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Umbra: Cantamen Book #2
After getting her ex-girlfriend out of prison, Abby is determined to stay out of trouble. Her only goal is to master her Magic and get back to a normal life after graduation. But when new information thickens the plot, she can’t resist the pull of a new mystery. And she follows it straight to a dangerous foreign planet where no one can find her.
Traumatized from their near-murder, Kent just wants Abby to stay safe. His urge to protect her from her own bad choices, and the people who encourage them, get him trapped in a foreign land at the mercy of a man with two identities and selfish motivations.
Nikos had no business talking Abby into doing something stupid, but he couldn’t have imagined it would go this wrong. If he has to be on the run from mercenaries in the forest, it helps to be with soldiers willing to turn him into a warrior. Maybe returning with a cool new power will make him look like a hero instead of a monster.
Being introduced to new ideas and mindsets has awakened something in Madison. When her overbearing mother is disappointed in her abilities, she gets angry instead of sad. When Abby goes missing and nothing makes sense, she sets about solving the mystery herself instead of blindly trusting her parents. This action will have consequences.
In this second book of the Cantamen series, rejoin Abby and her friends as conspiracies and prophecies continue to drag them on a ride they never asked for.
Traumatized from their near-murder, Kent just wants Abby to stay safe. His urge to protect her from her own bad choices, and the people who encourage them, get him trapped in a foreign land at the mercy of a man with two identities and selfish motivations.
Nikos had no business talking Abby into doing something stupid, but he couldn’t have imagined it would go this wrong. If he has to be on the run from mercenaries in the forest, it helps to be with soldiers willing to turn him into a warrior. Maybe returning with a cool new power will make him look like a hero instead of a monster.
Being introduced to new ideas and mindsets has awakened something in Madison. When her overbearing mother is disappointed in her abilities, she gets angry instead of sad. When Abby goes missing and nothing makes sense, she sets about solving the mystery herself instead of blindly trusting her parents. This action will have consequences.
In this second book of the Cantamen series, rejoin Abby and her friends as conspiracies and prophecies continue to drag them on a ride they never asked for.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2024
About the author
Calista Graylock
6 books7 followersCalista is a lover of birds, reptiles, and dogs, half-believer in the paranormal, collector of rocks and fancy pens, listener of podcasts, burner of candles, taker of photos, reader of books, fan of the fantasy/romance combo, and enjoyer of lemon-flavored sweets.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 14, 2024
UMBRA is the second in the Cantamen series which has entranced me from the beginning. It is a coming of age story centering on Abby and her friends who are a group of prophesied witches yet they still go through the same growing pains as the rest of us.
I found the story itself very well paced with a blend of danger, intrigue, rivalry and friendship. Abby and her friends are well developed characters that are really growing me. The dialogue is ranges from flippant to serious and is always realistic to the situation.
I would recommend UMBRA to any reader who enjoys young adult magical realism. There is some violence but nothing graphic. The onscreen sex goes no further than kissing for readers who prefer sweet to spicy. I know that I plan on immersing myself in the next book in this delightful series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the story itself very well paced with a blend of danger, intrigue, rivalry and friendship. Abby and her friends are well developed characters that are really growing me. The dialogue is ranges from flippant to serious and is always realistic to the situation.
I would recommend UMBRA to any reader who enjoys young adult magical realism. There is some violence but nothing graphic. The onscreen sex goes no further than kissing for readers who prefer sweet to spicy. I know that I plan on immersing myself in the next book in this delightful series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In this riveting tale, we follow the complex lives of two protagonists, Madison and Abby, who navigate a world filled with magic, conflict, and unexpected alliances.
The story opens with Queen Ifeta, the cruel queen of the west in Umbra, who desires to keep her subjects submissive and uneducated. We also encounter other phantoms, adding to the richly woven narrative.
Madison lives under the strict rule of her mother, who wants her to join the council after she finishes school. Torn between her mother's expectations, the council's demands, and her desire to do what is right, Madison finds herself struggling to balance her responsibilities and personal investigations into her niece and friends. Her upbringing under her mother's iron fist leaves her confused about where her loyalties lie. As if that weren't enough, Madison is also developing magical abilities that her mother does not approve of.
Meanwhile, Abby is grappling with her feelings for Nikos, who is currently involved with Ravena—a person Abby neither likes nor trusts. Despite Abby's pure intentions, she sometimes finds herself making questionable decisions. Distrustful of council member Whitaker, Abby and her friends Nikos and Kent set out to investigate him, only to end up captured in the mysterious land.
One of the aspects I love about this story is the setting on Umbra, a planet where phantoms can perform only intentional magic. This is in stark contrast to the witches in Cantamenian and the humans on Earth. The action and adventure keep readers on the edge of their seats, complete with not so pleasant details that add depth to the plot. Abby, Kent, and Nikos encounter unexpected characters, further complicating their journey.
The character development is particularly engaging, especially the phantoms, who stand in sharp contrast to the witches and earthlings. Abby, strives to see the good in people—even in those like Ravena and Rhiannon, with whom she has had significant conflicts.
Overall, this book masterfully blends elements of fantasy, magic, and adventure, creating a captivating narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The intricate relationships and moral dilemmas faced by Madison and Abby add layers of complexity to an already fascinating story.
In this riveting tale, we follow the complex lives of two protagonists, Madison and Abby, who navigate a world filled with magic, conflict, and unexpected alliances.
The story opens with Queen Ifeta, the cruel queen of the west in Umbra, who desires to keep her subjects submissive and uneducated. We also encounter other phantoms, adding to the richly woven narrative.
Madison lives under the strict rule of her mother, who wants her to join the council after she finishes school. Torn between her mother's expectations, the council's demands, and her desire to do what is right, Madison finds herself struggling to balance her responsibilities and personal investigations into her niece and friends. Her upbringing under her mother's iron fist leaves her confused about where her loyalties lie. As if that weren't enough, Madison is also developing magical abilities that her mother does not approve of.
Meanwhile, Abby is grappling with her feelings for Nikos, who is currently involved with Ravena—a person Abby neither likes nor trusts. Despite Abby's pure intentions, she sometimes finds herself making questionable decisions. Distrustful of council member Whitaker, Abby and her friends Nikos and Kent set out to investigate him, only to end up captured in the mysterious land.
One of the aspects I love about this story is the setting on Umbra, a planet where phantoms can perform only intentional magic. This is in stark contrast to the witches in Cantamenian and the humans on Earth. The action and adventure keep readers on the edge of their seats, complete with not so pleasant details that add depth to the plot. Abby, Kent, and Nikos encounter unexpected characters, further complicating their journey.
The character development is particularly engaging, especially the phantoms, who stand in sharp contrast to the witches and earthlings. Abby, strives to see the good in people—even in those like Ravena and Rhiannon, with whom she has had significant conflicts.
Overall, this book masterfully blends elements of fantasy, magic, and adventure, creating a captivating narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The intricate relationships and moral dilemmas faced by Madison and Abby add layers of complexity to an already fascinating story.
August 5, 2024
I devoured the first book and the prequel for this years ago. Periodically, I would check and see if book 2 had been released but it never happened until I got the ARC email a week ago.
I really loved the first book and I think that book 2 is a lot better. Danger continues to follow Abby and her friends on Cantamen, this time leading them to a place they never expected to end up.
Much like the first book, there is so much detail and thought put into this world. There are also a lot of story threads happening within the context of the world and the periodic pov switches definitely helped carry the story along. There were also some cool plot twists that happened that definitely upped the stakes of the story. I’m very much excited to read the next book and hopefully it won’t take years this time.
The only real weak point in the story for me is the character development between characters. There is a lot of development with the characters vs nature and characters vs. government. But there’s not a lot of interaction between the characters that are all supposed to be friends with each other. We hear a lot about how they’re all friends (or enemies in Ravena’s case) but we don’t often really get to see it. Despite this weak spot, it is a lot better than it was in book 1.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really loved the first book and I think that book 2 is a lot better. Danger continues to follow Abby and her friends on Cantamen, this time leading them to a place they never expected to end up.
Much like the first book, there is so much detail and thought put into this world. There are also a lot of story threads happening within the context of the world and the periodic pov switches definitely helped carry the story along. There were also some cool plot twists that happened that definitely upped the stakes of the story. I’m very much excited to read the next book and hopefully it won’t take years this time.
The only real weak point in the story for me is the character development between characters. There is a lot of development with the characters vs nature and characters vs. government. But there’s not a lot of interaction between the characters that are all supposed to be friends with each other. We hear a lot about how they’re all friends (or enemies in Ravena’s case) but we don’t often really get to see it. Despite this weak spot, it is a lot better than it was in book 1.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 26, 2024
great series and excited for more by this author
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews