Shadows Falling

Shadows #2

by Melyssa Williams

Rose Gray is troubled, and has always been alone. When she reunites with her long lost sister, Sonnet, her mental fragility snaps to the point of murder. Sonnet has all but given up on her now. Circumstances - beyond unusual and strange - have made Rose the way she is; for not only can she travel through eras, she can decide where to go. For a perfectly sane girl, this could be a gift: for Rose, it could be danger for anyone she has ever had the misfortune of meeting. A childhood with gypsies, an apprenticeship with a dark man, and a love affair with a dangerous boy, are what's normal for Rose - as is time spent in Bedlam.

Lizzie is an orphaned nurse, resigned to a life of changing bedpans and fluffing pillows at the world's most notorious insane asylum. Finding an old diary proves a welcome distraction from a medical world who doesn't take nurses too seriously in 1931. But falling into the world of the diary's author, Rose Gray, Lizzie is swept into an ever deepening mystery; one that could leave her just another victim. Because, although the diary in Bedlam hospital may be old, Rose is not. And she never really left.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Time Travel

Paperback

First published December 27, 2012

About the author

Hopeless bookaholic, hopeful author, magazine columnist, ballet teacher, mommy of three (not counting the dog or the chickens), drinker of mugs of half and half with a splash of coffee, red wine lover, former contemporary dancer, mind behind the Shadows Trilogy: Shadows Gray, Shadows Falling, and Shadows Lost. Coming in the holiday season of 2015, Once Upon A Winter, a steampunk retelling of the Nutcracker.

Reviews

[Melyssa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I did give my own book 5 stars, cuz the blood, sweat and tears told me so!

[Mandy]

Fascinating! I loved the pace and mystery of this story. Melyssa Williams has a magical way of weaving characters that draws the reader in and won't let go. You will not be disappointed in the unexpected consummation of this novel!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I posted this review (after the first explanatory paragraph) on Amazon, and the author replied and used a smiley face, and I felt like a bitch. I paid money for this after getting the first book free, which NEVER HAPPENS, and I'll probably buy the next one too, so bear all that in mind with my review. It was probably half an inch from being a four star. If we had ten stars, it'd be a seven.

Things I like about this book - it's a reasonably original idea, the story progresses well, the diary elements work within the larger context of the story. Things that drive me insane about this book - don't set it in a really specific timeframe and then have the characters talk like modern day teenagers. I could let it go if it was just the time travelling characters, but everyone seems to be at it. That and a certain Twilighty level of angst take away from the book overall.

I don't know, maybe I'm just a bit too old for these books, but I feel like if the author took her time and worked on some of the dialogue and era issues they could be really good.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!! Which is obvious I guess, since I finished it in about 24 hours.

I loved Shadows Gray and was excited to learn that there was a sequel. Shadows Falling is even better than Shadows Gray. It has even more of the "creepy" factor that I love about books. I almost couldn't sleep last night thinking that Rose Gray could end up traveling right into my room.

I seriously hope that Melyssa Williams continues writing books, and I also hope that they are in the Shadows series, although I'm sure if she wrote something else it would be great too. I also hope these books grow in popularity because they really are very good.

I did not want this books to end...It was one of those moments where I thought "that can't be it, I want there to be more." And in my opinion that is one way that you know a book was great.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this series, Shadows Gray, for the great storytelling, suspense, and unexpected plot twists. The second book, Shadows Falling, is even better - for those elements are even stronger. Writing about time travel is extremely tricky and very easy to botch, but Melyssa Williams has done a masterful job in crafting the world of the Lost. This is a fun, engrossing, impossible-to-put-down read. When I reached the last page, I was literally speechless. I am already looking forward to book three!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book in two sittings. Havent done that in decades. Its a book that doesnt let you put it down willingly. Too many things happening. Its a page turner to say the least. And the twist at the end was totally unexpected. But shouldnt have been. All the clues were there. Melyssia Williams has a real way of bending what you thougth you knew into something completely different. Now, didnt I see something about a book three? Bring it on!

[Nichole Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was terrific!! I read it in about a day, and my family is very happy that I am done, so they can see me again:). I can't wait for book 3, and more books from this very talented author!!!

[Maria Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing i was so into it the twist caught me off guard completely!!!!! It makes me wish there was more to the series. I LOVED IT!!!!

[David Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Shadows Falling, Melyssa is able (a difficult and hard-to-find skill among writers) to disconnect from the first-person narrator of Sonnet Gray who brought you through book one and give an entirely new, multi-layered, alternate, and a haunting report on the goings-on back and forth through the centuries. If you've experienced Shadows Gray this one will pull on your heart strings in opposing and painful directions. As well as terrify you of, well, you should find out.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having become familiar with the dangerous Rose in the first book, you can't help but feel a sense of concern when the kind nurse Lizzie at the insane asylum finds Rose's diary and begins to read it. As she reads through the troubling journal there is a frightening feeling that somehow Rose is drawing nearer, maybe even watching her and all is not well....i won't spoil it, but it is a delightful read, sometimes scary, sometime funny....and of course there is a handsome, mysterious stranger to make things more interesting along the way.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I read the first book, Shadows Gray a little over a year ago. I'm not sure why I took so long to get to this one. I think I had an overload of time travel books at the time. But this book is so much more than a time travel book. It's about family. And even though it took me so long to get to it, I was able to pick right up. Enough of the first book came back to me that I was never lost. I wouldn't recommend that someone skip the first book, but if a person did, they would be okay reading this one.

Rose's family didn't have a choice when they left her behind, and there was no way for them to come back to her. But that doesn't mean she can ever forgive them. And it is tearing her apart inside. In the first book we only saw Rose as a monster, even though Sonnet tried to make us see her otherwise. In this book we can see the thoughts, actions, and events that made Rose who she is. Or who she was. Or who she might be.

I was pretty sure I knew what was going on in the book by about 25%. But then a new character was introduced briefly, just over halfway through, and I wasn't so sure I knew anymore, until about 75%. But I still didn't know everything!

[Roz Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm confuzzled. Like truly madly (excuse the pun!) deeply confuzzled! I'm normally quite quick at figuring story lines out but I didn't see this coming at all. I liked Lizzie. In the beginning I wanted more Sonnet but Lizzie came into her own and I found myself rooting for her. I did want Sonnet and Luke to fall in love but if it couldn't be her then next in line for me would be Lizzie. Aside from the madness, this story is full to the brim of love, pure unconditional love that makes my heart go boom. I love this!!!

[Nancy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, and Shadows Gray. Each book drew me in immediately, surprised me, and kept me interested. Loved the writing. I love YA books, but sometimes find the dialogue between the characters too juvenile. Not so in this book. My only issue is that I didn't research enough to realize that it was a trilogy. I hate reading a series until all books are available. I just never end up going back no matter how much I liked it. Very happy it wasn't a cliffhanger though.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Still not my genre (as if this series could even be placed into one), but once I picked it up, I just kept reading. Although I was almost disappointed that I guessed one outcome of the book, I could not have been more surprised by the final outcome. I was right and wrong all at the same time. A brilliantly well-written and well-researched book.

[Christin Szczesniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woohoo! I blazed through this book as well, which for me is a big thing. I will plod through a boring book, but it's always nice when a book is good, and I can't put it down. The characters are interesting, thoughtful, and quirky, and the book is mysterious and lovely. I'm not going to say too much, so I don't give away any details. To quote Kathleen Kelly, "Read it. I know you'll love it!"

[Tiffany Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow!! This book had me as eager to turn the next page as Lizzie was when reading crazy Rose's diary. I had Sam figured out but not in the way I expected AND I was not prepared for that ending! This series keeps getting better. I like how historical unsolved mysteries were tied in also.

[Neva Gambill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow. I did not expect that ending. Very well written. I want more from Melyssa Williams!

[Wattsfam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious...it was devoured in two days! Loved it as much as Shadows Gray. Thank you for the distraction from reality. The cover was mysteriously beautiful just like the characters and setting.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

**FAIR WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Shadows Falling is the second book in Melyssa Williams’ Shadows series. It’s predecessor, Shadows Gray is told from the perspective of teenager Sonnet Gray - a time traveler who cannot control her abilities so much as adapt to whatever time period she happens to land in. Sonnet’s younger sister Rose was left behind when they were children, leaving Sonnet to assume her sister had been trapped in time and lived and died as the rest of us linear humans do.

Shadows Falling leaves Sonnet for the moment and delves into the backstory of Rose’s life after the split from her family as a young child. This is accomplished through the discovery of old journals by a student nurse (Lizzie) working at the asylum Rose frequented in between her time travels.

Ms. Williams makes a concerted effort to take the villainous Rose from book one and give her more depth of character. This is mostly successful, though some elements of her upbringing the bit with the knife thrower/her criminal father figure, or the part about the gypsies teaching her to pickpocket are used time and again in ‘damaged character’ storylines. I think as a teenage reader I would have probably been blown away by the twist ending, but either I read too much (very true) or I’m just too suspicious for my own good (also true) and found myself predicting the end at about the 75% mark.

I liked all the literary references (see: reads too much) and just as with Shadows Gray I think this is a good fit for its intended young adult audience. It should be interesting to get to the finale and see who’s going to survive the inevitable sister face off that is looming ominously ahead. 3 stars.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Did not see that coming. I was trying to guess but that was not the direction I was thinking. It is a great twist and am looking forward to book 3.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book I did not read the first one but I was able to pick up on things that happened in the first book and was okay with not reading it to know the just of the story behind the scenes.

[Cuoredicarta Sangued'inchiostro · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is OMG. OMG. OMG.
I finished this book tonight (just because I'm sick and I have to sleep a lot, otherwise I would have finished it in a day.
I don't really know what to say. I'm wondering if it is possible to give it 3948984974236 stars. It think it isn't but, Melyssa, trust me...I would have given 3948984974236 stars to this book. This time from the first page to the very last. I was like:
"Oh yeah...you're predictable Melyssa...you wrote this to make me think it was like that but it isn't because you're just trying to mislead me but I know you're misleading me so I already know how this is going to end...blablabla". And at the end of the book I was like....NO WAAAY! YOU FOOLED ME MELYSSA! YOU FOOLED ME ONCE AGAIN! ;)
I must say that, Melyssa, you were so able to create the character of Rose that during the last nights I had several nightmares involving her and Luke. Tonight (the night I finished the book) I woke up and I was sitting on my bed, pushing the wall because I thought it was a door locked from the outside. And my eyes could see the tiny body of Rose in the dark. It has never happened to me. And I think this means you're great at writing.
This morning I woke up, ate my breakfast had a shower and I'm already reading Shadows Lost. I want to really "sip" it slowly, since I already know I'll miss al the characters as if they were my friends (Rose too).
Thank you Melyssa for all these emotions.
:)

[Stitch_Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two ways that I determine if a book is a favorite of mine. First, on how quickly I devour it and secondly on how long the book stays with me. I found Shadows Falling to be hauntingly delicious to the point where I could not put it down. In the cases where I had no choice but too put it down I couldn't help but to find some chore or task that I could put off so I could further reading. Even though I have finished I can't help but to wonder what comes next.

I did have to take off a star because some of the events that transpired were predictable and I knew the outcome from the beginning. Even with that being said it was still quite a ride to get to that conclusion and I cannot wait for more.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book on a long five-hour train from Baden Baden to Berlin - a fortunate circumstance since I could not put it down once I started.

At first, I was a little disappointed. It seemed as though Lizzie's character was a retread of Sonnet's from the first book. I loved the character, but the book felt too much of a continuation of the previous only a bit disconcerting since you were reading about a completely different character.

But as the book continued, it became easier to see the new character and by the time the climax rolls around, I was completely invested. I typically do not write spoilers, so I will just note that the ending is a mind trip and completely erased my quibbles about the character.

Great job, Melyssa! Looking forward to the next installment.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel was an absolute thrill from beginning to end! The literary references made my heart happy, being a classic literature lover myself. As well as the history, the witty, and sarcastic nature of the main character made this read a fun adventure. Shadows Falling kept me guessing and creating conclusions of my own, which were totally boring compared to the actual story that the author, Melyssa Williams, so thoughtfully created for us. It's easy to fall in love with this series and the imagination put into the world of the Lost. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for Rose and Luke, as well as Sonnet, Noah and Israel!

[liirogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it disappointing after the first novel, which was fantastic. Which, by the way, you definitely need to read before picking this one up. A lot of authors completely re-tread the first book in the second, and it was nice that she just picked right up and continued on expecting the reader to be able to follow her.

I enjoyed the book - I couldn't put it down. But, I found the character of Lizzie rather boring. I found it fascinating the watch the events from the first book through the eyes of Rose's diary, but I felt like I was waiting for the real story to start. I will definitely read the next and look forward to returning to Sonnet and the rest of the crew.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I started this sequel in the Shadows series right after finishing the first book and I think loved it even more. This book revealed the history of the mysterious Rose Gray through the eyes of a young nurse of the famous Bedlam Hospital. It's well written, each chapter I finished left me wanting to start the next. There were a few mysteries to unravel and although I started to suspect some of them others I didn't see until the author revealed them. Can't wait for the third and final book in the series, and anything else Ms. Williams decides to write for me.

[Carm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excuse me? 💀

I absolutely could not. I was emotionally prepared for this one to be scary which was convenient bc in the last one the sister got locked in a house for no reason and I was like, wait what is happening and suddenly I was reading a horror? Anyhow this was a ride and some of the twists I could sense others hit me like a freight train.

I really had to reread that final chapter like 4 times because I was like what is HAPPENING.

Overall quite an enjoyable read and looking forward to the final book in this series!

[Michelle J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I kept waiting for the story to start. I figured out the ending about 1/2 way through, which was disappointing. Turns out it's only retelling the first book through Rose's diary. Props to the story for some fun creepy parts.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a great twist. Will there be more to come?