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Sins of the 7
Shadow of Wrath
Read the book that critics are calling "Disturbing, haunting, and heartbreaking."
In the Arena you're either a killer or a victim. A homeless boy -- starving and desperate -- is kidnapped from the city streets and forced to fight in gladiator matches for the pleasures of sick and twisted criminals. Renamed Dog, the boy discovers that in order to survive, he must transform himself into a violent and cold-blooded killer.
Can Allegra, a slave to the Arena, save Dog before he loses his humanity, his soul, and ultimately his life? Or will she also become a victim to the Arena's cruel master? The Arena turns everyone into sinners.
*** Praise for Shadow of Wrath
"Mindblowing, disturbing, and thrilling! Hunger Games fans, beware!... this book shocked me to the core. It was mind-blowing!...It'll twist your gut and play with your nerves, but I promise you, you'll enjoy it." - Books, DIY's, and Randomness Book Reviews ★★★★★ "Shadow of Wrath is by far one of the best books I have read this year ...I lost count the number of times this book made me cry." - All in One Place Book Reviews ★★★★★ "I don't usually urge you all to read a book, but I'm urging you now. Please, please, PLEASE pick this book up . I can't say you won't regret it, this isn't for everyone. But one this is for sure, it'll definitely leave an impression on you. " - Book Marked for Later Reviews ★★★★★ Purchase Shadow of Wrath and enter into the Arena, where death is as common as the rising of the sun.
In the Arena you're either a killer or a victim. A homeless boy -- starving and desperate -- is kidnapped from the city streets and forced to fight in gladiator matches for the pleasures of sick and twisted criminals. Renamed Dog, the boy discovers that in order to survive, he must transform himself into a violent and cold-blooded killer.
Can Allegra, a slave to the Arena, save Dog before he loses his humanity, his soul, and ultimately his life? Or will she also become a victim to the Arena's cruel master? The Arena turns everyone into sinners.
*** Praise for Shadow of Wrath
"Mindblowing, disturbing, and thrilling! Hunger Games fans, beware!... this book shocked me to the core. It was mind-blowing!...It'll twist your gut and play with your nerves, but I promise you, you'll enjoy it." - Books, DIY's, and Randomness Book Reviews ★★★★★ "Shadow of Wrath is by far one of the best books I have read this year ...I lost count the number of times this book made me cry." - All in One Place Book Reviews ★★★★★ "I don't usually urge you all to read a book, but I'm urging you now. Please, please, PLEASE pick this book up . I can't say you won't regret it, this isn't for everyone. But one this is for sure, it'll definitely leave an impression on you. " - Book Marked for Later Reviews ★★★★★ Purchase Shadow of Wrath and enter into the Arena, where death is as common as the rising of the sun.
- GenresDystopia
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2012
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
L.W. Patricks
5 books108 followersLately L.W. Patricks has been telling everyone some half baked story of how he's the spawn of a typewriting chimp and a literary ninja while eating the soul of Unicorns to sustain his crazy imagination.
Here's the truth though: Ever since he opened that book of Fairy Tales when he was a kid, he loved reading and spent countless hours recreating a parallel universe where Red Riding Hood kung-fu kicked the wolf in the jugular and Snow White discovered a spell to merge all the dwarves together to form a Super-Dwarf that tossed the evil step-mother into the sun.
With this love for reading and writing, L.W. took it to the next level and published a book. Sadly no super human fairy tale characters (but it's always been on his radar).
His debut novel Shadow of Wrath is now published by Strange Crow Publications which can be described as "Hunger Games meets Gladiator -- a brutal young adult thriller."
Shadow of Wrath serves as a prelude to the Sins of the 7 series with Book One: AWAKE THE GHOSTS to be published late 2013.
His short fiction works has been published in multiple fiction magazines and enjoys writing contemporary fantasy with an emphasis on creating urban mythology for his stories.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario though he's travelled all over the world including Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Austria, United Kingdom, Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia just to name a few. His diverse experience amongst other cultures provides inspiration for his stories.
He currently live in Toronto with his wife where he enjoys the the hot summer days and the cold winter nights while his brain dances on a cloud against the backdrop of a shimmering starry night.
You can visit his website at www.lwpatricks.com or join his email list to receive some pretty awesome FREE stuff.
He promises that your email will never get spammed:
http://lwpatricks.com/join-the-mailin...
Here's the truth though: Ever since he opened that book of Fairy Tales when he was a kid, he loved reading and spent countless hours recreating a parallel universe where Red Riding Hood kung-fu kicked the wolf in the jugular and Snow White discovered a spell to merge all the dwarves together to form a Super-Dwarf that tossed the evil step-mother into the sun.
With this love for reading and writing, L.W. took it to the next level and published a book. Sadly no super human fairy tale characters (but it's always been on his radar).
His debut novel Shadow of Wrath is now published by Strange Crow Publications which can be described as "Hunger Games meets Gladiator -- a brutal young adult thriller."
Shadow of Wrath serves as a prelude to the Sins of the 7 series with Book One: AWAKE THE GHOSTS to be published late 2013.
His short fiction works has been published in multiple fiction magazines and enjoys writing contemporary fantasy with an emphasis on creating urban mythology for his stories.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario though he's travelled all over the world including Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Austria, United Kingdom, Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia just to name a few. His diverse experience amongst other cultures provides inspiration for his stories.
He currently live in Toronto with his wife where he enjoys the the hot summer days and the cold winter nights while his brain dances on a cloud against the backdrop of a shimmering starry night.
You can visit his website at www.lwpatricks.com or join his email list to receive some pretty awesome FREE stuff.
He promises that your email will never get spammed:
http://lwpatricks.com/join-the-mailin...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 20, 2013
From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
At A Glance
Like effing poetry! I held my breath, I cried, I almost threw up. That's the best way I can describe Shadow of Wrath.
The Good
I was blown away by Shadow of Wrath. I was really iffy when signing up for this blog tour. But I am more of a fighter than a lover (in books that is) so I knew I had to read this book. This book reminded me of raw, gruesome poetry. The concept was just horrific but Patricks did a great job of turning a frightening idea into a compelling story.
Dog has been on the streets since he can remember. That is until a man with a scary smile snatched him up and put him into an arena to fight for his life. The dregs of society and sociopathic rich people come to watch kids fight each other to the death for pleasure and money. Dog has been forced into this nightmare but he actually takes it better than I expected. He's lived on the streets, he knows about survival and violence. But he still has anger and resentment towards his capture. When him and Allegra get close, Dog's view on survival changes. Because now he must find a way to get them both out of this world of slavery and degradation, not just himself. Dog was so brave and confident it made me believe he could really save them both. And that hope kept me reading.
Allegra has spent most of her life as a slave in this underground fighting ring. She is Ryker's, the man behind this monstrous Arena, personal slave. Her virginity is being saved for when she reaches puberty so Ryker can sell her as a sex slave. But she is still abused every day by Ryker. Unlike Dog, she remembers her life from before. Her family, her friends, the joy of being free and young. Now she is the Arena's unofficial doctor. Every night she tries to keep the slave boys alive to fight another day, even if it makes her ill to give them false hope. But she keeps her emotions hidden to deter Ryker from using them against her. When Dog comes to the Arena, Allegra sees hope. Maybe together they can be free.
Both Allegra (14) and Dog (around the same age) are very young, but they act very mature. I think anyone would learn to grow up quickly if put in the same situation. Shadow of Wrath is the kind of book that gets better and better with each page. You hope and pray that these kids will get free and the monsters will get what they deserve. Some hopes are answered, as others are horribly crushed.
I have to warn you, this book has a sad ending. Luckily I knew that before going in, so it wasn't as hard to take. Even with the sad ending, it was also beautiful. If I am going to read a book that ends like that, then I want it to end the way Patricks did it. This book was amazingly written. It was edgy, gritty, and lyrical. The concept of humanity, survival, and pure evil all played a huge part of Shadow of Wrath. What would you do if you were put in an Arena and given the choice of fighting for your life or dying on the spot?
The Bad
I wish we got a chance to actually see Dog and Allegra build a relationship. The book skipped years ahead so we never really got to see them fall for each other, we saw more of a friendship.
I would have liked to see the fighting described more. It may be horrifying to read about, but it would have made a bigger impact. Instead the fighting was often skimmed over.
The Snuggly
This is not a great love story. This is about two people who build a friendship over their shared misery and confinement. But near the end, we do start to see a little love peeking through. By the end, I was crying over what this couple had went through together. Sex wise, there is none, but we get a little sexual assault.
Final Thoughts
Though this book wont be for everyone, it for sure will hit some people in the best way possible. Shadow of Wrath was a thrilling ride filled with blood and desperation as well as hope and friendship. This book WILL make you cry. Highly recommended.
Quotes
The crowd roared above them, screaming obscenities and cheering for the fight to begin. Dog realized that they were a part of some sadistic game. When he was younger, he heard stories about ancient fighting arenas and warriors that were forced to fight to the death in front of live audiences. Gladiators they were called. It looked like he had just become one.
Sunny began to cry.
"Don't do this," he pleaded. Dog ignored him. He had already accepted the harsh reality of this twisted event -- another thing gone wrong in his life. It was nothing new. Perhaps it was all those years of living in a harsh environment that made him callous to the situation, but it all boiled down to one single thing for Dog.
Survival. It was his natural instinct, despite death staring him in the eye constantly.
At A Glance
Like effing poetry! I held my breath, I cried, I almost threw up. That's the best way I can describe Shadow of Wrath.
The Good
I was blown away by Shadow of Wrath. I was really iffy when signing up for this blog tour. But I am more of a fighter than a lover (in books that is) so I knew I had to read this book. This book reminded me of raw, gruesome poetry. The concept was just horrific but Patricks did a great job of turning a frightening idea into a compelling story.
Dog has been on the streets since he can remember. That is until a man with a scary smile snatched him up and put him into an arena to fight for his life. The dregs of society and sociopathic rich people come to watch kids fight each other to the death for pleasure and money. Dog has been forced into this nightmare but he actually takes it better than I expected. He's lived on the streets, he knows about survival and violence. But he still has anger and resentment towards his capture. When him and Allegra get close, Dog's view on survival changes. Because now he must find a way to get them both out of this world of slavery and degradation, not just himself. Dog was so brave and confident it made me believe he could really save them both. And that hope kept me reading.
Allegra has spent most of her life as a slave in this underground fighting ring. She is Ryker's, the man behind this monstrous Arena, personal slave. Her virginity is being saved for when she reaches puberty so Ryker can sell her as a sex slave. But she is still abused every day by Ryker. Unlike Dog, she remembers her life from before. Her family, her friends, the joy of being free and young. Now she is the Arena's unofficial doctor. Every night she tries to keep the slave boys alive to fight another day, even if it makes her ill to give them false hope. But she keeps her emotions hidden to deter Ryker from using them against her. When Dog comes to the Arena, Allegra sees hope. Maybe together they can be free.
Both Allegra (14) and Dog (around the same age) are very young, but they act very mature. I think anyone would learn to grow up quickly if put in the same situation. Shadow of Wrath is the kind of book that gets better and better with each page. You hope and pray that these kids will get free and the monsters will get what they deserve. Some hopes are answered, as others are horribly crushed.
I have to warn you, this book has a sad ending. Luckily I knew that before going in, so it wasn't as hard to take. Even with the sad ending, it was also beautiful. If I am going to read a book that ends like that, then I want it to end the way Patricks did it. This book was amazingly written. It was edgy, gritty, and lyrical. The concept of humanity, survival, and pure evil all played a huge part of Shadow of Wrath. What would you do if you were put in an Arena and given the choice of fighting for your life or dying on the spot?
The Bad
I wish we got a chance to actually see Dog and Allegra build a relationship. The book skipped years ahead so we never really got to see them fall for each other, we saw more of a friendship.
I would have liked to see the fighting described more. It may be horrifying to read about, but it would have made a bigger impact. Instead the fighting was often skimmed over.
The Snuggly
This is not a great love story. This is about two people who build a friendship over their shared misery and confinement. But near the end, we do start to see a little love peeking through. By the end, I was crying over what this couple had went through together. Sex wise, there is none, but we get a little sexual assault.
Final Thoughts
Though this book wont be for everyone, it for sure will hit some people in the best way possible. Shadow of Wrath was a thrilling ride filled with blood and desperation as well as hope and friendship. This book WILL make you cry. Highly recommended.
Quotes
The crowd roared above them, screaming obscenities and cheering for the fight to begin. Dog realized that they were a part of some sadistic game. When he was younger, he heard stories about ancient fighting arenas and warriors that were forced to fight to the death in front of live audiences. Gladiators they were called. It looked like he had just become one.
Sunny began to cry.
"Don't do this," he pleaded. Dog ignored him. He had already accepted the harsh reality of this twisted event -- another thing gone wrong in his life. It was nothing new. Perhaps it was all those years of living in a harsh environment that made him callous to the situation, but it all boiled down to one single thing for Dog.
Survival. It was his natural instinct, despite death staring him in the eye constantly.
April 18, 2013
Review:
Disturbing, violent and raw Shadow of Wrath is an extremely well crafted story. While the book panders to fans of The Hunger Games, I believe Shadow Of Wrath reminds me more of movies like Sin City and Gladiator.
One of the best things about Shadow Of Wrath was the amount of gore and violence. I know that sounds weird but, something seriously lacking from others books in this genre is the violence. While other authors shy away from damaging their main characters to much, L.W. Patricks revels in it. Some of the most intense brutal scenes happen in the Arena. While the violence inflicted on these poor souls is repulsive every death had meaning and drove the main character DOG closer to the edge.
Speaking of the characters, I really loved Dog. Awful name but great character. He accepts his fate in the Arena and does what he must to survive another day. I also liked Tiberius, he reminding me a lot of Thresh from The Hunger Games. Strong, silent but deadly. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him. Lastly, I have a warm spot in my heart for Garrett. He really tried to do well by Dog and was probably the most compassionate out of all the guards. Without him, Dog might never have been able to survive so long.
Now even though I loved Shadow Of Wrath it did have some faults. In fact, I nearly deleted the book 3/4 of the way through just because Dog pissed me off so much.
If you do not want to be spoiled, stop reading now!!
What the hell was up with Dog. You spend hours hiding under corpses in a body bag, kill two guards, rescue Allegra and then just feet from safety you decide you need to kill Ryker. Holy moly, I was so enraged when this happened. I felt like this was completely out of character for Dog, especially considering he had Allegra with him. But do you know what was worst of all? The complete obviousness that they would get caught at Ryker's and there would be hell to pay for his disloyalty. Dog turning around was bad, what happened to him afterwards was worse. Total character slaughter in the span of a few pages.
The other thing that really bothered me was the ending. The journal notes from an unseen character until that point just seemed so random. I also didn't quite understand who the woman in black was meant to represent. Was it Allegra? Or yet another unnamed character? The ending for me was just a bit too confusing and I personally think it felt disjointed from the rest of the book.
Overall, Shadow Of Wrath was a great action packed thrill ride. I would of loved to rate this book a full 5 Stars but my annoyance with the character Dog 3/4 of the way through combined with the ending really put a damper on things. However, I still highly recommend picking up a copy of Shadow Of Wrath. The characters for the most part, writing and world building were fantastic and I am extremely pleased to learn this is the first book in the series. The ending at least is a bit more tolerable knowing there will be more. With that being said, I will be rating Shadow Of Wrath by L.W. Patricks ★★★.
Disturbing, violent and raw Shadow of Wrath is an extremely well crafted story. While the book panders to fans of The Hunger Games, I believe Shadow Of Wrath reminds me more of movies like Sin City and Gladiator.
One of the best things about Shadow Of Wrath was the amount of gore and violence. I know that sounds weird but, something seriously lacking from others books in this genre is the violence. While other authors shy away from damaging their main characters to much, L.W. Patricks revels in it. Some of the most intense brutal scenes happen in the Arena. While the violence inflicted on these poor souls is repulsive every death had meaning and drove the main character DOG closer to the edge.
Speaking of the characters, I really loved Dog. Awful name but great character. He accepts his fate in the Arena and does what he must to survive another day. I also liked Tiberius, he reminding me a lot of Thresh from The Hunger Games. Strong, silent but deadly. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him. Lastly, I have a warm spot in my heart for Garrett. He really tried to do well by Dog and was probably the most compassionate out of all the guards. Without him, Dog might never have been able to survive so long.
Now even though I loved Shadow Of Wrath it did have some faults. In fact, I nearly deleted the book 3/4 of the way through just because Dog pissed me off so much.
If you do not want to be spoiled, stop reading now!!
What the hell was up with Dog. You spend hours hiding under corpses in a body bag, kill two guards, rescue Allegra and then just feet from safety you decide you need to kill Ryker. Holy moly, I was so enraged when this happened. I felt like this was completely out of character for Dog, especially considering he had Allegra with him. But do you know what was worst of all? The complete obviousness that they would get caught at Ryker's and there would be hell to pay for his disloyalty. Dog turning around was bad, what happened to him afterwards was worse. Total character slaughter in the span of a few pages.
The other thing that really bothered me was the ending. The journal notes from an unseen character until that point just seemed so random. I also didn't quite understand who the woman in black was meant to represent. Was it Allegra? Or yet another unnamed character? The ending for me was just a bit too confusing and I personally think it felt disjointed from the rest of the book.
Overall, Shadow Of Wrath was a great action packed thrill ride. I would of loved to rate this book a full 5 Stars but my annoyance with the character Dog 3/4 of the way through combined with the ending really put a damper on things. However, I still highly recommend picking up a copy of Shadow Of Wrath. The characters for the most part, writing and world building were fantastic and I am extremely pleased to learn this is the first book in the series. The ending at least is a bit more tolerable knowing there will be more. With that being said, I will be rating Shadow Of Wrath by L.W. Patricks ★★★.
March 11, 2013
“You’re the embodiment of what I envisioned the pits to be — a twisted version of Darwinism where its kill or be killed.” One of the many quotes I loved from Shadow of Wrath.
It was Spartacus meets Mad Max. The story was edgy and raw. Through survival, determination, strength and love L.W. Patrick's characters became more than what they ever envisioned themselves to be. Seeing strengths were others saw weakness. I thoroughly enjoyed the dark journey into his dystopian world emerging with a sense of justice being served.
I highly recommend reading Shadow of Wrath or I'll have Dog haunt you.
It was Spartacus meets Mad Max. The story was edgy and raw. Through survival, determination, strength and love L.W. Patrick's characters became more than what they ever envisioned themselves to be. Seeing strengths were others saw weakness. I thoroughly enjoyed the dark journey into his dystopian world emerging with a sense of justice being served.
I highly recommend reading Shadow of Wrath or I'll have Dog haunt you.
December 30, 2012
Well I wrote the book lol so I'm a bit biased =P . Anyways if you want to read a free sample of it, you can head over to my blog at lwpatricks.com/shadow-of-wrath-preview/ . Join the email list and I'll send you the first part of the book for free!
Just a note: If you're looking for an epic love story that spans across the ages, you're not going to find it here. If you're looking for a book that twists at your gut, then do check it out.
Just a note: If you're looking for an epic love story that spans across the ages, you're not going to find it here. If you're looking for a book that twists at your gut, then do check it out.
January 11, 2013
Shadow of Wrath is raw and suspense driven. For me, it was Gladiator meets the Hunger Games.
I did not see that ending coming and emailed the author using my shouty caps, so incredible!
There better be a second book!
I did not see that ending coming and emailed the author using my shouty caps, so incredible!
There better be a second book!
