not having enough content. By the end of Umbra, Jess is battered, bruised, and left a little adrift, even while surrounded by her friends, and I want to know how she overcomes the fallout from the challenges she faced in this book. I, basically, want the final book in the series now. Very impatient and ungenerous of me, but as with Luna and Nox, the author has left me simultaneously satisfied and craving more. It was wonderful to see Astra again! I missed her in Nox, and Theo's development from Luna to now is shocking in all the best ways. Rune's transformation is the most startling, and yet even as you read about the changes he goes through it feels right for his character. And we see more of Matteo, and I can't put into words how much more of him I hope to see in the final installment of this series! All in all, another absolutely fantastic addition to this addictive series. Thank you to Rae Else for providing me with a free copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. You can purchase a copy of Umbra, in e-book or paperback form via;
Amazon UK or Amazon US Waterstones Apple Books Kobo Barnes & Noble |
Arista Holmes
I'm a writer in her thirties, who is based in the South East of England. Archives
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