Призрачното ковчеже

The Darkwater Legacy #2

by Chris Wooding, Крис Удинг, Надя Златкова (Translator)

Група бунтовници и предатели сред тях. Древно оръжие с невъобразима мощ. Началото на една революция.

Изминали са три години, откакто Арън и бунтовниците си присвояват Искрящия меч. Три години, откакто разпалват искрата на революцията. Желязната хватка на Кроданската империя обаче не позволява на пламъка й да се разгори и мечтата за свобода изглежда по-далечна от всякога. На север Пазителите на зората търсят помощта на дивия народ, ала клановете са разединени. Предателства отвътре заплашват успеха на каузата, а врагът разполага с ужасяващи сили.

Има ли оръжие, способно да унищожи тези създания? И да обърне хода на събитията? Когато от сенките на миналото се появява легендарен артефакт – Призрачното ковчеже – всички надежди и страхове се насочват към него. Дали обаче бунтовниците ще го открият преди врага?

„Призрачното ковчеже“ е продължението на епичната фентъзи сага „Искрящият меч“ .

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Audiobook, Magic, Adventure

856 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2023

About the author

Chris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.

Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.

Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.

He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.

Chris lives in London.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow Casket is an action-packed sequel full of lovable characters colored by a shade of gray morality and believable motivations.

“Such profound consequences from the smallest actions. As if each was a raindrop falling on a lake, a tiny impact spreading ripples outwards, becoming vast.”

Almost five years have passed since I first read The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding in 2018. Since then, I have often mentioned how much I loved the criminally underrated fantasy novel, and I still do. You might have noticed this if you check my reading history. But ever since I have my own Booktube channel, I never binge-read a series anymore. It is difficult for me to concentrate my focus on one series for a while due to how many books and series I want to read and reread. But having access to The Shadow Casket, I did a reread of The Ember Blade and jumped into The Shadow Casket immediately. I could not resist. The Shadow Casket is one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and it had a lot of high expectations to fulfill. And the majority of the novel succeeded in meeting my high expectations, making this a worthy sequel to The Ember Blade.

“The things we value make us weak, he thought. Or they can make us unstoppable.”

The story in The Shadow Casket starts three years after the end of The Ember Blade. The battle between Ossia and the Krodans continues, and our main characters are on the precipice of a life-changing revolution. But revolution does not come as easily as expected. And to make things worse, Aren cannot find anyone to fully trust. The Shadow Casket is a sequel with themes centered around heroism, friendship, sacrifice, trust, and betrayal. The latter is probably more than the other. I loved these so much. Heroism is a theme explored countless times in fantasy, but Wooding did a wonderful job elaborating upon its meaning in relation to the context of the series and more.

“Heroes were simple. They didn’t trouble themselves with consequences. Those who fell by the wayside in their service were left unmourned, at least in the stories. But the stories never told of the quiet times. When the heroes laid down their heads at night and the memories crept in. The lonely meal by the campfire, recalling the smiling eyes of those now dead. The cost in death and grief, one piled upon the other until it was too much to bear, and the only escape was the sanctuary of purpose. They never spoke of what happened when that purpose was fulfilled, and there was nothing to protect them anymore.”

As I mentioned in my review of The Ember Blade, one of the elements of The Darkwater Legacy series is how Wooding implemented both classic fantasy tropes and the grey morality often encountered in modern grimdark fantasy into the narrative. That is still strongly evident in The Shadow Casket, and I believe readers who enjoyed The Ember Blade will at least have a great time reading this long-awaited sequel to it. Personally speaking, though, I loved the plot structure in The Ember Blade more than The Shadow Casket. The found family, journey, quest, and heist-centered plotlines in The Ember Blade hit me more emotionally, even on re-read. The Shadow Casket took me longer than The Ember Blade to feel completely immersed in. There were several sections in the first half of the novel where my interest did wane. Mainly, these were the plotlines dealing with Fen's romance subplot and how the story slightly felt like they were repeatedly going around in a circle. I also think the way Fen behaved and acted toward Aren felt unbelievable at times considering everything that happened in The Ember Blade. However, the rewarding pay-off in the second half of this 800 pages novel was undeniable, including Fen’s character development.

‘It’s the journey that makes a hero, Grub. Not the destination. And you and I, we’ve a long way to go yet.’ He smiled gently at his companion. ‘But we’ll travel together. And when they tell our stories, they won’t be able to speak of one without the other.’

I don’t know about you, but if you’re like me and you’ve read and loved The Ember Blade, then we might be in agreement that believable characterization is Wooding’s strongest skill as a writer. In The Shadow Casket, readers are introduced to many new characters. And although none of them were as compelling as the main characters we knew from The Ember Blade, they helped increase the complexity of the conflict. I truly appreciate the way Wooding handles characterizations. As I said, this is not a grimdark fantasy series, but the genuine moral dilemma the protagonists and antagonists constantly encounter was superbly written. In times of war and revolutions, as Aren said, the world endlessly tries to change them into someone they're not. Someone who needs to cheat and do ruthless things to win. Whether they succumb to cruelty or not, that's for you to find out. However, betrayal, deception, schemes, and forgiveness are some of the key themes in the narrative.

“Life was too precarious to hold grudges against the ones you loved. You never knew when they’d be gone.”

Other than Aren and his tumultuous relationship with the other characters, I strongly believe Grub is one of the best characters I've read. Wooding did such a fine job writing his character. A high level of distinction is given to the character's voice and actions. Every scene with Grub is a scene I highly enjoyed reading. Funny, intense, and emotional; it felt like Wooding succeeded in hitting various notes of emotions every time Grub appear in a scene. I can repeat this praise when I'm talking about the other main characters, too, but Grub (in my opinion) definitely stole the spotlight. His presence, antics, dilemma, and development are too memorable to ignore.

‘Right now, all the people want is a leader, a warrior: the hero with the bright blade. Hope is simple, and they want hope. But afterwards, after we’ve won– they’ll want to know every piece of it. Then your tale will be told. Grub the Cunning. Grub the Strong. Grub the Brave. And it will be passed from one generation to the next, just like Orica’s song will.’

Lastly, this review will be incomplete if I don't mention a thing or two about Klyssen. Klyssen is one of the main villains of the series. He has been there since the first book, and we have received a few POV chapters from him in The Ember Blade. In The Shadow Casket, Klyssen has more portion of chapters. And my god, I felt for his characters. I feel like Klyssen, as villainous as he is, is truly the character who could totally be on Aren's side if only he was born and raised on the side of Ossia. The affection and love Klyssen has for his daughters felt so genuine. And he has a strong unbending sense of justice even though he IS on the opposing side of Aren. I loved reading his POV chapters, and I think Klyssen displayed, once more, why Wooding is so good at writing characters, both protagonists and antagonists.

“The debased actions of a few powerful men didn’t represent an entire nation. Their philosophies, their art and learning, the civilisation they brought– you couldn’t throw out all those wonderful things just because a part of it was rotten.”

Although the last action scenes were not centered on a heist like in The Ember Blade, The Shadow Casket managed to end strongly with a tension-packed climax sequence. It was pretty much, in a different way, still just like how it worked in The Ember Blade. I honestly do not think The Shadow Casket was as magnificent as The Ember Blade. A few minor issues I mentioned aside, the journey and resolution for the quest for The Shadow Casket also did not feel as satisfying (or necessary, but it depends on the third book) as the quest for The Ember Blade. But overall, the 840 pages tome filled with bloody sacrifice, conquest, glory, and incredibly well-realized characters and relationships ensured me that the five years of wait for The Shadow Casket was worthwhile. There is still one book left in The Darkwater Legacy trilogy to read. We might not get it soon, but I will wait for it. Patiently. Until then, my days as one of the champions for The Darkwater Legacy resume.

“History liked to put names to its heroes, but all great endeavours were the sum of many sacrifices, and most went unsung.”

You can pre-order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Sean Barrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shadow Casket is a fantastic sequel in a very exciting, yet dramatically underrated, series.

It’s been five years since I read the first book in the series, The Ember Blade. Back then, I used to read so many more fantasy novels. But this one really stuck out for me. Not only was it an absolute behemoth of a story, but it was also one that was immersive and subversive. The characters are all great, as is the world, though the strength of this story comes from its ability to turn standard fantasy tropes on their head.

Wooding seems to set up the story to follow a simple a basic fantasy narrative, one we’ve all seen dozens of times before, but then he takes the story in new and unexpected directions. And he did that again here. The Shadow Casket surprised me on several occasions. I had no idea where any of this was going. This might seem a basic and obvious point to make, though I think its fair to say that nobody wants to know the ending before the story has even begun. Nobody wants predictability in fantasy.

It’s only just beginning

I’m not entirely sure how long this series is going to be because there is so much room for expansion. It feels like it is just getting started in a way. And that’s because the world feels so huge. The action in this book is just a glimpse of what is happening elsewhere and across the continent. For me this is one of the most vital aspects of fantasy. I need to feel like the world has existed before the events in the book and will continue to exist after. And Wooding has nailed this aspect of writing terrifically. The storytelling scope of this series is on par with The Wheel of Time or, at least, it could be if it keeps flowing like this.

There are several characters who each have so much potential for development too. I like the way Wooding has built on a number of them here and fleshed them out. It’s also worth mentioning that he isn’t afraid to kill of characters too when their part in the story is over. Again, this is another important aspect of writing in the genre because too many fantasy writers are a bit precious about their characters and keeping them alive. So he’s got this right too and it makes the action and quests seem all that dangerous, knowing the heroes can be killed off.

A heartfelt recommendation

I recommend this to readers who like Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Tad Williams and Robin Hobb. Wooding is very much on par with them and he is essential reading for those that love epic fantasy, especially those who like writers that take their time to write stories that slowly develop into something grand. I look forward to the next book in the series.


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[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Heroes don’t have to fight. They don’t even have to be the best at anything. So what do they do? They keep going.”

Three years have passed since the events in The Ember Blade. Aren and the rest of the Dawnwardens hoped for a spark that ignited a flame of revolution, but the fire never caught. Instead, the rebels have left southern Ossia and journeyed north into the highlands, home of the Fell people, to strike an alliance. But treachery lurks around every corner. New dreadknights threaten the land. And a hidden, powerful artifact, the Shadow Casket, could shift the balance of power if claimed. Aren, Fen, Grub, Mara, and a host of new characters must band together to uncover a horrifying act of oppression if they want a chance at uniting the Fell clans and turning the tables on the Krodan imperialists.

“Feelings may be the enemy of intellect, but they are also its engine, and it’s a fool that wishes them away.”

Much like in The Ember Blade, one of The Shadow Casket’s strongest aspects is its characters. Wooding has developed this cast remarkably well, giving ample time to each POV, ensuring consequences that hit hard. Each character has different motivations and fallacies, and their flaws and decisions create wonderful and unpredictable chaos. One of the biggest surprises is how much I enjoyed reading one of the most hated characters from the last book, Overwatchman Klyssen; he’s a character you love to despise, but come to understand. Klyssen’s story reminded me of Abercrombie’s Sand dan Glokta: evil, but relatable.

Another aspect of the story that had me up late reading each night was how many surprise bombshells there were. There were some excellent twists, and devastating losses. None of it would have worked so well if I hadn’t been attached to so many of these wonderful characters. Though this is a long book, over 800 pages, at no point did I feel there was filler – every chapter propelled the story forward, further developed the cast, and built itself up for the next explosive set piece.

The Ember Blade can be separated into three acts: the camp, the road journey, and the heist finale. The Shadow Casket can also be divided into a similar structure. I won’t spoil what they are, but the book has a natural feel to its progression. The action is paced beautifully; Wooding has created some breathtaking environments to play in. During one sequence, it felt like we were treading into horror territory, and I have a sense that we’ll lean more into that theme in the next chapter of the Darkwater Legacy.

“The cogs of history were greased with the blood of sacrifices; it dripped from their teeth. Without it, they didn’t move.”

When I first reviewed The Ember Blade, I said it was everything I could possibly want in an epic fantasy novel. The Shadow Casket continues this tradition. It is full of action, heart, humor, and an expansive cast of endearing characters that I didn’t want to leave behind. One of my favorite reads of the year.

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Всичко, което искам от едно фентъзи. Феноменално продължение. 850 стр без почивка от екшън, заговори, обрати, предателства, тук там любов и едно приятелство, което беше подложено на невъзможни препятствия

От тук нататък няма да пропускам книга от този автор!

Влиза в топ 3 за годината, а да не кажа и номер 1

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Dom · Rating 5 out of 5]

In many ways, The Shadow Casket picks up where The Ember Blade left off, but in one important way, it does not. This second book in the Darkwater Legacy starts off three years after the events of the first.

This was slightly jarring to me, as that’s a lot of time for something to happen, but it seems like nothing major has. In fact, if I wasn’t told that there was such a gap, I would probably have guessed just a few months had passed between the events of the two books.

In everything else though, The Shadow Casket takes what The Ember Blade gave us and builds on it, with great characters, action, and suspense. I really liked how my favourite character, Grub, was developed in this book. He has real heart, despite what he might like you to think, and he had some great moments in this book.

He also has a great knack for making me laugh. Because I was still reading an ARC when the book was published, I switched to the audiobook as I’d enjoyed listening to book one. The book two audio was also excellent and the delivery of Grub’s lines is one thing that stood out above all else for me. Someone asked, “Why are we running?” and Grub’s reply was, “Because walking takes longer.”

Overall, this was a book with some ups and downs, but the downs were not too low, and the highs were pretty high. The story is just about on a par with The Ember Blade, which I really enjoyed, but with the expansion of the worldbuilding and character development, The Shadow Casket maybe sits just slightly higher.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Solid Follow-up

I read The Ember Blade back at the end of 2021 and had a great time so this was a pretty highly anticipated release. One concern I had being that I had read the first book over 2 years ago was remembering the finer details of the story and characters. This book offers no recap or dramatis personae either in the book nor online. I just decided to jump in anyway, and I did think lacking that context made the beginning a bit more of a struggle than it should have been. I can't imagine what readers who read TEB upon release 5 years ago would feel like if there memory is like mine. So suggestion to all authors, put a recap somewhere for your readers especially if you're going to release books in a series this infrequently. That being said, as I continued the author does put some gentle reminders in the narrative that eventually I was able to get immersed.

As for what I liked here I would say first of all, despite its length, this book reads very fast. It has short chapters, digestible but solid prose, and something is always happening to keep you interested. I wish more fantasy books were like this. Second, I love a story with a good crew banding together to accomplish something with some found family vibes. You get that here just like in book 1 and I'm here for it. Grub is probably one of my favorite characters in fantasy. Anytime he's on the page it's a good time. Third, I'm a sucker for books about a revolution and underdogs sticking it to an Empire. It's done well here. Finally, and this is difficult to talk about without spoiling, but there are some chapters here that exceed my expectations for what you normally see in fantasy in terms of how it mixes plot, character, and emotional moments by A LOT. The type of thing where you have to put the book down for a minute and think, "Damn, did that really just happen like that? What did I just read." Those parts shine like diamonds in what at other times kind of feel like more pedestrian fare. Let's get into that.

I think this book has more flaws than The Ember Blade, or maybe I set my expectations higher for book 2. Either way I don't think it quite gets there. Early on the author chooses to add kind of a cringe romance subplot that hints at going full blown Degrassi Jr High bullshit complete with live triangle. It's mostly averted but what's there adds nothing and is a net negative especially for one POV who seemed to do very little but think about romantic interests and later another development I won't go into. It hurt my enjoyment because it made that character and perspective one dimensional. Luckily the page time for that was pretty limited. Secondly, while something is always happening to keep the pages turning, at points it starts to feel repetitive with little forward plot movement for the overall story. This is the kind.of pedestrian fantasy thing I was talking about. Like oh were going to a new location where the enemy won't find us. Ope betrayal guess we have to run again. Lastly, for a book named The Shadow Casket I wish it had been more important to this book and to the story. It might be important to the overall series eventually in 10 years or whatever when this is finished, but will I even care by then? The sections (few though they are) are really cool and interesting, but I needed and wanted more.

The flaws mostly outweigh the positives here and giving it 3 stars and wanting to read more was really a recency bias thing when I finished. This has soured over time. I won't be reading more.

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Крис Удинг определено успя да ме превърне във верен фен на тази серия, а Призрачното ковчеже по великолепен начин надгради Искрящият меч, предлагайки ми 850 страници фантъзи пиршество, последните стотина, върху които се разгърна битката при Вълчия зъб – по нищо не отстъпващи на епичния размах на Робърт Джордан / Брандън Сандерсън от финала на Колелото на времето.

Второто тухле се оказа с доста по-минорно звучене, с фатални избори и съдбовни предопределености в духа на любимия ми Дейвид Гемел, с интриги, сюжетни врътки и с герои, които едновременно харесваш и мразиш, запазена марка на също много любимия ми Джо Абъркромби. А в образите на дреднайтите – тук цяла плеяда нови благуни, назовани Бич, Милост, Пустота, Буря… и в диаболичните видения - Града от сухожилия и кости, Циталедата, увиснала на вериги в бездната - направо припознах още един любимец - Клайв Баркър.

Научих какво точно са правили кроданците със скарлите, разбрах произхода на дреднайтите, разходих се до опасния остров Яга, територия на загадъчната раса елару и звероподобните огрени… И, да, с нетърпение чакам авторът да завърши третия том, доколкото разбрах след бърза проверка в глобалното пространство – в момента се пише.

[Rob Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to love this trilogy. I'm not sure book 2 hits quite as hard as book 1. It felt like a few chapters might have been cut and character development happens off screen, but it certainly didn't hurt my enjoyment.

A hearty 4 stars!

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Shadow Casket is the long-awaited and highly anticipated second instalment in The Darkwater Legacy series. Based on how much I enjoyed The Ember Blade, I thought this would be an easy 5-star read for me, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit let down by this sequel. I do want to preface this entire review by saying that this may have just been a case of ‘wrong book, wrong time’ for me, because the majority of readers seem to have had a blast with this sequel and I can totally see why!

Now, this book picks up three years after the explosive events that took place at the end of book 1. Our characters have been trying to recover from all the traumatic events they have experienced and they are only now starting to fully commit to their plans of rebellion and revolution. In theory, I really liked the idea of a little timeskip, except I personally didn’t believe that 3 years had passed here when I started this book. The characters still felt like their 16-year-old selves and there was barely any progression in their interpersonal relationships, which I thought was odd considering how much time they (should) have had to bond since we last saw them.

Luckily I could get past this little quibble quite quickly, because Wooding just has a way of making you sink into the world and story very easily. The rich history and lore of this world is woven into the story in an organic way and I adore exploring the clashing cultures of these lands through the eyes of our diverse cast of characters. The breadth and depth of the world building remains just as impressive and exciting as in book 1, which resulted in me being hooked into the story within just a couple of chapters again.

I particularly enjoyed the deeper exploration of heroism, loyalty, morality and trust in this instalment. While this series has a lot of elements reminiscent of older, heroic fantasy, it’s much more nuanced and complex in its themes and characters. There isn’t a clear good vs. evil story here, it’s just a matter of which side of the conflict you are on. No big surprise that my favourite POVs in this instalment were those of the ‘antagonist’ and of some other characters (who I won’t name for the sake of avoiding spoilers) who are struggling with their own loyalties and moral dilemmas. And while I was initially a bit disappointed with the character development between book 1 and 2, I did enjoy seeing the growth of these characters over the course of this particular instalment itself. I wasn’t fully on-board for some of the character arcs, but then there were others that I absolutely adored, so it balanced out in the end. These characters all have some very emotional and complex personal journeys, which I am always a sucker for in my stories!

Unfortunately, I do feel like this book suffered from middle book syndrome in terms of the plot. This is a fairly fast-paced story and there is constantly a lot going on, but I also can’t really tell you what exactly was accomplished over the course of this 800+ page chunker. I honestly feel like this book was too long and kept circling around to the same conversations and conflicts, which is why it failed to keep me engaged.
There is also a quest storyline that didn’t hold my interest and I personally thought that the resolution of that plotline wasn’t satisfying at all. Plus, I never warmed up to the newly introduced characters (except for one of them, because we stan Megwyn!), so that ended up really hurting my overall enjoyment as I am such a character-driven reader. Some emotional moments, shocking revelations and supposedly funny moments of comedic relief just didn’t land for me, because I was feeling so apathetic about the whole thing.

But then, there was the ending. And dang, does Wooding know how to write an exhilarating conclusion! Even though I might not have enjoyed the journey to get there all too much, I was still on the edge of my seat when things started to really escalate at the end. If you have read book 1, you won’t be surprised to hear that there were a lot of unexpected twists and brutal betrayals in this instalment, which were all executed brilliantly in my opinion. You never know who you can fully trust and there are multiple characters who are all spinning their own web of intricate schemes, which keeps the tension and intrigue high.
I also really appreciate that Wooding doesn’t give his characters too much plot armour. There are multiple losses and sacrifices throughout this story that really surprised me and I loved that.

Overall, I am glad I read this book and I will certainly return to this series when we finally get the conclusion. There was a lot of set-up in this instalment, so I am curious to see if we will get the great pay-off that I am hoping for.
If you like epic fantasy with expansive world building, well-realised and morally complex characters, layers upon layers of schemes and all the exciting twists and turns, then The Darkwater Legacy series is the perfect choice for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gollancz for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Paromita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shadow Casket, the much-awaited sequel to The Ember Blade, is a stronger and much better-paced novel than its predecessor. Reeling from the aftermath of the events of The Ember Blade, Aren and co. are fighting for their rights amidst tremendous adversity and increasingly daunting challenges. The plot moves at breakneck speed with many twists and turns - I could not put the novel down once I started reading. My criticism would be that the depth of the character work and the worldbuilding suffers due to the amount of story packed into the novel and the constant succession of events. Some quiet moments of reflection would have made the novel more impactful. Another point is that we are never really given insight into the true nature of The Shadow Casket despite the novel having its title. Otherwise, this was a thoroughly engaging read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Kitty G Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the continuation to this series, and I am very pleased I could read it early. Wooding has once again done a stellar job of keeping you engaged even through another large title, with his engaging characters, sneaky and surprising plot twists, and big epic world. I think anyone who enjoyed book 1 would love the continuation here, and I was super happy to fly through this and remember why I loved book 1.

This story definitely has more deception, betrayal, factions and fractures in the groups we follow, and anti-heroes. It shows that in a world which is being ruled over by tyrants, there is no good/evil. everyone is a little bit of a shade of grey. Even the characters we think of as the 'bad guys' are painted in a more humane light in this one, and we can understand more of this mission and logic (even if you don't agree).

What I liked in this one the most is that even though the mystery of where is this rebellion going isn't fully answered (there's clearly more to come), we do see progression in the plot and by the end of the story many big clashes have shaped the fate of the nation.

I also liked seeing more from some of the more minor races and people who are affected by the tyrants of the world. We don't just see The Krodans and the Ossians, we also see the Sards, and the neighbouring lands who have sent their own people into the fray to find out what's going on. Seeing each of these cultures clash and spy on one another added to the epic scope and made this one feel grand.

Aren is still our main character in this book, but we get a variety of other characters to follow too, some of whom have magic which I liked getting more insight into. We see how the dark artifacts and orders of the world are being hunted and power is shifting, and we follow various groups of people who meet in secret and have unique hierarchies and ways to pass knowledge along.

I would recommend this to fans of expansive epic worlds and slow but engaging plots. This does have moments where it appears that the plot isn't moving super fast, but there's always a lot of ground-work being laid out, and I liked the gradual build and then the exciting reveals as we went. A solid 4*s from me :)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy received from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I re-read The Ember Blade before The Shadow Casket because I had forgotten nearly all of the plot and I had also forgotten that it felt a little bogged down in places. The Shadow Casket is a similar length but, thankfully, it does not suffer from the same issues that were present in the first book.

It moves at a lot quicker pace and it doesn’t really stop moving until the end. A lot happens in the 800 or so pages and it’s a little head spinning at times. This has its good and bad points. The good is that it never gets boring and it actually feels like it is going somewhere but the bad point is that it occasionally feels like some of the characters get lost in the pace in which it is moving. Wooding does thin the herd a great deal, so to speak, over the course of the novel but he adds more characters.

I did enjoy the characters and they all get their arcs to complete in the novel. I enjoyed Aren, Cade and Fen’s stories. Klyssen also gets a healthy dose of character development, although it doesn’t really help to make him more likeable. You can understand his actions better but he’s still a horrible man.

I’m also very unsure of the shadow casket maguffin. Maybe I zoned out when it was explained why it is so important or maybe I’ve just forgotten but it doesn’t really come into play in this book. Maybe that’s for a later plot point but it was introduced and then just hidden away and forgotten due to the big battle at the end. I’m just a little confused right now.

All in all, The Shadow Casket was a massive improvement on The Ember Blade, which I enjoyed but felt it was a little too long. The Shadow Casket is a similar length but doesn’t feel too long due to the huge amount of ground it covers. Things end on a shakily hopeful note so I hope to see things start to get a little better for the Ossians by the end of the story as a whole.

[Kyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a book about betrayal the author betrays his characters. **spoilers

Starting with the good. The lore, mystery and dark creatures that roam the land is all great. It expands from EB and gives a real sense of dread as to where the story may go. If you like a great horror/fantasy type book, you will enjoy the plot. 3/5 for overall story. Reasoning for 3 stars is it seemed the only thing that moved his plot along was betrayals. It came to be expected instead of a shocking plot twist. He also just seemed to give up on some of the plots and characters as if he changed his mind mid writing this series.

Now for the bad/confusing/abandoned.

Aren: Relegated to a one-dimensional character with zero self-agency or initiative. Him taking the "high road" and so virtuous to everything that happens to him, from personal relationships to his goal of the rebellion, seems like he is just a passenger. Where was the fight in him that put him toe to toe with the Hollow man? Where was the courage that under the threat of Sora's brothers he still courted her? Through the entirety of the book, I sensed no growth from him despite all the impactful situations he was in. His "relationship" with Fen. What to do with the Ember Blade. Leading the rebellion towards its goal. All of these decisions were either made for him or not addressed at all. The "chosen" character? I felt like this was a plot device that was just abandoned throughout this book. The only meaningful reaction he had was to Cade's "betrayal" what turn out to be the author tricking us the reader and Aren.
What irked me the most was his reaction to Fen's betrayal at the Fang Castle. On the eve of battle, against overwhelming odds, she tells the Fell Clan about the plan to kick out the clan afterword. Now, both Aren and Fen were against doing this however, at no point does she give warning to Aren about speaking the truth. If fact, if it were not for Grub warning Aren, Fen and the Fell clan would have left Aren and all the other Dawn wardens to die at the castle. Her reaction when Aren arrived was, "Sorry, I'm with them and leaving you to die here." The lives at the castle and the dream of the rebellion would be gone because of Fen and all Aren said was "thank you". His infatuation with her despite Fen's repeated choices to discourage his "feelings" makes him look like a lovesick puppy. Why is he not hurt by her actions?? Why, after 3 plus years, does she not confide anything to him? Why does Aren pretend, every time they meet up, that nothing has changed? Sure, he mumbles to himself but becomes impotent when around her. When Vanda came into the picture, I begged the Primus and the 9 to get away from this will they/won't they trope but it was DOA.

Fen: Her character only makes sense if you throw out everything in EB. The untrusting, standoffish persona with a promise of changing due to her relationship with Aren. Then, it took a few chapters and even fewer words to upend all that and making a "consequential" decision with her new "love interest". It was almost like bait to make the reader hate Fen. But whatever with that, the real kicker is, when Aren escapes the Sod prison and returns to Fen. It took a hug and a look what 3 years during the time skip could not do...... Oh, Aren loves me. Nothing else is done with this information for the rest of the book. Nothing. I felt this was both deliberate and lazy by the author.

Harrod/Megwyn(spelling?) Their interactions demonstrate to me that you can write conflict/growth of characters. Their duel where Harrod displays he is the better swordsman still loses this fight. Megwyn eviscerates Harrod mentally but not from a place of ill intent. She wants more from him and you show us through dialogue. This is how you do it! She says hurtful yet true things to him as a real friend should do. Sadly, he is taken away from us however, it was such a wonderful/heartbreaking scene between them at the end.

Vika: Why was she in this book? You could have removed her from both this book and EB and have little impact on the overall story. In fact, why is this book called The Shadow Casket? The author wrote her out of existence and gave no meaning as to why she was there in the first place.

These are some of the characters decision that made me the most frustrated but there are more "questionable" choices by the author. Despite the wins and gains the rebellion made, I felt like most characters did not "grow" in proportion to the events that unfolded. For the sheer page count of this book, it was highly disappointing, and I am highly reluctant to continue this story. My advice, which will matter little to you, is don't read until the series is done. Maybe some of this will make sense in future book(s) or maybe I can just timeskip to the end.

Lastly, I felt the ending was undeserved by Aern and Fen. Not to be callous, it was a great scene however what did they do to deserve it? What walls broke down between them? What conflict allowed them to reconcile their differences to earn a tender moment like that? Why was that not Aern and Cade where their friendship was tried and test but did not break. I did not arrive at the the same place the author did. Anyway, thanks for reading.

[Ojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shadow Casket was a bag of mixed feelings.

There was a lengthy, drawn out buildup as we saw POVs from multiple characters, similar to how The Ember Blade shaped up. However, the entire book was a bit underwhelming, and lacked much of the wonder and late-book excitement that we saw in The Ember Blade.

The story kicks off a couple of years after book 1 ends. The conflict with the Krodans is heating up, but the Dawnwardens are as divided as ever. We're taken through each of their story arcs, some of which are bland, and others a bit interesting.

The Shadow Casket is written very much the same way book 1 is: multiple POVs, a few half-morally grey heroes, and a character-based plot. Only this time, there's not really much going on.

The major story ARCs are those of Vika, Aren/Cade, and Klyssen, with the rest not really as interesting. The other characters including Fen, Grub and Kenda are very secondary, and there's not much to look forward to in their POVs.

The book reserves the best for the last, and there's betrayal, moral dilemma, and a teensy weensy bit of romance tucked in between the pages.

The culmination doesn't quite flatter, even if it's slightly satisfying.

I don't think the book was aptly named at all. The quest and subplot around for the Shadow Casket took up a huge part of the book, with the artifact of zero significance to proceedings. In fact, I think that this particular subplot could've been totally eliminated, and the book would still make plenty of sense. I hope to see more of the Shadow Casket in the next book, though.

Fen's evolution throughout the book is one of the more interesting points for character development. We see her morph from a wild, carefree young woman to an embittered, and finally mature woman. It's not the best bit of character development I've seen in the genre, but it shines brightly in the dullness that the other characters seem to carry.

Aren's POV, as expected, is the most interesting. He's not much changed from book 1, but his character development is the most realistic, as is Cade's. I won't speak further about this for fear of dropping major spoilers, but it's one of the good parts in the book.

I hope to see more of Kenda and Grub in the next book, and I really hope that there's more action there than in The Shadow Casket. I see plenty of room for action, but the author is somehow reluctant to bloody the pages.

Give us more, c'mon! There's so much potential here!!

[gree.books •♡✿⊹ ࣪ ˖♡• · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5

one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. the character work and world building are genuinely unmatched. I felt so immersed throughout and I’m really sad it’s over, with book 3 nowhere in sight.

there were a few moments that I thought were a bit rushed, hence not full 5 stars. but genuinely, if you’re a character-focused reader, The Darkwater Legacy needs to be your go-to series. I will be reading the entire Chris Wooding catalogue from now on.

read this!!!!!

[Francisca Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

"Treachery was an axe, not a scalpel."

After a long and very one-sided relationship with Steven Erikson's monolithic Malazan series, I decided to take a break before I dove into Toll the Hounds. I was nervous because I felt like nothing would ever feel the same. So, I chose to start a sequel to a book that I had already formed a very strong and unbreakable bond with. As soon as I started The Shadow Casket all the old feelings came back and I fell back in love with this world.

The Shadow Casket begins with a time jump. All our kiddos are now young adults and are still trying to figure out their place in this world. Aren is struggling with the title of ''chosen one' and trying to light the fire of resistance in his country. The people surrounding him all seem to have their own idea of what the resistance should be and each tries to push their own agendas on the young man. It was both wonderful and disheartening to read how so many of our characters struggle. Something that Wooding does exceptionally well in this installment is lead the reader into a false sense of security. Once things finally seem to be going well, something happens to make it all for nothing. It was hard to read everyone's moral go from bad to worse with each chapter.

Chaos ensues and magic is released. It interesting seeing how magic and sorcery are used in this series. It's not generally thought of as a good thing. Vika, our lovely druid, uses potions and calls upon the earth spirits of this world. It's thought to be a more natural way of magic and while people still look at it cautiously, anything else instills dread in our characters. We get to see some dark magic in this book and wow, I noped pretty hard during those scenes. I wanted to know more about the Dreadknights and there I was regretting I wanted to know more about the Dreadknights. They were not too present in The Ember Blade, but in The Shadow Casket we get a lot of them. It was both terrifying and thrilling to see them in all their horrific glory.

While I did find my long forgotten love of this world, there were a few issues I had with some of the character development. There were quite a few arc moments that felt very sudden due to character development happening off page. I wasn't too bothered by this because the development had been amazing up to that point. It was an issue of a specific change in their behavior that led to either the characters uprising or downward spiral. An example being one character's decent into madness due to the loss of another. This descent would be far more believable had I spent more time with this character in that state. The sudden resolution of their arc left me totally shocked and not for the reasons I think the author was trying to convey. I had a hard time understanding it and I can only hope that this will serve a large purpose in book 3.

One other issue I had was with the romance subplot. I'm not adverse to romance. In fact, I love a good subplot of two characters finding happiness with one another in a world so cruel to them. It scratches a hidden fantasy itch. It can become a bright light in a otherwise dark plot. This one however only served to frustrate me. It was more of a miscommunication trope than a romance one. These two characters wouldn't talk with one another about their feelings, and then proceed to get angry with each other about how the other person doesn't know how they feel. It was maddening. It had a far stronger YA vibe than I like to have in my adult fantasy reads. It got better as the book went on but by that point I was so over the will-they-won't-they relationship between these two that I desperately hope that they'll remain platonic friends.

I have only one thing to say about Fen. I don't like her. Not in a oh-I-don't-like-her-because-of-plot-and-character-development-reasons. No. I simply grew to dislike her in this book and I tolerate her presence when she's on the page. This was unfortunately a result of some development happening off page. I think I was meant to dislike her through most of the book and then love her again, but I just can't. I get her arc. I understand where she's coming from, but I can't make the jump back to liking her.

One of the reasons I love this world so much is because of how well Wooding weaves the friendships between these characters. The bonds are so strong that when anything threatens them, it's akin to someone ripping your heart out through your chest. Betrayal is a massive theme in The Shadow Casket and the dread that followed me throughout the plot was an entire entity. It hovered above me and gleefully laughed as my anxiety skyrocketed. I love living in an emotional onion of parallels and layers. So much of this called back to the events and catastrophes in The Ember Blade, history threatening to repeat itself. My heart sank when I caught these and I couldn't have felt more sadness knowing that the happiness of reunions and friendships weren't to last.

The final battle was intense! So much blood and I'm surprised by how many character deaths Wooding decided to traumatize his readers with. There were quite a few new characters introduced, but I had no way of knowing they were potential replacers. I loved the ending to this one. Despite being dark and bloody, this series has a wonderful feel-good quality to it that I don't find in other books. It takes all those feel-good lotr vibes and gives it to an audience that eats up those modernized classic stories. This series is turning out to be a comfort read for me. I love the simplicity of it and the way that I close the book having felt like I'd received a hug. Very much looking forward to book 3!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely good read. 5 out of 5. 10 out of 10. 100 certified fresh.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A land under occupation. A legendary sword. A young man’s journey to find his destiny.
It’s been three years since they struck the spark - a literal spark - that was supposed to start a revolution.

If Ossians wouldn't be ruled like civilised subjects, they'd be chained and beaten like dogs.
So the terror began.

Even worse, looming over our cast of misfits and bedraggled heroes is Vika’s foreboding prediction of a new Age of Chaos, when the barriers between the living and the dead disappear and humanity becomes prey to monstrous entities from beyond the Shadowlands.

Wow, this book.
It grapples with friendships, betrayals, beliefs….
Just when you feel confident and vindicated that you guessed a plot twist, you are thrown into a turmoil of new revelations that make you want to scream and beat your head against a wall.

I want to rant and rave about the politically ingenious discourse, the betrayals, the tender, heart-wrenching loyalties of friendships, and the justice of right and wrong, but to do so would spoil the experience for the reader.

Again, this second book sees excellent characterisations with inner conflict that grabs you and rattles you with their convictions… or doubts.
Even though the book is dark and twisting, the characters are so fun to follow and root for and I was eager for and entertained by their interactions.

’Hmm. Nice safe boat trip back to the south, or perilous cross-country slog hauling a steadily decaying corpse?' He made an imaginary scales of his hands and weighed up the options. 'No contest, really.’
'I was hoping you'd say that.’

"Oooh, Grub done a stupid thing!' he told himself, as he ran for his life.

If you enjoyed the genius of Dandelion Dynasty and the coming-of-age fantasy and epic battles of Malice or The Shadow of What was Lost, this book will astound, amaze and inspire you as much as it did me.

Bookstagram

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story although not *quite* as sparkly as the Ember Blade. The original characters are just as compelling; I love Aren, Grub, Klyssen. I found the story moved quite slowly in places. Themes of friendship and betrayal run through the book. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[Shehroze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. As someone who really enjoyed the first book, I loved the commandries, the espionage, the mysteries of the world, and these characters facing the harsh realities of their world. Although I didn't enjoy this entry as much, there were some great things.

The GOOD:
Cade's arc is the highlight of the novel. Everything from his arrival, to his fledgling loyalties, and to its up and downs, this was what I loved the most about the story. Normal people in extraordinary situations trying to manage what is happening.

Klyssen becomes more human with every passage. We really get to see his fall from grace. His arc of being broken but getting up makes him a great foil to Aren. "The hero is the one that keeps on going" and in that sense Klyssen is the greatest hero of the book. Giving a villain their own perspective can ruin the intrigue, but Wooding casts him in such a light that I want to know more about how things turn out for him.

If you loved Grub, you will continue to love Grub. Need more Grub.

The BAD:
I don't know if anyone else felt like there was a lot of "subverting expectations" in this novel, e.g.:
- The man who sexually harasses Fen ends up being her lover.
- Vika as the Gandalf style character falls to her own hubris, leaving me with a resound meh.
- Bridda, the woman with no screen time, ends up uniting the tribes.
- The Shadow Casket itself pairs little relevance to the story and feels like a little side excursion.
- Kenda the love interest just leaves.

These things aren't bad in of itself, but at this point these characters can do anything and I'd be like eh I guess so. It leaves a sort of emotional disconnection with the plot and story over all as everything feels random. The plans, the betrayals, the mechanizations, whatever the Druids do, it's just random. This could be my lack of reading comprehension, but the plot lines and character interactions made me feel extremely disconnected from everyone who wasn't listed above.

The UGLY:
I miss the espionage. Having a main battle is ok, but what I really loved in the first novel was the prison escapes and heists. The feeling of French revolutionaries fighting nazi occupation in the guise of epic fantasy. The "I know a guy, who knows a guy" in a dark alley speaking of secret plans. I also wished for learning more about the second empire, but that could be reserved for later books.

At this point I'm not sure if I will continue the series. This is not a bad book, it's just not the book I wanted to love. If someone told me they loved this book, I would not argue as there is a lot of good and maybe my emotional disconnection with the plot points might not be felt by everyone else.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 actually. This is a weird book. There are really great parts, and there are quite boring parts. Wooding is very good in entertaining action scenes, chases, and exploration of unknown locations. He is less good at dialog and characters. Most characters are one or two dimensional and feel like characters of a pulpy TV show. The whole book actually feels a bit pulpy with some greater ambitions shining through.

Warning: There are some very weird scenes about sex, pregnancy, and women suffering more consequences for their choices than men.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating 4.5

This is a worthy sequel to The Ember Blade. One of my favourite things in this installment is the expansion of the world. We move beyond Ossia and see other countries as well as learn more about the other peoples of the world.

There were twists and turns aplenty here and I honestly did not see them all coming. It made for very engaging scenes.

Characterisation is also fantastically done in this series. Every single character has nuance and is fully realised. Even Grub has serious character growth and I wasn't sure that was possible lol.

While this book didn't hit quite as hard as book one, it was still a fantastic read that quite literally kept me up all night as I couldn't put it down. I hope we get the finale (I think this is a trilogy?) relatively soon as I am fully invested in this world and characters and I need to know how it all ends!

[Micah Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooding continues his ode to Tad Williams, Robin Hobb, and JRR Tolkien with a modern fantasy gloss. Somewhat preferred the first in the series (more interesting side characters, more interesting finale).

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Such profound consequences from the smallest actions. As if each was a raindrop falling on a lake, a tiny impact spreading ripples outwards, becoming vast.”

This is it.. move aside Tolkien, Kristoff, Hobb, Muir, Abercrombie.. all of you, bow down to Chris Wooding!

Last year, The Ember Blade was one of my absolute favourite reads… it promised to be a LOTR for the modern world and it didn’t fail to deliver… The Shadow Casket has taken all of that and topped it… not only topped it, but absolutely made me want to call Peter Jackson and tell him to drop everything to give this the LOTR treatment… I want amazing films, merchandise, multiple editions, extra material, fandoms, concept arts the lot… give me it all!

Yes it really is that good.. this book speaks to my inner fantasy nerd on every single level but in a way that is chock full of amazing characters, creatures, races and fast paced, action packed story telling.

“Treachery was an axe, not a scalpel”

Wooding can do more in a 10 page chapter than many authors can do in 30/40 pages. He has taken some brilliant characters from The Ember Blade and given them some incredible story arcs… complex, morally grey decisions and choices, incentives and complex relationships. It digs into religious and political indoctrination … it blurs the lines of good and bad… it pulls on propaganda and reflects themes of Communist Russia… it shows the darkness of war and revolution and all while making you love the characters… love the developed and distinct races… love the fantasy creatures… love the quest and love journey. It digs into what makes a great leader and what creates a hero..

“Heroes don’t have to fight. They don’t even have to be the best at anything.” “So what do they do?” “They keep going.”

**

Honestly I cannot praise this book or series enough.. whilst I have a lot of favourites… I really do think this could just have nudged into my absolute favourite book series and I hope beyond all hope that book 3 delivers to the same amazing quality of these books!

Also.. if you read The Ember Blade and don’t fall in love with Grub… just put the book down, you aren’t worthy!

Read… these….books!!!!!! Now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Heroes don't have to fight. They don't even have to be the best at anything.
So what do they do? They keep going."

The Shadow Casket was my second read from the author and absolutely wont be my last. The story following young man who must leaved his hometown to start coming age journey and quest to become hero/leader. Aren is likeable MC, he doesn't standout as characters and weaker than other sidekicks. But now and then the author surprises readers with raw leader qualities he has to touch people heart and got their support.

The writing is good and balance. The story itself was predictable and felt classic. But I like how the world describes and cant resist to know more about it. The magic is there but not much except from several characters. The plot was not as thick as previous one.

Thank you Gollancz from Orion Publishing Group for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bernhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Wooding never disappoints. He delivers once again a perfect mixture of interesting characters, enthralling adventure and edge-of-your-seat action. I can't remember reading a book with that much treachery in it.
Though The Shadow Casket is not among my favorite novels by Chris Wooding, I'm Team Ketty Jay for sure.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't put down The Ember Blade, but I hated The Shadow Casket. It's as though the author removed everything I liked about the first book and amplified everything I didn't like. It was darker, grittier, less fun. I couldn't finish it. I didn't enjoy it. Chapter after chapter of scenarios I didn't like.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...

—

A man who cannot live with himself is apt to find something to die for.

—

The Dawnwardens have returned. The crown prince of Kroda is dead. The Ember Blade has been taken. And the revolution has begun.

Kinda.

It’s been three years since Aren and the Dawnwardens stole the Ember Blade. Since then they’ve been on the run, moving the Blade from safe house to safe house, visiting nobles and private mercenaries, attempting to subsequently kickstart and fund their rebellion. With little to show for it.

Aren himself is growing more and more disillusioned. The cost of the Ember Blade proved to be too high. Conditions in Ossia haven’t improved since the theft, with the Krodans only tightening their grip on the nations. Indeed, suspected spies and traitors have been executed without trial, and Shoal’s Point—the birthplace of both Aren and Cade—has been wiped from the map. Cade himself lies dead, something Aren still dwells on daily. Meanwhile the Dawnwardens have done little to inspire anything, had no tangible success that Aren can see. And the longer they wait the heavier it weighs on him. As does the yoke of Vika’s prophecy. Aren is approaching his breaking point, and can’t see any way to stop it.

The Dawnwardens travel far to the north in an attempt to unite the irascible Fell Folk, and create a stronghold in the hinterlands. Only death and betrayal follows them even here. The Krodans ambush the clans at their annual meeting, and attempt to steal the Ember Blade. Only the timely intervention of a few allies—including one former comrade—saves Aren and the Blade from the Dreadknights’ wrath. But they can only flee in the wake of these abominations.

As matters escalate and tensions rise, the Dawnwardens turn their gaze to a mythic weapon that could destroy the dreadknights and legitimize the rebellion. A weapon that—if it exists—could save, or doom them all.

—

Friends let friends do stupid things.

—

It’s been five years since the Darkwater Legacy began, and I’ve to tell you that I’ve been anxiously awaiting the Shadow Casket for some time. Also, I don’t really remember too much from the original adventure, and unfortunately this book does not feature a recap. That is one of two issues I have with it.

The other is that it starts a bit slow.

I mean, that’s to be expected when one can’t really remember the intricacies of the plot. The Ember Blade was stolen, Klyssen thwarted, Cade killed. Otherwise… I’m pretty much in the dark. Luckily, while there is no recap, over the course of the first hundred or so pages, I was able to piece together the events that led us to this point, and gradually regain my excitement for the story to continue.

Which is good, because then it takes off.

Twists and turns galore in this sequel, becoming more and more unexpected the further in you read. This is a dark fantasy epic with an emphasis on the “dark” part. Anything can go wrong. Anyone can die. Anything can happen. The story takes place not over the course of a few days or weeks, but months upon months spent following the Dawnwardens around their fruitless revolt. Klyssen shows up as well, newly demoted and disillusioned with his place in the Empire. As it turns out, he and Aren have more in common than either would’ve ever expected. Spies and traitors abound once more, with everyone acknowledging or indulging their own interests. It’s epic in every sense of the word, and fantastical in more. The places they go, the lands they see—from an island ruled by elaru and ogren (even though I couldn’t even remember what those were!); to ruins swarming with nameless terrors; to a moot of druids; to an internment camp with an even darker secret; to the shores of the Krodan motherland itself.

I feel like I could rant on and on about this book, even though it was a bit slow getting out of the blocks. Even though I was worried about it failing to live up to its predecessor. Even though it took me a bit to come around, a bit more to remember most of what was happening, a bit to fully appreciate the depth of the story, the setting, the world, the lore—I honestly loved it. Pretty much the first and last thing I should say in this review: the Shadow Casket is amazing! An incredible read—easily book of the year thus far.

—

TL;DR

The Shadow Casket is the amazing followup to an equally amazing Ember Blade that blew me away way back in 2018. My main (and really only issue with the text) is that five years have passed since Book #1, and Book #2 fails to remind us of the events there-within. Fortunately, with a story as good as this one I retained some knowledge of the plot, and with a read as long as this one I had plenty of time to catch up on some of the more intricate points. Even now, as I worry about what I might have missed in-between the lines, I’m having a hard time maintaining any resentment towards the Shadow Casket itself. This story gets a 10/10 from me. The world, the plot, the lore, the twists and turns, the characters and banter and adventures and humor all come together to make this the shadowy ruin in a valley (the dark fantasy equivalent of a shining city on a hill) that one can only dream of when embarking on a fantastical adventure. Now fingers crossed that the finished product comes with a recap, and the Shadow Casket will have achieved perfection—in my view, at least.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading The Ember Blade several Years ago and then doing a reread of it earlier this year, I was looking forward to reading this book and finding out what happened next. Despite my reread earlier this year, I still needed a reminder of how a few people and things fit into the story, but I quickly caught up.

While the first book in the series had some dark elements to it, it felt very much like a traditional Lord of the Rings type fantasy. This book ended up going even darker, with quite a few deaths, betrayals, and murders. And that doesn't include the horrible things the Krodans do in the book. It got a little depressing for a while, but I stuck with it.



“Treachery was an axe, not a scalpel. It was hard to make a clean cut.”


There were several new characters added to this book, some I never really warmed up to. Most of the characters in this series have been very gray, with a lot of them motivated for their own self-serving reasons. This made it hard for me to really like some of them. Grub is still my favorite, as he provides the much needed comic relief, and I very much enjoyed reading his point of view.



"Right now, all the people want is a leader, a warrior: the hero with the bright blade. Hope is simple, and they want hope. But afterwards, after we’ve won– they’ll want to know every piece of it. Then your tale will be told. Grub the Cunning. Grub the Strong. Grub the Brave. And it will be passed from one generation to the next, just like Orica’s song will."



Fen's character irritated me throughout most of the book, and I felt her character in particular, did not go in a direction I liked. In the end I was ok with her but there were some things concerning her character that were just skipped over. She went from very upset and uncertain (to put it mildly), to happy and content without the reader getting to see how that came to be. We are just told a brief explanation. That didn't work for me at all.

Surprisingly, I liked reading about Klyssen, who might be on the wrong side of things, and may have done some bad things, but his love for his daughters was something I couldn't fault him on. He's one of the best written characters in the series. I really would love to see him switch sides!



“The things we value make us weak, he thought. Or they can make us unstoppable.”



In the end, I'm on the fence about continuing this series. I would like to see how a few things end up playing out, but I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to, so I'm hesitant to continue. I doubt I need to hurry and decide though, because I've probably got several years to think about it before the next book is published.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader and on Facebook.