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Shield of Shadows
Lethal and lovely. Beneath her hood, Cara conceals a face no man is likely to forget. But that’s not all she hides. No one would ever guess that a farmer’s daughter could wield a weapon with deadly skill.
Secrets and lies. For years, Cara has been surrounded by both. Lies told by her father. Secrets kept by her mother. Not to mention those she keeps to herself. Having lived her entire life on the run from an unknown enemy, they all catch up to her, driving her into Drakken Forest
Ancient and magical. Drakken is the mysterious forest all men dread. When Cara flees there, desperate for escape, she encounters wonders and horrors she never imagined existed. But that’s not all she discovers. Aided by the elusive gypsies who protect Drakken’s ancient magic, it is there that she uncovers the truth about who she really is and where her destiny lies. Will she stay to fulfill it? Or will the dangers prove too great to remain?
Secrets and lies. For years, Cara has been surrounded by both. Lies told by her father. Secrets kept by her mother. Not to mention those she keeps to herself. Having lived her entire life on the run from an unknown enemy, they all catch up to her, driving her into Drakken Forest
Ancient and magical. Drakken is the mysterious forest all men dread. When Cara flees there, desperate for escape, she encounters wonders and horrors she never imagined existed. But that’s not all she discovers. Aided by the elusive gypsies who protect Drakken’s ancient magic, it is there that she uncovers the truth about who she really is and where her destiny lies. Will she stay to fulfill it? Or will the dangers prove too great to remain?
401 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2018
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-crafted tale which engulfed me in a sense of wonder early on. I was especially drawn to the fantastical and well-constructed world where a simple walk in the forest could turn life-threatening in an instant. I regularly felt a subtle tension while traversing the forbidden forest of Drakken where many enter but few leave. There is a wide cast of interesting characters with relatable beliefs and motivations and I enjoyed seeing their interaction with the protagonist.
The characters are interesting, the action is tense, and the creatures that inhabit Drakken are as intriguing as they are frightening. I feel like there is a lot of setup for a much larger narrative and I'm excited to see where the story goes.
The characters are interesting, the action is tense, and the creatures that inhabit Drakken are as intriguing as they are frightening. I feel like there is a lot of setup for a much larger narrative and I'm excited to see where the story goes.
February 16, 2019
Such a rich start to the trilogy. As with her debut, The Dark Wood, Mann immerses you into a beautiful world and never lets you out. The plot is well-paced, with a ton of action, romance, intrigue, and hints at the larger storyline of the series while the language is rich, but not overly flowery. It’s been awhile since starting a new series so I’m incredibly excited for whenever she will release book 2.
March 1, 2019
Beautiful written book. I hope there is another book coming. I loved the character Cara, she's strong but yet vulnerable. The twist and turns in the story are mind blowing. I was taken away into a fantasy forest land with intriguing gypsy characters.
August 18, 2019
A Grand Start
When I started this book I had a hard time putting it down. Wanting to finish it in about a week, I estimated myself at about seven chapters a day. In the first day I think I read about fifteen.
The action in this book is easy to follow and exciting. One thing I really loved was that though Cara is described as being incredibly beautiful, it’s mostly through other’s reactions that we are shown this, rather than outlandish, objectifying descriptions.
As the story went on, however, I was taken out of the immersion of it due to the fact that Cara became a bit “too perfect”. I hesitate to use the term “Mary-Sue” but she was the most beautiful, the most skilled, the best at this and that, etc. To the point where I was almost annoyed at times. Granted, the reason for her extraordinary-ness has an explanation, but I’m not sure it’s enough to warrant her perfection.
But what bothered me more than this was the fact that Cara so often ended up being rescued. She was physically carried a exuberant number of times and she ended up in trouble so often that it lost its sense of drama and urgency.
The Erumani lost their credibility when they didn’t just shrug her off as not their problem anymore.
Also, though the first half of the novel is from Caras POV, there are two very brief chunks where the POV switched, losing consistency in the story.
Then the second half of the story swaps to Cael’s POV, which means we start back almost at the beginning again. Because the first half built the setting and reveals and stories, the second half has much less work to do in this regard and kind of feels rushed.
Cael ended up needing to be rescued almost as often as Cara (maybe runs in the family???) and Soraya, who could be a really strong character, unfortunately becomes almost solely the focus of Cael’s feelings.
It also struck me as funny that despite the Erumani’s claims about all their rules and regulations, they really didn’t seem that bothered to break them not only for Cara, but for Cael as well, despite the two interacting with two completely separate groups.
Despite these issues, I enjoyed the story. Sydney Mann does have a way with words and I like her style of writing a lot. Descriptions of the Erumani’s living arrangements (trying to spoil as little as possible here) were magical and made me want to step into the story. I intend to give The Dark Wood a shot as I’ve heard very good things.
When I started this book I had a hard time putting it down. Wanting to finish it in about a week, I estimated myself at about seven chapters a day. In the first day I think I read about fifteen.
The action in this book is easy to follow and exciting. One thing I really loved was that though Cara is described as being incredibly beautiful, it’s mostly through other’s reactions that we are shown this, rather than outlandish, objectifying descriptions.
As the story went on, however, I was taken out of the immersion of it due to the fact that Cara became a bit “too perfect”. I hesitate to use the term “Mary-Sue” but she was the most beautiful, the most skilled, the best at this and that, etc. To the point where I was almost annoyed at times. Granted, the reason for her extraordinary-ness has an explanation, but I’m not sure it’s enough to warrant her perfection.
But what bothered me more than this was the fact that Cara so often ended up being rescued. She was physically carried a exuberant number of times and she ended up in trouble so often that it lost its sense of drama and urgency.
The Erumani lost their credibility when they didn’t just shrug her off as not their problem anymore.
Also, though the first half of the novel is from Caras POV, there are two very brief chunks where the POV switched, losing consistency in the story.
Then the second half of the story swaps to Cael’s POV, which means we start back almost at the beginning again. Because the first half built the setting and reveals and stories, the second half has much less work to do in this regard and kind of feels rushed.
Cael ended up needing to be rescued almost as often as Cara (maybe runs in the family???) and Soraya, who could be a really strong character, unfortunately becomes almost solely the focus of Cael’s feelings.
It also struck me as funny that despite the Erumani’s claims about all their rules and regulations, they really didn’t seem that bothered to break them not only for Cara, but for Cael as well, despite the two interacting with two completely separate groups.
Despite these issues, I enjoyed the story. Sydney Mann does have a way with words and I like her style of writing a lot. Descriptions of the Erumani’s living arrangements (trying to spoil as little as possible here) were magical and made me want to step into the story. I intend to give The Dark Wood a shot as I’ve heard very good things.
August 12, 2023
Female Legolas in Gypsy camp in a magical wood - loved it!
17yo Cara Cardiv has been on the run & taught to fight her whole life. Her farmer parents move to be near a dark & dangerous wood to which she and her brother have to flee when soldiers of a foreign king attack. After a devastating loss, her father’s secrets come to light and when the gypsies take her in, it’s just the start of Cara’s adventures.
I love Ms Mann’s books and could not put this one down! Quite liked the author’s version of vamps or darklings without bloodlust banished by the elves. Damn callous & calculating their king was, though. Loved the take on lodestones as well. Loved the difference between wildlings and shifters - cursed vs voluntary shifting. And the whole gypsy clans living in dark woods & shunning outsiders theme - very Sherlock Holmes (the movie).
Since Cara is 17 but the MMC is 20, this is a mixed audience book - YA/NA, but sufficient coming of age themes to warrant a teen action-adventure label. There are elements of RH as Cara’s ethereal beauty makes most men she meets fall for her, but the romance bit is a sideline.
This is one of the bulky books (426pp) that for that reason was on my tbr for a few years but once I started, I whizzed through and didn’t want to put it down. It’s divided into 2 parts - one for the sister and the other following someone else (no spoilers).
Recommended for lovers of sword & sorcery, elven lore & action-adventure.
17yo Cara Cardiv has been on the run & taught to fight her whole life. Her farmer parents move to be near a dark & dangerous wood to which she and her brother have to flee when soldiers of a foreign king attack. After a devastating loss, her father’s secrets come to light and when the gypsies take her in, it’s just the start of Cara’s adventures.
I love Ms Mann’s books and could not put this one down! Quite liked the author’s version of vamps or darklings without bloodlust banished by the elves. Damn callous & calculating their king was, though. Loved the take on lodestones as well. Loved the difference between wildlings and shifters - cursed vs voluntary shifting. And the whole gypsy clans living in dark woods & shunning outsiders theme - very Sherlock Holmes (the movie).
Since Cara is 17 but the MMC is 20, this is a mixed audience book - YA/NA, but sufficient coming of age themes to warrant a teen action-adventure label. There are elements of RH as Cara’s ethereal beauty makes most men she meets fall for her, but the romance bit is a sideline.
This is one of the bulky books (426pp) that for that reason was on my tbr for a few years but once I started, I whizzed through and didn’t want to put it down. It’s divided into 2 parts - one for the sister and the other following someone else (no spoilers).
Recommended for lovers of sword & sorcery, elven lore & action-adventure.
May 10, 2019
Epic settings? Check. Enjoyable, well written fight sequences? Check. A wonderfully crafted world that you can lose yourself in? Check. If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, then you should love this book.
Syndey has done a wonderful job in creating a world that feels alive; from the settings like the Drakken, to the characters such as Cara and Cael, to the list of creatures both magical and not that populate her world, there are many positives to takeaway from the novel.
Sydney's writing style is perfectly suited to the genre with her narratively flowing nicely throughout and it being very easy to digest with reasonably sized chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel when it is released.
I'd recommend giving this book a read. Even if you're not necessarily a fan of the genre.
Syndey has done a wonderful job in creating a world that feels alive; from the settings like the Drakken, to the characters such as Cara and Cael, to the list of creatures both magical and not that populate her world, there are many positives to takeaway from the novel.
Sydney's writing style is perfectly suited to the genre with her narratively flowing nicely throughout and it being very easy to digest with reasonably sized chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel when it is released.
I'd recommend giving this book a read. Even if you're not necessarily a fan of the genre.
April 5, 2019
Not for me. Also Cael is my least fave.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews