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Enveloping Shadows
A fierce and beautiful warrior.
A man of secrets and shadows.
Only together can they stop the awakening horror.
Rumors of monsters and dark magic are circulating through the court, but Terrwyn is little concerned. Her superb sword skills are all she needs to protect the princess Aricia—and as chief bodyguard, the princess’s safety is Terrwyn’s only mission.
Too late, she realizes her a stranger cloaked in darkness snatches the princess before Terrwyn can react.
When a handsome stranger emerges from the shadows to save her life, Terrwyn has little choice but to allow him to accompany her. Zelek, shrouded in secrecy and on a mission of his own, has special skills that Terrwyn needs.
Together the warrior and the shadow-whisperer forge a plan to rescue the princess, and find themselves plummeting not only headlong into evil, but into the depths of passion and love.
This book is approximately 52,000 words
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Anne Scott
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.
A man of secrets and shadows.
Only together can they stop the awakening horror.
Rumors of monsters and dark magic are circulating through the court, but Terrwyn is little concerned. Her superb sword skills are all she needs to protect the princess Aricia—and as chief bodyguard, the princess’s safety is Terrwyn’s only mission.
Too late, she realizes her a stranger cloaked in darkness snatches the princess before Terrwyn can react.
When a handsome stranger emerges from the shadows to save her life, Terrwyn has little choice but to allow him to accompany her. Zelek, shrouded in secrecy and on a mission of his own, has special skills that Terrwyn needs.
Together the warrior and the shadow-whisperer forge a plan to rescue the princess, and find themselves plummeting not only headlong into evil, but into the depths of passion and love.
This book is approximately 52,000 words
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Anne Scott
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
23 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Lauren D.M. Smith
3 books89 followersI'm a huge geek, book fiend, and someone who refuses to grow up (Popcorn for dinner is a perfectly legitimate decision. As is sliding down banisters). I have a bad case of wanderlust that has taken me all over the world, I've lived in three countries now and visited many more. This has also led me to have a rather...eclectic series of jobs up until now.
I have finally settled down in a small village just outside of my hometown with my long-suffering husband and our daughter. He puts up with my bouts of insanity and fan-girling and he even tolerates me forcing him to cosplay.
Right now I work in Brockville in marketing/events and spend most of my free time reading, writing, binge-watching shows, or swearing up a storm while playing video games.
I have finally settled down in a small village just outside of my hometown with my long-suffering husband and our daughter. He puts up with my bouts of insanity and fan-girling and he even tolerates me forcing him to cosplay.
Right now I work in Brockville in marketing/events and spend most of my free time reading, writing, binge-watching shows, or swearing up a storm while playing video games.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2016
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I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
I totally loved The Emperor's Arrow, this one I only strongly liked…
Don’t get me wrong, the book is well written and interesting, but it has a pet peeves of mine…
One is the heroine, Terrwyn’s NA feel… I don’t like it and didn’t liked it here. She was supposed to be a strong bodyguard to princess Aricia, full fighting and intelligent, but what I got is a NA athlete with hormonal problems…
I liked the hero better. Zelek is a cunning one. He’s one of the mysterious race with shadow mastery, just like the man who kidnapped the princess Aricia. He’s on a quest of his own and his goal is the same as Terrwyn’s, so, after weighting in a pretty intelligent way whether to reveal himself to Terrwyn, he decide to join her.
Their love story starts full of suspicions, but eventually grows to something neither of them expected.
Another pet peeve is the very weak villains. They were like Snow White’s evil stepmother! I kept imagining the sorceress like a Disney version: long black hair and long dress…
The other villain, the kidnapper, is also a caricature…
So, no… It was not as good as The Empereor’s Arrow… It a 3 and ½ stars rounded to 4.
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
I totally loved The Emperor's Arrow, this one I only strongly liked…
Don’t get me wrong, the book is well written and interesting, but it has a pet peeves of mine…
One is the heroine, Terrwyn’s NA feel… I don’t like it and didn’t liked it here. She was supposed to be a strong bodyguard to princess Aricia, full fighting and intelligent, but what I got is a NA athlete with hormonal problems…
I liked the hero better. Zelek is a cunning one. He’s one of the mysterious race with shadow mastery, just like the man who kidnapped the princess Aricia. He’s on a quest of his own and his goal is the same as Terrwyn’s, so, after weighting in a pretty intelligent way whether to reveal himself to Terrwyn, he decide to join her.
Their love story starts full of suspicions, but eventually grows to something neither of them expected.
Another pet peeve is the very weak villains. They were like Snow White’s evil stepmother! I kept imagining the sorceress like a Disney version: long black hair and long dress…
The other villain, the kidnapper, is also a caricature…
So, no… It was not as good as The Empereor’s Arrow… It a 3 and ½ stars rounded to 4.
December 9, 2016
After really enjoying The Emperor's Arrow I jumped at the chance of reviewing Lauren D.M. Smith's second book, Enveloping Shadows. I have to admit I was hoping she might continue expanding the world she'd already built, she'd already put so much thought into it and I thought it would be fun to explore some of the different cultures through some of the side characters we met in the first book. I was a little disappointed when I realised that this book was set in a whole new world but I still had high hopes because the author has already proved herself a creative world builder.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one and that's mainly because I found it much harder to connect with the characters. Terrwyn is a female knight (how brilliant is that!) and she's also princess Aricia's chief bodyguard so when the princess is kidnapped she understandably blames herself. She is determined to do whatever it takes to rescue the princess, no matter how much danger she has to face to do it. I found it a little odd that when the king asks for volunteers for the rescue party only two knights beside Terrwyn actually step up to the challenge. I know why the author did it but it just seemed so uncharacteristic of knights to be such cowards. I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that it's not long before Terrwyn is left on her own to go and rescue Aricia and she ends up teaming up with Zelek, a mysterious stranger who is on his own mission, along the way.
Terrwyn is a hard character to spend time with, I loved the fact that she was a fierce and capable fighter but she was full of contradictions that just didn't make sense to me. She's one of only a handful of female knights so she's very used to living in a male dominated culture but she's never let that stop her from achieving her goals and she's obviously the best of the best or she wouldn't be the princess's top bodyguard. That side of her is brilliant and I also liked the fact that she's not an innocent virgin who has no idea about her own desires, except, well she actually kind of is. She'll tell you she's experienced but the minute Zelek steps onto the page she turns into a shy 14 year old girl suffering from her very first crush. You know the type I mean, the one who blushes every time the boy speaks to her and watches him out of the corner of her eye because she can't bring herself to look openly? That would be fine if I was actually reading about a teenage girl but it doesn't fit a 20 something female warrior who has had several lovers already. Zelek even assumes she is a virgin and takes things extra slowly so he doesn't scare her off and it was an understandable mistake to make considering how skittish she is! Zelek is more likeable and his ability to use the shadows is an interesting one but he wasn't enough to save the story for me.
Lauren D.M. Smith has definitely got some interesting ideas that show up in Enveloping Shadows, I love the idea of being able to control shadows and wish we'd had a chance to find out more about it. I think half the problem is that the author has all these great ideas but because she seems to be writing standalone (and fairly short) stories in lots of different worlds she never takes the time to fully explore these ideas and expand on them. If either this or her previous book was the start of a series there would be so much potential to delve deeper into both the worlds and the characters and I think it's a shame that opportunity is being missed. Unfortunately Enveloping Shadows was a miss for me but I enjoyed The Emperor's Arrow enough that I'll still give her next book a try, let's hope that this one was just a blip.
Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one and that's mainly because I found it much harder to connect with the characters. Terrwyn is a female knight (how brilliant is that!) and she's also princess Aricia's chief bodyguard so when the princess is kidnapped she understandably blames herself. She is determined to do whatever it takes to rescue the princess, no matter how much danger she has to face to do it. I found it a little odd that when the king asks for volunteers for the rescue party only two knights beside Terrwyn actually step up to the challenge. I know why the author did it but it just seemed so uncharacteristic of knights to be such cowards. I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that it's not long before Terrwyn is left on her own to go and rescue Aricia and she ends up teaming up with Zelek, a mysterious stranger who is on his own mission, along the way.
Terrwyn is a hard character to spend time with, I loved the fact that she was a fierce and capable fighter but she was full of contradictions that just didn't make sense to me. She's one of only a handful of female knights so she's very used to living in a male dominated culture but she's never let that stop her from achieving her goals and she's obviously the best of the best or she wouldn't be the princess's top bodyguard. That side of her is brilliant and I also liked the fact that she's not an innocent virgin who has no idea about her own desires, except, well she actually kind of is. She'll tell you she's experienced but the minute Zelek steps onto the page she turns into a shy 14 year old girl suffering from her very first crush. You know the type I mean, the one who blushes every time the boy speaks to her and watches him out of the corner of her eye because she can't bring herself to look openly? That would be fine if I was actually reading about a teenage girl but it doesn't fit a 20 something female warrior who has had several lovers already. Zelek even assumes she is a virgin and takes things extra slowly so he doesn't scare her off and it was an understandable mistake to make considering how skittish she is! Zelek is more likeable and his ability to use the shadows is an interesting one but he wasn't enough to save the story for me.
Lauren D.M. Smith has definitely got some interesting ideas that show up in Enveloping Shadows, I love the idea of being able to control shadows and wish we'd had a chance to find out more about it. I think half the problem is that the author has all these great ideas but because she seems to be writing standalone (and fairly short) stories in lots of different worlds she never takes the time to fully explore these ideas and expand on them. If either this or her previous book was the start of a series there would be so much potential to delve deeper into both the worlds and the characters and I think it's a shame that opportunity is being missed. Unfortunately Enveloping Shadows was a miss for me but I enjoyed The Emperor's Arrow enough that I'll still give her next book a try, let's hope that this one was just a blip.
Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 14, 2016
Even the strongest and bravest can become insecure and unsure when faced with the unfamiliar feeling of love and attraction. As the personal bodyguard of the princess, and the head guard of the castle, Terrwyn has no equal. Strong, confident and sure of her skills, her feminine side has been forsaken to hone her battle prowess. When forced to attend a ball, dressed in a beautiful gown, Terrwyn is unsteady, from the inside out. When asked to dance by a charming and mysterious man, she finds her inner woman awakening and has no clue how to handle it.
Her confidence in herself as a protector is almost shattered when the princess is swallowed up by a dark shadow in front of her very eyes, as well as those of the entire court. Her mission has become one of finding the princess and she will need all of the help she can get. What she didn’t expect was her secret admirer from the ball to be at her side, ready to ride to the princess’ rescue. Zelek confuses her, as do the feelings that stir within, but is there time to explore the possibility of romance when the royal life is in danger? As a powerful shadow whisperer, Zelek is the perfect foil to Terrwyn’s warrior capabilities as they ride together toward the princess and love.
Short, full of magic, fantasy and romance, ENVELOPING SHADOWS by Lauren D. M. Smith isn’t a tale of fast adventure and high-powered action scenes. It is a tale of one young woman finally giving in to ALL that makes her who she is and embraces both her warrior and female side when her heart finds the man who can both understand and accept her as she is. Ms. Smith has created a sweet and blooming tale of first love, as well as a tale of rescue, because of course we need that hook of good versus evil.
A quick read that tells a beautiful story in a world far, far away! These characters are completely likable, with all of their flaws, and insecurities. Follow Lauren D. M. Smith into the world of dark shadows, magic and passion.
I received this copy from Lauren D.M. Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Carina Press (December 1, 2016)
Publication Date: December 5, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 150 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Her confidence in herself as a protector is almost shattered when the princess is swallowed up by a dark shadow in front of her very eyes, as well as those of the entire court. Her mission has become one of finding the princess and she will need all of the help she can get. What she didn’t expect was her secret admirer from the ball to be at her side, ready to ride to the princess’ rescue. Zelek confuses her, as do the feelings that stir within, but is there time to explore the possibility of romance when the royal life is in danger? As a powerful shadow whisperer, Zelek is the perfect foil to Terrwyn’s warrior capabilities as they ride together toward the princess and love.
Short, full of magic, fantasy and romance, ENVELOPING SHADOWS by Lauren D. M. Smith isn’t a tale of fast adventure and high-powered action scenes. It is a tale of one young woman finally giving in to ALL that makes her who she is and embraces both her warrior and female side when her heart finds the man who can both understand and accept her as she is. Ms. Smith has created a sweet and blooming tale of first love, as well as a tale of rescue, because of course we need that hook of good versus evil.
A quick read that tells a beautiful story in a world far, far away! These characters are completely likable, with all of their flaws, and insecurities. Follow Lauren D. M. Smith into the world of dark shadows, magic and passion.
I received this copy from Lauren D.M. Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Carina Press (December 1, 2016)
Publication Date: December 5, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 150 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 29, 2016
2 Stars - 2.5 Flames
Hmmm. I'm a Fantasy and PNR lover, but really struggled with this one. Like, almost DNF'd it, struggled.
It's starts off so slow, with too much character building, no fantasy/pnr aspects until around the 20% mark and quite frankly, I was having a major issue with trying to figure out if I liked the lead female. She's a warrior, leader and sworn protector of the kingdoms princess. Everyone calls her Sir (which BTW, also confusing while trying to get in to a book) and I kept feeling as if she didn't even really know who she was. Then, right when something happens to peek my interest, nothing else worth while happens and I'm struggling again to remain focused enough to finish this.
Remember when I said that nothing really happens until around the 20% mark? Lets jump to that. The princess is taken by a dark and mysterious shadow, right in front of her family, friends and pretty much anyone else who was a dinner. Terrwyn (that's the warrior), thrusts herself into the lead protector role by forming a search party (all of 2 other guards), traveling through the land in hopes to bring back the princess after defeating an entity she knows nothing about. While on her search, she meets Zelek. Zelek is the one thing that kept me interested in this story, and that's saying a lot. He has secrets of his own, powers that were surprising (finally some fantasy/pnr stuff) and was hot. So that helped too.
Together, they embark on the journey to capture the princess, all while navigating the dark shadows, magic and mysteries of the land. The. End.
*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.
Hmmm. I'm a Fantasy and PNR lover, but really struggled with this one. Like, almost DNF'd it, struggled.
It's starts off so slow, with too much character building, no fantasy/pnr aspects until around the 20% mark and quite frankly, I was having a major issue with trying to figure out if I liked the lead female. She's a warrior, leader and sworn protector of the kingdoms princess. Everyone calls her Sir (which BTW, also confusing while trying to get in to a book) and I kept feeling as if she didn't even really know who she was. Then, right when something happens to peek my interest, nothing else worth while happens and I'm struggling again to remain focused enough to finish this.
Remember when I said that nothing really happens until around the 20% mark? Lets jump to that. The princess is taken by a dark and mysterious shadow, right in front of her family, friends and pretty much anyone else who was a dinner. Terrwyn (that's the warrior), thrusts herself into the lead protector role by forming a search party (all of 2 other guards), traveling through the land in hopes to bring back the princess after defeating an entity she knows nothing about. While on her search, she meets Zelek. Zelek is the one thing that kept me interested in this story, and that's saying a lot. He has secrets of his own, powers that were surprising (finally some fantasy/pnr stuff) and was hot. So that helped too.
Together, they embark on the journey to capture the princess, all while navigating the dark shadows, magic and mysteries of the land. The. End.
*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 23, 2016
Yawn, this is one book that could totally use as a way to fall asleep.
As the chief bodyguard to princess Aricia, the knight Terrwyn is horrified when Aricia is taken right from under her nose. When a handsome stranger offers to help her, Terrwyn has little choice but to accept Zelek's help, even though she knows nothing about the man. But it seems like he has powers that could help her receive her princess, so the two embark on a quest through the very dangerous Wild Lands. With evil beings all around, Terrwyn and Zelek will have to trust each other if they're going to make it out alive...with their objectives complete.
I really dug the first book in this series, The Emperor's Arrow, however this follow up novel, ENVELOPING SHADOWS, took a lot out of me. I struggled through the entire book. My give a shit meter was turned to the off position & Ms. Smith just wasn't able to turn it on. I didn't really like Terrwyn, she was terribly unexciting, and I really had a tough time getting through each and every single page. Zelek was dry also, and kind of wimpy, really. The two of them together was like watching paint dry, their chemistry non-existent and their one sex scene yawn worthy. Their mission to save the princess simply wasn't enticing to me, and I found myself distracted by just about anything that wasn't this book. The one bright spot is the fact that the editing is flawless in ENVELOPING SHADOWS.
Bottom Line: No OW/OM or sharing; no condom use (I'm fairly certain there were no condoms in ancient times anyway); no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; murder/violence.
As the chief bodyguard to princess Aricia, the knight Terrwyn is horrified when Aricia is taken right from under her nose. When a handsome stranger offers to help her, Terrwyn has little choice but to accept Zelek's help, even though she knows nothing about the man. But it seems like he has powers that could help her receive her princess, so the two embark on a quest through the very dangerous Wild Lands. With evil beings all around, Terrwyn and Zelek will have to trust each other if they're going to make it out alive...with their objectives complete.
I really dug the first book in this series, The Emperor's Arrow, however this follow up novel, ENVELOPING SHADOWS, took a lot out of me. I struggled through the entire book. My give a shit meter was turned to the off position & Ms. Smith just wasn't able to turn it on. I didn't really like Terrwyn, she was terribly unexciting, and I really had a tough time getting through each and every single page. Zelek was dry also, and kind of wimpy, really. The two of them together was like watching paint dry, their chemistry non-existent and their one sex scene yawn worthy. Their mission to save the princess simply wasn't enticing to me, and I found myself distracted by just about anything that wasn't this book. The one bright spot is the fact that the editing is flawless in ENVELOPING SHADOWS.
Bottom Line: No OW/OM or sharing; no condom use (I'm fairly certain there were no condoms in ancient times anyway); no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; murder/violence.
December 19, 2016
Enveloping Shadows Review
Book: Enveloping Shadows
Author: Lauren D.M. Smith
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Fantasy & Romance
Publication Date: December 5, 2016
Rating:
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
The Low Down:
As Chief of the Bodyguards to Princess Aricia, Terrwyn is horrified and devastated when she finds herself powerless to protect the princess’s kidnapping by a man who hides himself in the shadows. In order to correct the damage and restore the princess to her family, Terrwyn travels into the heart of the dangerous Wildlands where no one has ever returned unscathed. Once there, she meets the shadowy and mysterious Zelek, who is has his own grudges against the kidnapper, and who is the only person who can lead her through the Wilds.
What I Liked:
I liked the world, or what little we got to see of it. I particularly liked the Wildlands, with all the mysterious and dangerous creatures and traps at every step. I would have liked more background on the world. What it looked like, how the Wildlands came to be, and the slaying of the monster Slel.
What I Didn’t Like:
Unfortunately, there was quite a bit I didn’t like. I thought the book was too short for one thing. Even though the 150 pages there were took me forever to get through, I thought this book could have fared better with more worldbuilding and character development, and less of those repetitive, whiny and annoying as hell internal monologues. I mean really Terrwyn. We get its “YOUR DUTY” and “YOU’RE A FAIL”. But must it be repeated every other page? In addition, I thought the perspectives of Terrwyn, Zelek, and Aricia would have been cool, but it made no sense to add in like one random perspective of Zelek and two of Aricia. They should have had constant perspectives or none at all.
I also disliked the characters. They were one sided and dull. Besides the small bit about themselves, all they talked about was battle strategy and their duties. Terrwyn was the typical special snowflake character. She was the only female knight, her skills were better than everyone else, but no. She didn’t KNOW she was special. Only that she would have to DIE to save the princess because her skills weren’t THAT good. Whine, whine, whine.
Spare me.
Zelek was cool at first. I loved the magic of being able to talk to shadows and control them. I thought that was unique and interesting. And I think that in of itself should have had more explanation and more of a role in the book. And I liked how Zelek was cute and awkward, but also badass. But Zelek started to get creepy when he started looking into Terrwyn’s thoughts and when he decided to spy on her bathing. I thought they could have been great romantic partners, but it was WAYYY to instalovey for me. There was no buildup to the romance at all. Just one dance and a couple days talking. Then all of a sudden Terrwyn loses her head (typical) and is torn between Zelek and “HER DUTY”.
Ugh, Spare me.
And the badguys. They weren’t nearly as bad as I thought they should have been.
And don’t even let me get started on that sex scene. CRINGE.
Book: Enveloping Shadows
Author: Lauren D.M. Smith
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Fantasy & Romance
Publication Date: December 5, 2016
Rating:
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
The Low Down:
As Chief of the Bodyguards to Princess Aricia, Terrwyn is horrified and devastated when she finds herself powerless to protect the princess’s kidnapping by a man who hides himself in the shadows. In order to correct the damage and restore the princess to her family, Terrwyn travels into the heart of the dangerous Wildlands where no one has ever returned unscathed. Once there, she meets the shadowy and mysterious Zelek, who is has his own grudges against the kidnapper, and who is the only person who can lead her through the Wilds.
What I Liked:
I liked the world, or what little we got to see of it. I particularly liked the Wildlands, with all the mysterious and dangerous creatures and traps at every step. I would have liked more background on the world. What it looked like, how the Wildlands came to be, and the slaying of the monster Slel.
What I Didn’t Like:
Unfortunately, there was quite a bit I didn’t like. I thought the book was too short for one thing. Even though the 150 pages there were took me forever to get through, I thought this book could have fared better with more worldbuilding and character development, and less of those repetitive, whiny and annoying as hell internal monologues. I mean really Terrwyn. We get its “YOUR DUTY” and “YOU’RE A FAIL”. But must it be repeated every other page? In addition, I thought the perspectives of Terrwyn, Zelek, and Aricia would have been cool, but it made no sense to add in like one random perspective of Zelek and two of Aricia. They should have had constant perspectives or none at all.
I also disliked the characters. They were one sided and dull. Besides the small bit about themselves, all they talked about was battle strategy and their duties. Terrwyn was the typical special snowflake character. She was the only female knight, her skills were better than everyone else, but no. She didn’t KNOW she was special. Only that she would have to DIE to save the princess because her skills weren’t THAT good. Whine, whine, whine.
Spare me.
Zelek was cool at first. I loved the magic of being able to talk to shadows and control them. I thought that was unique and interesting. And I think that in of itself should have had more explanation and more of a role in the book. And I liked how Zelek was cute and awkward, but also badass. But Zelek started to get creepy when he started looking into Terrwyn’s thoughts and when he decided to spy on her bathing. I thought they could have been great romantic partners, but it was WAYYY to instalovey for me. There was no buildup to the romance at all. Just one dance and a couple days talking. Then all of a sudden Terrwyn loses her head (typical) and is torn between Zelek and “HER DUTY”.
Ugh, Spare me.
And the badguys. They weren’t nearly as bad as I thought they should have been.
And don’t even let me get started on that sex scene. CRINGE.
March 2, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This book has potential. I usually love these kinds of books and can never get enough of them, however I wasn't able to get into it until the end. I believe this is due to the fact that it wasn't concise enough to my liking. The first three quarters of the novel seemed to drag on a little - to the point where I had to force myself to continue reading. It also appeared to me that the writing slightly changed in the last quarter to be more enticing, which made me crave more only when it was over. It is possible that the writing distribution of the book may have been off - less of the traveling to even out the amount of rescuing would have been ideal.
In addition, I never understood what Zel was doing at the ball. If someones was tracking someone for four years, why would they go to a ball? That just seemed ofd to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked Zel and how original his power was, but his involvement in the beginning of the story is questionable.
Overall, this book, with some work, could be so much better.
This book has potential. I usually love these kinds of books and can never get enough of them, however I wasn't able to get into it until the end. I believe this is due to the fact that it wasn't concise enough to my liking. The first three quarters of the novel seemed to drag on a little - to the point where I had to force myself to continue reading. It also appeared to me that the writing slightly changed in the last quarter to be more enticing, which made me crave more only when it was over. It is possible that the writing distribution of the book may have been off - less of the traveling to even out the amount of rescuing would have been ideal.
In addition, I never understood what Zel was doing at the ball. If someones was tracking someone for four years, why would they go to a ball? That just seemed ofd to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked Zel and how original his power was, but his involvement in the beginning of the story is questionable.
Overall, this book, with some work, could be so much better.
October 28, 2016
Review to come
December 5, 2016
Original Review @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
3.5 Stars
Honestly, the cover to Enveloping Shadows caught my eye first, and after reading the blurb I was so excited to get into it! I love a good fantasy, with magical elements entwined throughout. Throw in a tough heroine and I'm usually blown away. Enveloping Shadows was a good read with plenty of action, a slow developing romance and an interesting adventure into danger.
Terrwyn embarked on a journey to bring back princess Aricia after she disappeared into the shadows. Terrwyn seemed a little hot headed when only two other guards took the trip with her, and often voiced her opinions about their lack of loyalty. In the end she sucked it up and went on the journey. Soon she was alone and saved by a stranger she met at the palace, and they continued the journey together.
Zelek was my favourite character! He had a special ability that allowed him to communicate with shadows. He was able to use them to go on the right path and alert them of danger. He wasn't battle trained like Terrwyn, but was handy when they needed it. He liked how tough and loyal Terrwyn was from the first time they met, and wanted to get to know her better.
Terrwyn was harder for me to like. She took all the blame for what happened to princess Aricia, even though she was told countless times that she couldn’t have prevented it. She was a little naive, stepping into danger even though she'd been warned, and pushed those away that were genuine. However, she was great in a fight and used her skill and brain when a battle arose.
Unfortunately Enveloping Shadows fell a little flat for me. There was so much inner dialogue, and often repetitive dialogue, that left me a little bored. It felt like something was missing, maybe I just needed more interaction between the characters, conversations etc. The action drew me back in, as they faced all types of hideous monsters! So it had its good moments and its bad ones. I wonder if it was told from the first person perspective, if I would've enjoyed it more.
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Honestly, the cover to Enveloping Shadows caught my eye first, and after reading the blurb I was so excited to get into it! I love a good fantasy, with magical elements entwined throughout. Throw in a tough heroine and I'm usually blown away. Enveloping Shadows was a good read with plenty of action, a slow developing romance and an interesting adventure into danger.
Terrwyn embarked on a journey to bring back princess Aricia after she disappeared into the shadows. Terrwyn seemed a little hot headed when only two other guards took the trip with her, and often voiced her opinions about their lack of loyalty. In the end she sucked it up and went on the journey. Soon she was alone and saved by a stranger she met at the palace, and they continued the journey together.
Zelek was my favourite character! He had a special ability that allowed him to communicate with shadows. He was able to use them to go on the right path and alert them of danger. He wasn't battle trained like Terrwyn, but was handy when they needed it. He liked how tough and loyal Terrwyn was from the first time they met, and wanted to get to know her better.
Terrwyn was harder for me to like. She took all the blame for what happened to princess Aricia, even though she was told countless times that she couldn’t have prevented it. She was a little naive, stepping into danger even though she'd been warned, and pushed those away that were genuine. However, she was great in a fight and used her skill and brain when a battle arose.
Unfortunately Enveloping Shadows fell a little flat for me. There was so much inner dialogue, and often repetitive dialogue, that left me a little bored. It felt like something was missing, maybe I just needed more interaction between the characters, conversations etc. The action drew me back in, as they faced all types of hideous monsters! So it had its good moments and its bad ones. I wonder if it was told from the first person perspective, if I would've enjoyed it more.
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2016
Enveloping Shadows is a fantasy adventure story with a plot that's in line with a quest, to rescue and save a kidnapped princess. The heroine is the knight who served as the princess' personal guard before she was snatched away right before their eyes. Its magic, adventure, romance and everything you can ever want in an engaging fantasy quest. Ms. Smith has written a tale that will engage readers and pull them in Terrwyn's story. Excellently plotted and wonderfully written, Enveloping Shadows is really worth a read.
*ARC provided thru NetGalley by the publisher*
*ARC provided thru NetGalley by the publisher*
December 26, 2016
I'm a sucker for a good fantasy and this blurb drew me right in. This is my first read by Lauren D.M. Smith, and I have heard great things about her debut with The Emperor's Arrow. Hopefully I can fit that one into my 2017 reading calendar. This review will be a quickie to coincide with the novella length story.
Sir Terrwyn is a female knight of the realm, and was chosen by Princess Aricia to be her personal bodyguard. Though Terrwyn and Aricia have become friends, Terrwyn is tough as nails and takes her duty seriously. When Princess Aricia is kidnapped right in front of Terrwyn, she is filled with guilt, regret and self-recrimination. Showing her characteristic bravery, Terrwyn sets off to rescue the princess from the clutches of magic users when she, herself, has no magic. You really can't find fault with any of Terrwyn's actions. She was determined and steadfast in her loyalty to Aricia, but she also seemed humble and didn't rub her superiority in anyone's face.
Zelek is a shadow-whisperer with the ability to communicate with and hide within shadows. A mission which has taken up the last four years of his life sees him crossing paths more than once with Terrwyn, and he seeks to join her on her dangerous quest into the Wild Land. Zelek is mysterious and holds his cards very close to his chest, but he is also somewhat flirty and loves making Terrwyn blush. While his shadow-whispering gave him an advantage, his fighting skills are not on par with Terrwyn's and he is impressed by her prowess.
The relationship between Zelek and Terrwyn was a slow burn for such a short novella. They meandered along on their quest, getting to know one another and working toward their common goal. They roughed it on the road and battled dangerous creatures that are found only in the Wild Lands. I liked Zelek's flirting with Terrwyn, and her almost virginal response. Their pairing was more sweet than steamy, and the romance wasn't the main focus of the story.
I did enjoy the story, but wanted a little more when it came down to it. It's hard to fit a good fantasy into a novella, as I always seem to want more world building and character development. The bones are here and solid, but they needed to be fattened up. I would have also liked a more thorough ending, or perhaps an epilogue showing how Zelek and Terrwyn worked things out in the years to come.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Carina Press.
November 4, 2016
Voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from NetGalley
This is more of a 3.5 than a 3 star rating. I think some people may enjoy this but the repetitiveness in the beginning automatically sets a certain impression, and the different set of style in the beginning and the end was too jarring. Now... the author writes with a lot of detail with a feeling of a fast-paced novel. It was enjoyable at times and the book took on a fun adventure story of knights and dark magic. A few small scenes threw off the story, but otherwise it wasn't bad.
This is more of a 3.5 than a 3 star rating. I think some people may enjoy this but the repetitiveness in the beginning automatically sets a certain impression, and the different set of style in the beginning and the end was too jarring. Now... the author writes with a lot of detail with a feeling of a fast-paced novel. It was enjoyable at times and the book took on a fun adventure story of knights and dark magic. A few small scenes threw off the story, but otherwise it wasn't bad.
Read
June 8, 2017I read 30% and decided not to continue because I was very bored. The story did not grab me or hold my interest at all. I have been on a Fantasy kick lately and have read a lot of Fantasy books in the last year and the Enveloping Shadows didn't stand out one bit among all other books.
October 17, 2016
This review is based on the ARC received from the author and or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
It was off to a slow start, but the action developed quickly.
It was off to a slow start, but the action developed quickly.
April 11, 2022
Worth the read. Not sure why it has a low rating other than it being a little slow as it's building up to the main parts of the story? There are still some inconsistencies and facts that are randomly sprinkled in there and some parts that were promised but forgotten but still a good book to read.
Read
September 2, 2024Categories
Romance, Action & Adventure Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, New Adult Romance, Action & Adventure Romance
Romance, Action & Adventure Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, New Adult Romance, Action & Adventure Romance
November 29, 2016
2.5 stars
I requested this book before I realized that the author was the one that wrote The Emperor's Arrow. I really liked that book so I was kind of looking forward to this one then. Unfortunately, I was so bored for so much of this. It's short, but I'm not sure that making it longer would have been better because everything happens smoothly as it is. It doesn't actually feel rushed. The world building was great and the creativity was definitely there. From demons, witches, and the monsters that had to be faced, to the environment that had to be traveled. I especially loved the idea of people being able to use shadows in different ways. But I just did not get into the story itself at all.
I was okay with Terrwyn as the main character. She is the princess's head bodyguard and she takes her role seriously. To the point that the princess fears she has no life outside of her duty. Which is kind of true. Terrwyn is out to prove that the chance taken on her was worth it and she does that splendidly. She is strong, smart, and more honorable than many of the other knights at the palace. But when she is around Zelek, she can't help her girly reactions to him...and it's kind of cute.
I loved Zelek. We first meet him at a ball where he is immediately taken with Terrwyn. It's not until about half way thru or so that he's really back as a main character though. On a mission of his own, Zelek has skills that have been kept secret from most of the world. With the ability to communicate and use shadows he can be a lethal enemy...or a great ally. I so loved the way he was with Terrwyn. The way he teased her and clearly used his shadows to see what she was up to was fun.
So as I said, Terrwyn is the princess's head bodyguard. When she taken from right in front of her, Terrwyn is riddled with guilt and is determined to rescue her even if she has to go alone. Because where the princess was taken is a place nobody has returned from. Fortunately for her there are two other volunteers. But really, neither lasts very long at her side. And that's when Zelek shows up. After saving her life twice, the two of them team up. A lot of this book is about Terrwyn, and whoever is with her, traveling. Occasionally they have to fight off monsters but that's about it so that's probably why the story wasn't all that engaging. Even after we find out what the purpose of kidnapping the princess was.
Zelek is after the same man that took the princess, but for personal reasons. He has been trying to catch him for four years now and failure would mean that it would fall to his sister. A duty he does not want her to have. Sharing the same goal, he manages to convince Terrwyn to work together. They both clearly really like the other but both are reluctant to make the first move. Zelek because he's afraid it would scare her away, and Terrwyn because she doesn't have all that much experience. But Zelek is a tease and a flirt who finds it rather humorous to make Terrwyn blush. And so did I. When they finally got together I was definitely happy. Even if the descriptions used were so off the wall they were funny sometimes.
Finally it is time to rescue the princess. They each have their own fight to face and to win, and neither will be easy. But we know that they will succeed. And maybe Zelek and Terrwyn might even have a future together. They make a good couple, so why not.
Even though this one was a bust for me, I'd definitely give something by this author a chance in the future again. She's a good writer and I would like to see what new ideas she can come up with.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
I requested this book before I realized that the author was the one that wrote The Emperor's Arrow. I really liked that book so I was kind of looking forward to this one then. Unfortunately, I was so bored for so much of this. It's short, but I'm not sure that making it longer would have been better because everything happens smoothly as it is. It doesn't actually feel rushed. The world building was great and the creativity was definitely there. From demons, witches, and the monsters that had to be faced, to the environment that had to be traveled. I especially loved the idea of people being able to use shadows in different ways. But I just did not get into the story itself at all.
I was okay with Terrwyn as the main character. She is the princess's head bodyguard and she takes her role seriously. To the point that the princess fears she has no life outside of her duty. Which is kind of true. Terrwyn is out to prove that the chance taken on her was worth it and she does that splendidly. She is strong, smart, and more honorable than many of the other knights at the palace. But when she is around Zelek, she can't help her girly reactions to him...and it's kind of cute.
I loved Zelek. We first meet him at a ball where he is immediately taken with Terrwyn. It's not until about half way thru or so that he's really back as a main character though. On a mission of his own, Zelek has skills that have been kept secret from most of the world. With the ability to communicate and use shadows he can be a lethal enemy...or a great ally. I so loved the way he was with Terrwyn. The way he teased her and clearly used his shadows to see what she was up to was fun.
So as I said, Terrwyn is the princess's head bodyguard. When she taken from right in front of her, Terrwyn is riddled with guilt and is determined to rescue her even if she has to go alone. Because where the princess was taken is a place nobody has returned from. Fortunately for her there are two other volunteers. But really, neither lasts very long at her side. And that's when Zelek shows up. After saving her life twice, the two of them team up. A lot of this book is about Terrwyn, and whoever is with her, traveling. Occasionally they have to fight off monsters but that's about it so that's probably why the story wasn't all that engaging. Even after we find out what the purpose of kidnapping the princess was.
Zelek is after the same man that took the princess, but for personal reasons. He has been trying to catch him for four years now and failure would mean that it would fall to his sister. A duty he does not want her to have. Sharing the same goal, he manages to convince Terrwyn to work together. They both clearly really like the other but both are reluctant to make the first move. Zelek because he's afraid it would scare her away, and Terrwyn because she doesn't have all that much experience. But Zelek is a tease and a flirt who finds it rather humorous to make Terrwyn blush. And so did I. When they finally got together I was definitely happy. Even if the descriptions used were so off the wall they were funny sometimes.
Finally it is time to rescue the princess. They each have their own fight to face and to win, and neither will be easy. But we know that they will succeed. And maybe Zelek and Terrwyn might even have a future together. They make a good couple, so why not.
Even though this one was a bust for me, I'd definitely give something by this author a chance in the future again. She's a good writer and I would like to see what new ideas she can come up with.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
March 3, 2017
Enveloping Shadows can be described as strong. Strong female heroine with a strong sense of commitment to her charge who undertakes a long, and dangerous mission to save her. Our hero is also strong, a warrior of a different sort who compliments our heroine. This is fantasy at its best.
November 5, 2016
"Enveloping Shadows" is a fantasy novel about a young knight named Terrwyn, who is the chief bodyguard for the princess Aricia. The book begins with set-ups about Terrwyn's personality and lack of femininity with the opposite being true of Aricia. Despite their differences, the two are good friends and their working relationship also includes a close friendship. As an unwed heir, Aricia's safety is less assured and more difficult to achieve. However, Terrwyn is up for anything- except something she couldn't see coming. A stranger cloaked in shadows appears, grabs Aricia, and then disappears just as quickly. Terrwyn embarks on a quest to find and rescue Aricia with volunteers- of which there were only two. They know that they will have to travel through the dangerous wild lands where magical creatures and monsters are a constant threat, leaving them unlikely to survive.
The journey begins and moves quickly- soon, Terrwyn is left on her own. A young man on his own quest, Zelek (or Zel), decides to work with and help her, as it is in both of their interests to do so. As you can probably predict, a romance grows between them. This is definitely targeted to a mature audience as there is explicit content here, in addition to the fantasy violence (fighting, monsters) throughout. Although the romance was okay, I actually liked Terrwyn and Aricia's relationship best, and I wouldn't have minded if the focus stayed on the two of them. We get glimpses of Aricia while she is being held captive and I felt that between those and Terrwyn's dangerous journey, the fantasy/adventure pieces of the book were well covered. The romance was more of an afterthought.
It is fast-paced and there are no cliffhangers at the end (not sure if it will be a series, but I could easily see this world being a series and another book focusing on Aricia). Overall, it's a great fantasy read with a touch of romance. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The journey begins and moves quickly- soon, Terrwyn is left on her own. A young man on his own quest, Zelek (or Zel), decides to work with and help her, as it is in both of their interests to do so. As you can probably predict, a romance grows between them. This is definitely targeted to a mature audience as there is explicit content here, in addition to the fantasy violence (fighting, monsters) throughout. Although the romance was okay, I actually liked Terrwyn and Aricia's relationship best, and I wouldn't have minded if the focus stayed on the two of them. We get glimpses of Aricia while she is being held captive and I felt that between those and Terrwyn's dangerous journey, the fantasy/adventure pieces of the book were well covered. The romance was more of an afterthought.
It is fast-paced and there are no cliffhangers at the end (not sure if it will be a series, but I could easily see this world being a series and another book focusing on Aricia). Overall, it's a great fantasy read with a touch of romance. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2016
http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab...
Enveloping Shadows was a 4 star read.
Terrwyn is a knight who is the protector of the princess Aricia. Aricia in the meantime is trying to get Terrwyn to wear dresses and go to balls with her. She is determined to get her way. Terrwyn is worried that going to the ball will be distracting from her duty of protecting Aricia. She however meets a mystery man and has a wonderful dance with him.
During a dinner a shadow of a man came in and abducted Aricia. Terrwyn and two volunteers go in search of Aricia, during the journey things occur that end up leaving Terrwyn by herself. She is approached and saved a few times by Zelek. They discover that they are both on a similar journey and decide to travel together.
Things get interesting from here. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was coming next. There are some different types of creatures that were a little scary and there is a twist of magic as well. The secondary characters added a great element to the story.
Can Aricia and Zel find Aricia before it’s too late? Will Zel get his revenge?
1-click and get started today to find out.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
Enveloping Shadows was a 4 star read.
Terrwyn is a knight who is the protector of the princess Aricia. Aricia in the meantime is trying to get Terrwyn to wear dresses and go to balls with her. She is determined to get her way. Terrwyn is worried that going to the ball will be distracting from her duty of protecting Aricia. She however meets a mystery man and has a wonderful dance with him.
During a dinner a shadow of a man came in and abducted Aricia. Terrwyn and two volunteers go in search of Aricia, during the journey things occur that end up leaving Terrwyn by herself. She is approached and saved a few times by Zelek. They discover that they are both on a similar journey and decide to travel together.
Things get interesting from here. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was coming next. There are some different types of creatures that were a little scary and there is a twist of magic as well. The secondary characters added a great element to the story.
Can Aricia and Zel find Aricia before it’s too late? Will Zel get his revenge?
1-click and get started today to find out.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
December 6, 2016
Not for me
This book just wasn't for me. I found a lot of it repetitive and it lacked the density and character of The Emperor's Arrow. The main character in this book was very self focused; somehow everything related back to her. We hear repeatedly how guilty she is, and nervous, and scared. The descriptions of these feelings don't change either: a twisting stomach pain, or constantly swallowing...The phrases started derailing the story because they stood out too much. I am also not a fan of excessive blushing, which the character does in spades; virgin-like purity in adult characters is not something I like in a story, less so when it's a female and that purity is used as a method to show femininity. I find such notions...undermining to the strides made in women's rights. Had I felt that the character herself carried that sense of innocence as a trait rather than it feeling like a moral imposed on her, I would have enjoyed the story more.
That being said, I think others will enjoy the book. Those like me will likely enjoy it with the above forewarnings. It is certainly nice to see a fantasy story where the main character isn't a royal or ends up married to one. I enjoyed the bodyguard angle and wish we had gotten to see more from that perspective.
This book just wasn't for me. I found a lot of it repetitive and it lacked the density and character of The Emperor's Arrow. The main character in this book was very self focused; somehow everything related back to her. We hear repeatedly how guilty she is, and nervous, and scared. The descriptions of these feelings don't change either: a twisting stomach pain, or constantly swallowing...The phrases started derailing the story because they stood out too much. I am also not a fan of excessive blushing, which the character does in spades; virgin-like purity in adult characters is not something I like in a story, less so when it's a female and that purity is used as a method to show femininity. I find such notions...undermining to the strides made in women's rights. Had I felt that the character herself carried that sense of innocence as a trait rather than it feeling like a moral imposed on her, I would have enjoyed the story more.
That being said, I think others will enjoy the book. Those like me will likely enjoy it with the above forewarnings. It is certainly nice to see a fantasy story where the main character isn't a royal or ends up married to one. I enjoyed the bodyguard angle and wish we had gotten to see more from that perspective.
December 4, 2016
DNF @50%
Well, I chose this book because it was short, and it seemed like a fantasy, not a romance. I have been reading a lot of romances lately, and thought I could use a little break from all the "slamming needs" and "slanting mouths to deepen kisses."
I am not sure if there was any romance in this, it just felt like that was the direction that was being taken between Zel and Terrwyn. And seeing as how Zel decided to trust Terrwyn with his people's secret, their legacy, after knowing her for only 5 seconds, I was getting a little aggravated with this book. Zel did threaten to basically chase her through bowels of hell if she ever told a soul, but I feel like there was a lot of trust going back and forth for people who just met. Under very bizarre circumstances. This all before the book was halfway over, which, for a 150 page book, took me nearly a whole day. That is a LOOOOOONG time for me, so obviously I was just not into the story that much. I think there was some potential, but after the instant trust, and Terrwyn being a little more worried about how attracted she is to Zel than her rescue mission, I had to give up.
Well, I chose this book because it was short, and it seemed like a fantasy, not a romance. I have been reading a lot of romances lately, and thought I could use a little break from all the "slamming needs" and "slanting mouths to deepen kisses."
I am not sure if there was any romance in this, it just felt like that was the direction that was being taken between Zel and Terrwyn. And seeing as how Zel decided to trust Terrwyn with his people's secret, their legacy, after knowing her for only 5 seconds, I was getting a little aggravated with this book. Zel did threaten to basically chase her through bowels of hell if she ever told a soul, but I feel like there was a lot of trust going back and forth for people who just met. Under very bizarre circumstances. This all before the book was halfway over, which, for a 150 page book, took me nearly a whole day. That is a LOOOOOONG time for me, so obviously I was just not into the story that much. I think there was some potential, but after the instant trust, and Terrwyn being a little more worried about how attracted she is to Zel than her rescue mission, I had to give up.
December 16, 2016
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars!
The princess has been snatched and only one Knight can right this dastardly wrong. Terrwyn must travel through the Wilds and rescue the Princess from the clutches of her captors. Luckily, a handsome stranger appears from the shadows and aids her, first by saving her from certain death then throughout the rescue.
I thought the premise of an attacker being able to hide in the shadows was rather inspired, but it took me a while to become emotionally involved with the characters. I couldn't work up any concern for the Princess as she came across as stubborn and selfish in the first two chapters, but watching Terrwyn grow in her Knighthood was fun to see. Tisn't often that there is a character that holds honor and chivalry in such high esteem. The dark stranger, Zel, was a bit of a puzzle at first, but he shows his stripes later in the book. The world building was well done in the description of the Wild Lands, but I may've missed the part that said exactly what they were as it left me muddling over it for quite some time. Overall, I give it three stars.
3 stars!
The princess has been snatched and only one Knight can right this dastardly wrong. Terrwyn must travel through the Wilds and rescue the Princess from the clutches of her captors. Luckily, a handsome stranger appears from the shadows and aids her, first by saving her from certain death then throughout the rescue.
I thought the premise of an attacker being able to hide in the shadows was rather inspired, but it took me a while to become emotionally involved with the characters. I couldn't work up any concern for the Princess as she came across as stubborn and selfish in the first two chapters, but watching Terrwyn grow in her Knighthood was fun to see. Tisn't often that there is a character that holds honor and chivalry in such high esteem. The dark stranger, Zel, was a bit of a puzzle at first, but he shows his stripes later in the book. The world building was well done in the description of the Wild Lands, but I may've missed the part that said exactly what they were as it left me muddling over it for quite some time. Overall, I give it three stars.
December 28, 2016
This book was given to me for an honest review.
4 star.
This book was very different for me. I dont usually read this genre but it kept my interest the whole time. There was a bit of romance but with all honesty this was more action packed then anything. I loved how all the characters interacted, how they worked as a team in the dangers of the wild. Everything seemed to be in place. There was never a dull moment and that is what kept this book exciting. Thee more you learned about everyone the more you wanted.
The princess was taken with magic no one knows much about. The quest has begun to bring her back. But only her right hand guard and one other knight volunteers. The chances of rescue are slim but they have to do it. So much can happen deep in the forest. Creatures, witches, shadows you name it. The only saving grace is a man named zel that has his own task to finish. Know that there are secrets, deaths, and romance all combined in this story.
You won't want to put this book down. It gets intense in some places, a little weird in others but it is a must read. I loved going out of my element to read this bbook. I am very glad I got the chance.
4 star.
This book was very different for me. I dont usually read this genre but it kept my interest the whole time. There was a bit of romance but with all honesty this was more action packed then anything. I loved how all the characters interacted, how they worked as a team in the dangers of the wild. Everything seemed to be in place. There was never a dull moment and that is what kept this book exciting. Thee more you learned about everyone the more you wanted.
The princess was taken with magic no one knows much about. The quest has begun to bring her back. But only her right hand guard and one other knight volunteers. The chances of rescue are slim but they have to do it. So much can happen deep in the forest. Creatures, witches, shadows you name it. The only saving grace is a man named zel that has his own task to finish. Know that there are secrets, deaths, and romance all combined in this story.
You won't want to put this book down. It gets intense in some places, a little weird in others but it is a must read. I loved going out of my element to read this bbook. I am very glad I got the chance.
December 10, 2016
Ok.
The romance was a bit rushed. But the plot was decently interesting. There wasn't a point that I got bored of the plot or tired of any characters. But it wasn't a book that I was rushing back to when I was interrupted. It did a decent job of telling it's story, but didn't have any of the WOW factor that would earn it more stars.
Bottom line: Good read if you've got nothing better to do.
The romance was a bit rushed. But the plot was decently interesting. There wasn't a point that I got bored of the plot or tired of any characters. But it wasn't a book that I was rushing back to when I was interrupted. It did a decent job of telling it's story, but didn't have any of the WOW factor that would earn it more stars.
Bottom line: Good read if you've got nothing better to do.
December 12, 2016
Novella sized story. (approx 180 pgs).
The story was fine. No surprises. Characters needed to be filled out.
Not as good as The Emperor's Arrow. I was disappointed, since Emperor's Arrow was one of my favorites of 2016.
The story was fine. No surprises. Characters needed to be filled out.
Not as good as The Emperor's Arrow. I was disappointed, since Emperor's Arrow was one of my favorites of 2016.
November 20, 2016
Scheduled 12/05/2016
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