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The Shadow Age #2
Secondhand Luck
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26Against an ancient shadow with a deadly agenda, Petra Grady’s luck may be about to run out, in the next book in the enthralling contemporary fantasy series from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows novels.
It’s been months since Petra Grady bonded with the shadow Pluck. With the help of researcher Benedict Strom, she has made a place for herself at St. Unoc University as the first weaver to use shadow magic in a thousand years. But some are not happy to acknowledge the new shadow/weaver pair, and Petra and Pluck aren’t surprised when they’re blamed for every recent trouble.
When a new weaver is drawn to St. Unoc, Pluck quickly realizes the novice magic user has not come alone. Trailing her is Thoth, a devious shadow responsible for betraying his own kind and setting mage against weaver thousands of years ago. His goal hasn’t changed, and when Thoth turns both the mage courts and the university against Petra, she and Pluck must risk everything to uncover a truth that even Pluck has forgotten.
Shadows, though, have earned their terrifying reputation, and if Petra can’t prove her and Pluck’s innocence and capture Thoth, any hope of balance will be gone—taking Pluck and her with it.
It’s been months since Petra Grady bonded with the shadow Pluck. With the help of researcher Benedict Strom, she has made a place for herself at St. Unoc University as the first weaver to use shadow magic in a thousand years. But some are not happy to acknowledge the new shadow/weaver pair, and Petra and Pluck aren’t surprised when they’re blamed for every recent trouble.
When a new weaver is drawn to St. Unoc, Pluck quickly realizes the novice magic user has not come alone. Trailing her is Thoth, a devious shadow responsible for betraying his own kind and setting mage against weaver thousands of years ago. His goal hasn’t changed, and when Thoth turns both the mage courts and the university against Petra, she and Pluck must risk everything to uncover a truth that even Pluck has forgotten.
Shadows, though, have earned their terrifying reputation, and if Petra can’t prove her and Pluck’s innocence and capture Thoth, any hope of balance will be gone—taking Pluck and her with it.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
3 people are currently reading
6374 people want to read
About the author
Kim Harrison
82 books18.8k followersKim Harrison is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 best selling Hollows series, but she has written more than urban fantasy and has published over two-dozen books spanning the gamut from young adult, thriller, several anthologies, and has scripted two original graphic novels. She has also published traditional fantasy under the name Dawn Cook. Kim is currently working on a new Hollows book between other, non related, urban fantasy projects.
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
Instagram
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 17, 2025
Secondhand Luck
by Kim Harrison
This is book #2 in this exciting fantasy series. (Read book one first to fully enjoy the series.)
I loved #1 and was thrilled to have the chance to read this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This is a world of magic, ghosts, spirit-like creatures, and more. The magic users have jobs and a hierarchy. This world-building is amazing. The characters are interesting with some terrifying and others terrific! My favorite is Pluck, a shadow that bonded with the main character. He takes the shape of her deceased dog, but sometimes a man. This bonding has the magical community fearful.
This is such a wonderful book! A book that satisfied my fantasy itch! I love this series and hope the author has many more books to add.
by Kim Harrison
This is book #2 in this exciting fantasy series. (Read book one first to fully enjoy the series.)
I loved #1 and was thrilled to have the chance to read this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This is a world of magic, ghosts, spirit-like creatures, and more. The magic users have jobs and a hierarchy. This world-building is amazing. The characters are interesting with some terrifying and others terrific! My favorite is Pluck, a shadow that bonded with the main character. He takes the shape of her deceased dog, but sometimes a man. This bonding has the magical community fearful.
This is such a wonderful book! A book that satisfied my fantasy itch! I love this series and hope the author has many more books to add.
August 19, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Here is my unbiased review.
The premise for this book is interesting, but the world building feels awkward. There was a brief moment where it almost felt like we were back in Junior's and I had hope that things would begin to click but unfortunately it was not to be.
I questioned whether I was struggling to immerse myself in the story because I am so comfortable in the Hollows world, but discarded that notion, given the fact that I read urban fantasy by a dozen other authors without any difficulty.
I found the pacing to be a bit rough, which made it difficult to lose myself in the story. The characters are still in development; I can't say I fell in love with any of them. Pluck least of all. If we are being set up for a love triangle, it's going to be a strange one, indeed. What romance there was to be found felt stilted and unsure of itself.
I'm an enormous fan of Kim Harrison and plan to continue to read this series. There is room for improvement, but I trust her to get it there.
The premise for this book is interesting, but the world building feels awkward. There was a brief moment where it almost felt like we were back in Junior's and I had hope that things would begin to click but unfortunately it was not to be.
I questioned whether I was struggling to immerse myself in the story because I am so comfortable in the Hollows world, but discarded that notion, given the fact that I read urban fantasy by a dozen other authors without any difficulty.
I found the pacing to be a bit rough, which made it difficult to lose myself in the story. The characters are still in development; I can't say I fell in love with any of them. Pluck least of all. If we are being set up for a love triangle, it's going to be a strange one, indeed. What romance there was to be found felt stilted and unsure of itself.
I'm an enormous fan of Kim Harrison and plan to continue to read this series. There is room for improvement, but I trust her to get it there.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Return to Petra and St. Unoc as Petra begins to understand her abilities. Some are unhappy with her use of shadows. Benjamin will work with her to face new foes and deal with the pushback from the university.
This one was not for me. I love Petra and Benjamin. However, this story felt more forced and confusing. I think i would give it another shot, but at this time it wasn't what I wanted to read. I did greatly enjoy the characters but didn't like all the dislike that Petra received from peers. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
This one was not for me. I love Petra and Benjamin. However, this story felt more forced and confusing. I think i would give it another shot, but at this time it wasn't what I wanted to read. I did greatly enjoy the characters but didn't like all the dislike that Petra received from peers. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
November 20, 2025
I was excited to received a paper copy to review and decided to read book 1 first. I really enjoy delving into this new series and this one didn't disappoint. The author loves to world build and I feel she did a great job with this one. The characters are well rounded. The story is well worth the read!
January 5, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
I really enjoyed this second in the series. Fans of the Hollows will start to see similarities in world building, characterization and the structure of the narrative. Petra is forming a found family and some surprising magical abilities much like Rachel does in Harrison's other series
I really enjoyed this second in the series. Fans of the Hollows will start to see similarities in world building, characterization and the structure of the narrative. Petra is forming a found family and some surprising magical abilities much like Rachel does in Harrison's other series
to-be-release-2026
August 17, 2025Expected publication February 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review to come upon release.
January 6, 2026
I think that fans of Kim Harrison will really enjoy this new series. It's got a fun magic system, where the use of magical abilities creates a waste product called "dross" that likes to stick to things and people. In small amounts, it can cause bad luck, minor accidents, etc. In large accumulations, it's disastrous.
Now, mages COULD clean up their own dross, but really, do big, fancypants important mages have time for such things? Of course not! That's beneath them! Enter people like our protagonist Petra and her fellow sweepers, who spend their time and talents neutralizing dross. Except we find out in the first book that Petra is no mere sweeper. She's something far more interesting and rare, and it's made her a target.
I had a good time with this book, but it didn't feel quite as smooth as the first. There was more world building and some new characters, but there were pieces that felt a bit clunky and forced, including the romance between our leads. The strongest point is the continual evolution and growth of Petra's powers. She still doesn't fully understand what her capabilities are, and her exploration of that is a definite high to the story.
I think we've gotten a tiny bit of sequel-itis here, but I'm not worried. I'm interested and engaged, and ready for book 3. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres and sometimes it feels really hard to find UF books that hit the sweet spot between overly grim and incredibly schmaltzy, unrealistic insta-love. Sometimes I want a nice middle road, you know? I want a bit of a romance but not something that feels YA. And I want stakes, but not depressing, end-of-the-world darkness. So far I feel like this series is walking that line for me, and that'll keep me coming back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC for my review!
Now, mages COULD clean up their own dross, but really, do big, fancypants important mages have time for such things? Of course not! That's beneath them! Enter people like our protagonist Petra and her fellow sweepers, who spend their time and talents neutralizing dross. Except we find out in the first book that Petra is no mere sweeper. She's something far more interesting and rare, and it's made her a target.
I had a good time with this book, but it didn't feel quite as smooth as the first. There was more world building and some new characters, but there were pieces that felt a bit clunky and forced, including the romance between our leads. The strongest point is the continual evolution and growth of Petra's powers. She still doesn't fully understand what her capabilities are, and her exploration of that is a definite high to the story.
I think we've gotten a tiny bit of sequel-itis here, but I'm not worried. I'm interested and engaged, and ready for book 3. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres and sometimes it feels really hard to find UF books that hit the sweet spot between overly grim and incredibly schmaltzy, unrealistic insta-love. Sometimes I want a nice middle road, you know? I want a bit of a romance but not something that feels YA. And I want stakes, but not depressing, end-of-the-world darkness. So far I feel like this series is walking that line for me, and that'll keep me coming back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC for my review!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews