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Light's Shadow
SELECTED AS A BOOKLIFE EDITOR'S PICK ⚡️!
The Lightborne and the Darktouched have been at war for generations. While the soldiers of the Lightwatch hunt their enemy, those blessed by darkness seek refuge in the depths beneath the earth, hunting the abyss for treasures and knowledge.
When Lucas Devlin is thrust into the very heart of this conflict, his life is stripped away from him. Within the great hidden city known as the Abzu Complex, Lucas must learn the ways of the Darktouched and their ancient conflict with the Lightborne in order to save those he cares about.
But the web of fate is vast, and untold secrets and betrayals hide in the endless darkness of the void and the furthest reaches of the light...
Will appeal to readers of Roderick Gordon's TUNNELS and T. Kingfisher's THE HOLLOW PLACES.
The Lightborne and the Darktouched have been at war for generations. While the soldiers of the Lightwatch hunt their enemy, those blessed by darkness seek refuge in the depths beneath the earth, hunting the abyss for treasures and knowledge.
When Lucas Devlin is thrust into the very heart of this conflict, his life is stripped away from him. Within the great hidden city known as the Abzu Complex, Lucas must learn the ways of the Darktouched and their ancient conflict with the Lightborne in order to save those he cares about.
But the web of fate is vast, and untold secrets and betrayals hide in the endless darkness of the void and the furthest reaches of the light...
Will appeal to readers of Roderick Gordon's TUNNELS and T. Kingfisher's THE HOLLOW PLACES.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2024
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
R. Roland Finch
1 book3 followersR. Roland Finch is a speculative fiction author from Flagstaff, Arizona. Light’s Shadow is his debut novel and the first book in the Raiders of Light Series. Although he has dreamed of writing professionally since he was a grade schooler, his path to publishing his debut novel took a circuitous route over the course of many years as a project/program/portfolio manager and, currently, business architect. Synthesizing many disparate elements into a large, working system is something he enjoys very much. He draws inspiration from his various travels and adventures, his upbringing, and his family. You can find him online on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @RRolandFinch.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 20, 2024
Received a Netgalley ARC for an honest review. I needed to sit with this one a bit before reviewing this.
The strange thing is i did enjoy reading it but i dont think i enjoyed the story. I have been trying to figure out why.
I think it centers with the disconect in emotion. Its unclear why the light and the dark are at war and even when we dig into the history this is kind of taken as a given wich is strange to me. Then you are ambushed and need to escape wich is a good way to get instandly into the story but your dad doesnt make it.
I would be devistated! I would want to go back as soon as possible and look for him and or bug everyone i can for information. Than you lose your mom while traveling and you don't go banabas. There is to big of an emotional disconect for me in the entire story.
But like i said i did enjoy the reading.
-I liked the world building the concept was interesting though sometimes kinda unclear and filled with details that do not seem to contribute to the story. (Maybe the next book)
-I liked the technologie that was worked out in detail. Somtimes 2 much but still cool.
-I liked the relationships but again, emotionele disconects. After one meeting you have insta friends and insta enemies. No your relationships need to develop and grow emotionaly and even though some background is given. Its just information not emotion. Then they bond and again informational no first person emo. This all mafe me feel disconnected.
-I enjoyed the training however would have prefered a montage instead of a day by day and did not at all like how details the sportscompetitions were. PASS.
-the politics and religion/believe of there origins is also very interesting.
And then we arrive in the last 30 pages and suddenly the emotions are rampent everyones unspoken unshowed feelings suddenly burst up. Wich made the story havevmore dept and make sence yet... very strange the complete twist in writing style. Why, where was this for the rest of the book?
I do think this book is worth your time someone else might not notice the same things like i do and the world building is very interesting and detailed.
Will i try book 2, yes because i think a debut author needs time to find there feet and i did like the world and would like to re-visit. I think the author made a very good attempt for his first book may his writing develope and grow. Good job!
The strange thing is i did enjoy reading it but i dont think i enjoyed the story. I have been trying to figure out why.
I think it centers with the disconect in emotion. Its unclear why the light and the dark are at war and even when we dig into the history this is kind of taken as a given wich is strange to me. Then you are ambushed and need to escape wich is a good way to get instandly into the story but your dad doesnt make it.
I would be devistated! I would want to go back as soon as possible and look for him and or bug everyone i can for information. Than you lose your mom while traveling and you don't go banabas. There is to big of an emotional disconect for me in the entire story.
But like i said i did enjoy the reading.
-I liked the world building the concept was interesting though sometimes kinda unclear and filled with details that do not seem to contribute to the story. (Maybe the next book)
-I liked the technologie that was worked out in detail. Somtimes 2 much but still cool.
-I liked the relationships but again, emotionele disconects. After one meeting you have insta friends and insta enemies. No your relationships need to develop and grow emotionaly and even though some background is given. Its just information not emotion. Then they bond and again informational no first person emo. This all mafe me feel disconnected.
-I enjoyed the training however would have prefered a montage instead of a day by day and did not at all like how details the sportscompetitions were. PASS.
-the politics and religion/believe of there origins is also very interesting.
And then we arrive in the last 30 pages and suddenly the emotions are rampent everyones unspoken unshowed feelings suddenly burst up. Wich made the story havevmore dept and make sence yet... very strange the complete twist in writing style. Why, where was this for the rest of the book?
I do think this book is worth your time someone else might not notice the same things like i do and the world building is very interesting and detailed.
Will i try book 2, yes because i think a debut author needs time to find there feet and i did like the world and would like to re-visit. I think the author made a very good attempt for his first book may his writing develope and grow. Good job!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2024
Loved the cover of this book! It just hits for me and the plot was interesting. Unfortunately the writing was awkward. There was many points that were unnecessarily over described. Arden's voice felt too young while the narrator felt older.
The author used menial tasks or traveling to flashback to exposition leaden conversation which kinda worked. A lot of dialogue tags, even if it's just two characters talking. It made the flow of the story snag. Wasn't a lot of suspense or stakes. It just felt absent with the way it was written unfortunately.
But if you don't mind that it was a unique concept. Also this is a debut I believe. That in itself is incredible. Mr. Finch created this clearly detailed world. You can see the vision and despite drawbacks I did find myself falling into the story to see where it went. The writing may need some work but I'm sure there's those out there that will enjoy this story.
Was able to read a eArc thanks to Netgalley.
The author used menial tasks or traveling to flashback to exposition leaden conversation which kinda worked. A lot of dialogue tags, even if it's just two characters talking. It made the flow of the story snag. Wasn't a lot of suspense or stakes. It just felt absent with the way it was written unfortunately.
But if you don't mind that it was a unique concept. Also this is a debut I believe. That in itself is incredible. Mr. Finch created this clearly detailed world. You can see the vision and despite drawbacks I did find myself falling into the story to see where it went. The writing may need some work but I'm sure there's those out there that will enjoy this story.
Was able to read a eArc thanks to Netgalley.
November 21, 2024
This book is for fans of SciFi books like Ender's Game and Children of Time. More in vibe than plot wise. There are not a lot of characters right away like most SciFi, but a lot of technology and language change right away. These are easy to pick up on or are explained and understood later. The action and calm scenes were well balanced for a longer novel. Overall, it was interesting for a none SciFi reader like myself.
Got a free ARC
Got a free ARC
December 12, 2024
This was a great into into this world from R.Roland! The world building was fantastic and has a lot of depth. So many endless possibilities. I really enjoyed the slow burn in getting to know Lucas. While I found some of the transitions abrupt, the author really made up for it in the south if the ideas. I Can't wait to see how the characters progress in their continued adventure.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews