Light and Shadow

by T.J. Russavage

You only live once...Or do you?

Samantha Summers and her stepsister Sarah are magically transported into the realm of Thalen after reading a message from a spirit board. They soon learn their only way home is to embark on a quest for four ancient Relics with the power to save or destroy the world. On their journey Sam uncovers a secret that haunts her at every turn, further entangling her in the affairs and unfinished business of the kingdom.

Can Sam take charge of her destiny, or will she succumb to the web of fate already in motion?

Of course, there’s still her stepsister to think of, plus a handsome prince, a prophecy, and a past love.

What’s a girl to do?

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2023

Reviews

[Alesha Melville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastatingly original! Light and Shadow is the fantasy series I didn’t know I needed. Such incredible world building, and character development. I am dying to jump into the rest of the series.

Sam is one of the FMC’s and she is kind and respectful but also strong and determined. She and her step sister Sarah are pulled into a new world. Sam wants to protect Sarah, but also feels compelled to help the people from this new world.

Sarah is the other FMC and she is fierce, protective and outspoken. She will do anything to protect Sam, and to get them both back home.

There is shadow magic, among other types of magic. There are also dragons, and they are done in a refreshing way! Not to mention there is a mysterious prince who joins their mission. This author does an amazing job with the plot. I cannot wait to read book two!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure!

This book has a nice blend of scenarios. Adventure, danger, lost in another world, magic, and more. As the main character learns more about herself and navigates through an unknown world full of danger and magic, with obstacles she needs to overcome she also has to face learning hidden truths about herself. It reminded me very much of perfect blend of the movies 10th kingdom, Labryinth and the Goonies. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this book, but it absolutely did not disappoint. The storyline was complete and left a satisfied feeling. The world building bloomed with the story as it progressed and blended well with the events. The characters had full personalities and made it hard not to feel what they were feeling.

The only thing I was not prepared for was the length of the chapters. This is more so a "me preference" I think. It still didn't deter me from loving the story itself. I'm looking forward to the next one!

[Raechel Gasparac · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is a departure from what I normally read, it was a fun read! The closest comp I could give this book is if stranger things was written by Tolkien to give that lord of the rings feel.

[Megan Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a sea of rehashed plots and characters this book is a beacon of light. Like able characters, a lot of story building and some pretty funny moments. Can’t wait for the second book to come out.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful dimensional travel adventure featuring stepsisters who find family in each other through the chaos they experience. Easy to read and amusing. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. Full review will be on my blog in the next few days (today is 2/27/24).

(redpenciljournal dot blog spot)

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A promising start!

This debut novel, the first in a trilogy, was an enjoyable read. The plot, settings and characters feel fleshed out and are well-written. The concept is a unique one in the world of western YA fantasy, and one I hope catches on because I personally love stories of unwilling heroines being thrown into different worlds and forced to figure out how to make it home alive.

I like Sam and Sarah and how each girl has a distinct personality that the author does well to keep separate. As in, one doesn’t meld into the other.

There are a couple of characters that I didn’t really get to know well in this book (Valios) but I’m hoping we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in book 2. He’s dark and intriguing and I personally love his type.

There are a number of editing issues in this book that I’m pretty sure will be resolved by books 2 and 3. That’s why the four-star rating. Despite the typos, it’s a solid start and I’m really looking forward to book 2.

[BriBiscuit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this book took me longer to read than what it should have. Of course I took a small two day break from reading right before it got really good and the pace of the story quickened to where I found myself loosing track of how much I had read until I went to go to the next page and noticed it had ended. The last 30% of the book had me very hooked and I enjoyed it thoroughly to see details that I didn’t think much of when first reading them to actually be hints and connections that answered some of the questions I had while reading. Personally the book feels like its intended for the younger YA audience; which is completely fine. Although, that’s not the type of book I usually read(still new in my reading journey) so I wasn’t sure how to feel about the book at first. The magic system in this world is VERY interesting to me, not only because the elements are involved(I love avatar the last airbender so I always love it when the elements are intertwined) but also because it left me with so many questions that I actually wanted to find out the answers to about how the magic works in the worlds within the story. Something that left me wanting was the descriptions of the characters and the world they were brought into. I wished that it would have been easier to depict what the characters and their surroundings looked like while reading. This gave me the feeling that the author without a doubt knows the characters + setting better than anyone, so they may not have felt it as necessary to be super descriptive because when reading the story in their own mind they could picture everything clearly without the extra descriptions. The names of the characters were all well-chosen, I liked how the sisters from earth had more simple earth names while the ones in the fantasy world had much more fantasy-esk names :) Although the two FMCs names were too similar for my liking, I frequently caught myself having to reread to double check that I was reading the correct name. Tied to that I often felt the perspective from the two sisters swapped too frequently practically within the same paragraph. Part of me wished it would have leaned towards Sam's POV more often than it had, it was nice to know where Sarah was at mentally but it was too back and forth for me sometimes. I think that this story would adapt well to wonderful show or movie thus far, and I can’t wait to see where their journey will take them in the next book! Especially after the damn epilogue! For a bit I was concerned that the story wouldn’t fill me with the desire to continue with the series but the last third of the book had me much more enthralled with an increasing desire to know what will happen next :) I have so many questions that I hope will be answered in the next story! I can’t wait to see the character growth of Sam and her friends, and the romances that may bloom along with them :D !

Overall my rating is 3.25/5 stars because I believe with added worldbuilding, character depictions, and a map of the world(I often felt lost as to where the characters were causing me to struggle picturing the world) that this story would gain another star! I have hopes that the next book will be even better, and for a debut novel this was great!

Spoiler: I wish that the all mighty and powerful people like Valios, Torrin's father had a bit of a chance to show their true powers and capabilities. I understand that the shadow demon was even more power but even outside that scene it would have been nice to see them show their power, so as a reader I could have understood just how strong the enemy truly was compared to them. It felt to me like they were weak or overhyped by the populace when they lost that fight so easily, so I questioned the opinions of those who held them with such high regard. Not until the end of the book and discovering that what had taken over Valios was too much for even two trained Guardians I wasn't able to believe the true threat/power level of the creature. I can’t wait to see more of the Guardians and those with powers in different scenarios not just fights to be able to judge their strength more, and better understand the difference between those with a lot and those with little power.

I really enjoy watching the author's Tiktoks and witnessing her journey in publishing her books, so I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her :) Keep it up Russavage! I know your books will only get better overtime! Can’t wait to see you grow as an author :)

Sidenote: I was reading the book on BookFunnel so I'm not sure if this issue lies within the site or what, but it really annoyed me how paragraphs would vary in font size without reason. I had to make the font size bigger just to read the small font paragraphs it easily, and it may be my ADHD or something but I found this made it hard to zone in and simply read it's like it would hinder my focus a bit.

[Delphine Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of Light and Shadow instantly caught my eye, it’s absolutely stunning. The artwork feels magical and full of adventure, perfectly hinting at the fantasy journey within. The characters on the cover radiate personality and mystery, and the design makes me want to dive straight into their world.

The description makes this book sound like an exciting, heart-tugging fantasy adventure with everything I love: a magical realm, an epic quest, ancient relics, a prophecy, and complicated emotions. The idea of Sam and her stepsister being transported to another world and facing destiny, secrets, and even a hint of romance is incredibly captivating. I also love that the story promises emotional depth with Sam’s haunted past and high stakes tied to the fate of an entire kingdom.

I haven’t read it yet, but based on the blurb and that gorgeous cover alone, Light and Shadow is definitely at the top of my TBR. It sounds like a beautiful mix of magic, mystery, and self-discovery. I can’t wait to follow Sam’s journey and see how light and shadow intertwine in her destiny.

[Aleese Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Fun!

This book is a fun and beautifully crafted fantasy adventure! The worldbuilding is clever, and the character development is spot on. 

My favorite part about this book is how unique it is. There’s travel to another world, but not in a way you could guess. There are dragons, but their presence is not forced… And so much more! 

The book was slow at times, with many unnecessarily long paragraphs that could be split up and some slower moments. But overall, it is a fantastic YA read! 

[MermaidOfMischief · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! Despite the high stakes throughout, the world and characters felt so cozy. No matter what was happening, I couldn't wait to dive back in so I could just spend more time in the story. Flipping through the pages felt like coming home, and that nostalgia was like real-life magic for me.

The writing was clear and humorous, and the pacing spectacular. I was never bored! Highly recommend for anyone who loves YA portal fantasy. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Kyra Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

TJ!!! Being able to support another indie author was so wonderful. Light and Shadow absolutely sucked me in from the beginning. After finishing, I just knew I’d have to buy the next one. Walking through the journey of Thalen with Sam and all of the situations she found herself in was interesting beyond words. I can’t wait to see what is to come!

[Donna]

Sam and Sarah stumble into an adventure that I didn’t anticipate, and have to survive in a new world filled with new societal expectations, magic, and cultures.

The plot is refreshingly unique and the world building is something to look forward to when diving into this trilogy. I look forward to seeing the chaos these two trauma bonded sisters end up in next!

[Distracted Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls just want to have fun. Fun that finds them stuck up in a magic land, where adventure awaits if they are brave enough. Dragons, kingdoms, pasts intertwined all hang in the balance. A fun read for teens or adults.

[Tuliriemu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic, dragons, teleporting via ouija board and adventures in a foreign land. Loved it all. I can't wait to read the second book!

[Svea Rehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light and Shadow was a phenomenal read. There are wyverns, magic, evil, and more. I was drawn in from the first paragraph all the way until the last. I’m excited to read the second book!

[Lor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this was written by a friend of my family so obviously I had to pick it up and I loved ittt