Shadow Fall

Shadow Fall #1

by Audrey Grey

The asteroid hurtling toward the earth will kill billions.

The Emperor and his Gold Court will be safe in their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground. But the Bronzes must fight it out at the Shadow Trials for the few remaining spots left on the space station.

When an enigmatic benefactor hands Maia Graystone a spot in the Trials, she won’t just get a chance at salvation for her and her baby brother, Max: She gets to confront the mother who abandoned her in prison, the mad Emperor who murdered her father, and the Gold prince who once loved her. But it’s the dark bastard prince she’s partnered with that will make her question everything, including her own heart. With the asteroid racing closer every day, Maia must trust someone to survive.

The question is who?

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2016

Reviews

[Always Pouting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maia Graystone has been living in the pit for years, hiding and dreading the day the emperor discovers her. Her brother Max, who was left behind when she got arrested, is constantly on her mind, as she struggles to survive so that she can see him again. Unfortunately one day two of the inmates in the pit come to get her and she is subsequently dragged out and into the hands of a women who has been searching for Maia for years. Meanwhile the world is coming to an end as the an asteroid is set to collide with the planet and make it inhabitable for years to come. The emperor and his court, are up on the space station, safe and sound, while the rest of the population is left to suffer whatever happens. A few lucky winners will get to go and join the emperor in the space station, after competing in the trials. Maia caught up in a situation that assuredly ends in her death is offered a deal by a rich benefactor, compete in the trials with another boy from the pit and when they win, kill the emperor. In return he offers Maia safety for her brother Max.

Spoilers from this point on. I was really generous with rating this book three stars because boy where there so many things about it that need improvement. Most of it has to do with the the fantasy because there were so many things that were kind of left vague or dropped and never referenced again. Like in the beginning Victoria mentions that Maia can manipulate the sensors and it seems as if this is something pertinent or at least it isn't common to other people and then they never freaking mention that again in the book. Also the science behind so many things that are in the book seem iffy at best, like what makes the chosen genetically superior, it never even explains that, or those holograms that show up in the room where there are people, how the fuck. I feel like so many of these type of books put like futuristic scifi things but do nothing to try and make it believable.

That said fine, I can go ahead and try and suspend my disbelief, even though it was really hard doing so anytime her and Caspian' DNA matching was brought up because why would they automatically feel strong attractive just because they have compatible DNA, whatever though. There was also zero explanation for why Nicolai knows half the shit he does, and I can understand it's meant to be ambiguous and mysterious but some of it was just unbelievably convenient. Especially when the emperor is such a tyrant, who is Nicolai getting away with bribing guards. How did he freaking find Max. Same thing with the Emperor, like how convenient that the emperor knew about their plan the whole time, like come on, how?

The book also felt really derivative of a lot of other YA books I've read (in particular Red Rising/Red Queen) which isn't necessarily bad in of itself, it just made me roll my eyes a lot because most of the plot points seemed similar. Like the whole thing with Caspian and Riser, half brothers and love triangle, with one of the brothers losing his trust in her at the end. The monarch pulling the strings of the plan all along for his own gain. The red color being banned because of the Fienain Rebels. The Fienian rebels being made to look like terrorists. The trials in general with the elite competing against one another. The gold/silver/bronze dichotomy. The reconstruction of the protagonist so that they'll fit in at the competition. I probably could keep going but I think you see what I'm saying.

Also the whole thing with Riser, it really fucking incenses me that Maia only started being some what decent to him when he's revealed to be the emperor's bastard and that the whole time she holds him tying her up when she first gets to the pit against him. Like he was just trying to survive too goddamn. And it felt even more dumb that this whole time Riser had feelings for her, that he purposely made her knots loose when she first gets to the pit, that he fed her rat sometimes so she wouldn't starve, that he fucking died on the boat to help save her from drowning, all of it was ridiculous. Why would he have feelings for her like that, he didn't know shit about her, and he was born in a prison, wouldn't it make much more sense for him to be more self interested. Also I still don't understand why Maia was being so mean because he killed people, again he grew up in a prison, what do you expect?

I'm pretty sure there were other things that irritated me about the book but I can't remember now. Also even though I really spent this whole review complaining I want to admit that I read this book in one go, and stayed up until 4 am reading because I couldn't put it down. I got really engrossed in it even though at times the melodramatic writing made me want to roll my eyes. I'm not sure whether that's a signal of the book being good, or just proof that no matter how lacking your fantasy YA novel is, you probably can get me into it because I can't help myself, it's my weakness. Also special mention of all the Fienain rebel jokes because even though it's pretty fucked up a lot of them actually made me laugh and it felt like a really smart genuine touch to add to the book, which made it feel more real.

[Tink Magoo is bad at reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just get this part out the way because I can see some people moaning about it - yes this has some base similarities to the hunger games - the class sets, the fight to the death game, trying to feed/save/give a better life to a sibling- there were also elements from several other well known young adult dystopian books that have been about over the last few years. It was like a bit of them all was slotted into this story, BUT there were enough new ideas to keep me interested all the way through so I won't complain about that.

The storyline took a while to really reel me in and I think in part that's because the beginning wasn't descriptive enough for me. I wanted to know how and why things were the way they were, I wanted to be shown how Maia got there and not just told. Actually, my issues with the lack of descriptive writing came up a few times while reading this, and while it was slightly annoying, it didn't stop my enjoyment.

For the first book in a series, this was well paced out, the romance aspect fit in well with everything else going on and there are enough questions unanswered to leave you wanting the next book now. Now it's just the waiting.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An asteroid is headed for the Earth and threatening to make the planet uninhabitable but there's only a few humans who will be safe and many still fighting for survival. The Golds have moved to a space station and the Silvers underground leaving the Bronzes in society fighting for the remaining spot of protection.

Maia Graystone was born to a mother who is a Gold and a father that is a Bronze, unfortunately for Maia she became a Bronze herself and has been in hiding but now she needs to take the opportunity to fight in the trials to try to save herself and her little brother Max.

Shadow Fall is one of those books that while it sounded incredibly interesting it didn't take long to lose my interest while reading. Unfortunately for this one it started off a bit confusing trying to figure out the world and character building in the story and didn't get much better once you became more familiar with them.

While reading this one I kept comparing it to a bunch of other young adult books out there which it seemed to kind of be sampling from. The ideas that were happening for the most part felt familiar but sort of an odd mix of a bunch of different books which just wasn't working for me.

Overall, this one just wasn't for me I'm afraid. It never really took on a life of it's own other than a few times it seemed to be somewhat of trying to be a darker version of the books it reminded me of.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 33%

I just can't do it. I love elaborate novels. Especially fantasy ones but you have to be able to write them in a way that keeps your reader engaged and aware. If too much happens and too many info dumps are supposed to 'explain things', then readers get frustrated, bored or detached.

In addition to there being too much all at once; there is also not a single moment in this book that felt unique or it's own. A death match. Giant impact about to hit the earth. Girl whose a nobody but is 'chosen'. Looking to save a sibling. Caste society separated by colours. Etc, etc, etc.

It's like Audrey Grey couldn't decide what elements of which books she liked best so she used ALL OF THEM. And in the end it's a jumbled mess of nothing.

I'm super disappointed as this book sounded really cool. Taking what's been done and putting a new spin on it is what stories are all about. Sadly there is no new spin here, just a mish-mash of everything into one big mess.

Read this review and more on my blog Epic Reading

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I don't even know when I stopped reading but I read at least the first 15% of the book about two month ago. This book is brutal like a mixture of the Hunger Games and An Ember in the Ashes. I didn't mind it that much but then there was a bit too much chaos for me. Then for whatever reason I stopped reading, put the book away and never came back to it. I don't really know why but after two months of this book sitting on my Kindle with me having no desire to pick it back up again I'm sorry to say that I have to call it quits for good.

I received this via Netgalley.

[*❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

This was a really good read. I enjoyed most of it, it was quite dark and a little gruesome at times, like it was mentioned once or twice. But it was a really good, unique story.

It's not too original, as the dystopian concepts is almost the same as "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent". Wanting to overthrow the government or upper classes, a rebellion rises, the older sibling wanting to protect the younger sibling, that sort of thing.
But... it actually works well together and able to look past those cliches and read a well written story.

Maia Graystone lives in a society were the classes, Gold, Silver and Bronze are categorised and don't get along too well.
Maia is a hybrid of classes, her mother is Gold but her father was a Bronze, one of those rare privileged and intelligent Bronze.
But what Maia didn't know was that her father was named a traitor and was murdered by the Emperor. She doesn't believe he was a traitor but the older she gets, the more she realises that her father was more than he said and held many secrets.

Because Maia and her younger brother Max were children of the traitor they were ordered to be killed, but she escapes with Max. To be left only, everyone abandoned them, including their own mother, just before her father was discovered.
But then she is caught stealing food for her brother, and is taken to the Pit. A dungeon underneath the jail. Where no one survives because of the creatures that live below, humans who lose their sanity and eat each other to survive.
But miraculously she survives 7 years in the dark, even earns the nickname, Digger Girl from the guards.

But then a chance is given to her to leave, but it isn't a rescue, it's a tortured interrogation. Her father has hid something in her, something that could destroy or save humanity from the asteroid that is coming to them.
Maia soon becomes a target and is forced to trust people with her life. Riser, or Pit Boy, a guard who she pleaded help 7 years ago but refused. From a Prince who she was betrothed to many years ago before she became the traitors daughter.

Her life is now in danger, and in order to help save humanity, she must enter the games and secure a spot in the safe spaceship that will save a small amount of individuals. Can she save herself and her brother? Or will the pressure of saving all of humanity become her new mission?

As you can see, the story is very exciting. I did feel though that it was dragging on a little in the middle, it felt a but slow and sometimes a bit confusing about what was happening. But it was still a really good book and I'll still recommend readers who love dystopian books to give it a go.

Received a copy for an honest review, thank you!

[Sage Nestler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey is by far one of the best books that I have read this year. It has everything that I look for in a Science Fiction/Fantasy novel, and the most of its power lies within its groundbreaking heroine, Maia.

Audrey Grey knows how to make vibrant characters that know how to hold their own, while also throwing at them obstacles that they can't help but tackle. From the first page, I was able to become fully consumed in Grey's writing, and that is not something that I see very often in today's literature. Grey knows how to paint pictures instead of telling the reader what is going on, and her genius is unsurpassed. She has made science fiction beautiful, instead of hard and untouchable, and that is a gift that I have not found in any other science fiction novel.

But one of the best aspects of this novel was that it heavily surrounded the family structure and the bonds that connect us at birth. So many novels today focus only on the romantic connection that humans have with one another, but Grey proved that familial bonds are just as strong, if not stronger, than romantic ones. Maia reminded me of Katniss from the Hunger Games with how passionate she was about her family and caring for others, and her survival skills were just as intense. When this book ended I did not want the story to end, and I have started to read it for the second time which is not something that I do very frequently.

Shadow Fall will be released November 22, and if you haven't already pre-ordered your copy, then I highly suggest that you do. This book, while featuring elements that connect it to others in its genre, is a one of a kind gift to today's literature.

[Esther Dalseno · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I found my mother on the Island and begged her to send me away. Instead she took me to the Emperor, who smiled when I told him what the other Chosen had done. He examined me with his sharp, blanched eyes, as if sifting through me, and I felt my world shrink to almost nothing. “I see,” he finally said. “If the toe is gangrenous, you cleave it from the foot.” After that, I waited for my mother to come for me.

But I would never see my mother again."

An edge-of-your-seat, thrilling action-adventure reminiscent of "An Ember in the Ashes" and "Red Queen", Audrey Grey is a debut author to watch out for. Not only does Shadow Fall have you tearing through the pages with its roaring action and cliff-hanging chapter endings, it is also beautifully imagined, artistically written with paragraphs of gorgeous, bleeding prose, and meticulously edited.

I very rarely review books (as you can see from my profile), so when I do, it's because the book is phenomenal. And that's the perfect one-word review of Shadow Fall. Phenomenal.

Maia Greystone is not your typical YA heroine. She lives underground off the waste of criminals, has a head of rotting teeth, and serious Mommy issues. There's a guy too - Riser - he is sexy, he has one eye. There's a Prince, there are trials, there are avatars (and other deliciously tantalizing nods to the sci-fi genre) and...there's an asteroid coming to destroy the planet.

One of the best YA reads of 2016. I am absolutely riveted and in awe, and the wait for the sequel is going to be agonizing.

[Melissa Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review :)

4 stars!!!

If I had to sum up this book, I would say it is cross between the 'Hunger Games' and the 'Maze Runner' but this isn't necessarily a bad thing because it does have some unique elements of its own. The story is set in a futuristic dystopian world where people are segregated based on three colours - gold, silver and bronze. The golds are obviously very rich while the bronze are the poorest of the lot. Silvers are a little better off but they serve the golds. Our MC Maia is a girl that was born of both gold and bronze parents. She holds the key to saving her people from a deadly asteroid that is hurtling its way to the planet. The story is essentially one in which she is trying to reconcile two halves of herself - the heroine and the girl who lived most of her life trying to run away from things.

The worldbuilding was pretty developed. I could visualise the world pretty easily. A lot of the nature of the society was based on the constellations and Greek mythology which was intriguing. There are lots of descriptions of clothes and gadgets used. It reminded me a bit of 'Capitol city' especially with the outlandish clothes and wigs. But, nevertheless, it was still riveting.

The MC Maia was okay. She seems to be rather level headed and doesn't give into her emotions easily. She is very guarded yet resourceful. She is wiling to go out of her way to protect those she cares about. However, there were times when she flip-flops a bit which can be irritating. This can be seen in her relationships with Caspian and Riser. The romance element of the story is a love-triangle of sorts but a slow burn one. I preferred Maia with Riser because they had more chemistry. Caspian was just a bland character. He wasn't really that engaging. He's your typical good looking guy and that's it. Plus, he doesn't have a very strong personality considering how things change towards the end. Riser, on the other hand, was swoonworthy. He has all of these rough edges but a heart of gold. He is just the perfect book boyfriend. With regards to the minor characters, I think they are fleshed out pretty well. There are a couple of villains in the story which is rather interesting. Their personalities are rather complex and we don't know what their agendas are really. It will be good to see how this plays out in the books to come.

Overall, I thought the story was great. The plot progressed really well. There are no boring bits as we are thrown instances of murder, betrayal and action. There aren't many revelations or twists except for one which was fairly obvious at least to me. However, the plot devices used for story progression were sensible and gave a seamless read. I would recommend this to lovers of science fiction and dystopia. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to book two. :)

[Cassie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Blaze Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion on it.




From the highly captivating prologue, I knew that this book will become one of my favourites. I have been excited about this book for a while because it seemed like something I'd like and I was right. I am in love with this wonderfully written awesome book. Just when I thought that I've read the best of 2016, this came along and shook my world. Shadow Fall reminded me of why I love YA Dystopian books. Audrey Grey weaves a fresh new world that is unrivalled, with a cast of stellar characters that you just can't help but love. Shadow Fall is a perfect blend of action, romance, mystery, adventure, intense moments and every page is simply a wonder.
Maia is simply a delightful, strong, snarky character, despite the numerous hardships she endured in the pits (A place worse than the underworld) she still emerged reasonably sane. Riser is intense, dark and there's just something about him that grabs my attention and makes him such a memorable character. Prince Caspian is delightful and even better than I expected. There is history between this three characters and a lot of baggage that makes understanding them a lot of fun. There are other notable characters such as Flame, the sarcastic rebel who accompanies Maia and Riser. Nicolai, the mysterious benefactor that offers Maia the chance to save her brother and get revenge over the unjust murder of her father by the emperor. Merida, a friend of Maia who went when through a lot of ordeals with her. Delphine, Caspian's betrothed who is a classic rich mean girl who is one of the Chose. Even the deplorable Emperor who never stopped proving how maniacal and depraved he was. All the characters were well constructed with plots that always entertain.
Shadow Fall is literally Hunger Games meet The Maze Runner meet Red Queen meet Divergent. This spectacular YA Sci-fi Dystopian book has many qualities from this aforementioned books that makes it stand out. The words flow together perfectly making each scene as exciting as the previous one. Maia's transformation into Lady Everly March was a really major way for her to become the amazing woman she is meant to be. Her adventures throughout the books was nothing short of being epic.
The Shadow Trials was one of my favorite aspects of this book despite how it ended, I could feel every emotion intensely as the characters experienced trials after trials. The bonds of friendship, family, love for all of mankind was something I admired about this book. There are simply not enough words to describe this masterpiece Audrey Grey has created.

With three major characters that never stops putting me on the edge of my sit, Very well constructed and well written plots, adventures that left me gasping with each twists and turns, a romance that is just too freaking amazing, a villain that makes me want to introduce him to dementors, an ending that left me frozen with shock, I declare Shadow Fall one of the best books I have ever read. Any fan of Sci-Fi, Dystopian, YA even Fantasy, this is one book you do not want to miss. I will eagerly await future installments in the series.

P.S: Isn't that cover simply divine? I want to cuddle with it!!!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at my blog: Babbling Books

*I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review*

“Sometimes, just like the truth needs to be unspoken, a lie needs to be shouted at the top of your lungs.”

Having finished this book, I am pleased to report that I enjoyed it a lot more than when I first started. As usual, when I requested it it was because the gorgeous cover and intriguing plot description drew me in but once I got started I was thrown off by a lot of violent scenes and so I almost put the book down. I am glad I chose not to in the end.

This book does have similarities to many dystopian books and you can’t help when reading it to draw parallels with The Hunger Games, but I still enjoyed it non-the-less and I don’t ever think that just because two books are like each other you can’t enjoy them both.

I was intrigued by this author’s use of the stars and constellations as a key plot device as well as the use of Greek mythology, which is a favorite subject of mine. Unfortunately several times I did feel lost in this world and had a hard time understanding exactly how the class structures functioned or what exactly was happening with the asteroid. Sometimes I felt as if I had missed a prequel or a chapter that explained everything better.

The main character Maia/Everly was an easy character to get into the headspace of, although I sometimes disagreed with her decisions, by the end I was more understanding of her choices. I do wish there would’ve been some more backstory with her and Max as he is supposed to be the reason she is so driven during the plot and yet their connection does not seem as strong to me as it was presented in the book.

The relationship between Maia/Everly and Riser was complex and it was actually this element of the book that I enjoyed the most. Although secretly I was sort of rooting for Maia and Caspian I enjoyed seeing the depth that the author was adding to the Maia/Riser relationship and am excited to see where she takes it in the next book.

The characters were definitely the best part about this book, as even the supporting characters were interesting and I wanted to know more about them as the book went on. Flame in particular was a character I enjoyed getting to know, her backstory wasn’t what I expected it to be and that was a nice surprise. I always enjoy books that develop the side characters as much as the main characters.

Originally I was going to give this book 3 out of 5 stars because the violence was a bit over the top and the world building felt too underdeveloped for me, but around 50% in the book took a turn that really surprised me and after that it continued to pick up. By the end I was happy that the author had taken the book in a few surprising directions and left the book in a place that had me itching to come back and read the sequel, which lets me know that it needed to have 4 stars.

Overall this was a surprising read that had good character development and an interesting premise that I am excited to see expand for the future series!

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 1/5
(I received a free copy from the publisher, Blaze Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
***Minor spoilers***

Maia has committed no crime except attempting to steal food so her younger brother could eat, and has been thrown in the Pit - a horrific prison where you are either predator or prey, and the best meal you could possibly get is rat. Not only that, but Maia is the daughter of a "traitor." Her father had created a bomb that could be used to get the asteroid that's going to destroy Earth off its path, but the Emperor had spun it so that it seemed to be a weapon and had him killed, because it didn't fit his "plans." Within Max (her brother) and Maia, her father had hidden the map and key to this bomb, but even Maia doesn't know how. Not only that, but Maia has been freed from the Pit and send on a mission to be reconstructed and sent to Court so that she can kill the Emporer - if she survives the Shadow Trials.

There was a lot going on in this book. I found it so boring that I put off finishing it until the last possible moment, which is why it's taken me the entire month to read. This just started off on a bad foot for me. It didn't introduce me to the world at all - it just threw me in the deep end. I don't mind when this happens for something that takes place on our present day Earth, since things tend to be pretty easy to understand, but in a sci-fi version on Earth where literally everything is different, I find it pretty terrible to just not introduce the reader to anything and expect them to know what you're talking about. There aren't even really explanations as we go along, you just have to hope that you can pick up on little things that hint what they're talking about.

I just felt like the world had way too much going on, like it was trying to do everything at once. It had elements of a lot of YA novels, but the fact that it was similar to those wasn't the thing that bothered me. It just seemed to be trying to do too many things to the point where none of those things were done well. It didn't help that nothing was ever explained well. It isn't reasonable to expect the reader to be tuned into the author's every thought. It also through in some terrible romance (I love him, I hate him, and then a random love triangle) and some other random tidbits (complete body reconstruction, transfer of memories, simulations, people with "perfect" DNA) and the amount of things became overwhelming. While I seem to be blabbering on about these things, the bottom line is, too much stuff was happening.

Overall, I wasn't pleased with this book at all. At no point did I find it enjoyable, and I just wanted it to be over. I found it so boring that I found myself procrastinating in reading it at every chance I got. The characters didn't interest me, I really didn't like how nothing was explained well, and there were too many things going on at once. While the cover is pretty enticing, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It's too infuriating.

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 Stars

There were certain aspects of the world that werent explained as well as I would have liked. We do get a bit more insight into them later on in the nove but not enough to completely satisfy me. Just one example was not being sure how the uploading and some of the other technology worked. How do they avoid the people who have uploaded into her mind from hearing them talking about secret stuff? There was also some situations that were way too convenient, like Riser finding the exact page she needed from her journal just laying around.

The plot and the concept for the world was interesting but the world building needs some improvement. The confusion made it difficult to connect to the story and the characters. With a story like this the world needs to be explained properly. Not understanding important pieces of the world left me feeling bored even when there was action involved. I dont mind a brutal world but I need to be connected to the characters in order to care about their struggles. By the end of the book I was more invested in the characters but by then it felt a little too late.

The main characters split personality between Maia and Everly made her harder to connect to because they're polar opposites. I didnt really know enough about Maias little brother Max to be able to relate. I liked her friendship with Merida but I would have liked for it to have been more developped. I didnt like that she didnt press for more information about the Nicolais plans. Riser turned out to be my favorite character. I liked his dangerous persona mixed in with his caring side. He's been through so much and his back story made me appreciate him a lot more.

The antagonists were alright. I felt Maias fear of the Archduchess and I liked how she stood up to Delphine. I thought the Emperor was vile human being but his children were more likeable. Flame was interesting but her brother Cage barely got any development whatsoever. I would have liked more insight into Maias mothers true motivations and what the Merc is hiding but this will probably be addressed in the sequel. For the most part I wasnt really connected to these characters. I also would have liked to see more then one trial from the Shadow Trials competition.

I liked the writing during the maze scene and while trying to get to the Sim. I thought the whole Pit concept was imaginative and creepy. The first half of the book took me forever to read and the ending left too many questions unanwsered. I didnt know this was a series until the end of the book and I want to know what happens next but not anytime soon. Overall this book didnt really grab me but if you dont think too hard about how things worked the story is entertaining and the writing style was compelling.

*Received in exchange for an honest review*

Please dont let my review keep you from reading this book. I was very grumpy in the hospital waiting for gallbladder surgery while reading this so I wasnt exactly in the best reading mood.

[Darque Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey is the YA page turner you have been looking for! You will experience danger, betrayal, emotion, and murder! If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, The Host, and The 100 you will not want to miss this one!

The Plot: Betrayed by her mother, and forced to witness her father's execution, Maia Graystone was left with the responsibility of caring for her brother Max. Caught stealing food to feed him, she is thrown in to "The Pit", forced to fight and survive with the other prisoners, not knowing that she was safer there than in the open where The Emperor desperately searched for her and Max. When she is finally found, she learns that the Emperor will stop at nothing to rip her apart for "the key" that her father hid inside her years ago. After an unexpected rescue, and reunion with a dangerous character from "The Pit" Maia discovers that the only way she will learn the true nature of "the key", her father's forbidden invention, and perhaps a way to save her world from destruction from the imminent asteroid collision, is to join forces with "Pit Boy" and join The Trials at the Emperor's Gold Court. Will she make it through the trials, save the world, and stop herself from falling in love with "Pit Boy" after she finds out the truth?

Shadow Fall is a must read if you love Sci-Fi books. I found it to be fast paced and intriguing. There was such an extensive level of detail given to the world and social class building. I really enjoyed the fact that it felt like the author was heavily influenced by titles mentioned above. Audrey Grey included the best concepts from those popular books and used them to shape Maia's story.

Maia was such a well developed character. She had depth and emotion, and showed an amazing transformation throughout the story. She was brave and delicate at once. She was determined to embrace the changes she went through to complete the trials, and yet, she tried so hard to hold on to her true self. She was fierce and strong like Clarke from the 100, and still soft and caring like Melanie in The Host. And, deep down, I felt that she paired well with Riser, "Pit Boy".

Riser, or as Maia liked to call him "Pit Boy", was such an interesting character! He was quite dangerous and terrifying, but you knew that there was raw emotion hiding deep inside. His transformation in the story is most incredible, and the details we learn about him add such complexity to his person. You want to root for him and Maia to be together, and are still left somewhat uncertain if he is going to betray her.

Don't miss out on this amazing Sci-Fi book! Book 2, Shadow Rise, is set to come out this November, and I am dying to get my hands on it! I rate Shadow Fall 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this free review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Mon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is book one in a new sci-fi/fantasy set to be released in November 2016. Look at how stunning this cover is. This book has similarities to dystopian books like The Hunger Games in that there is are class systems and fights to the death however, author Audrey Grey has infused fresh ideas and new life into this genre that had me powering through this book. The characters and the world building are vividly developed however I think they could've done with a little more depth to bump this up to a 4. I will say that this is not perfect so the best way to read this is not to compare it to other books.

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Well, when I finished this book last night, I read the synopsis for the next book in the series and decided I wasn't going to continue with the series because we just went through a series of trials with an asteroid about to wipe out humanity in 2 weeks...and the next book is another trial...how can this happen in 2 weeks?

But...all morning the only thing I can think about is this story and what will happen next...ugh...I'm hooked and have to read on!

[Jeanny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf 47%
This books is chaotic & a badly explained mashup of events. I’m not a fan of the writing which is a shame being I’ve enjoyed other books by this same author.

[Rosemarie Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me in exchange for a fair review. My thanks go to Audrey Grey, Blaze Publishing and Netgalley.

Oh my. Did you like the Hunger Games? The Maze Runner? Divergent? Good because Shadow Fall has glimmers of all of the above within it – plus a whole lot of original stuff too. Do you love a strong heroine in the same vein as Calaena Sardothien – part ruthless killer and part human being? Excellent, because Maia / Everley ticks that box. She even has a prince as one of her love interests. Are you a fan of Red Queen and the Lunar Chronicles, where people are divided into social classes based on little to nothing, and uprisings occur when people are oppressed in such a way for too long? You’re in the right place.

I freaking loved this. I’m not easily swayed by Sci Fi / Fantasy YA usually, and nine times out of ten a love triangle would instantly drop the rating. After reading so damn much of the stuff, my standards tend to be high. However Shadow Fall built its world and solidified its characters so well, I had no choice but to invest myself. More than anything in fact, the world was my biggest love. From social status to location, there was just enough to entice without giving everything away. So important is setting the scene that the Shadow Trials didn’t start until well over 50% into the book. I didn’t care – by that point I would have followed Everley and Riser anywhere.

Maia / Everley was a great heroine; inconsistent in a way which was organic to her story, sharp and soft at the same time, ruthless and yet compassionate. Her backstory, the battles she has already gone through and hardships she has faced, made her someone I rooted for from the very beginning. Riser, similarly, was a character I was instantly drawn to. Together they make one hell of a fictional couple. Side players were similarly compelling; even those who feature briefly left their impact.

My only gripe is that that cliffhanger. I don’t think I can wait for the sequel. A must read.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Fall is an intense, action-packed book! I am sure that comparisons will be made to other dystopian/young adult books, but trust me when I say that this one stands on its own legs. The characters are all exceedingly well thought out and written about. The places are instantly recognisable from their descriptions. As for the plot itself, well it twists and turns, throwing new action at the turn of every page. There is a hint of a love-triangle, which I'm really hoping doesn't actually come to fruition!

Maia/Everly is a fascinating character, who makes choices that not everyone will agree with, but it is what she thinks she must do to protect her younger brother. Riser is someone that she knew when her world was dark, and although she has feelings for him, she isn't sure if she can trust him. Caspian is the Prince that she was 'matched' to before her life changed. Genetically, they fit, but will they in real life?

My heart was in my mouth for the climax of this book. It was one where I wanted it to end so that I knew what happened, but also didn't want to end because I needed to stay with these characters a bit longer. It does end with a major cliffhanger, just to warn you!

Exceptionally well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that I would happily recommend, and I look forward to reading further in the series.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

With so many good reviews as this book has, I almost feel bad for not being as swept up with this one as everyone else seems to be!
The narrative was exquisite, but the book as a whole didn't work for me. I didn't care for the characters, as there was only a couple of them that did stand out (Maia and the merc), and I ended up losing interest on the archetypical story of a heroine fighting to death to save herself and her brother in a series of situations provided by some higher ranks.

[Darryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Incredibly dark and disturbing read that makes you think twice about the good of humanity. While at the same time, also shows the potential for it... I love dark books and this one seriously succeeded. It is so beautifully written and imaginative, I haven't read anything else quite like it. I just hope the sequel will live up to the first because I will definitely be reading it.

[Jacob Devlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. The more I turned the pages, the more I fell into the rich, intricate world that was so vividly constructed by Audrey Grey. I found myself biting my nails a couple times because the suspense and the action get so thick and it's all just so immersive. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games, Pierce Brown's Red Rising, or other dystopian reads, you'll fit right into this world. However, this one stands cleanly on its own and I can't wait to read the next installment!

[Jamie (The Kansan Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit: Changing my rating due to thinking more about how I really actually don't like the book as much as I thought.

Preface Fair warning—this book is dark. This book is gritty. This book doesn’t hold its punches. It will make you question everyone, will make you scream, throw your kindle—or paperback—and probably curse my name. If that’s not your thing, do not proceed.

When a book starts like this, it gets you to question if you are ready? What is this book going to do? What is going to happen? Well… emotional damage.

In this world, people are separated by colors. Gold, silver, and bronze class the people. Maia is a bronze who went to prison when she was nine years old. Dropped into the lower pit, survival is all she has known for seven years. An asteroid named Pandora is headed for earth. Golds, the Emperor, and those chosen were on a space station called Hyperion. Maia and a boy from the pit named Riser go under reconstruction so they may infiltrate the Shadow Trials to get on Hyperion. They must go to Emerald Island and compete against others to win the spots.

I’m surprised at how calm I feel. How very, very determined. Somehow it feels as if I have been preparing for this very moment my entire life. After all, it’s not the first time I’ve been here. Scared and alone. Unsure whom to trust. Struggling for survival in a harsh, unforgiving environment. Except this time will be different. Because this time I’m going to fight back.

The writing was okay. There were parts I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. I had to reread a couple of parts to make sure I didn’t skim by accident and to make sure my mind didn’t jumble anything. I wasn’t really connecting with the characters until halfway through part 2. The preface warning had me excited because I thought I was going to get a gripping tale, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Once this story started going though it was good. I just wish it didn't take so long to get going.

I did go straight into the second book after the ending. I wanted to see what happens next. I’ll explain that in the second book’s review of my feelings towards that book.

~~~~~
Rtc

[Melissasfandomworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I was a bead of blood, borne from tragedy, destined to change our dying world.”

Goodie, goodie, goodie!
This was an extremely enjoyable read, I tell you!

Hunger Games meets Divergent meets an ember in the ashes meets shatter me…And it maybe (if I want to be a bit critical) does have a bit too much recognisable elements of those typical and well known ya stories from time to time (which is why I’d stick to a 4 star rating instead of higher) and seeing that because of this fact, the story-line isn’t necessarily always original... Despite that… The author managed to also gave her own swing to it in this new dystopian/scifi setting and I was just utterly hooked & immersed from beginning till end. I immediately ordered the 2nd book, so that I can continue reading very soon #excited

It definitely falls in the darker ya section from time to time, and I loved that a lot. No beating around the bush, but a sometimes detailed portraying people in their worst and best moments. A writing job truly well done if you ask me. The characters are phenomenally written down, there was a constant ‘edge’ of excitement present for me thanks to the fast pace, action and the perfect amount of romance that was just enough to have me on the edge of me seat, constantly craving more - over EVERYTHING really.

So yeah, if you like the vibe in books like the Hunger games, an Ember in the Ashes or Shatter Me for example… Then Shadow Fall is definitely a book you need to pick up and read asap. I’m so excited to see how the story continues.

[♦♣ queen of faerie ♠♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC. In the meantime, a good dystopian book that had the rebels, had the emotions, but just made me yawn a bit.


→ 3.5 stars

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Audrey Grey’s debut novel Shadow Fall is a dangerously alluring dystopian tale that mixes elements of sci-fi, fantasy and plenty of danger with romance, action and edge of your seat suspense and deception.

Maia Greystone lives in world where the majority of society lives on borrowed time--a massive asteroid is hurtling towards Earth and those unlucky enough not to be a part of the Emperor’s Gold Court won’t be granted a seat on their space station when it finally makes contact. A lowly Bronze, Maia is the daughter of a traitor and someone who knows her place in life, locked in society’s most dangerous prison, the pit. Until a mysterious man offers Maia a chance to participate in the Trials and possibly win a highly coveted seat on the space station for her and her brother. Agreeing, Maia finds herself being altered and taking on a new appearance to take part in the trials, but with all the dangers clear as day, is the biggest danger to Maia falling for her fellow pit survivor Riser, a disturbing dark horse who is beginning to make Maia feel for the first time in years…..

Having caught my attention with its absolutely stunning cover, I can honestly say I highly enjoyed Shadow Fall. I know there are a lot of people who have compared it to The Hunger Games, and yes, I guess I can see that a bit of THG in Shadow Fall, especially in the second part of the book, but Shadow Fall also has its very own unique storyline. Audrey Grey introduces her readers to a very dangerous, destroyed world that I loved, with tangible characters who felt well fleshed out and who were insanely likable.

Featuring an Earth set to be destroyed by an asteroid, there’s an edge of desperation and hopelessness that encompasses the people of Shadow Fall. The dark, gritty aspects of Shadow Fall really appealed to me and I liked seeing two different classes of society mingle—the haves and have nots. The class structure and society within Shadow Fall was interesting to me and I liked the intricacy of it, even if the various groups of individuals confused me at times. I found it difficult to wrap my head around all the different rebel groups, but for the most part I was able to follow the storyline without getting too confused.

Heroine Maia was one of those main characters that starts out in a weakened state and in a hopeless situation and continually grows. She’s in a no-win situation unless she manages to successfully complete the trials and she fights for that. Personally, I quite liked her. I thought she was a well-balanced main character who has growth possibilities, but also manages to be a strong personality and individual when we meet her. Basically I’m very happy to follow her throughout Shadow Fall.

I found I really loved the characters that dotted Shadow Fall. Everyone from Maia, Flame, Caspian, Merida, Rhydian and especially Riser really struck a cord with me. They were tangible and full of personality and really brought the story to life. I’m absolutely addicted to Riser—he is such a surprising contradiction and I’m a real fan of his. Cheeky but darkly scarred, Riser is someone who lures you in and makes you want to know every secret he has.

Author Audrey Grey writes some wonderful chemistry between Maia and Riser and I thought they were perfect together. I’m definitely going to be on Team Riser, even if I am suspicious of a love triangle appearing within the series. Yet that being said, strangely enough I also really liked Caspian who is the second possible love interest for Maia. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed Maia’s heart and affections remain squarely in Risers hands, but only time will tell....

The last few chapters of Shadow Fall are especially action packed with developments and revelations that set the stage for the next novel. Audrey Grey leaves her readers at a highly climactic moment and guarantee’s you’ll be dying for the next book’s release to discover what is in store for Maia next! Highly recommend if you love fast paced and well developed dystopians!

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book twice (this genre isn't so much my taste anymore, but I wanted to finish the series that I'd started years ago and needed to refresh my memory) and have decided to rewrite my review to try and reflect my feelings for both reads.

- The first half or so of the book felt slow and too long, but if you hang in there, the second half is when you get to the meat of the book, when things really get brutal (if you think the first half is brutal, just you wait) and interesting.

– The author really didn’t avoid the gruesome, gritty, disgusting, violent, terrible stuff.

– I found the sorta love triangle to be complicated, subtle, and unpredictable, in this first book at least. (Romance was not the focus though.)

– The story in general was somewhat unpredictable.

- It was hard to get a read on Maia/Everly’s character. She was “reconstructed” and given someone else’s (Everly’s) feelings and memories. But there were also some bits of Maia left? It was hard to understand. On my first read, I thought she was cold and heartless. On my second read, I realized the girl whose memories she got might have been, but Maia, or this amalgamation she became, was actually compassionate. As much as she could be, at least, in their situations.

– Riser was edgy and feral and murderous, but also super sweet and protective, at least when it came to Maia. Which is sorta tropey? That being said, he was still an interesting character. He grew up in “the Pit,” this hellish underground place with no light or water where people survived by eating rats, moldy food scraps, and each other. He was so curious and cunning, always paying attention to everything, but he was also so easily awed and distracted.

“It wasn’t always like this,” I say to Riser, who’s watching the feral dogs like he wants to spring from the rooftop and join them.

- On my first read, I felt like the ruthlessness and evilness within the society and many of the characters was too extreme for me to find it realistic. But apparently my opinion of humanity has lowered because I didn't find the evil too extreme the second time.

- The world was a little confusing, and it has a lot of different groups and things to keep track of.

- Ok, this doesn't ruin the book because you just can accept it, it is what it is. But if the people uploading can see the thoughts, hear the conversations, etc. of the Chosens, then how was it that Maia and Riser could talk about their secret plans to each other? There was mention that the uploaders wouldn’t see/hear anything that wasn’t meant for them because it would be encrypted, but ??? Not really sure how they could have that sort of thing programmed ahead of time, but ignoring that... Would the people uploaded not find it weird when half of Everly's conversations and thoughts were garbled gibberish or a blank screen? I imagine the Emperor would have someone monitoring things, and would they not find it suspicious? The whole encryption thing seemed like the reader just wasn't supposed to think about it, but it made too little sense for me to not think about it.

Overall, violent dystopian stories with a bit of romance are not exactly new, but there were some interesting ideas and characters here that kept me reading and made me intrigued enough to keep going with the series.

*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 2nd read.*

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2016 // Format: Ebook*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA dystopian, violence with all the gruesome details, characters who can be feral or cold but also sweet and compassionate, and a bit of romance.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[C. Erani Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

*received an ARC via NetGalley*

If you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent, you'll like this. You might get a bit annoyed with how similar some of the more important scenes are, but it wasn't bad. I mean, can't have too much of a good thing, right?

The whole set up was really exciting. I liked the writing, though the middle lagged a bit for me, only because I was expecting the action right away. Instead we get her fighting up-climb to a set of normalcy, *before* the Trials themselves. It was pretty nice, though her battle of emotions was a little too redundant to enjoy. I liked the characters, mainly Riser, but felt some of the antagonists were well deserving of a hanging by the end of the book. The ending is a cliffhanger, or a really depressing ending, depends on what's the worse of the two evils for you lol. Overall, I liked this. If I hadn't read the previous series mentioned, this would've been more amazing for me. Pit Girl's struggle to find herself was a hard thing to read because of all the sad moments, but I liked it.

[Nina Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey is a YA novel that can win a reader over to this genre.

When I read reviews of books in this genre I often note that reviewers comment on the world and social class building. I get it now. Completely. It is integral to this type of story and Audrey Grey did a marvelous job. The world of the Golds, Silvers and Bronzes is well-illustrated and helps the reader understand Maia’s place in this highly stratified society. The concept of ‘reconstruction’ is intriguing and wonderfully played out throughout the novel. Riser is even given the ‘memory’ of swimming so that he knows how to swim although he has never even seen a large body of water before. The world of the Pit is revealed in all its vicious and gruesome realities.

Fight scenes are realistic, well-choreographed and attention keeping. The writing is also very consistent in following the characters’ injuries and how they affect subsequent movements and scenes. Poor Maia is knocked unconscious a rather lot though.

The characters are amazing. Maia, Riser, Caspian, Merida, Flame and even Maia’s mother are all multifaceted and richly drawn. Each character’s motivations and ambitious are cleverly revealed as the story unfolds. Divergent aspirations will make enemies where friendship should prevail.

Maia is a well-developed character who is easy to root for. Maia doesn’t recognize her own bravery but it is shown throughout. Her layers are stripped bare and rebuilt over and over. Her inner turmoil and the depth of her emotions are vividly written. The torture she feels as she tries to accept who she is, even as she metamorphoses is palpable. She struggles with reconciling her past and her present. I loved the delicate balance Audrey Grey strikes when writing Maia’s inner battle to remain unconnected and aloof even as her innate humanity seeks companionship and belonging.

Riser a.k.a. “Pit Boy”, is written as the perfect anti-hero. He is bold and brave yet dangerous and terrifying. The revelations made about him are astounding and reveal a depth to his character that makes him a favourite. He and Maia seem perfect for each other but are they really destined to be together?

Enter Prince Caspian who is not like the other Royals and may just be worthy of Maia’s heart, if Riser doesn’t get to him first.

On top of all that, the last few chapters are gripping. My heart was in my throat as I read. I haven’t gotten that feeling in while, when reading. Battles rage, lies and deceits are revealed and spun and misunderstandings that could crush an empire fester. Oh my, I can’t wait for book 2!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

Shadow Fall is the first installment in author Audrey Grey's Shadow Fall trilogy. Once upon a time, Emperor Laevus created a population of genetically superior human beings to restart humanity after an asteroid named Pandora crashes to Earth in 552 days. Maia Graystone is one of them. The Chosen are supposed to take their places on the space station Hyperion orbiting the Earth. Born of a Gold mother, and a Bronze Father, Maia is now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Empire along with her brother Max who have pieces of a puzzle their father left behind that could save the planet.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...