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Shadow Grail #3
Sacrifices
The third book in the Shadow Grail series by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill.
The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears. Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin’s act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend’s loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has decide who can–and cannot–be trusted.
The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears. Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin’s act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend’s loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has decide who can–and cannot–be trusted.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
25 people are currently reading
1177 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 11, 2013
Just as a general hint, if every time your main character explains what is going on to the other characters she has to pause to tell them not to complain that what she is telling them is nuts because she knows it is nuts, maybe the plot of your book is nuts. This book is so outrageously silly that even its own characters are sitting around marvelling at all the lunacy. Mind you, I knew going in that this book would be about an American Hogwarts run by evil technocrats where most of the characters are reincarnated Authurian figures, so I can't complain either really. I wanted something utterly brainless to take my mind off the fact that one of my cats is dying and that is what I got. Like previous books in this series it's got just enough charm to make it readable, but not quite enough to make it re-readable.
May 15, 2013
Third in the Shadow Grail urban fantasy series for Young Adults and revolving around a very small cadre of school kids attempting to survive a curse in which all involved with Arthur's kingdom are "doomed to be reborn over and over until either the Shadow or the Grail triumphs".
My Take
Ohhh, Spirit's memories of the accident that claimed her family are starting to come back. Probably triggered by what Spirit learned in Conspiracies , 2!
Heck, Spirit and her friends thought life at Oakhurst was bad before. It almost seems like a paradise now that the Shadow Knights have taken over. And Lackey and Edghill really crank up the tension on this.
Sacrifices is a terrifying balancing act as the kids try to figure out who's who and on which side they fall amongst their fellow students, the faculty, and the Breakthrough employees. Friendships must be fiercely hidden even as Spirit and her friends must ferret out the Shadow Knights' plans. And people must be saved, no matter the cost.
Yes, it's tense and comes with drama galore. At times I started to think of it as a bridge story, but too much happens. Much too much that will shock you into groping for that box of Kleenex.
The authors do drive me nuts with the vague hints they drop of who of today matches up with the Grail or Shadow Knights, although they do fill in the blanks on a number of characters. I will confess that it's strong enough to make me crazy about having to wait for #4 so I can verify my own suspicions as to who Arthur, Guinevere, and Gawain have been reincarnated as!
If you've enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy or Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy, you'll enjoy this series.
The Story
The Shadow Knights have taken over and everything has changed from elegant dining to barracks-style brawls. Classes are brutal with an emphasis on combat and survival. Survival according to the Shadow Knights. The new curriculum makes the old look like a walk through Disney on a bright and sunny day.
Now, friendships can lead to death, and each of the friends will be tempted to join the Dark Side.
The Characters
Spirit White lost her family and learned the truth behind that loss. And she's still at a loss as to why because she has no magic. QUERCUS is the one secret she's kept even from her friends; the one who arranged for her Internet access outside the school.
Muirin Shae, an Air Witch, is a snob who loves to flout the rules, and she's hangin' with the Shadow Knights now. Ovcharenko in particular. Addie is the heir to Prester-Lake BioCo, and a Water Witch who just wants to get out of here. Loch Spears has some minor Gifts: Shadewalking and Kenning from the School of Air and Pathfinding from the School of Earth. He's also gay and sort of still in the closet. Burke Hallows, a Combat Mage, an orphan who learned the truth of his foster parents' murders, and he's in love with Spirit.
Kelly Langley is "one of the nicer proctors"; Gareth Stevenson is okay; and, Joe Rogers has simply gotten worse. Trinity Brown refuses to take Dylan's place. Dylan Williams, a Jaunting mage, had been the official ringleader back in Conspiracies ; now he's Ovcharenko's chew toy.
Poor Spirit is forced onto the dance committee with Maddie Harris (Water), Kylee Williamson (Energy), Zoey Young (Fire), Christopher Terry (Weather), and Dylan. The Townies who make up the other half of the joint dance committee include Juliette Weber and her twin brother, Brett---obviously the king and queen of Macalister High; Veronica "Couch" Davenport is a fat girl everyone picks on; Kennedy Lewis is the class "bad" girl; the giggler, Erica Bass; Brenda Copeland who just has to talk about her dad---the Sheriff---all the time; and, Bella. Tom and Adam Phillips are the local townies drafted to the dance committee.
Elizabeth Walker (her Arthurian identity is as Yseult of Cornwall, Mark's wife, and Tristan's lover) is the student whose dreams provide the kernel of truth to Spirit.
Dr. Ambrosius is the headmaster. Mrs. Corby is his personal assistant although she lacks magic, and Devon is a supervisor of the Boys' Dorm Wing; both are Ambrosius' bodyguards. Ms. Jane Smith is the math teacher who likes to break everyone down. Dr. MacKenzie (Fire) is the school shrink whom everyone is supposed to visit. Ms. Bradford is the school nurse. Beckett Green is a Combat Mage brought in to help teach the defense classes---and appeal to Burke. Mia Singleton teaches the Endurance Riding class. Anastus Leontivich Ovcharenko (Agravaine), a member of the Russian Bratva or mafia and Breakthrough's head of security, is teaching the defense classes with an emphasis on hurting his chosen victim. Ms. Lily Groves teaches History of Magic and intends to do some private tutoring with Spirit.
Camelot, the Grail Knights
High Queen Guinevere intends to carry on with Arthur's legacy. The Merlin, the Archdruid of Eire, the Bishop of England, and the White Horse Woman were involved in carrying out Mordred's sentence.
The Shadow Knights
Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son and a mage, had engineered Arthur's fall and the "burial" of The Merlin. Nimue was once his ally.
Breakthrough Adventure Systems is the new big employer in Radial run by Mark Rider (King Mark of Cornwall) and Theodore Rider. They are the Shadow Knights taking over the school. Madison Lane-Rider is supermodel-perfect, Mark's wife, and she takes over the History of Magic class. Clark Howard is a coder. Ken Abrams, Judy, and Brian are all in Graphic Design. Mandy Poole is a technician.
The Hellriders were a motorcycle gang who inhabited Oakhurst before Dr. Ambrosius took it over. Stephen "Wolfman" Wolferman was a member whose three-county chase and the Hellrider Massacre was written about in a news article. Kenny is the gang member who saved Wolfman's life. Detectives Bethany Mitchell and Thomas Carter are from the Sheriff's Office in Radial.
The Riders are a modern Wild Hunt on horses and snowmobiles. Oakhurst Academy, a posh boarding school only for future magicians who have been orphaned, is in the middle of Montana near the tiny town of Radial. The school has never encouraged the students to make friends with each other, grading them on everything including their Christmas gifts. But now it's worse. The Gatekeepers were thought to be a secret society within Oakhurst.
The Cover
The cover is a battle stance of Spirit in her below-the-knee turquoise gown with its stardust shrug against (or back-to-back with!) Muirin in black lace and lamé, both wearing dresses provided by Breakthrough for the school dance.
The title presages events, the Sacrifices that will be made.
My Take
Ohhh, Spirit's memories of the accident that claimed her family are starting to come back. Probably triggered by what Spirit learned in Conspiracies , 2!
Heck, Spirit and her friends thought life at Oakhurst was bad before. It almost seems like a paradise now that the Shadow Knights have taken over. And Lackey and Edghill really crank up the tension on this.
Sacrifices is a terrifying balancing act as the kids try to figure out who's who and on which side they fall amongst their fellow students, the faculty, and the Breakthrough employees. Friendships must be fiercely hidden even as Spirit and her friends must ferret out the Shadow Knights' plans. And people must be saved, no matter the cost.
"It's like Where's Waldo?, except now with added mortal peril," Muirin sniped.
Yes, it's tense and comes with drama galore. At times I started to think of it as a bridge story, but too much happens. Much too much that will shock you into groping for that box of Kleenex.
The authors do drive me nuts with the vague hints they drop of who of today matches up with the Grail or Shadow Knights, although they do fill in the blanks on a number of characters. I will confess that it's strong enough to make me crazy about having to wait for #4 so I can verify my own suspicions as to who Arthur, Guinevere, and Gawain have been reincarnated as!
If you've enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy or Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy, you'll enjoy this series.
The Story
The Shadow Knights have taken over and everything has changed from elegant dining to barracks-style brawls. Classes are brutal with an emphasis on combat and survival. Survival according to the Shadow Knights. The new curriculum makes the old look like a walk through Disney on a bright and sunny day.
Now, friendships can lead to death, and each of the friends will be tempted to join the Dark Side.
The Characters
Spirit White lost her family and learned the truth behind that loss. And she's still at a loss as to why because she has no magic. QUERCUS is the one secret she's kept even from her friends; the one who arranged for her Internet access outside the school.
Muirin Shae, an Air Witch, is a snob who loves to flout the rules, and she's hangin' with the Shadow Knights now. Ovcharenko in particular. Addie is the heir to Prester-Lake BioCo, and a Water Witch who just wants to get out of here. Loch Spears has some minor Gifts: Shadewalking and Kenning from the School of Air and Pathfinding from the School of Earth. He's also gay and sort of still in the closet. Burke Hallows, a Combat Mage, an orphan who learned the truth of his foster parents' murders, and he's in love with Spirit.
Kelly Langley is "one of the nicer proctors"; Gareth Stevenson is okay; and, Joe Rogers has simply gotten worse. Trinity Brown refuses to take Dylan's place. Dylan Williams, a Jaunting mage, had been the official ringleader back in Conspiracies ; now he's Ovcharenko's chew toy.
Poor Spirit is forced onto the dance committee with Maddie Harris (Water), Kylee Williamson (Energy), Zoey Young (Fire), Christopher Terry (Weather), and Dylan. The Townies who make up the other half of the joint dance committee include Juliette Weber and her twin brother, Brett---obviously the king and queen of Macalister High; Veronica "Couch" Davenport is a fat girl everyone picks on; Kennedy Lewis is the class "bad" girl; the giggler, Erica Bass; Brenda Copeland who just has to talk about her dad---the Sheriff---all the time; and, Bella. Tom and Adam Phillips are the local townies drafted to the dance committee.
Elizabeth Walker (her Arthurian identity is as Yseult of Cornwall, Mark's wife, and Tristan's lover) is the student whose dreams provide the kernel of truth to Spirit.
Dr. Ambrosius is the headmaster. Mrs. Corby is his personal assistant although she lacks magic, and Devon is a supervisor of the Boys' Dorm Wing; both are Ambrosius' bodyguards. Ms. Jane Smith is the math teacher who likes to break everyone down. Dr. MacKenzie (Fire) is the school shrink whom everyone is supposed to visit. Ms. Bradford is the school nurse. Beckett Green is a Combat Mage brought in to help teach the defense classes---and appeal to Burke. Mia Singleton teaches the Endurance Riding class. Anastus Leontivich Ovcharenko (Agravaine), a member of the Russian Bratva or mafia and Breakthrough's head of security, is teaching the defense classes with an emphasis on hurting his chosen victim. Ms. Lily Groves teaches History of Magic and intends to do some private tutoring with Spirit.
Camelot, the Grail Knights
High Queen Guinevere intends to carry on with Arthur's legacy. The Merlin, the Archdruid of Eire, the Bishop of England, and the White Horse Woman were involved in carrying out Mordred's sentence.
The Shadow Knights
Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son and a mage, had engineered Arthur's fall and the "burial" of The Merlin. Nimue was once his ally.