December 30, 2012
Finally a YA Book that's edgy and caters towards both a male and female audiences. It's so difficult to find YA fiction these days that's central plot isn't some doe-eyed romance. This book has it all, action, thriller, and surprises galore. The ending completely blew me away.
January 22, 2013
Shadow of Wrath by L.W. Patricks is an interesting book. Interesting in that, while it's in the same type of genre and has the same idea as some other books I've read, it's completely different. Imagine a gladiator type scenario meets something akin to The Hunger Games. Children are kidnapped off the streets and forced to fight for their lives in an arena where they're watched by gang bangers, outlaw biker clubs, sex traffickers, etc. Every kind of low-life you can imagine is probably watching them.
Dog, one of our main characters is pulled off the street with promises of food and a warm place to sleep but he's drugged and thrown in a cell where he wakes up to find that he's now a pawn in the arena master's sick and twisted entertainment seeking.
Allegra is just as imprisoned as Dog, but in a different way. She's a medic in the arena, left with the task of trying to save the boys that DON'T die in the arena so that theyre able to fight again another day. Something she's tried to de-sensitize her self to without success. Every death makes her sick and every injured boy breaks her heart.
Dog and Allegra both seem much older than the age that's conveyed in the books. Whether that's because both are forced to grow up much quicker than their years on earth would normally allow or for some other reason I'm not sure. Allegra, I believe, was just 14. Dog was not much older. Young lives forced to fight for them.
It was a good book. I had one issue with how quickly the beginning went. At first, I was glad that I was thrown right in to the action when Dog gets into the fight that leads to him being taken to the arena. But everything else went just as fast. He was in several fights and the only mention of how they went was how long they lasted. Not that I necessarily would LIKE to hear about how he had to kill each person he fought, but so much else was described so wonderfully and so fully that it seemed the fights themselves were kind of lacking.
There was a point where the book fast forwards 2 years in a paragraph. Dog is in love with Allegra, but I never really saw a point where they even had the sort of relationship where he could fall in love with her. She was kind to him, yes, but the build up was missed in my opinion.
The ending was frustrating and sad. But in a good way. The way it was supposed to be. I can't tell you why, because that would spoil the book. I CAN tell you that it did NOT end the way I expected it to. At all. It was a fast read, only 165 pages. But it was a good one that I'm glad that I read. I'd recommend it to people interested in dystopian type books or just something with a lot of action and twists and turns.
Dog, one of our main characters is pulled off the street with promises of food and a warm place to sleep but he's drugged and thrown in a cell where he wakes up to find that he's now a pawn in the arena master's sick and twisted entertainment seeking.
Allegra is just as imprisoned as Dog, but in a different way. She's a medic in the arena, left with the task of trying to save the boys that DON'T die in the arena so that theyre able to fight again another day. Something she's tried to de-sensitize her self to without success. Every death makes her sick and every injured boy breaks her heart.
Dog and Allegra both seem much older than the age that's conveyed in the books. Whether that's because both are forced to grow up much quicker than their years on earth would normally allow or for some other reason I'm not sure. Allegra, I believe, was just 14. Dog was not much older. Young lives forced to fight for them.
It was a good book. I had one issue with how quickly the beginning went. At first, I was glad that I was thrown right in to the action when Dog gets into the fight that leads to him being taken to the arena. But everything else went just as fast. He was in several fights and the only mention of how they went was how long they lasted. Not that I necessarily would LIKE to hear about how he had to kill each person he fought, but so much else was described so wonderfully and so fully that it seemed the fights themselves were kind of lacking.
There was a point where the book fast forwards 2 years in a paragraph. Dog is in love with Allegra, but I never really saw a point where they even had the sort of relationship where he could fall in love with her. She was kind to him, yes, but the build up was missed in my opinion.
The ending was frustrating and sad. But in a good way. The way it was supposed to be. I can't tell you why, because that would spoil the book. I CAN tell you that it did NOT end the way I expected it to. At all. It was a fast read, only 165 pages. But it was a good one that I'm glad that I read. I'd recommend it to people interested in dystopian type books or just something with a lot of action and twists and turns.
Want to read
February 18, 2013I kind of want to read this because the summary is intriguing and I came across a few the author's posts. But the cover isn't...appealing at all. Edit; 18/2 Love the new cover! I had planned to pick it up regardless of the old cover but more than ever now!
December 30, 2012
Review to come :)
March 16, 2013
This book was great!! Some of those twists, man totally did not seeing happening.
April 26, 2013
This review appeared first on Oh, Chrys!
Shocking and eccentric, Shadow of Wrath presents the harsh realities of a deranged society – without the censorship often portrayed in YA. Challenging the standards of its genre,Shadow of Wrath is unorthodox and unpredictable at its best. Straddling a chilling and gruesome environment, its plot is engrossingly action-packed. There's gore, violence, and much abuse. I admired how the book had many controversial occurrences, though I know many will be easily offended.
Readers are introduced to Dog, a homeless orphan who is abducted and forced to fight for his survival under the regime of the crazed, savage Ryker. He is one of many who have to endure this twisted version of Darwinism as he fights against other innocent captives in the forsaken Arena. Dog is the hardest character to connect with because he so bitter. His anger closets him from others, and because of the point of view used, readers do not directly know him. It was as if it were the real world, where we learn about a person by their reactions and not their immediate thoughts. It is his reactions to certain events that give more insight on his character. Dog embodies a valor that rids him of fear for death, and he never becomes desensitized to humanity. It is not often that I can say I felt distant to a main character and still enjoy a book.
Contrastingly, Allegra is easier to attach to. She is kindhearted and pure, yet it is obvious that she suppresses her resentment to avoid being abused by Ryker – her owner and the novel’s villain. Allegra initially frustrated me. She often emulates a Mary Sue quality that instantly misplaces her from a world saturated by grit, gore and greed. It was as though she were an anachronistic character, from a time where the world still bared a thread of morality. Nonetheless, I never viewed her as a weak heroine, and I admired her self-reliance – an element that most YA heroines seem to lack. Her development throughout the novel is amazing.
The other characters are also developed well. Ryker is undoubtedly a villain. His egoism and greed dictate his life. He lacks decency, and believes that he is the epitome of strength. He finds bliss in his sadism and brutality, authority in his manipulation and force. Tiberius, the Arena champion is violent during battle, yet a streak of compassion lies within him when he is not fighting. Despite this, I was disappointed at how easily Ryker had a hold on him considering his beastly abilities.
Though the Arena provides a gritty backdrop, many may not feel it competent for a dystopian. Most of the plot action occurs in the Arena and its perimeter, and this may not satisfy readers looking for intense world-building. For me, I did not find the limited world-building to be a much of a problem. This is because Shadow of Wrath contains a familiar dystopia. There is no need to introduce unknown technologies because they are the same as they are today. The proximity of the time period to ours makes the world recognizable. Nonetheless, I certainly would prefer if this book was marketed as mature YA, rather than a YA dystopian.
What really made Shadow of Wrath such a gripping read for me though is its dismissal of popular YA conventions – the dominant ones being unrealism and predictability. Even when moments of hope manage to surface, they are blasted by harsh reality. One example I can recall is when Dog wants to get a sentimental tattoo of a smiling moon. Instead, he cannot get it because Ryker’s preference to ‘macho’ tattoos. Even the little romance of the book is not your typical happy go-go kind. The violent, ‘you-can-die-any-moment’ atmosphere is not conducive to gratify the pangs of love. This alone proves how authentic and eccentric Shadow of Wrath is. It is an edgy read, and the plot’s unpredictability made it even more exciting.
As for Patricks’ writing style, it is proficient. It is direct and concise, echoing the very curtness of Shadow of Wrath. I enjoyed his use of epistolary introductions featuring Ryker’s ex-partner that provide insight on Ryker’s viciousness and the Arena’s origins. Also, the dialogue is intriguing though at times I found it to be choppy. There were many instances where I was severely disappointed by Patricks’ descriptions. For instance, Dog’s fights almost always lasted less than forty seconds, with him triumphing. Rather than anxiously watching a bloody fight before my eyes, I was left with a rushed summary stating who won, and how long it lasted.
From the very first pages to the very end, Shadow of Wrath thoroughly engaged me. If you are looking for an absorbing, gritty read, and can handle violence and gore, I strongly suggest for you to read Shadow of Wrath. It is a mind-bending read that defies all conventions of YA. There is no fragile heroine. There is no swoony hero. There is no fluffy romance. There is no predictability. There is no “powdering up”. It is simply realistic and unorthodox.
Shocking and eccentric, Shadow of Wrath presents the harsh realities of a deranged society – without the censorship often portrayed in YA. Challenging the standards of its genre,Shadow of Wrath is unorthodox and unpredictable at its best. Straddling a chilling and gruesome environment, its plot is engrossingly action-packed. There's gore, violence, and much abuse. I admired how the book had many controversial occurrences, though I know many will be easily offended.
Readers are introduced to Dog, a homeless orphan who is abducted and forced to fight for his survival under the regime of the crazed, savage Ryker. He is one of many who have to endure this twisted version of Darwinism as he fights against other innocent captives in the forsaken Arena. Dog is the hardest character to connect with because he so bitter. His anger closets him from others, and because of the point of view used, readers do not directly know him. It was as if it were the real world, where we learn about a person by their reactions and not their immediate thoughts. It is his reactions to certain events that give more insight on his character. Dog embodies a valor that rids him of fear for death, and he never becomes desensitized to humanity. It is not often that I can say I felt distant to a main character and still enjoy a book.
Contrastingly, Allegra is easier to attach to. She is kindhearted and pure, yet it is obvious that she suppresses her resentment to avoid being abused by Ryker – her owner and the novel’s villain. Allegra initially frustrated me. She often emulates a Mary Sue quality that instantly misplaces her from a world saturated by grit, gore and greed. It was as though she were an anachronistic character, from a time where the world still bared a thread of morality. Nonetheless, I never viewed her as a weak heroine, and I admired her self-reliance – an element that most YA heroines seem to lack. Her development throughout the novel is amazing.
The other characters are also developed well. Ryker is undoubtedly a villain. His egoism and greed dictate his life. He lacks decency, and believes that he is the epitome of strength. He finds bliss in his sadism and brutality, authority in his manipulation and force. Tiberius, the Arena champion is violent during battle, yet a streak of compassion lies within him when he is not fighting. Despite this, I was disappointed at how easily Ryker had a hold on him considering his beastly abilities.
Though the Arena provides a gritty backdrop, many may not feel it competent for a dystopian. Most of the plot action occurs in the Arena and its perimeter, and this may not satisfy readers looking for intense world-building. For me, I did not find the limited world-building to be a much of a problem. This is because Shadow of Wrath contains a familiar dystopia. There is no need to introduce unknown technologies because they are the same as they are today. The proximity of the time period to ours makes the world recognizable. Nonetheless, I certainly would prefer if this book was marketed as mature YA, rather than a YA dystopian.
What really made Shadow of Wrath such a gripping read for me though is its dismissal of popular YA conventions – the dominant ones being unrealism and predictability. Even when moments of hope manage to surface, they are blasted by harsh reality. One example I can recall is when Dog wants to get a sentimental tattoo of a smiling moon. Instead, he cannot get it because Ryker’s preference to ‘macho’ tattoos. Even the little romance of the book is not your typical happy go-go kind. The violent, ‘you-can-die-any-moment’ atmosphere is not conducive to gratify the pangs of love. This alone proves how authentic and eccentric Shadow of Wrath is. It is an edgy read, and the plot’s unpredictability made it even more exciting.
As for Patricks’ writing style, it is proficient. It is direct and concise, echoing the very curtness of Shadow of Wrath. I enjoyed his use of epistolary introductions featuring Ryker’s ex-partner that provide insight on Ryker’s viciousness and the Arena’s origins. Also, the dialogue is intriguing though at times I found it to be choppy. There were many instances where I was severely disappointed by Patricks’ descriptions. For instance, Dog’s fights almost always lasted less than forty seconds, with him triumphing. Rather than anxiously watching a bloody fight before my eyes, I was left with a rushed summary stating who won, and how long it lasted.
From the very first pages to the very end, Shadow of Wrath thoroughly engaged me. If you are looking for an absorbing, gritty read, and can handle violence and gore, I strongly suggest for you to read Shadow of Wrath. It is a mind-bending read that defies all conventions of YA. There is no fragile heroine. There is no swoony hero. There is no fluffy romance. There is no predictability. There is no “powdering up”. It is simply realistic and unorthodox.
April 20, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 19th APRIL 2013:
RATING: 4.5 BLOODY STARS!
Disturbing
Disturbing
Disturbing
I am not going to lie. This was a rather disturbing read in many places. L.W. Patricks is a very unpredictable writer, and violent.
I am on the blog tour for this book and the genre is written up as YA...you have got to be kidding me, and dystopian. Well, I can see why other reviewers are placing the name The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner in the same sentence with this book. I don’t agree, but I can see why.
I don't get the dystopian part.
Young children as young as nine years of age are thrown into an ARENA to fight to the death. There is an extra disturbing scene with three nine year old boys up against one eighteen year old boy and what is done before hand.
GAHHhhHHhhhhh!!!!!
The ages of the children make this in the YA bracket but not the story. This is a violent story that admittedly kept me turning the pages. Two Thirds of the book is mainly about a character named ‘Dog’ and his survival and the tormenting by the evil Ryker.
Tiberius is a character I both sympathized with and also wanted to shake him about, rattling that brain of his. I understand the fear but ....sometimes.....* shake shake*
Patricks thinks up very creative and disturbing ways for the children to be pitted against each other, all in the name of underground betting.
We get journal entries from the stories conscience.
Street boys are pulled off the streets and children from homes are taken and brought to one of the most evil villains I have EVER read in a book.
* cue the dark dramatic music *
Ryker.
Evil and feared are very understated words for this guy.
Allegra is the slave girl who has witnessed too much, her body is pure and ripening to the age of being sold to the highest bidder. She is a tough girl, the medic for the survivor. She patches up the survivor for his next event.
Dog meet Allegra.
Ryker likes to deal in child slavery/ trafficking too, one of his extra curricular activities.
In a kind of sick way , this book was addictive. The writing is very 3D in how it will make you feel. The pages will turn but the emotions going through you will steadily boil away.
I am not sure how I feel about the latter third of this book. Patricks will twist you about in an even darker, frightening , deadly, fish bowl. We will be peering through the glass, watching the characters go through ........gahhhhhh!!!
HELL and back.
I really am having trouble placing how I feel about this read. I am fresh finishing it and I was telling hubby about some of the scenes last night and he was like, WT!!
I was like...I KNOW!!! WT!!
But at the same time, Patricks really holds the reader almost captive with our curiosity for the HEA.
This is not a story about romance.
This is a story that is the most dark and twisted story I have read to date. Yet, I stayed. I kept reading.
An interesting ending.
A sad informative journal entry will give us some answers , yet leaves us wondering.
Patricks is very unpredictable with who he allows to be the next books survivor, the ones to make it to those pages.
There is this ???? something with the title of this book, that adds more to this story. More mystery.
This book is 149 pages on my ereader, but it is literally packed with disturbing scenes and violence and moments where you want to shake certain characters and scream at them through the fish bowl.
I was literally tapping away on the glass screaming...NOOooooOooooo.
*F Bomb*
I rate this book highly as it did make me feel , the word entertained is not the right word for me as I am not into violent reads, but it kept me holding the ereader and reading. It kept me almost a prisoner.
To me that is good writing.
I am still disturbed, lol! but to Patricks credit, he did bring a story that will stay with me. I can't imagine Patricks ever being the type of writer to be happy writing a lovey dovey contemporary. There almost feels like a dark side to him.
This book will certainly not be everybody's cup of tea , but I am glad in a way that I got to experience Patricks writing.
Predictable...he ain't.
Creatively violent...he is.
Just look at the cover.
Michelle
RATING: 4.5 BLOODY STARS!
Disturbing
Disturbing
Disturbing
I am not going to lie. This was a rather disturbing read in many places. L.W. Patricks is a very unpredictable writer, and violent.
I am on the blog tour for this book and the genre is written up as YA...you have got to be kidding me, and dystopian. Well, I can see why other reviewers are placing the name The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner in the same sentence with this book. I don’t agree, but I can see why.
I don't get the dystopian part.
Young children as young as nine years of age are thrown into an ARENA to fight to the death. There is an extra disturbing scene with three nine year old boys up against one eighteen year old boy and what is done before hand.
GAHHhhHHhhhhh!!!!!
The ages of the children make this in the YA bracket but not the story. This is a violent story that admittedly kept me turning the pages. Two Thirds of the book is mainly about a character named ‘Dog’ and his survival and the tormenting by the evil Ryker.
Tiberius is a character I both sympathized with and also wanted to shake him about, rattling that brain of his. I understand the fear but ....sometimes.....* shake shake*
Patricks thinks up very creative and disturbing ways for the children to be pitted against each other, all in the name of underground betting.
We get journal entries from the stories conscience.
Street boys are pulled off the streets and children from homes are taken and brought to one of the most evil villains I have EVER read in a book.
* cue the dark dramatic music *
Ryker.
Evil and feared are very understated words for this guy.
Allegra is the slave girl who has witnessed too much, her body is pure and ripening to the age of being sold to the highest bidder. She is a tough girl, the medic for the survivor. She patches up the survivor for his next event.
Dog meet Allegra.
Ryker likes to deal in child slavery/ trafficking too, one of his extra curricular activities.
In a kind of sick way , this book was addictive. The writing is very 3D in how it will make you feel. The pages will turn but the emotions going through you will steadily boil away.
I am not sure how I feel about the latter third of this book. Patricks will twist you about in an even darker, frightening , deadly, fish bowl. We will be peering through the glass, watching the characters go through ........gahhhhhh!!!
HELL and back.
I really am having trouble placing how I feel about this read. I am fresh finishing it and I was telling hubby about some of the scenes last night and he was like, WT!!
I was like...I KNOW!!! WT!!
But at the same time, Patricks really holds the reader almost captive with our curiosity for the HEA.
This is not a story about romance.
This is a story that is the most dark and twisted story I have read to date. Yet, I stayed. I kept reading.
An interesting ending.
A sad informative journal entry will give us some answers , yet leaves us wondering.
Patricks is very unpredictable with who he allows to be the next books survivor, the ones to make it to those pages.
There is this ???? something with the title of this book, that adds more to this story. More mystery.
This book is 149 pages on my ereader, but it is literally packed with disturbing scenes and violence and moments where you want to shake certain characters and scream at them through the fish bowl.
I was literally tapping away on the glass screaming...NOOooooOooooo.
*F Bomb*
I rate this book highly as it did make me feel , the word entertained is not the right word for me as I am not into violent reads, but it kept me holding the ereader and reading. It kept me almost a prisoner.
To me that is good writing.
I am still disturbed, lol! but to Patricks credit, he did bring a story that will stay with me. I can't imagine Patricks ever being the type of writer to be happy writing a lovey dovey contemporary. There almost feels like a dark side to him.
This book will certainly not be everybody's cup of tea , but I am glad in a way that I got to experience Patricks writing.
Predictable...he ain't.
Creatively violent...he is.
Just look at the cover.
Michelle
April 20, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 19th APRIL 2013:
RATING: 4.5 BLOODY STARS!
Disturbing
Disturbing
Disturbing
I am not going to lie. This was a rather disturbing read in many places. L.W. Patricks is a very unpredictable writer, and violent.
I am on the blog tour for this book and the genre is written up as YA...you have got to be kidding me, and dystopian. Well, I can see why other reviewers are placing the name The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner in the same sentence with this book. I don’t agree, but I can see why.
I don't get the dystopian part.
Young children as young as nine years of age are thrown into an ARENA to fight to the death. There is an extra disturbing scene with three nine year old boys up against one eighteen year old boy and what is done before hand.
GAHHhhHHhhhhh!!!!!
The ages of the children make this in the YA bracket but not the story. This is a violent story that admittedly kept me turning the pages. Two Thirds of the book is mainly about a character named ‘Dog’ and his survival and the tormenting by the evil Ryker.
Tiberius is a character I both sympathized with and also wanted to shake him about, rattling that brain of his. I understand the fear but ....sometimes.....* shake shake*
Patricks thinks up very creative and disturbing ways for the children to be pitted against each other, all in the name of underground betting.
We get journal entries from the stories conscience.
Street boys are pulled off the streets and children from homes are taken and brought to one of the most evil villains I have EVER read in a book.
* cue the dark dramatic music *
Ryker.
Evil and feared are very understated words for this guy.
Allegra is the slave girl who has witnessed too much, her body is pure and ripening to the age of being sold to the highest bidder. She is a tough girl, the medic for the survivor. She patches up the survivor for his next event.
Dog meet Allegra.
Ryker likes to deal in child slavery/ trafficking too, one of his extra curricular activities.
In a kind of sick way , this book was addictive. The writing is very 3D in how it will make you feel. The pages will turn but the emotions going through you will steadily boil away.
I am not sure how I feel about the latter third of this book. Patricks will twist you about in an even darker, frightening , deadly, fish bowl. We will be peering through the glass, watching the characters go through ........gahhhhhh!!!
HELL and back.
I really am having trouble placing how I feel about this read. I am fresh finishing it and I was telling hubby about some of the scenes last night and he was like, WT!!
I was like...I KNOW!!! WT!!
But at the same time, Patricks really holds the reader almost captive with our curiosity for the HEA.
This is not a story about romance.
This is a story that is the most dark and twisted story I have read to date. Yet, I stayed. I kept reading.
An interesting ending.
A sad informative journal entry will give us some answers , yet leaves us wondering.
Patricks is very unpredictable with who he allows to be the next books survivor, the ones to make it to those pages.
There is this ???? something with the title of this book, that adds more to this story. More mystery.
This book is 149 pages on my ereader, but it is literally packed with disturbing scenes and violence and moments where you want to shake certain characters and scream at them through the fish bowl.
I was literally tapping away on the glass screaming...NOOooooOooooo.
*F Bomb*
I rate this book highly as it did make me feel , the word entertained is not the right word for me as I am not into violent reads, but it kept me holding the ereader and reading. It kept me almost a prisoner.
To me that is good writing.
I am still disturbed, lol! but to Patricks credit, he did bring a story that will stay with me. I can't imagine Patricks ever being the type of writer to be happy writing a lovey dovey contemporary. There almost feels like a dark side to him.
This book will certainly not be everybody's cup of tea , but I am glad in a way that I got to experience Patricks writing.
Predictable...he ain't.
Creatively violent...he is.
Just look at the cover.
Michelle
RATING: 4.5 BLOODY STARS!
Disturbing
Disturbing
Disturbing
I am not going to lie. This was a rather disturbing read in many places. L.W. Patricks is a very unpredictable writer, and violent.
I am on the blog tour for this book and the genre is written up as YA...you have got to be kidding me, and dystopian. Well, I can see why other reviewers are placing the name The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner in the same sentence with this book. I don’t agree, but I can see why.
I don't get the dystopian part.
Young children as young as nine years of age are thrown into an ARENA to fight to the death. There is an extra disturbing scene with three nine year old boys up against one eighteen year old boy and what is done before hand.
GAHHhhHHhhhhh!!!!!
The ages of the children make this in the YA bracket but not the story. This is a violent story that admittedly kept me turning the pages. Two Thirds of the book is mainly about a character named ‘Dog’ and his survival and the tormenting by the evil Ryker.
Tiberius is a character I both sympathized with and also wanted to shake him about, rattling that brain of his. I understand the fear but ....sometimes.....* shake shake*
Patricks thinks up very creative and disturbing ways for the children to be pitted against each other, all in the name of underground betting.
We get journal entries from the stories conscience.
Street boys are pulled off the streets and children from homes are taken and brought to one of the most evil villains I have EVER read in a book.
* cue the dark dramatic music *
Ryker.
Evil and feared are very understated words for this guy.
Allegra is the slave girl who has witnessed too much, her body is pure and ripening to the age of being sold to the highest bidder. She is a tough girl, the medic for the survivor. She patches up the survivor for his next event.
Dog meet Allegra.
Ryker likes to deal in child slavery/ trafficking too, one of his extra curricular activities.
In a kind of sick way , this book was addictive. The writing is very 3D in how it will make you feel. The pages will turn but the emotions going through you will steadily boil away.
I am not sure how I feel about the latter third of this book. Patricks will twist you about in an even darker, frightening , deadly, fish bowl. We will be peering through the glass, watching the characters go through ........gahhhhhh!!!
HELL and back.
I really am having trouble placing how I feel about this read. I am fresh finishing it and I was telling hubby about some of the scenes last night and he was like, WT!!
I was like...I KNOW!!! WT!!
But at the same time, Patricks really holds the reader almost captive with our curiosity for the HEA.
This is not a story about romance.
This is a story that is the most dark and twisted story I have read to date. Yet, I stayed. I kept reading.
An interesting ending.
A sad informative journal entry will give us some answers , yet leaves us wondering.
Patricks is very unpredictable with who he allows to be the next books survivor, the ones to make it to those pages.
There is this ???? something with the title of this book, that adds more to this story. More mystery.
This book is 149 pages on my ereader, but it is literally packed with disturbing scenes and violence and moments where you want to shake certain characters and scream at them through the fish bowl.
I was literally tapping away on the glass screaming...NOOooooOooooo.
*F Bomb*
I rate this book highly as it did make me feel , the word entertained is not the right word for me as I am not into violent reads, but it kept me holding the ereader and reading. It kept me almost a prisoner.
To me that is good writing.
I am still disturbed, lol! but to Patricks credit, he did bring a story that will stay with me. I can't imagine Patricks ever being the type of writer to be happy writing a lovey dovey contemporary. There almost feels like a dark side to him.
This book will certainly not be everybody's cup of tea , but I am glad in a way that I got to experience Patricks writing.
Predictable...he ain't.
Creatively violent...he is.
Just look at the cover.
Michelle
April 25, 2013
Okay, right from the outset of Shadow of Wrath I was getting strong emotions involved with it. There is an instant love for the main character of Allegra as well as a complete loathing for Ryker, who is the books official bad guy (and with the descriptive: ‘Ryker had the pale complexion of a maggot and his diet of whiskey made him wiry thin’, how can you not hate this guy?). Both of these characters have strong voices that reach out and grasp the reader.
The other main character, Dog, however falls a little short in this department at the start of the book. While the author enslaves us in the harsh world of Bimini and makes us care so much about the outcomes of both Allegra and Ryker, poor Dog seems to lack the same sort of passion. While, by the end of the book, you are completely trapped in his life, at the start of this novel, there does seem to be a few moments where Dog’s back story is rushed over and as a result, it takes a little longer to warm to this character. If you bear with this novel though, there is a delicate humanity in Dog that is unexpected at times, yet completely rewarding. And I completely love the fact that Dog is tortured by the ghosts of his past.
And yet, it is this glossing over certain parts of the story, that works so well in other aspects of the story. The author seems to have a knack for touching down in delicate parts of the story, allowing the reader to feel that emotion, and then lifts you up again and takes you somewhere else. It feels like this method of story telling shouldn’t work, like you shouldn’t connect so well with the characters as a result, yet Patricks seems to have mastered this easily.
While there are a few moments when this story feels rushed, there are other times when the author is very adept at drawing the reader into a story line and then changing the subject! I love it when an author does this well. I found myself furiously devouring this book as a result of this. Nice work there Patricks
Once more I am finding myself loving dystopia from the male perspective. While there are some fantastic female dystopian books out there (and plenty that I have read), it is always refreshing to view the harsh clime of dystopia through the (usually) stronger perspective of a male main character. While there is a certain brutality within this male perspective, the author has not forgotten the agenda of dystopia and as a result, there are these delicious little nuggets of human kindness tucked away within the battlegrounds of this novel just to show that above all, human nature can prevail over cruelness.
I did find a little confusion over the age at which Allegra was taken from her family and bought into slavery. At one point, it seemed she was around the age of 4 or 5, and then further on, references seemed to indicate she was a lot older than that. While it was an inconsistency it by no means detracted from the story.
There were also the occasional missed word, or oddly formed sentence within this novel. I also found a few passages (in particular, the journals of Edmund Glaber) to be over explained. There were also a couple of moments where I didn’t quite believe the story (only having one guard overlook Dog was one such moment, and having a body bag that doesn’t make a noise when unzipped another). Once again, none of these issues detracted too much from the novel.
This novel also has a completely unexpected twist at the end and this is what I love the most about Indie authors, the fact that they are allowed to take the story where it needs to go – even if it doesn’t fit the traditional mould.
The other main character, Dog, however falls a little short in this department at the start of the book. While the author enslaves us in the harsh world of Bimini and makes us care so much about the outcomes of both Allegra and Ryker, poor Dog seems to lack the same sort of passion. While, by the end of the book, you are completely trapped in his life, at the start of this novel, there does seem to be a few moments where Dog’s back story is rushed over and as a result, it takes a little longer to warm to this character. If you bear with this novel though, there is a delicate humanity in Dog that is unexpected at times, yet completely rewarding. And I completely love the fact that Dog is tortured by the ghosts of his past.
And yet, it is this glossing over certain parts of the story, that works so well in other aspects of the story. The author seems to have a knack for touching down in delicate parts of the story, allowing the reader to feel that emotion, and then lifts you up again and takes you somewhere else. It feels like this method of story telling shouldn’t work, like you shouldn’t connect so well with the characters as a result, yet Patricks seems to have mastered this easily.
While there are a few moments when this story feels rushed, there are other times when the author is very adept at drawing the reader into a story line and then changing the subject! I love it when an author does this well. I found myself furiously devouring this book as a result of this. Nice work there Patricks
Once more I am finding myself loving dystopia from the male perspective. While there are some fantastic female dystopian books out there (and plenty that I have read), it is always refreshing to view the harsh clime of dystopia through the (usually) stronger perspective of a male main character. While there is a certain brutality within this male perspective, the author has not forgotten the agenda of dystopia and as a result, there are these delicious little nuggets of human kindness tucked away within the battlegrounds of this novel just to show that above all, human nature can prevail over cruelness.
I did find a little confusion over the age at which Allegra was taken from her family and bought into slavery. At one point, it seemed she was around the age of 4 or 5, and then further on, references seemed to indicate she was a lot older than that. While it was an inconsistency it by no means detracted from the story.
There were also the occasional missed word, or oddly formed sentence within this novel. I also found a few passages (in particular, the journals of Edmund Glaber) to be over explained. There were also a couple of moments where I didn’t quite believe the story (only having one guard overlook Dog was one such moment, and having a body bag that doesn’t make a noise when unzipped another). Once again, none of these issues detracted too much from the novel.
This novel also has a completely unexpected twist at the end and this is what I love the most about Indie authors, the fact that they are allowed to take the story where it needs to go – even if it doesn’t fit the traditional mould.
July 29, 2013
Okay, I am just going to dive right in with this one.
Wow, wow, WOW! To say that Shadow of Wrath shocked the hell out of me would be the understatement of the year! Let me see if I can explain some of this.
First, you have Dog, yes that is his name; a boy stolen from the streets forced into a life of fighting. But fighting is nothing new for Dog. He lives on the streets where he fights for his life every day. So, when he show's up in Ryker's arena he does what he has to do, he fights. Dog is unlike any fighter that has ever appeared in the arena. He is quick, lethal and absolutely remorseless. His motto: kill them, before they kill me. His parting gift to his opponents: A quick death. That is all he can give them.
Second, you have Allegra, a slave girl and acting doctor who endures Ryker's abuse and sexual advancements in the hopes of keeping herself and the boys alive. She knows where her future is--it is as a sex slave. When she is old enough she knows that Ryker will sell her to the highest bidder, solidifying her fate and her future.
Thrid, you have Ryker, the abuser, the dictator, the evil spawn of satan--however you choose to look at him; that snatches boys off the streets and brings them to his arena where they put on a show of death for paying customers. Because to Ryker, that's what this is, a show. Everyone fights and everyone fights to the death. If you win, you get to eat and you get rewarded with a tattoo to symbolize your win. Forever emblazing your heinous act on your body. There is no escape and there is only one rule: Fight or Die!
When Dog enters Ryker's Gladiator style arena, he instantly becomes a sensation for his ruthless killing and soon he finds himself Ryker's champion. He is undefeated, cold and heartless. Or so it seems. But every night Dog is haunted by the ghosts of the boys he kills and every night he is haunted with the fact that he has to go out and do it again. But Dog is smart and cunning and soon Ryker struggles to control his champion as Dog lashes out and begins to weaken the hold that Ryker has on his arena.
Soon things are in disarray and all hell breaks loose. And what happens when all is said and done will take a part of your soul. L.W. Patricks will have you in tears and in so much shock that you won't even know if you will be able to go on. I know I wondered if I could. It is not everyday that an author does what L.W. Patricks did in Shadow of Wrath.
Shadow of Wrath is literally the story of the underdog. It is a brutal, raw and incredibly powerful read. It will have you gaping in horror, shock, sadness, and disbelief, but it also will make you cheer and shout out hell yeah! I never saw the ending coming and I can't wait to see what else L.W. Patricks has in store.
Wow, wow, WOW! To say that Shadow of Wrath shocked the hell out of me would be the understatement of the year! Let me see if I can explain some of this.
First, you have Dog, yes that is his name; a boy stolen from the streets forced into a life of fighting. But fighting is nothing new for Dog. He lives on the streets where he fights for his life every day. So, when he show's up in Ryker's arena he does what he has to do, he fights. Dog is unlike any fighter that has ever appeared in the arena. He is quick, lethal and absolutely remorseless. His motto: kill them, before they kill me. His parting gift to his opponents: A quick death. That is all he can give them.
Second, you have Allegra, a slave girl and acting doctor who endures Ryker's abuse and sexual advancements in the hopes of keeping herself and the boys alive. She knows where her future is--it is as a sex slave. When she is old enough she knows that Ryker will sell her to the highest bidder, solidifying her fate and her future.
Thrid, you have Ryker, the abuser, the dictator, the evil spawn of satan--however you choose to look at him; that snatches boys off the streets and brings them to his arena where they put on a show of death for paying customers. Because to Ryker, that's what this is, a show. Everyone fights and everyone fights to the death. If you win, you get to eat and you get rewarded with a tattoo to symbolize your win. Forever emblazing your heinous act on your body. There is no escape and there is only one rule: Fight or Die!
When Dog enters Ryker's Gladiator style arena, he instantly becomes a sensation for his ruthless killing and soon he finds himself Ryker's champion. He is undefeated, cold and heartless. Or so it seems. But every night Dog is haunted by the ghosts of the boys he kills and every night he is haunted with the fact that he has to go out and do it again. But Dog is smart and cunning and soon Ryker struggles to control his champion as Dog lashes out and begins to weaken the hold that Ryker has on his arena.
Soon things are in disarray and all hell breaks loose. And what happens when all is said and done will take a part of your soul. L.W. Patricks will have you in tears and in so much shock that you won't even know if you will be able to go on. I know I wondered if I could. It is not everyday that an author does what L.W. Patricks did in Shadow of Wrath.
Shadow of Wrath is literally the story of the underdog. It is a brutal, raw and incredibly powerful read. It will have you gaping in horror, shock, sadness, and disbelief, but it also will make you cheer and shout out hell yeah! I never saw the ending coming and I can't wait to see what else L.W. Patricks has in store.
April 18, 2013
Mind blowing, disturbing and thrilling! Hunger Games fans, beware!
Lately I`ve been reading too many NA Contemporaries, I wanted to read something re-freshing and non-romance, and Shadow of Wrath sounded like an awesome read, so signed up for a review stop. I have to admit, I was a little sceptic about it being anything like Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, both I`m a fan of, but, again, my instincts were dead wrong. I think this book might actually be better than Hunger Games, because there wasn`t a love triangle or a strong protagonist who *can`t choose*. There was little of romance and I wasn`t bothered by it et all.
I don`t even know how to put my thoughts into words, I find it hard to decribe everything this book made me feel. L.W. Patricks has written a dark and sometimes disturbing story of a young boy who`s pulled in to an Arena to fight for his life. Dog kills his opponents brutally fast to spare them the agony, he wants to survive, but still keep his humanity.
I was into the story from start until the very end. I sometimes had to put it away for few minutes so I could get my thoughts together. There were scenes so disturbing I almost cried from all the emotions I was feeling, I asked my sister "WHY" and "how can people be so cruel"? And you know what she said? It`s because we`re human and we feel compassion, you want to take the pain away, for the characters to have a happy ending. And it`s what keeps us reading- to find out.
This dark, twisted story takes you through a journey of young teens fighting to keep their humanity. It`s either Jacob with all those drawings of every kid killed in the Arena, Ty fighting for his kid sister or Allegra- trying to keep the survivors alive. They all want to get out and live a normal life.
Though well written, it was a little predictable. Not in a bad way, I could just feel that moment when everything was going good that there`s shit coming, I just knew it`s going down. And it did, although my feelings about this book didn`t change.
THE ENDING! Not ever in my life could I predict this. I`ve read a lot of endings, many I have seen coming a mile away, but this book shocked me to the core. It was mind-blowing!
I didn`t even notice how fast I was through The Shadow of Wrath, I want more. I don`t usually continue series, but this book...I couldn`t not continue if I wanted to. I`m hooked.
If you ever, my dear reader, enjoyed Hunger Games or The Maze Runner for just little bit, this book is a must-read for you. It`ll twist your gut and play with your nerves, but I promise you, you`ll enjoy it.
Lately I`ve been reading too many NA Contemporaries, I wanted to read something re-freshing and non-romance, and Shadow of Wrath sounded like an awesome read, so signed up for a review stop. I have to admit, I was a little sceptic about it being anything like Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, both I`m a fan of, but, again, my instincts were dead wrong. I think this book might actually be better than Hunger Games, because there wasn`t a love triangle or a strong protagonist who *can`t choose*. There was little of romance and I wasn`t bothered by it et all.
I don`t even know how to put my thoughts into words, I find it hard to decribe everything this book made me feel. L.W. Patricks has written a dark and sometimes disturbing story of a young boy who`s pulled in to an Arena to fight for his life. Dog kills his opponents brutally fast to spare them the agony, he wants to survive, but still keep his humanity.
I was into the story from start until the very end. I sometimes had to put it away for few minutes so I could get my thoughts together. There were scenes so disturbing I almost cried from all the emotions I was feeling, I asked my sister "WHY" and "how can people be so cruel"? And you know what she said? It`s because we`re human and we feel compassion, you want to take the pain away, for the characters to have a happy ending. And it`s what keeps us reading- to find out.
This dark, twisted story takes you through a journey of young teens fighting to keep their humanity. It`s either Jacob with all those drawings of every kid killed in the Arena, Ty fighting for his kid sister or Allegra- trying to keep the survivors alive. They all want to get out and live a normal life.
Though well written, it was a little predictable. Not in a bad way, I could just feel that moment when everything was going good that there`s shit coming, I just knew it`s going down. And it did, although my feelings about this book didn`t change.
THE ENDING! Not ever in my life could I predict this. I`ve read a lot of endings, many I have seen coming a mile away, but this book shocked me to the core. It was mind-blowing!
I didn`t even notice how fast I was through The Shadow of Wrath, I want more. I don`t usually continue series, but this book...I couldn`t not continue if I wanted to. I`m hooked.
If you ever, my dear reader, enjoyed Hunger Games or The Maze Runner for just little bit, this book is a must-read for you. It`ll twist your gut and play with your nerves, but I promise you, you`ll enjoy it.
April 26, 2013
Of all the reviews I have written, I must admit this one by far has been the most difficult. Shadow of Wrath will haunt my memories for many years to come. My tears have yet to cease, from this dreadful tale of death and remorse. This story is not for those of faint heart. If you can read this novel without it hitting a nerve deep within you, I am certain humanity has left you. This book will send chills down your spine and tear down all of your defenses. It presents evil at such magnitude, that even the most demented mind would find terrifying. I don’t understand how people can find entertainment in violence; it shows how truly malicious humans can be.
This read was a brutal one. My heart bleeds for each of the gruesome deaths that transpired within the pages of this book. The raw emotion of survival is proven to be the most dangerous. I cannot conceive how it would feel to be in the arena and forced to fight for my life. I am almost certain that I would be unable to kill another to save myself. However, that is exactly what Dog is faced with many times over. People perceive him as a monster, a cold blooded killer. He is convinced that he losing touch with his humanity and this thought terrifies him. Dog underestimates his self because in the end his courage brings light to this otherwise hopeless situation. Even the worst type of monster can redeem his self and Dog achieves this incredible feat various times.
I felt such a connection to many of the characters in this story. I could feel their pain and it hurt me to know that I was unable to help comfort them. Most of them were young children, who had their innocence ripped away by an evil and callous man. What was more heart-breaking, were the scenes when the children protected one another and died together with bravery. The pure emotions that came from each character were very genuine, making the events that unfolded even harder to stomach.
I stepped away from this novel a changed person. I feel the urge to go out and do something good for this world. Anything that will be happiness to someone, just in an effort to show that humanity hasn’t vanished yet. Maybe if we work together, we can prevent the evil from becoming a reality. Who’s with me?
*If you would like to view this review on my blog: Accepted Wisdom
This read was a brutal one. My heart bleeds for each of the gruesome deaths that transpired within the pages of this book. The raw emotion of survival is proven to be the most dangerous. I cannot conceive how it would feel to be in the arena and forced to fight for my life. I am almost certain that I would be unable to kill another to save myself. However, that is exactly what Dog is faced with many times over. People perceive him as a monster, a cold blooded killer. He is convinced that he losing touch with his humanity and this thought terrifies him. Dog underestimates his self because in the end his courage brings light to this otherwise hopeless situation. Even the worst type of monster can redeem his self and Dog achieves this incredible feat various times.
I felt such a connection to many of the characters in this story. I could feel their pain and it hurt me to know that I was unable to help comfort them. Most of them were young children, who had their innocence ripped away by an evil and callous man. What was more heart-breaking, were the scenes when the children protected one another and died together with bravery. The pure emotions that came from each character were very genuine, making the events that unfolded even harder to stomach.
I stepped away from this novel a changed person. I feel the urge to go out and do something good for this world. Anything that will be happiness to someone, just in an effort to show that humanity hasn’t vanished yet. Maybe if we work together, we can prevent the evil from becoming a reality. Who’s with me?
*If you would like to view this review on my blog: Accepted Wisdom
April 18, 2013
My original review can be found on my blog, Rolling with the Moments.
Patricks brings to you a story of a nameless homeless boy, dubbed "Dog", lured into a brutal world of fighting and death by the sweat luxury of food and a warm bed. But Dog's survival instincts are strong and he wont let the Area take him, if a killing-machine is what he needs to be to survive, then that is what he will be. Having being tricked into this new found life, Dog is not one to trust - but can the lovely Allegra, a slave girl, get through to him, and more importantly, should she want to?
Shadow of Wrath is a well paced novel, beginning at a well thought out starting point that gives you the back story that you need to understand the character's without an information overload that gets tedious. Patricks is able to seamlessly blend in the passing of two whole years into the novel with grace that is not usually seen when authors jump in the time period. It is just slipped in there in a paragraph without one of those annoying little subheading, "Two Years Later..." which I feel really stops the flow of the story. So, my hats off to you, Patricks!
The voice of the novel switches between characters, mainly focusing on Dog and Allegra. Due to the setting of Shadow of Wrath, I think that it was a good decision to have the alternating perspective of the contrasting characters Dog and Allegra. Dog, as one of the child fighters, is more a brute and emotionally detached voice to read with his life of growing up on the streets and the whole having-to-kill-for-entertainment-thing that he is forced into. The pit is a brutal place and it takes it's toll on him. Then there is Allegra. She softens the tone of the story and and brings the emotions and feelings to the novel with her kind heart.
When I finished the novel, I honestly felt a little disappointed and confused. A lot gets thrown at you in the last couple of chapters and it's a bit of a sensory shock. But seen as this is the first in the series, I can see how these things needed to happen to set up the other novels and keeps you interested and dying to know what happens next.
Patricks draws from the seven deadly sins to bring you Shadow of Wrath, a thrillingly gruesome story about the will to survive.
Patricks brings to you a story of a nameless homeless boy, dubbed "Dog", lured into a brutal world of fighting and death by the sweat luxury of food and a warm bed. But Dog's survival instincts are strong and he wont let the Area take him, if a killing-machine is what he needs to be to survive, then that is what he will be. Having being tricked into this new found life, Dog is not one to trust - but can the lovely Allegra, a slave girl, get through to him, and more importantly, should she want to?
Shadow of Wrath is a well paced novel, beginning at a well thought out starting point that gives you the back story that you need to understand the character's without an information overload that gets tedious. Patricks is able to seamlessly blend in the passing of two whole years into the novel with grace that is not usually seen when authors jump in the time period. It is just slipped in there in a paragraph without one of those annoying little subheading, "Two Years Later..." which I feel really stops the flow of the story. So, my hats off to you, Patricks!
The voice of the novel switches between characters, mainly focusing on Dog and Allegra. Due to the setting of Shadow of Wrath, I think that it was a good decision to have the alternating perspective of the contrasting characters Dog and Allegra. Dog, as one of the child fighters, is more a brute and emotionally detached voice to read with his life of growing up on the streets and the whole having-to-kill-for-entertainment-thing that he is forced into. The pit is a brutal place and it takes it's toll on him. Then there is Allegra. She softens the tone of the story and and brings the emotions and feelings to the novel with her kind heart.
When I finished the novel, I honestly felt a little disappointed and confused. A lot gets thrown at you in the last couple of chapters and it's a bit of a sensory shock. But seen as this is the first in the series, I can see how these things needed to happen to set up the other novels and keeps you interested and dying to know what happens next.
Patricks draws from the seven deadly sins to bring you Shadow of Wrath, a thrillingly gruesome story about the will to survive.
April 19, 2013
I think this is one of, if not the, most violent books I have ever read. But that's OK--the synopsis prepared me for that and I am made of strong stuff. However, picturing the violence that was in the book being brought upon children is what made Shadow of Wrath so disturbing. And I don't know why--I'm a big Hunger Games fan, and of course that is filled with child on child violence. Maybe the actual killing acts weren't described as vividly as they are in Shadow of Wrath?
In any event, the story revolves around a young boy with no name (who is to become known as Dog) who is kidnapped and brought to an underground arena where children fight to the death under the tyranny of the sick Ryker. Ryker has engineered it so his empire of blood is remote and undetectable, and his slaves and gladiators have no hope of escape. That is until Dog becomes the greatest champion the arena has ever seen.
Shadow of Wrath was filled with horrifying fights and other depraved acts, but it was about more than that. Every character in this book felt so defeated and lost. The lone female character, Allegra, was the only one who held onto some faith throughout an unimaginable ordeal. The story does have its' bit of romance between Dog and Allegra, but it is the tiniest bit.
I really liked all the fight scenes, and I even appreciated the way that the author managed to make the antagonist absolutely one of the most vile and depraved characters I have ever come across. With every thing Ryker did, I never thought he could get any worse, but then he always did. Characterization was not much, but I still managed to get to like Dog, and to some extent, Allegra.
This book was definitely a page turner and I read it late into the night...I'm actually shocked it didn't give me nightmares. Though I wasn't thrilled with the way things ended, I encourage others to read this book, because it will undoubtedly affect you in some way.
In any event, the story revolves around a young boy with no name (who is to become known as Dog) who is kidnapped and brought to an underground arena where children fight to the death under the tyranny of the sick Ryker. Ryker has engineered it so his empire of blood is remote and undetectable, and his slaves and gladiators have no hope of escape. That is until Dog becomes the greatest champion the arena has ever seen.
Shadow of Wrath was filled with horrifying fights and other depraved acts, but it was about more than that. Every character in this book felt so defeated and lost. The lone female character, Allegra, was the only one who held onto some faith throughout an unimaginable ordeal. The story does have its' bit of romance between Dog and Allegra, but it is the tiniest bit.
I really liked all the fight scenes, and I even appreciated the way that the author managed to make the antagonist absolutely one of the most vile and depraved characters I have ever come across. With every thing Ryker did, I never thought he could get any worse, but then he always did. Characterization was not much, but I still managed to get to like Dog, and to some extent, Allegra.
This book was definitely a page turner and I read it late into the night...I'm actually shocked it didn't give me nightmares. Though I wasn't thrilled with the way things ended, I encourage others to read this book, because it will undoubtedly affect you in some way.
April 23, 2013
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought it was going to be soooo good. How could it not be? Did you read that synopsis?? The synopsis sounds so incredibly bad ass and really had me excited to read this book, but the story-telling does not do the synopsis justice. I didn't like the first half of Shadow of Wrath. I actually thought about putting it down many times. But, I pushed through and found the ending to actually be pretty good. The story has a very dark tone throughout. Even the ending, though it had happy-ending qualities, felt dark and depressing.
The characters were weakly developed, at least at first. The reader would get a sneak peak inside of the character of Dog or Allegra, but then it would stop and not go any farther. Though, in the epilogue, we are able to see more of Dog's history and part of what made him who he is in the story.
Shadow of Wrath is unique in the way that the story is told. It's in third person narration through the perspectives of a few different characters. It also showed some journal entries of characters that were not in the main story, which was interesting. I found it refreshing to see a YA Dystopia told this way. But, I didn't think it was executed very well. I felt like a lot of the action scenes, especially at the beginning, were not made out to be as intense as they should have been. I didn't feel that intensity or raw emotion that should have been projected onto the reader while Dog was fighting in the Arena (until the end). Thus, it was difficult to connect or sympathize with him. By the ending, though, I definitely was able to feel sympathy for the characters. But it took until the end, which is disappointing.
The characters were weakly developed, at least at first. The reader would get a sneak peak inside of the character of Dog or Allegra, but then it would stop and not go any farther. Though, in the epilogue, we are able to see more of Dog's history and part of what made him who he is in the story.
Shadow of Wrath is unique in the way that the story is told. It's in third person narration through the perspectives of a few different characters. It also showed some journal entries of characters that were not in the main story, which was interesting. I found it refreshing to see a YA Dystopia told this way. But, I didn't think it was executed very well. I felt like a lot of the action scenes, especially at the beginning, were not made out to be as intense as they should have been. I didn't feel that intensity or raw emotion that should have been projected onto the reader while Dog was fighting in the Arena (until the end). Thus, it was difficult to connect or sympathize with him. By the ending, though, I definitely was able to feel sympathy for the characters. But it took until the end, which is disappointing.
April 22, 2013
Shadow of Wrath is a chilling story about young boys who are kidnapped from their homes and forced to fight for their lives in a gladiator type arena. The only way out is through death. The boys who have survived have been there for years, being starved, abused and murdering others just to survive.
A no-named homeless boy is kidnapped and when he wakes up he is chained in a locked cell, with a name, Dog. Realizing pretty quickly the only way to survive is to kill, Dog does what he has to do, and becomes everyone favorite fighter quickly.
Allegra has been a slave in the arena for years, and does whatever she can to make the boys lives a little easier. She might not have to fight for her life, but she lives in constant fear and is abused everyday by the owner of the arena, Ryker.
Ryker is a sick, sick man. He loves to see the boys fight for their lives and does horrible things to make the fights more entertaining. For example, before a fight, he ordered the arms of both boys to be broken, just to make the fight more interesting. It was things like this that kept me thinking of this story days after I finished it.
I really enjoyed Dog and Allegra as characters. Allegra had this innocence about her, despite everything she has seen. Dog was a very interesting character. The psych major in me was so intrigued! You could tell that he was a good person, but was never given the opportunity to be good.
As disturbing as this story was, I really enjoyed it. I just wanted a happy ending for these characters and was not ready, or expecting the ending that I got! There were a lot of twists that I did not see coming either. I am interested to see where this story will go next, since it ended in a very interesting way.
A no-named homeless boy is kidnapped and when he wakes up he is chained in a locked cell, with a name, Dog. Realizing pretty quickly the only way to survive is to kill, Dog does what he has to do, and becomes everyone favorite fighter quickly.
Allegra has been a slave in the arena for years, and does whatever she can to make the boys lives a little easier. She might not have to fight for her life, but she lives in constant fear and is abused everyday by the owner of the arena, Ryker.
Ryker is a sick, sick man. He loves to see the boys fight for their lives and does horrible things to make the fights more entertaining. For example, before a fight, he ordered the arms of both boys to be broken, just to make the fight more interesting. It was things like this that kept me thinking of this story days after I finished it.
I really enjoyed Dog and Allegra as characters. Allegra had this innocence about her, despite everything she has seen. Dog was a very interesting character. The psych major in me was so intrigued! You could tell that he was a good person, but was never given the opportunity to be good.
As disturbing as this story was, I really enjoyed it. I just wanted a happy ending for these characters and was not ready, or expecting the ending that I got! There were a lot of twists that I did not see coming either. I am interested to see where this story will go next, since it ended in a very interesting way.
March 21, 2013
This review first appeared on Books i View.
Shadow of Wrath is one disturbing and gruesome story. Let me just warn you this book is not for everyone especially for those with queasy stomachs as there are many detailed fight scenes with lots of gore. I should also mention is that this is a YA book with mature elements and is definitely something boys/guys would love. No sappy love story or sparkly vampires in this one!
Despite the grisly plotline I still found myself sitting on the edge of my seat and rooting for Dog during these fight to the death matches. It took me a while to get over the sheer volume of kids dying in this book and how they died. But once I did I was hooked to the story and kept on turning those pages as fast as I could.
Patricks managed to create the best worst villain ever. I mean this guy Ryker in the book was just plain evil, no if’s and’s or but’s about it. He was the most sadistic evil horrifying character I have ever read and I loved hating him at every turn of the page.
What I didn’t like much about this book was the first half of the went way too slow and then when you think the story is finally going somewhere you skip two years into the future. What happened during those two years? How did these characters develop under these horrid conditions?
What I loved about this book was it was horrifying, haunting and just different from anything I’ve ever read before.
In the end this was a good read. It has lots of gore and a sad ending, you have been warned! I would recommend this to read, especially to teen boys.
Shadow of Wrath is one disturbing and gruesome story. Let me just warn you this book is not for everyone especially for those with queasy stomachs as there are many detailed fight scenes with lots of gore. I should also mention is that this is a YA book with mature elements and is definitely something boys/guys would love. No sappy love story or sparkly vampires in this one!
Despite the grisly plotline I still found myself sitting on the edge of my seat and rooting for Dog during these fight to the death matches. It took me a while to get over the sheer volume of kids dying in this book and how they died. But once I did I was hooked to the story and kept on turning those pages as fast as I could.
Patricks managed to create the best worst villain ever. I mean this guy Ryker in the book was just plain evil, no if’s and’s or but’s about it. He was the most sadistic evil horrifying character I have ever read and I loved hating him at every turn of the page.
What I didn’t like much about this book was the first half of the went way too slow and then when you think the story is finally going somewhere you skip two years into the future. What happened during those two years? How did these characters develop under these horrid conditions?
What I loved about this book was it was horrifying, haunting and just different from anything I’ve ever read before.
In the end this was a good read. It has lots of gore and a sad ending, you have been warned! I would recommend this to read, especially to teen boys.
April 16, 2013
I find reviews difficult to write for books which affect me as profoundly as Shadow of Wrath did . . .I am concerned that my words are not enough to convey the emotion I felt and respect which I have for an author who can make me love and then cry . . . .
Shadow of Wrath is by far one of the best books I have read this year. Although I am sure comparisons have been made between this book and The Hunger Games, I felt its brutality and violence were almost a twisted memorial to Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
However, in the death and decay of the Arena L W Patricks gives the reader hope in the guises of Dog, Allegra, Garrett, Jacob and Ty. They are the characters who are maintaining their humanity despite the darkness and who we must accept as 'good', regardless of their flaws. L W Patricks is able to give them all redeeming qualities so that in the end it seems that even murder is acceptable . . . . . . .
I lost count of the amount of times this book made me cry but this is because the subject matter is ruthless and like Allegra we are forced to stand by helpless and watch.
I would not say that the story unfolds in a particularly unexpected way but the world of the Arena consumes the reader - we care about the outcome of the next match and allow our anger at Ryker to fuel us.
Shadow of Wrath made me want to hug my children; it made me hope that L W Patricks vision never comes true - but I was very glad I had had the opportunity to read this book and I hope you will do the same!
Shadow of Wrath is by far one of the best books I have read this year. Although I am sure comparisons have been made between this book and The Hunger Games, I felt its brutality and violence were almost a twisted memorial to Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
However, in the death and decay of the Arena L W Patricks gives the reader hope in the guises of Dog, Allegra, Garrett, Jacob and Ty. They are the characters who are maintaining their humanity despite the darkness and who we must accept as 'good', regardless of their flaws. L W Patricks is able to give them all redeeming qualities so that in the end it seems that even murder is acceptable . . . . . . .
I lost count of the amount of times this book made me cry but this is because the subject matter is ruthless and like Allegra we are forced to stand by helpless and watch.
I would not say that the story unfolds in a particularly unexpected way but the world of the Arena consumes the reader - we care about the outcome of the next match and allow our anger at Ryker to fuel us.
Shadow of Wrath made me want to hug my children; it made me hope that L W Patricks vision never comes true - but I was very glad I had had the opportunity to read this book and I hope you will do the same!
May 13, 2014
This book was extremely predictable, within the first two chapters I already knew the ending. It was a hard gritty kind of novel and I suspected immediately that there would be no happy ending. Even the twists and turns in the plot was predictable, and it was hard to find anything that really made reading this novel unique. Also, the “interludes” and “epilogue” for the book only confused matters, in that it was written from the POV of people who we never even see in the main story, and so I could care less what they had to say on the subject. It was also evident that this book still needs some copy editing work, as many times there were mistakes littered throughout that distracted even more from the story. As for family friendliness, I would say it is highly inappropriate for young kids and tweens to read this. If I had kids, this would be a novel that I would not allow them to read. However, it would be appropriate for college students and older.
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August 28, 2013There are books that when reading you can't put down until you are literally falling asleep, and then your sub-conscious wakes you up to continue reading - This is one of those books!! You can't help but feel these characters and their struggle. Great Read!!!
April 14, 2013
Heartbreaking... and utterly amazing.
*Review to come soon as part of a blog tour.*
*Review to come soon as part of a blog tour.*
April 14, 2013
Review to come soon.
And oh kudos to the author for being bold with the main character. I didn't see that one coming, but I guess it was a nice touch.
And oh kudos to the author for being bold with the main character. I didn't see that one coming, but I guess it was a nice touch.
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