Breakthrough Adventure Systems is the new big employer in Radial run by Mark Rider (King Mark of Cornwall) and Theodore Rider. They are the Shadow Knights taking over the school. Madison Lane-Rider is supermodel-perfect, Mark's wife, and she takes over the History of Magic class. Clark Howard is a coder. Ken Abrams, Judy, and Brian are all in Graphic Design. Mandy Poole is a technician.
The Hellriders were a motorcycle gang who inhabited Oakhurst before Dr. Ambrosius took it over. Stephen "Wolfman" Wolferman was a member whose three-county chase and the Hellrider Massacre was written about in a news article. Kenny is the gang member who saved Wolfman's life. Detectives Bethany Mitchell and Thomas Carter are from the Sheriff's Office in Radial.
The Riders are a modern Wild Hunt on horses and snowmobiles. Oakhurst Academy, a posh boarding school only for future magicians who have been orphaned, is in the middle of Montana near the tiny town of Radial. The school has never encouraged the students to make friends with each other, grading them on everything including their Christmas gifts. But now it's worse. The Gatekeepers were thought to be a secret society within Oakhurst.
The Cover
The cover is a battle stance of Spirit in her below-the-knee turquoise gown with its stardust shrug against (or back-to-back with!) Muirin in black lace and lamé, both wearing dresses provided by Breakthrough for the school dance.
The title presages events, the Sacrifices that will be made.
May 11, 2013
Third in the Shadow Grail urban fantasy series for Young Adults and revolving around a very small cadre of school kids attempting to survive a curse in which all involved with Arthur's kingdom are "doomed to be reborn over and over until either the Shadow or the Grail triumphs".
My Take
Ohhh, Spirit's memories of the accident that claimed her family are starting to come back. Probably triggered by what Spirit learned in Conspiracies , 2!
Heck, Spirit and her friends thought life at Oakhurst was bad before. It almost seems like a paradise now that the Shadow Knights have taken over. And Lackey and Edghill really crank up the tension on this.
Sacrifices is a terrifying balancing act as the kids try to figure out who's who and on which side they fall amongst their fellow students, the faculty, and the Breakthrough employees. Friendships must be fiercely hidden even as Spirit and her friends must ferret out the Shadow Knights' plans. And people must be saved, no matter the cost.
Yes, it's tense and comes with drama galore. At times I started to think of it as a bridge story, but too much happens. Much too much that will shock you into groping for that box of Kleenex.
The authors do drive me nuts with the vague hints they drop of who of today matches up with the Grail or Shadow Knights, although they do fill in the blanks on a number of characters. I will confess that it's strong enough to make me crazy about having to wait for #4 so I can verify my own suspicions as to who Arthur, Guinevere, and Gawain have been reincarnated as!
If you've enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy or Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy, you'll enjoy this series.
The Story
The Shadow Knights have taken over and everything has changed from elegant dining to barracks-style brawls. Classes are brutal with an emphasis on combat and survival. Survival according to the Shadow Knights. The new curriculum makes the old look like a walk through Disney on a bright and sunny day.
Now, friendships can lead to death, and each of the friends will be tempted to join the Dark Side.
The Characters
Spirit White lost her family and learned the truth behind that loss. And she's still at a loss as to why because she has no magic. QUERCUS is the one secret she's kept even from her friends; the one who arranged for her Internet access outside the school.
Muirin Shae, an Air Witch, is a snob who loves to flout the rules, and she's hangin' with the Shadow Knights now. Ovcharenko in particular. Addie is the heir to Prester-Lake BioCo, and a Water Witch who just wants to get out of here. Loch Spears has some minor Gifts: Shadewalking and Kenning from the School of Air and Pathfinding from the School of Earth. He's also gay and sort of still in the closet. Burke Hallows, a Combat Mage, an orphan who learned the truth of his foster parents' murders, and he's in love with Spirit.
Kelly Langley is "one of the nicer proctors"; Gareth Stevenson is okay; and, Joe Rogers has simply gotten worse. Trinity Brown refuses to take Dylan's place. Dylan Williams, a Jaunting mage, had been the official ringleader back in Conspiracies ; now he's Ovcharenko's chew toy.
Poor Spirit is forced onto the dance committee with Maddie Harris (Water), Kylee Williamson (Energy), Zoey Young (Fire), Christopher Terry (Weather), and Dylan. The Townies who make up the other half of the joint dance committee include Juliette Weber and her twin brother, Brett---obviously the king and queen of Macalister High; Veronica "Couch" Davenport is a fat girl everyone picks on; Kennedy Lewis is the class "bad" girl; the giggler, Erica Bass; Brenda Copeland who just has to talk about her dad---the Sheriff---all the time; and, Bella. Tom and Adam Phillips are the local townies drafted to the dance committee.
Elizabeth Walker (her Arthurian identity is as Yseult of Cornwall, Mark's wife, and Tristan's lover) is the student whose dreams provide the kernel of truth to Spirit.
Dr. Ambrosius is the headmaster. Mrs. Corby is his personal assistant although she lacks magic, and Devon is a supervisor of the Boys' Dorm Wing; both are Ambrosius' bodyguards. Ms. Jane Smith is the math teacher who likes to break everyone down. Dr. MacKenzie (Fire) is the school shrink whom everyone is supposed to visit. Ms. Bradford is the school nurse. Beckett Green is a Combat Mage brought in to help teach the defense classes---and appeal to Burke. Mia Singleton teaches the Endurance Riding class. Anastus Leontivich Ovcharenko (Agravaine), a member of the Russian Bratva or mafia and Breakthrough's head of security, is teaching the defense classes with an emphasis on hurting his chosen victim. Ms. Lily Groves teaches History of Magic and intends to do some private tutoring with Spirit.
Camelot, the Grail Knights
High Queen Guinevere intends to carry on with Arthur's legacy. The Merlin, the Archdruid of Eire, the Bishop of England, and the White Horse Woman were involved in carrying out Mordred's sentence.
The Shadow Knights
Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son and a mage, had engineered Arthur's fall and the "burial" of The Merlin. Nimue was once his ally.
Breakthrough Adventure Systems is the new big employer in Radial run by Mark Rider (King Mark of Cornwall) and Theodore Rider. They are the Shadow Knights taking over the school. Madison Lane-Rider is supermodel-perfect, Mark's wife, and she takes over the History of Magic class. Clark Howard is a coder. Ken Abrams, Judy, and Brian are all in Graphic Design. Mandy Poole is a technician.
The Hellriders were a motorcycle gang who inhabited Oakhurst before Dr. Ambrosius took it over. Stephen "Wolfman" Wolferman was a member whose three-county chase and the Hellrider Massacre was written about in a news article. Kenny is the gang member who saved Wolfman's life. Detectives Bethany Mitchell and Thomas Carter are from the Sheriff's Office in Radial.
The Riders are a modern Wild Hunt on horses and snowmobiles. Oakhurst Academy, a posh boarding school only for future magicians who have been orphaned, is in the middle of Montana near the tiny town of Radial. The school has never encouraged the students to make friends with each other, grading them on everything including their Christmas gifts. But now it's worse. The Gatekeepers were thought to be a secret society within Oakhurst.
The Cover
The cover is a battle stance of Spirit in her below-the-knee turquoise gown with its stardust shrug against (or back-to-back with!) Muirin in black lace and lamé, both wearing dresses provided by Breakthrough for the school dance.
The title presages events, the Sacrifices that will be made.
My Take
Ohhh, Spirit's memories of the accident that claimed her family are starting to come back. Probably triggered by what Spirit learned in Conspiracies , 2!
Heck, Spirit and her friends thought life at Oakhurst was bad before. It almost seems like a paradise now that the Shadow Knights have taken over. And Lackey and Edghill really crank up the tension on this.
Sacrifices is a terrifying balancing act as the kids try to figure out who's who and on which side they fall amongst their fellow students, the faculty, and the Breakthrough employees. Friendships must be fiercely hidden even as Spirit and her friends must ferret out the Shadow Knights' plans. And people must be saved, no matter the cost.
"It's like Where's Waldo?, except now with added mortal peril," Muirin sniped.
Yes, it's tense and comes with drama galore. At times I started to think of it as a bridge story, but too much happens. Much too much that will shock you into groping for that box of Kleenex.
The authors do drive me nuts with the vague hints they drop of who of today matches up with the Grail or Shadow Knights, although they do fill in the blanks on a number of characters. I will confess that it's strong enough to make me crazy about having to wait for #4 so I can verify my own suspicions as to who Arthur, Guinevere, and Gawain have been reincarnated as!
If you've enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy or Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy, you'll enjoy this series.
The Story
The Shadow Knights have taken over and everything has changed from elegant dining to barracks-style brawls. Classes are brutal with an emphasis on combat and survival. Survival according to the Shadow Knights. The new curriculum makes the old look like a walk through Disney on a bright and sunny day.
Now, friendships can lead to death, and each of the friends will be tempted to join the Dark Side.
The Characters
Spirit White lost her family and learned the truth behind that loss. And she's still at a loss as to why because she has no magic. QUERCUS is the one secret she's kept even from her friends; the one who arranged for her Internet access outside the school.
Muirin Shae, an Air Witch, is a snob who loves to flout the rules, and she's hangin' with the Shadow Knights now. Ovcharenko in particular. Addie is the heir to Prester-Lake BioCo, and a Water Witch who just wants to get out of here. Loch Spears has some minor Gifts: Shadewalking and Kenning from the School of Air and Pathfinding from the School of Earth. He's also gay and sort of still in the closet. Burke Hallows, a Combat Mage, an orphan who learned the truth of his foster parents' murders, and he's in love with Spirit.
Kelly Langley is "one of the nicer proctors"; Gareth Stevenson is okay; and, Joe Rogers has simply gotten worse. Trinity Brown refuses to take Dylan's place. Dylan Williams, a Jaunting mage, had been the official ringleader back in Conspiracies ; now he's Ovcharenko's chew toy.
Poor Spirit is forced onto the dance committee with Maddie Harris (Water), Kylee Williamson (Energy), Zoey Young (Fire), Christopher Terry (Weather), and Dylan. The Townies who make up the other half of the joint dance committee include Juliette Weber and her twin brother, Brett---obviously the king and queen of Macalister High; Veronica "Couch" Davenport is a fat girl everyone picks on; Kennedy Lewis is the class "bad" girl; the giggler, Erica Bass; Brenda Copeland who just has to talk about her dad---the Sheriff---all the time; and, Bella. Tom and Adam Phillips are the local townies drafted to the dance committee.
Elizabeth Walker (her Arthurian identity is as Yseult of Cornwall, Mark's wife, and Tristan's lover) is the student whose dreams provide the kernel of truth to Spirit.
Dr. Ambrosius is the headmaster. Mrs. Corby is his personal assistant although she lacks magic, and Devon is a supervisor of the Boys' Dorm Wing; both are Ambrosius' bodyguards. Ms. Jane Smith is the math teacher who likes to break everyone down. Dr. MacKenzie (Fire) is the school shrink whom everyone is supposed to visit. Ms. Bradford is the school nurse. Beckett Green is a Combat Mage brought in to help teach the defense classes---and appeal to Burke. Mia Singleton teaches the Endurance Riding class. Anastus Leontivich Ovcharenko (Agravaine), a member of the Russian Bratva or mafia and Breakthrough's head of security, is teaching the defense classes with an emphasis on hurting his chosen victim. Ms. Lily Groves teaches History of Magic and intends to do some private tutoring with Spirit.
Camelot, the Grail Knights
High Queen Guinevere intends to carry on with Arthur's legacy. The Merlin, the Archdruid of Eire, the Bishop of England, and the White Horse Woman were involved in carrying out Mordred's sentence.
The Shadow Knights
Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son and a mage, had engineered Arthur's fall and the "burial" of The Merlin. Nimue was once his ally.
Breakthrough Adventure Systems is the new big employer in Radial run by Mark Rider (King Mark of Cornwall) and Theodore Rider. They are the Shadow Knights taking over the school. Madison Lane-Rider is supermodel-perfect, Mark's wife, and she takes over the History of Magic class. Clark Howard is a coder. Ken Abrams, Judy, and Brian are all in Graphic Design. Mandy Poole is a technician.
The Hellriders were a motorcycle gang who inhabited Oakhurst before Dr. Ambrosius took it over. Stephen "Wolfman" Wolferman was a member whose three-county chase and the Hellrider Massacre was written about in a news article. Kenny is the gang member who saved Wolfman's life. Detectives Bethany Mitchell and Thomas Carter are from the Sheriff's Office in Radial.
The Riders are a modern Wild Hunt on horses and snowmobiles. Oakhurst Academy, a posh boarding school only for future magicians who have been orphaned, is in the middle of Montana near the tiny town of Radial. The school has never encouraged the students to make friends with each other, grading them on everything including their Christmas gifts. But now it's worse. The Gatekeepers were thought to be a secret society within Oakhurst.
The Cover
The cover is a battle stance of Spirit in her below-the-knee turquoise gown with its stardust shrug against (or back-to-back with!) Muirin in black lace and lamé, both wearing dresses provided by Breakthrough for the school dance.
The title presages events, the Sacrifices that will be made.
August 17, 2012
this shadow grail series book was awesome.. it gives me more interest and excitement in reading them.
June 27, 2013
I enjoyed Sacrifices more than Conspiracies, but the ending felt forced. I also did not like how characters were introduced and then dropped.
July 3, 2023
Finally, the story line started to make sense. Which is why these 4 books should have been ONE. There were a lot of now time references that made me roll my eyes, but they worked. I was incredibly sad at the end of this book, but if there is one thing this pair of authors has never done is keep someone in plot armor. Murr-cat was definitely my favorite character in this story. Her personality grew along with the others, but hers was more complex in the growth. The whole Arthurian thing worked, but it took a long time to get there. I appreciated more the way Dr. A was being so backwards. In the previous books, it was just confusing. His character was from a time when differences in people were treated with disdain and worse. I'm sure the people with magic who were not like everyone else were just eliminated and added to the tithing as 'lost magic' to be restored to those who it rightfully belongs to. The Middle Ages were not kind to different, nor was the character of Mordred. It also made sense fire was used to destroy so many lives and memories. In the Middle Ages, fire was the most destructive thing next to illnesses. The other odd part was the trying to not be friends and yet they are friends thing. But, in this book, even that worked. The only character who could 'see' was Spirit and so she had to remind the others over and over about what she knew was crazy sounding. The rings were just a way to mark the kids, very Middle Ages. In fact, it was like the Middle Ages had stepped into the 21st century, except the main bad guy was STILL stuck in the Middle Ages mindset and was determined to drag time backwards. Unfortunately, a great many of his hench-people wanted to stick with him. Mostly.
February 21, 2021
I read this series because my daughter was interested in reading them. She's in 6th grade & an advanced reader, reading on a 12th grade level, so it's hard to find books that interest her & challenge her but that are still appropriate for her. This series is a wonderful answer to that problem. It's clean, it's fun, it's compelling & she has gotten interested in Arthurian mythology as a result.
This is without a doubt, the best book of the series thus far. It's much more quickly paced. And it's very hard to put down--action sequence after action sequence involving deadly conflicts for the students really keep you reading. And all of the confusing mysteries in the first two books seem to come together here.
This is not a series that I think would be terribly entertaining to older teenagers (maybe I'm wrong, and after all, I myself enjoy it quite well). But for advanced readers at a grade school level & perhaps middle school students, I think it's perfect.
The reviews here should take into account the target age group--you just can't judge a book written for a younger audience in the same way one would judge a true YA book or an adult fantasy book. And I definitely think 10-13 year olds of all genders would love this series. The characters are definitely older teenagers, but for younger readers that is probably part of the appeal, and as I mentioned, it's entirely appropriate--it's G rated for the most part (aside from the fact that students from the school keep disappearing & their deaths are implied but not shown).
This is without a doubt, the best book of the series thus far. It's much more quickly paced. And it's very hard to put down--action sequence after action sequence involving deadly conflicts for the students really keep you reading. And all of the confusing mysteries in the first two books seem to come together here.
This is not a series that I think would be terribly entertaining to older teenagers (maybe I'm wrong, and after all, I myself enjoy it quite well). But for advanced readers at a grade school level & perhaps middle school students, I think it's perfect.
The reviews here should take into account the target age group--you just can't judge a book written for a younger audience in the same way one would judge a true YA book or an adult fantasy book. And I definitely think 10-13 year olds of all genders would love this series. The characters are definitely older teenagers, but for younger readers that is probably part of the appeal, and as I mentioned, it's entirely appropriate--it's G rated for the most part (aside from the fact that students from the school keep disappearing & their deaths are implied but not shown).
February 13, 2019
Omg, such a mess. I mean the series wasn’t that interesting to begin with, but it was fairly easy and ok to read. And since I’ve finished the first and second book it seemed a shame not to finish the whole series. But come on, it’s starting to become a complete mess. Conspiracies, demons chasing after the main characters, then not exactly demons, then some creepy totalitarian company trying to brainwash them, the the rings which afterwards weren’t so relevant to the story anymore, then the mythological part, and none of these events receiving a clear and detailed explanation. I mean really? It’s like the authors were not sure which main theme to focus on and they kept mixing and changing and throwing events until the only thing that resulted was a complete mess. And now with the world destruction. Really? A complete nonsense and it keeps getting worse.
March 4, 2023
I love Mercedes Lackey and decided to take a chance on this collaboration and so far have not been disappointed! It is a YA book, so it’s an easy read but it has had some twists and turns….and some darkness.
August 20, 2017
This book was a lot like the books before it. It has a good plot, and many many things that do not make sense.
January 14, 2018
Third of a series, that I have not read the previous ones, I did enjoy this...but am more interested in the one that follows.
August 21, 2019
This series is aimed at teenagers. I was sucked in from the first book to the last. I had to see how it all ended. It is a wonderful mystery with magic and intrigue.
November 24, 2019
I finally figured out what's been niggling at me about this series, it reads like the novelization of a TV series. That's not a dig, just something stylistic.
July 16, 2020
Further investigation proves that Oakhurst is not all that it seems, and the Headmaster isn't the good person Spirit and her friends thought he was. Can they escape?
October 3, 2020
i was so mad this wasn’t the last book, and i had to slog through one more. awful.
September 30, 2021
Book three and the series is still going strong. I think this may actually be better than book two.
January 26, 2017
Solid story. Nice twists.
Read
July 17, 2013I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears.
Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin’s act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend’s loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has to decide who can—and cannot—be trusted.”
I’ve been pretty open about the fact that I think the quality of Lackey’s work hasn’t been as good the past few years. This series has been the exception. I don’t know if this is due to Edghill’s influence or the fact that this type of book suits Lackey more at this time, but it’s likely a combination of both. And I did like this book, in spite of the fact that it had a few hiccups for me.
For one, this story is much slower than the ones that preceded it. It takes a while for the action to get going, although once it does, some interesting events take place. Also, I almost feel like this was only the first half of a longer book. Given the novel’s pacing, and given the way the story ends, I got the impression of a smaller bit of story expanded to fill more pages than maybe it should have. That said, I like the setting and characters enough that a little extra time spent among them is no great trial for me.
I also have to admit that this novel reminded me a lot of the fifth Harry Potter novel, at least the parts relating to things at Hogwarts. Like that story, Sacrifices has the students confined to an almost militaristic version of their school, rife with rules and regulations, and being trained in combat. The similarity isn’t a bad thing, but if you’ve read any of Rowling’s books, you’re going to recognize this set-up.
On the plus side, I really like the characters that the authors have created. I especially liked how Muirin was portrayed in this book. With her rebellious nature having been established in previous novels, it’s easy for readers to question her actions as she gets deeper into her role as a spy. You wonder about which side she’s working for up until the very end.
I also enjoyed the sections where the Oakhurst kids have to deal with the kind of training that they’re expected to participate in. The tension is ratcheted up as the students begin pushing back against the worst of the physical abuse, and it’s so well written that you’ll probably be wincing right along with those getting beaten under the guise of weapons training.
This series is one of the ones that I wait for every spring, knowing that the story will be action packed and engaging. Sacrifices is a little slower than I might like, but it’s still a good addition to the series. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next volume.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on July 17, 2013.
http://www.owlcatmountain.com/sacrifi...
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears.
Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin’s act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend’s loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has to decide who can—and cannot—be trusted.”
I’ve been pretty open about the fact that I think the quality of Lackey’s work hasn’t been as good the past few years. This series has been the exception. I don’t know if this is due to Edghill’s influence or the fact that this type of book suits Lackey more at this time, but it’s likely a combination of both. And I did like this book, in spite of the fact that it had a few hiccups for me.
For one, this story is much slower than the ones that preceded it. It takes a while for the action to get going, although once it does, some interesting events take place. Also, I almost feel like this was only the first half of a longer book. Given the novel’s pacing, and given the way the story ends, I got the impression of a smaller bit of story expanded to fill more pages than maybe it should have. That said, I like the setting and characters enough that a little extra time spent among them is no great trial for me.
I also have to admit that this novel reminded me a lot of the fifth Harry Potter novel, at least the parts relating to things at Hogwarts. Like that story, Sacrifices has the students confined to an almost militaristic version of their school, rife with rules and regulations, and being trained in combat. The similarity isn’t a bad thing, but if you’ve read any of Rowling’s books, you’re going to recognize this set-up.
On the plus side, I really like the characters that the authors have created. I especially liked how Muirin was portrayed in this book. With her rebellious nature having been established in previous novels, it’s easy for readers to question her actions as she gets deeper into her role as a spy. You wonder about which side she’s working for up until the very end.
I also enjoyed the sections where the Oakhurst kids have to deal with the kind of training that they’re expected to participate in. The tension is ratcheted up as the students begin pushing back against the worst of the physical abuse, and it’s so well written that you’ll probably be wincing right along with those getting beaten under the guise of weapons training.
This series is one of the ones that I wait for every spring, knowing that the story will be action packed and engaging. Sacrifices is a little slower than I might like, but it’s still a good addition to the series. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next volume.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on July 17, 2013.
http://www.owlcatmountain.com/sacrifi...
July 9, 2016
This plot is so outrageous I’m just like. I don’t know, okay. My major complaint is that it just feels like both authors write separately, don’t compare notes, and then if they do read whatever part the other has written they have a mindset of “That’s cool, but I like my bit better so I’m not editing it.”
So you get a lot of conflicting information from characters, and POV. In one discussion Addie makes an impassioned speech about how they’re just kids with no power, and then you turn the page and she’s like “You guys all think we don’t have power, but we do.” And its like, no Addie, you’re the one who said that, you’re the one who brought that up.
Dr. A is definitely The Bad Guy and there’s no doubt in this one. And these poor teens are under such weird stress and pressure from the school at this point with simultaneously stricter and lax rules. It’s hard to imagine, as a reader, what their endgame with these kids is. Like, its supposed to be that they’re recruiting them or brainwashing them, but motives and method seem too chaotic to be effective. It just doesn’t have the sophistication the Bad Guys are supposed to have.
Deaths in this book. They were rather… abrupt, even though there was a little foreshadowing for it in the first book. (Pro tip: When a Seer walks up to you and is all “You’re not dead” like, you know that’s not good.)
I also don’t know how these kids function under so much stress like wow, props to you. And I’m still going to read the next book (its called Victories so that makes me think its the last one) mostly because I need to know the solutions to the mysteries that are still ongoing and they better be answered.
So you get a lot of conflicting information from characters, and POV. In one discussion Addie makes an impassioned speech about how they’re just kids with no power, and then you turn the page and she’s like “You guys all think we don’t have power, but we do.” And its like, no Addie, you’re the one who said that, you’re the one who brought that up.
Dr. A is definitely The Bad Guy and there’s no doubt in this one. And these poor teens are under such weird stress and pressure from the school at this point with simultaneously stricter and lax rules. It’s hard to imagine, as a reader, what their endgame with these kids is. Like, its supposed to be that they’re recruiting them or brainwashing them, but motives and method seem too chaotic to be effective. It just doesn’t have the sophistication the Bad Guys are supposed to have.
Deaths in this book. They were rather… abrupt, even though there was a little foreshadowing for it in the first book. (Pro tip: When a Seer walks up to you and is all “You’re not dead” like, you know that’s not good.)
I also don’t know how these kids function under so much stress like wow, props to you. And I’m still going to read the next book (its called Victories so that makes me think its the last one) mostly because I need to know the solutions to the mysteries that are still ongoing and they better be answered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2016
Blech. Follows in the same vein as book 2, which was cliche, campy & corny. Add crappy. I thought this was the last book so I skimmed through it just to find out how the series ends, and was frustrated to realize there's more to come. We are treated to a whole book of Spirit's misery, fear & tension as they give the reader dribs and drabs of a pretty obvious revelation of characters being reincarnations of Arthurian legends, and also build to a climax of another showdown with Mordred's Shadow Knights. Every now and then they throw in magic battles, with our heroes throwing their power around just to make it interesting but without really contributing much to the storyline. Add a lukewarm, almost non-existent romance just for the heck of it, and the drama in the end of the deaths of characters which the title gives a hint at.
It is just BORING. The authors are milking this for all it's worth - which is very little as it has no substance whatsoever. The story can be better told in half the words. Mercedes Lackey is an excellent writer but when she teams up with others I'm not impressed, and Rosemary Edgehill is probably the worst of her collaborations. What makes this worse is the impression I get that because it's for a young adult audience, they seem to presume a lack of intelligence on the reader's part and so fill it with inconsistencies in both plot and character. The reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that I was able to finish it, and (fool that I am) I probably will slog through the rest of the books in the series just because I want to find out how this disaster ends. Easy enough to do, as the lack of substance makes it easy to skim.
It is just BORING. The authors are milking this for all it's worth - which is very little as it has no substance whatsoever. The story can be better told in half the words. Mercedes Lackey is an excellent writer but when she teams up with others I'm not impressed, and Rosemary Edgehill is probably the worst of her collaborations. What makes this worse is the impression I get that because it's for a young adult audience, they seem to presume a lack of intelligence on the reader's part and so fill it with inconsistencies in both plot and character. The reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that I was able to finish it, and (fool that I am) I probably will slog through the rest of the books in the series just because I want to find out how this disaster ends. Easy enough to do, as the lack of substance makes it easy to skim.
July 9, 2014
This is most definitely a YA book. That is not to disparage it but a caution that it may be a bit juvenile and if that turns you off , you should be aware of that fact. Spirit White finds herself thrust into horrific circumstances. Losing her entire family in a mysterious auto accident, she ends up in a pseudo Hogwarts Academy. This volume in the four book series has the Shadow Knights taking over Oakhurst.
This story is centered on a group of kids who have all ended up as wards of a school of magic. They have all been orphaned, most in a violent manner. The kids discover that their being orphaned was not an accident. Their protectors, the alumni, are famous game authors who have formed Breakthrough Adventure Systems. Breakthrough arrives at Oakhurst and take over.
The kids that band together are a likeable group. The school is the primary setting and the details are more than sufficient. The mystery is why some students are periodically disappearing. The action and plot are nicely done and you can't help but like the characters. It turns out this the third book of a four book series. A King Arthur flavor is definitely developing.
I recommend the book.
December 7, 2017
4 Stars
*** Spoiler Alert ***
Okay, first off let me admit, I cried pretty much through the whole last chapter. Yep, tears running down my face, red blotchy nose,it was not pretty. After 3 books I am pretty much invested in the five MC's, Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. So when one dies I get emotional. While Murin is not my favorite, I still feel her loss. She is snarky, sarcastic and has a cruel streak. But she is also lonely, clever and extremely loyal. So I am hoping on a miracle. I hope she is just wounded and unconscious but very much still alive.
The romance between Spirit and Burke is kicked up a notch (about dang time). Unforunatley there is the typical love triangle that is so prevalent in YA books. Even with the twist of Loch being gay( my favorite MC), having him falling in love with Burke, just... just... annoys the crap out of me. A love triangle is a love triangle, regardless of sexual orientation. This is one of the reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. The mind that gave us Valdemar and their amazing Companions
Another reason it got 4 stars is that it is
*** Spoiler Alert ***
Okay, first off let me admit, I cried pretty much through the whole last chapter. Yep, tears running down my face, red blotchy nose,it was not pretty. After 3 books I am pretty much invested in the five MC's, Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. So when one dies I get emotional. While Murin is not my favorite, I still feel her loss. She is snarky, sarcastic and has a cruel streak. But she is also lonely, clever and extremely loyal. So I am hoping on a miracle. I hope she is just wounded and unconscious but very much still alive.
The romance between Spirit and Burke is kicked up a notch (about dang time). Unforunatley there is the typical love triangle that is so prevalent in YA books. Even with the twist of Loch being gay( my favorite MC), having him falling in love with Burke, just... just... annoys the crap out of me. A love triangle is a love triangle, regardless of sexual orientation. This is one of the reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. The mind that gave us Valdemar and their amazing Companions
Another reason it got 4 stars is that it is
July 27, 2013
Well, I am a little torn by this third book. Once again I was left wanting to read on after the last page! However, getting to the last page this time took some serious forcing of my focus! The bulk of the story was lacking. I feel like I just had to keep forcing myself to read on but once I got 1/2 way through it was better. Once I got 3/4 through I was up late turning pages. The ending was the best part and who knows when the next one will come out! I love the characters and I love the history of the characters. I think I know who Guinevere and King Author are but I'm dying to know who the group of good guys are! I also want to know if all the missing kids are dead or being held somewhere and used as experiments! I was totally pissed about Murr cat! She was awesome and I hope she is not dead and they some how saved her. Oh well I guess I have to wait another 6 months to a year to find out. Sigh!
April 26, 2013
Book #3 ends with a much bigger cliffhanger than any of the others. The story definitely feels unsettled/unresolved at the end.
Most of the conflict in this one is internal. Is this girl still on "our side" or has she succumbed to what the "bad guys" are offering? Will my other friends switch sides? Will anyone believe me?
There's much greater use of the King Arthur tie-ins and that gives more info on both the bad guys and why the kids are at this school.
It feels like an episode in a TV series.
Although I said the conflict was internal, there's lots of action:
* A martial arts instructor who gets taken out in a fight
* A horse ride with all sorts of crazy obstacles/attacks
* A huge video-game-type character that trashes the city library
* A car chase at the end
Definitely don't think you could read this book without the prior 2.
Most of the conflict in this one is internal. Is this girl still on "our side" or has she succumbed to what the "bad guys" are offering? Will my other friends switch sides? Will anyone believe me?
There's much greater use of the King Arthur tie-ins and that gives more info on both the bad guys and why the kids are at this school.
It feels like an episode in a TV series.
Although I said the conflict was internal, there's lots of action:
* A martial arts instructor who gets taken out in a fight
* A horse ride with all sorts of crazy obstacles/attacks
* A huge video-game-type character that trashes the city library
* A car chase at the end
Definitely don't think you could read this book without the prior 2.
June 6, 2014
I am so glad this book is finally done. I feel like I have been reading it to forever. I do not understand why these two authors spend so much time making storylines and so little time on the characters and their relationships. It is hard to care about characters that do not show emotion or have real friendships. I remember when Spirit said in the first book that she could be in love with Loch, up until then she had shown no inclination that she even liked him. When her and Burke started dating it was like watching two actors without and chemistry. Why have them date if their relationship is so non existent. Finally in the last 50 or so pages the book got good and in the past 10 the reader finally sees the characters actually care about one another. Of course I have come this far so I have to finish the series. I hope book four is better than the second and third books.
June 28, 2016
Warning — don't read this if you haven't read the previous volumes in this series!
February 5, 2015
Towards the middle of the book, I thought this was going to end up being a three star book. Four stars at best.
There IS messiness in the middle. It needed some editing and rewrites. Too many new characters introduced and dropped.
However, the last third of the novel is amazing enough that the rest is forgivable. It's a five star book.
Prepare for Arthur & Guinivere... Arthurian legend. The story revs up and deepens. Who can be trusted? Muiran? Dylan? Dr A? Doc Mac?
Students are disappearing at an alarming rate. Spirit will find out her mage element. Is there a Merlin?
Read. Read. Read.
There IS messiness in the middle. It needed some editing and rewrites. Too many new characters introduced and dropped.
However, the last third of the novel is amazing enough that the rest is forgivable. It's a five star book.
Prepare for Arthur & Guinivere... Arthurian legend. The story revs up and deepens. Who can be trusted? Muiran? Dylan? Dr A? Doc Mac?
Students are disappearing at an alarming rate. Spirit will find out her mage element. Is there a Merlin?
Read. Read. Read.
March 27, 2014
In this Urban Fantasy tale about a young magic user and her friends from school, and know it isn't Harry Potter, because they are starting to think that they are the continuation of the Arthurian legend where some people are on the side of Author, Gwenevere and Merlin while others are on the side of Mordred. Will the war between the sides spill out and threaten the whole world? That is what Spirit and here friends are trying to keep from happening.
Looking forward to the next book to see where Mercedes takes us.
Looking forward to the next book to see where Mercedes takes us.
May 1, 2013
This is far better than the previous two books. There was still a sudden ending, but I could overlook that. Without giving anything away,(I hope!) by the end of this book, you'll know who is the villain, what the villain wants, and kind of who's on Spirit's side. It gets a little predictable, too, but it's not so predictable that you already know the end, just maybe a page or two ahead every once in a while. Also, the ending may crush you in grief and guilt. Just a warning.
I was starting to lose interest in this series, but luckily, I read this, and am fully committed to the last book.
I was starting to lose interest in this series, but luckily, I read this, and am fully committed to the last book.
January 13, 2015
A great series for Young Adults and young at heart adults, too!
This series, based on Arthurian mythos, is a great blinding of old values and modern day technology which is searching for its morality and values even as I write this. The plot is quick and has unusual and some predictable twists. The technology vs. magick / magick is technology argument is played out in interesting ways. A great story that can be simply fun to read, and yet can also spark contemplation and discussion. Fun, regardless of readers age.
This series, based on Arthurian mythos, is a great blinding of old values and modern day technology which is searching for its morality and values even as I write this. The plot is quick and has unusual and some predictable twists. The technology vs. magick / magick is technology argument is played out in interesting ways. A great story that can be simply fun to read, and yet can also spark contemplation and discussion. Fun, regardless of readers age.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews