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Demon-Born Trilogy #1
The Shadow Children
Everything you know is a lie. Find the truth at Shadow Hall Academy!
Millions of pages read in Kindle Unlimited and tens of thousands of worldwide downloads in its first year--readers are raving about L.C. Hibbett's best selling paranormal fantasy trilogy. Now available in a complete set!
"An Academy series with a difference. Harry Potter meets Raven Cycle meets Fallen. Unmissable!" - N.M. Howell (USA Times Bestseller) ★★★★★
"OMG!!! This was the BEST and most captivating book I've read in a long time, and I read a lot." -Sunnyles ★★★★★
"Would give it ten stars if I could! Absolutely could not put this book down! Wonderfully written, engaging characters, and the story kept me up all night reading until the end." -Nikko M. ★★★★★
"You won't regret it! Captivating. I couldn't put it down... The characters and plot are faultless." -Kindle Reader ★★★★★
" I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by it. The story had a lot of mystery... also had a lot of heart... I found myself in tears a few times."-E. Lee ★★★★★
" I couldn't put it down, just had to read till the end... different and cool." -ABcd ★★★★★
Magic, Secrets, Love, and Lies.
Eighteen-year-old Grace is Demon-Born; the forbidden child of an Angel and a Demon. Grace and her foster family have survived capture by living among humans, but the noose is tightening as the spell binding their magic begins to fail. When unexpected allies send Grace and her family crashing into the world of The Shadow Children, a secret society dedicated to protecting the hunted, Grace finds herself attending a supernatural academy where she must battle with her emerging powers and the electrifying tension between herself and the brooding Samuel Hayes.
As the threads of Grace's life begin to unravel, she finds herself at the center of a battle to save those she cares about--who can she trust when everyone has the face of an angel?
An epic paranormal fantasy series. Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments, Hush Hush, and Fallen.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND EDITION OF THE SHADOW CHILDREN. THIS BOOK WAS PREVIOUSLY SOLD UNDER THE SAME NAME AND TITLE BY ANOTHER PUBLISHER.
Millions of pages read in Kindle Unlimited and tens of thousands of worldwide downloads in its first year--readers are raving about L.C. Hibbett's best selling paranormal fantasy trilogy. Now available in a complete set!
"An Academy series with a difference. Harry Potter meets Raven Cycle meets Fallen. Unmissable!" - N.M. Howell (USA Times Bestseller) ★★★★★
"OMG!!! This was the BEST and most captivating book I've read in a long time, and I read a lot." -Sunnyles ★★★★★
"Would give it ten stars if I could! Absolutely could not put this book down! Wonderfully written, engaging characters, and the story kept me up all night reading until the end." -Nikko M. ★★★★★
"You won't regret it! Captivating. I couldn't put it down... The characters and plot are faultless." -Kindle Reader ★★★★★
" I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by it. The story had a lot of mystery... also had a lot of heart... I found myself in tears a few times."-E. Lee ★★★★★
" I couldn't put it down, just had to read till the end... different and cool." -ABcd ★★★★★
Magic, Secrets, Love, and Lies.
Eighteen-year-old Grace is Demon-Born; the forbidden child of an Angel and a Demon. Grace and her foster family have survived capture by living among humans, but the noose is tightening as the spell binding their magic begins to fail. When unexpected allies send Grace and her family crashing into the world of The Shadow Children, a secret society dedicated to protecting the hunted, Grace finds herself attending a supernatural academy where she must battle with her emerging powers and the electrifying tension between herself and the brooding Samuel Hayes.
As the threads of Grace's life begin to unravel, she finds herself at the center of a battle to save those she cares about--who can she trust when everyone has the face of an angel?
An epic paranormal fantasy series. Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments, Hush Hush, and Fallen.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND EDITION OF THE SHADOW CHILDREN. THIS BOOK WAS PREVIOUSLY SOLD UNDER THE SAME NAME AND TITLE BY ANOTHER PUBLISHER.
478 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2016
1189 people are currently reading
1200 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
July 17, 2017
2.75 stars...I think.
I was confused for a large part of this book. Some backstory would have been nice instead of just being thrown into the middle of what is essentially as hurricane of happenings. Also...THERE ARE SOOO MANY CHARACTERS!! It was hard to keep them all straight. I also didn't understand all the emotions/love between the h and H. He basically dropped her and started hooking up with the girl who tormented her with out any notice...led her on then stood her up for the date that he asked her on. Stood her up and then claimed "it was better that I left you alone"...no it would have been better if you weren't an asshole who didn't feel the need to explain yourself. Didn't even have the decency to say "lets just continue being friends" or "I'm not interested in you like that anymore" He took the cowards way and he never redeemed himself in my eyes. Also, he NEVER set the OW straight and continued to be close to her once the h was in their group. It was annoying and I thought it made him very weak. Then to have the heroine constantly whining for him when none of their very limited back story had been explained was a huge put off.
I may continue as I hate leaving a series undone but it won't be on the top of my list....
I was confused for a large part of this book. Some backstory would have been nice instead of just being thrown into the middle of what is essentially as hurricane of happenings. Also...THERE ARE SOOO MANY CHARACTERS!! It was hard to keep them all straight. I also didn't understand all the emotions/love between the h and H. He basically dropped her and started hooking up with the girl who tormented her with out any notice...led her on then stood her up for the date that he asked her on. Stood her up and then claimed "it was better that I left you alone"...no it would have been better if you weren't an asshole who didn't feel the need to explain yourself. Didn't even have the decency to say "lets just continue being friends" or "I'm not interested in you like that anymore" He took the cowards way and he never redeemed himself in my eyes. Also, he NEVER set the OW straight and continued to be close to her once the h was in their group. It was annoying and I thought it made him very weak. Then to have the heroine constantly whining for him when none of their very limited back story had been explained was a huge put off.
I may continue as I hate leaving a series undone but it won't be on the top of my list....
January 2, 2018
L.C. Hibbett’s THE SHADOW CHILDREN is a tale of chaos, secrets and lies. One girl will struggle to come to terms with who she is and what her life has become when tragedy strikes and every day becomes a battle to survive when trusting in others could be a fatal mistake.
At eighteen, Grace has always lived on the fringe, moving with her foster family at a moment’s notice, but when there is no place left to run, she must enter a world of demons and angels where she will become the hunted. Grace is a Half-Born, her kind fits nowhere in the scheme of life and the girl who wants only to live in obscurity and normalcy can do so no more.
Prepare to be thrust into a world in chaos, filled with a cast of characters that defy count, some will hide behind their facades, some will bare their souls, and some, like Grace are ill-prepared to understand the danger that lurks all around her. Who can she trust? How can she save her family? Why has she been kept in the dark for all of her life? Where did she come from? When her life is in grave danger, why must her heart cause her even more pain?
Hang on tight and pay close attention, there is no warm up for this tumultuous ride! L.C. Hibbett will plunge you directly into the chaos, allowing us to feel what Grace feels, emotions from confusion, to terror to complete frustration and loss as her life lay in the balance of opposing councils and no clear answers are available.
A very detailed read that bursts forth with little background in the beginning but huge twists that will keep readers on their toes. Grace felt real, she was confused, scared and uninformed, but her growth is admirable considering all the odds being stacked against her.
Trilogy: The Demon-Born Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: November 10, 2016
Publisher: L.C. Hibbett
Genre: YA Dark Paranormal
Print Length: 485 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
At eighteen, Grace has always lived on the fringe, moving with her foster family at a moment’s notice, but when there is no place left to run, she must enter a world of demons and angels where she will become the hunted. Grace is a Half-Born, her kind fits nowhere in the scheme of life and the girl who wants only to live in obscurity and normalcy can do so no more.
Prepare to be thrust into a world in chaos, filled with a cast of characters that defy count, some will hide behind their facades, some will bare their souls, and some, like Grace are ill-prepared to understand the danger that lurks all around her. Who can she trust? How can she save her family? Why has she been kept in the dark for all of her life? Where did she come from? When her life is in grave danger, why must her heart cause her even more pain?
Hang on tight and pay close attention, there is no warm up for this tumultuous ride! L.C. Hibbett will plunge you directly into the chaos, allowing us to feel what Grace feels, emotions from confusion, to terror to complete frustration and loss as her life lay in the balance of opposing councils and no clear answers are available.
A very detailed read that bursts forth with little background in the beginning but huge twists that will keep readers on their toes. Grace felt real, she was confused, scared and uninformed, but her growth is admirable considering all the odds being stacked against her.
Trilogy: The Demon-Born Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: November 10, 2016
Publisher: L.C. Hibbett
Genre: YA Dark Paranormal
Print Length: 485 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 7, 2017
This was WELL good!
A solid start to the trilogy, there were only a few mishaps of the editorial variety that I figure maybe should have been caught but on the other hand I am very much a perfectionist and I notice stuff like that, so yea, but all in all, I was very well impressed with this first installment of this trilogy and I very much look forward to the next two..
I found the story and the characters VERY engaging, the lore and background was well done I think, and I look forward to learn more...
I highly recommend this... ^__^
A solid start to the trilogy, there were only a few mishaps of the editorial variety that I figure maybe should have been caught but on the other hand I am very much a perfectionist and I notice stuff like that, so yea, but all in all, I was very well impressed with this first installment of this trilogy and I very much look forward to the next two..
I found the story and the characters VERY engaging, the lore and background was well done I think, and I look forward to learn more...
I highly recommend this... ^__^
Want to read
January 8, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/8/2018)! 💝
October 12, 2017
It wasn’t horrible or anything, but 90% of the time I had no idea what the hell was going on. And the relationships didn’t develop, they just changed. Just because. About 60% in, people just were no longer in conflict. With no impetus, rhyme or reason. Just, hey! We are friends now! Hey! We are a couple now! WTF?! I swear, it read like the author just picked up the book once every few weeks and wrote a paragraph, but had forgotten everything that happened beforehand. Sometimes it even felt like this mid sentence. I cant tell you how many paragraphs I had to read more than twice just to try to figure out what, if anything, had happened. Often, I just kept reading and decided not to give a shit. And btw, I hated the tstl heroine, the asshole hero and did not give a single fuck if they got together. I liked Elijah much more. Grace was a weak, pathetic moron and I got so frustrated at reading pages of her playing 20 questions about all the boring lore shit, but she never let anyone answer the important interesting questions. Or they were interrupted right as truth bombs were clearly about to drop that would have made all the difference. Ugh, worst plot device ever. “Young confused heroine, I have the answer you seek. What’s really going on is...” (alarm sounds, or someone knocks on the door, or she throws a hissy fit that could have been avoided if she would’ve just shut her face and listened!!) Ugh. Could no one have walked into the room when they were discussing the history of the Guardians? I mean, geezus.
This book was a mess, but I guess it says something that I kept going. I liked the last book I read by her, so perhaps this just wasn’t for me. Im not even a little tempted to read the rest of the series.
This book was a mess, but I guess it says something that I kept going. I liked the last book I read by her, so perhaps this just wasn’t for me. Im not even a little tempted to read the rest of the series.
June 15, 2017
I received this trilogy for free during a sale over the weekend so I was a little skeptical going into this book that it would be any good. I'm glad to say that this book has exceeded my expectations. This book is about a family who is hiding because they each possess magical powers and they were always told by the foster mother that bad people would hurt them. That all changed when Dawn, the youngest child, became sick because she couldn't control her magic anymore. On a day when Grace is given a ride home from friends from their private tutor group, it is then that Grace finds out these friends are all part of the Shadow Children and they could sense the families magic themselves. it is then that Grace learns that she and her foster family are shadow children as well. They are all taken back to the shadow children headquarters and begin to learn their magic and of course, you cant have a YA novel without some romance.
From the beginning of this book, there was something always going on...so there was definitely a lot of action going on. You have the typical teenager smart mouth, the running away from situations (like ugh, dont talk to me...I'm going to run now *rolls eyes*), and a lot of misplaced anger by Grace. There was times in the book that I had to go back and re-read the next page to make sure I didn't mis-understand the misplaced anger, but I think it was just Grace's character to begin with. She could be annoying lol. And of course, you have your villain as they have in every story, which turns out to be two people already living in the headquarters.
I did give this book 5 stars because it kept me interested and wanting to turn the page more and more. I am hoping that the rest of the series is just as good as this first book as well.
From the beginning of this book, there was something always going on...so there was definitely a lot of action going on. You have the typical teenager smart mouth, the running away from situations (like ugh, dont talk to me...I'm going to run now *rolls eyes*), and a lot of misplaced anger by Grace. There was times in the book that I had to go back and re-read the next page to make sure I didn't mis-understand the misplaced anger, but I think it was just Grace's character to begin with. She could be annoying lol. And of course, you have your villain as they have in every story, which turns out to be two people already living in the headquarters.
I did give this book 5 stars because it kept me interested and wanting to turn the page more and more. I am hoping that the rest of the series is just as good as this first book as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2017
I bought this book by mistake while looking for Margaret Haddix's Shadow Children series and clicking too quickly. But I kept it because, you know, book. And sometimes you find something really good by taking those kind of chances.
I was apprehensive as I began to read. The writing style and story were a bit confusing but both evened out as I went along. Every so often I felt like something was missing though. Like I'd missed some information but I wasn't skimming through. I like the story and characters enough though, that I thought maybe things would be made more clear in the second book. And then everything fell apart in the last third. Honestly, where was the editor? A female character would do something and then the book would reference what "he" did, and vice versa. Pronouns are important. But I could overlook that if the story is going on well. But, no. The writing became very disjointed and confusing, as if the author couldn't get the story out fast enough. I couldn't follow where people were or who was doing what.
3 stars may be too many but I really did start to enjoy the characters and maybe there are more answers in the following books but I'm not risking it. My "to read" list is full of better opportunities.
I was apprehensive as I began to read. The writing style and story were a bit confusing but both evened out as I went along. Every so often I felt like something was missing though. Like I'd missed some information but I wasn't skimming through. I like the story and characters enough though, that I thought maybe things would be made more clear in the second book. And then everything fell apart in the last third. Honestly, where was the editor? A female character would do something and then the book would reference what "he" did, and vice versa. Pronouns are important. But I could overlook that if the story is going on well. But, no. The writing became very disjointed and confusing, as if the author couldn't get the story out fast enough. I couldn't follow where people were or who was doing what.
3 stars may be too many but I really did start to enjoy the characters and maybe there are more answers in the following books but I'm not risking it. My "to read" list is full of better opportunities.
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December 16, 2019🎁 The Demon-Born Trilogy (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (12/16/2019)! 🎁
May 28, 2018
This was a good start to the series. I really liked how much Grace cared for her foster family. A lot of times in books characters her age don't want to be that close to their family. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the next book.
June 22, 2017
Most of the book is about Grace's new school life. There are too many characters, each with little development. There are too many school situations and not much plot until the last 30% of the book. The main character Grace is hard-headed and dislikable. She acts like a grumpy, self-entitled teenager the whole time. She even spends the first half of the book openly bearing a grudge against one of the guys, Sam, while at the same time wanting to feel his touch. There is very little romance development, but for same reason Grace and Sam want to be with each other anyway. Grace spends so much energy being angry at Sam, and forgives him so fast. There is a lot of teenage angst, complete with pep talks and verbal confrontations. The "popular white girl" trope (Megan) gets dragged out way too long. And did I mention there's teenage angst?
The only developed character is Eve, Grace's adoptive mother. She sacrifices so much for her family, throughout the entire book, and she's always there for them. That doesn't stop Grace from distrusting her so much as to knock her unconscious in the end of the story though. Grace is easily manipulated and changes her mind at the drop of a hat. She didn't even stop to think that maybe her foster mom of 20 years really does love her.
To sum it up:
teenage angst; pep talks and confrontations
bad romantic development; no character development
many school situations with nothing happening
The only developed character is Eve, Grace's adoptive mother. She sacrifices so much for her family, throughout the entire book, and she's always there for them. That doesn't stop Grace from distrusting her so much as to knock her unconscious in the end of the story though. Grace is easily manipulated and changes her mind at the drop of a hat. She didn't even stop to think that maybe her foster mom of 20 years really does love her.
To sum it up:
teenage angst; pep talks and confrontations
bad romantic development; no character development
many school situations with nothing happening
March 11, 2017
Wow I don't know what I want to say!!!!
But, I wanted to cry on so many scenes here!!!! This book is amazing!!!! If you love romance and suspense and all things supernatural, don't miss out on these books!!!! So incredible!!! Can't wait to read the next one.
But, I wanted to cry on so many scenes here!!!! This book is amazing!!!! If you love romance and suspense and all things supernatural, don't miss out on these books!!!! So incredible!!! Can't wait to read the next one.
November 12, 2016
Grace is raised by a "Keeper". She doesn't know it but she is a Shadow Child. Then again, there is a lot she doesn't know.
In a whirl wind, her life is turned upside down. She feels tingles when Sam is near. He changes from sweet and attentive to ignoringly harsh.
Will she ever make heads or tails of her new life or powers? Can she open Sam's heart and hers to something more?
Well written story that makes you want more.
In a whirl wind, her life is turned upside down. She feels tingles when Sam is near. He changes from sweet and attentive to ignoringly harsh.
Will she ever make heads or tails of her new life or powers? Can she open Sam's heart and hers to something more?
Well written story that makes you want more.
October 26, 2019
2.75* Great idea, but lacking the background and characters' development.
December 14, 2017
I voluntarily read and review an ARC of this book.
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this book. The blurb looks interesting and so I thought I'd give it a try.
Well, I did like that Grace cares about her little family and friends. Even though I viewed her as too childish for her age and even inconsistent sometimes, she is rather likeable in the beginning of the story.
The character that I found most well developed and consistent in this story is probably Eve. She cares about her little family and very protective of them that keeps reminding them not to trust the people in Shadow Hall so easily. At times, I'd find the way she talks didn't really reflect her mature age, but still I liked her better than the rest of the characters.
Right from the beginning, what I noticed from this book is that there are just too many characters and too many characters with too little room for development and unclear relationship. The MC just mentions every character she meets and keeps mentioning more and more along the way, sometimes how they look and what they are doing without clear connection to the main course of the story. That was just annoying. What I care are only those who play significant roles in the story.
I just couldn't grasp the clear idea of the Demons, Angels, and Half-borns. Explanations are given in some long conversations between characters, but I found it confusing. If those explanations are given in a simpler way and more scattered throughout the story, that would be easier to understand.
Well, that's it, as my 2 stars have stated.
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this book. The blurb looks interesting and so I thought I'd give it a try.
Well, I did like that Grace cares about her little family and friends. Even though I viewed her as too childish for her age and even inconsistent sometimes, she is rather likeable in the beginning of the story.
The character that I found most well developed and consistent in this story is probably Eve. She cares about her little family and very protective of them that keeps reminding them not to trust the people in Shadow Hall so easily. At times, I'd find the way she talks didn't really reflect her mature age, but still I liked her better than the rest of the characters.
Right from the beginning, what I noticed from this book is that there are just too many characters and too many characters with too little room for development and unclear relationship. The MC just mentions every character she meets and keeps mentioning more and more along the way, sometimes how they look and what they are doing without clear connection to the main course of the story. That was just annoying. What I care are only those who play significant roles in the story.
I just couldn't grasp the clear idea of the Demons, Angels, and Half-borns. Explanations are given in some long conversations between characters, but I found it confusing. If those explanations are given in a simpler way and more scattered throughout the story, that would be easier to understand.
Well, that's it, as my 2 stars have stated.
July 23, 2017
I am torn how to rate this. Part of me really found this book easy to read and I have enjoyed reading it. Another part of me was getting lost in everything that went on, with the love drama, the spirt demon drama, family drama. How many characters to keep track.
For 400+ pages this book packs a lot in. And that isn't bad. The book isn't bad. I want to know what happens next, I want her to find happiness. I just don't know for sure if this is what I was expecting when I got into this book. There is too many characters. Like a lot. There are too many factors. Not enough clues or hints into there being a mole. Its just sort of hey here you go. I mean once it was revealed who it was, it was sort of obvious but still...
I will read on but only as I don't have to technically pay for this as its a kindle unlimited book.
For 400+ pages this book packs a lot in. And that isn't bad. The book isn't bad. I want to know what happens next, I want her to find happiness. I just don't know for sure if this is what I was expecting when I got into this book. There is too many characters. Like a lot. There are too many factors. Not enough clues or hints into there being a mole. Its just sort of hey here you go. I mean once it was revealed who it was, it was sort of obvious but still...
I will read on but only as I don't have to technically pay for this as its a kindle unlimited book.
November 9, 2016
I'd already read a sneak peek of the first few chapters so was very excited to be given the opportunity to review the whole book.
It was phenomenal. I loved the story. I loved the characters. Obviously Sam was a favourite straight away! I loved how it was written, the story flowing easily from scene to scene. I really felt I was there with them, the descriptions were so well done. A lot of paranormal books seem to follow the same premise but this story was compellingly different.
I've read some appalling writing lately but was pleasantly surprised how good this one was. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. An absolute joy!!
It was phenomenal. I loved the story. I loved the characters. Obviously Sam was a favourite straight away! I loved how it was written, the story flowing easily from scene to scene. I really felt I was there with them, the descriptions were so well done. A lot of paranormal books seem to follow the same premise but this story was compellingly different.
I've read some appalling writing lately but was pleasantly surprised how good this one was. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. An absolute joy!!
June 23, 2017
I grabbed this book after it was posted about it being free in a group I'm in and I'm so glad I did.
This was a great first book in the trilogy. Grace, her family, Sam, the other demon-born, demons and the Angels all drew me in and got me hooked.
I can't wait to see where this story take me.
This was a great first book in the trilogy. Grace, her family, Sam, the other demon-born, demons and the Angels all drew me in and got me hooked.
I can't wait to see where this story take me.
November 19, 2016
In eighteen year old Grace's (Gracie as Dawn would have it) world a future relied on a binding, magic to contain magic. A bit of an oxymoron if you really thought about it. Regardless, the binding bracelets kept their kind alive, but her niece's bracelets keep failing. Ten year old Dawn is far from conventional but that's why all who meet her love her. Only one more bracelet after the current new one, and then her magic would be free. Once its out that's when they come looking, the Spirit Demons or the Angel's Guardians, like one group of hunters isn't enough. Soul Sister Cat (Catherine) and Foster Mum Eve did all they could to give Dawn and Grace a 'normal' life, even if that was just a study group once a week with people their own age whilst they otherwise did homeschooling. Running from the hidden world is exhausting.
Not an easy feat when you're always on the run. Given the harrowing way each of Dawn's seizures, what is initially thought of as the outward signs of her magic breaking free, affect Grace she couldn't understand how Cat could maintain the impression of calm when its her daughter suffering. Eve always appeared calm and collected, and Cat hadn't had Dawn until after she was taken in by Eve. The way Eve packed up her whole life to keep the three girls safe, you wouldn't know she wasn't their real mum, given the devotion she shows them. So soon it would be packing up another life, this time in Westport, Ireland, to move to a little known small island of Grimsey, where surrounded by water and away from the mainland, they hope to hide from the hunters better. Living a hunted lifestyle wasn't fair on anyone, but they never made the rules. Its inevitable now that the bindings won't last so neither will the cloak hiding them.
Some in their foursome was unaware of happenings with those influenced by the Great Divide, the Angel Council and the Spirit Demons. Keeping hidden might keep them alive but it also cut them off from any potential support that might have existed. Not everyone, apart from the obvious victims, was happy with way the Spirit War was ended. From within the ranks of the Council and it's Guardians new voices are gathering momentum: the harsh ruling that all forbidden children should be hunted, slated for death or permanent imprisonment in the Silent Houses, caused a rebel coalition to grow. This new group, who believed that what people do is more important than what they are, came to be known as Shadow Children; deemed traitors by the Angels and their Guardians, or soldiers to be more concise.
Two thousand years ago, The Shadow Children began seeking out and harbouring any that the Angels deemed forbidden, where they cause no harm. Essentially the organisation picks up the dregs of the hidden world's supernatural society. The Shadow Children organisation has detected the location of Hidden Cottage, linking spikes in the aether to the problems with Dawn only mentioned in passing, meaning the cavalry is most likely on its way. Dawn has collapsed twice in one day, Eve had called Cat home, where she was forced to remove her binding to help Eve contain Dawn's magic. Only noticing that Cat had left early after study group had finished, Grace had struggled to hide her emotions the whole trip back, their closest friends in study group in company. So it is that she'd inadvertently brought the Shadow Children within their protective bubble.
The world as Grace would know it is only a figment of the whole truth. In her ignorance, not to say through any fault of her own, lays the greatest dangers and challenges to keeping alive. Eve would be forced to break Grace's binding in an attack on Hidden Cottage as Spirit Demons came to drain their souls. Dawn is like the Eveready Bunny, whilst her well of power is there she's supercharged; but even once unlocked in the relative safety of the Shadow Children's network there's still a problem with her health. After twenty days in a magical slumber, an effect of her magic's release being forced by Eve to save her life, Grace awakens in Shadow Hall. Now her education and training must take top priority if she's to lead a safer life. Spirit Demons made a greater number of attacks in the prior week than they had in the whole of the prior year; and more in that year than inbthe century before it. There's something on the way and few know what it is.
Running and hiding is no longer a viable option. But to get through this successfully she'll need to come to terms with the struggles of her short history with Sam. Once close friends in the time they'd been living at Hidden Cottage a wedge has grown between them, and Grace has no idea why. Sam had been captured and tortured in his past, and the push and pull between them is growing harder to ignore; if she's to have the resolution to persevere and endure they'll need to come to a workable solution. Otherwise the tension which is thick enough to cut with a knife will slowly force her to leave everything she knows behind. If she runs, especially now that the bindings are removed, unless she learns to cloak then she'll be a sitting duck. But the tensions in Shadow Hall are making it hard to see that snother choice is available to her.
The spirit war, like so many, wrought consequences reaching far and wide. Decisions made in the heat of the moment often fail to predict the ripples they cast, like pebbles dropped into a pond. Two thousand years later and the effects of one decision have continued to steal lives since. Given the enormous gain from the Elder's so-called acts of deliverance its not hard to consider that the decisions were made for reasons other than those professed. Like so many victims of war the subsequent generations of innocent bystanders are made to pay for forefathers they've never known. Propaganda is the tool of many injustices. Even in the real world the actions of the Guardians herein are as common as they are numerous. In so doing the perpetrators become a much greater threat than the ones they were said to be developed to combat. Atrocities committed against those who are punished for what they are, not who they are, have been amongst the greatest single most hypocritical acts throughout history. The blood on the hands of those who commit such acts makes them no better than the alleged evils they are said to be fighting; regardless of what ever they say they're fighting for.
The paranormal lore of The Demon-Born Trilogy is both intuitive and original. The ways in which it explains taken for granted aspects of fantasy worlds does credit to its inception. All characters, from those who appear on only several pages to those who are on every page are significant throughout. There's no superfluous extras herein, making every character count. The mystery is steady and the tension can run hot. There's a great deal of action and every page is engaging. That this is a series opener sets a very high benchmark for what is to come. The principles highlighted through the many significant plights show how protection can quickly turn to harm. The Shadow Children is a definite 5 star read and an urban fantasy splendour, add it to your library and you'll most certainly be entertained, enjoying the hours of reading. If you're like me you'll soon be looking out for the next in the series and other works by L.C. Hibbett: the best markers of great authors is when after you read a single book, you're planning to seek out what ever else they've written.
Not an easy feat when you're always on the run. Given the harrowing way each of Dawn's seizures, what is initially thought of as the outward signs of her magic breaking free, affect Grace she couldn't understand how Cat could maintain the impression of calm when its her daughter suffering. Eve always appeared calm and collected, and Cat hadn't had Dawn until after she was taken in by Eve. The way Eve packed up her whole life to keep the three girls safe, you wouldn't know she wasn't their real mum, given the devotion she shows them. So soon it would be packing up another life, this time in Westport, Ireland, to move to a little known small island of Grimsey, where surrounded by water and away from the mainland, they hope to hide from the hunters better. Living a hunted lifestyle wasn't fair on anyone, but they never made the rules. Its inevitable now that the bindings won't last so neither will the cloak hiding them.
Some in their foursome was unaware of happenings with those influenced by the Great Divide, the Angel Council and the Spirit Demons. Keeping hidden might keep them alive but it also cut them off from any potential support that might have existed. Not everyone, apart from the obvious victims, was happy with way the Spirit War was ended. From within the ranks of the Council and it's Guardians new voices are gathering momentum: the harsh ruling that all forbidden children should be hunted, slated for death or permanent imprisonment in the Silent Houses, caused a rebel coalition to grow. This new group, who believed that what people do is more important than what they are, came to be known as Shadow Children; deemed traitors by the Angels and their Guardians, or soldiers to be more concise.
Two thousand years ago, The Shadow Children began seeking out and harbouring any that the Angels deemed forbidden, where they cause no harm. Essentially the organisation picks up the dregs of the hidden world's supernatural society. The Shadow Children organisation has detected the location of Hidden Cottage, linking spikes in the aether to the problems with Dawn only mentioned in passing, meaning the cavalry is most likely on its way. Dawn has collapsed twice in one day, Eve had called Cat home, where she was forced to remove her binding to help Eve contain Dawn's magic. Only noticing that Cat had left early after study group had finished, Grace had struggled to hide her emotions the whole trip back, their closest friends in study group in company. So it is that she'd inadvertently brought the Shadow Children within their protective bubble.
The world as Grace would know it is only a figment of the whole truth. In her ignorance, not to say through any fault of her own, lays the greatest dangers and challenges to keeping alive. Eve would be forced to break Grace's binding in an attack on Hidden Cottage as Spirit Demons came to drain their souls. Dawn is like the Eveready Bunny, whilst her well of power is there she's supercharged; but even once unlocked in the relative safety of the Shadow Children's network there's still a problem with her health. After twenty days in a magical slumber, an effect of her magic's release being forced by Eve to save her life, Grace awakens in Shadow Hall. Now her education and training must take top priority if she's to lead a safer life. Spirit Demons made a greater number of attacks in the prior week than they had in the whole of the prior year; and more in that year than inbthe century before it. There's something on the way and few know what it is.
Running and hiding is no longer a viable option. But to get through this successfully she'll need to come to terms with the struggles of her short history with Sam. Once close friends in the time they'd been living at Hidden Cottage a wedge has grown between them, and Grace has no idea why. Sam had been captured and tortured in his past, and the push and pull between them is growing harder to ignore; if she's to have the resolution to persevere and endure they'll need to come to a workable solution. Otherwise the tension which is thick enough to cut with a knife will slowly force her to leave everything she knows behind. If she runs, especially now that the bindings are removed, unless she learns to cloak then she'll be a sitting duck. But the tensions in Shadow Hall are making it hard to see that snother choice is available to her.
The spirit war, like so many, wrought consequences reaching far and wide. Decisions made in the heat of the moment often fail to predict the ripples they cast, like pebbles dropped into a pond. Two thousand years later and the effects of one decision have continued to steal lives since. Given the enormous gain from the Elder's so-called acts of deliverance its not hard to consider that the decisions were made for reasons other than those professed. Like so many victims of war the subsequent generations of innocent bystanders are made to pay for forefathers they've never known. Propaganda is the tool of many injustices. Even in the real world the actions of the Guardians herein are as common as they are numerous. In so doing the perpetrators become a much greater threat than the ones they were said to be developed to combat. Atrocities committed against those who are punished for what they are, not who they are, have been amongst the greatest single most hypocritical acts throughout history. The blood on the hands of those who commit such acts makes them no better than the alleged evils they are said to be fighting; regardless of what ever they say they're fighting for.
The paranormal lore of The Demon-Born Trilogy is both intuitive and original. The ways in which it explains taken for granted aspects of fantasy worlds does credit to its inception. All characters, from those who appear on only several pages to those who are on every page are significant throughout. There's no superfluous extras herein, making every character count. The mystery is steady and the tension can run hot. There's a great deal of action and every page is engaging. That this is a series opener sets a very high benchmark for what is to come. The principles highlighted through the many significant plights show how protection can quickly turn to harm. The Shadow Children is a definite 5 star read and an urban fantasy splendour, add it to your library and you'll most certainly be entertained, enjoying the hours of reading. If you're like me you'll soon be looking out for the next in the series and other works by L.C. Hibbett: the best markers of great authors is when after you read a single book, you're planning to seek out what ever else they've written.
December 6, 2017
Review of The Shadow Children by L.C Hibbett
Rating: 4/5 stars
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I got to know this book thanks to Instafreebie, then I later downloaded it on my Kindle. I talked about Instafreebie a couple of days ago, and this is what I meant: despite all the average books that can be found on the website, there are some gems, and this is (with some flaws) one of them.
The Shadow Children is written in a fast paced way, that will make you want more and more, because the secrets are revealed little by little and you just WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING, you want to understand what the heck is going on, and the ending is no exception.
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The flaws: sometimes events develop too quickly, and the reader needs to go back some pages and re-read everything from the beginning. Another thing that I would change a bit is how relationships are developed, because, once again, they develop too quickly same as the events. The only relationship that isn't rushed is the one between Grace, our main character, and a certain "bad boy" ***.
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Anyway, I loved this book and I'm glad I already own book 2 and 3... I'm gonna read then soon!
Plot below:
Everything you know is a lie…
Eighteen-year-old Grace is sick of running. For over two thousand years the Angels have hunted the Half-Born, determined to maintain the barrier that conceals the magical world from Human eyes. Grace and her foster family have survived capture by living amongst humans, but the noose is tightening as the spell binding their magic begins to fail.
When unexpected allies send Grace and her family crashing into the world of The Shadow Children, she finds herself at the epicentre of a battle to save those she loves.
But who can she trust when everyone has the face of an angel
Rating: 4/5 stars
·
·
I got to know this book thanks to Instafreebie, then I later downloaded it on my Kindle. I talked about Instafreebie a couple of days ago, and this is what I meant: despite all the average books that can be found on the website, there are some gems, and this is (with some flaws) one of them.
The Shadow Children is written in a fast paced way, that will make you want more and more, because the secrets are revealed little by little and you just WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING, you want to understand what the heck is going on, and the ending is no exception.
·
The flaws: sometimes events develop too quickly, and the reader needs to go back some pages and re-read everything from the beginning. Another thing that I would change a bit is how relationships are developed, because, once again, they develop too quickly same as the events. The only relationship that isn't rushed is the one between Grace, our main character, and a certain "bad boy" ***.
·
Anyway, I loved this book and I'm glad I already own book 2 and 3... I'm gonna read then soon!
Plot below:
Everything you know is a lie…
Eighteen-year-old Grace is sick of running. For over two thousand years the Angels have hunted the Half-Born, determined to maintain the barrier that conceals the magical world from Human eyes. Grace and her foster family have survived capture by living amongst humans, but the noose is tightening as the spell binding their magic begins to fail.
When unexpected allies send Grace and her family crashing into the world of The Shadow Children, she finds herself at the epicentre of a battle to save those she loves.
But who can she trust when everyone has the face of an angel
October 12, 2018
Good start to the series
L.C. Hibbett is a new to me author, I one-clicked the trilogy after seeing that all 3 were free for a short period of time. I enjoyed The Shadow Children, the first in the trilogy. It was a busy story line with lots of different characters to familiarise with at the start of the story. I think the second book in the trilogy will be more interesting as the storyline between Grace and Sam develops further, and I'm assuming Grace will also further develop her powers . I can't say for books 2 & 3 yet, but the first book is one my teenage daughter would like reading - paranormal with very minimal romance.
L.C. Hibbett is a new to me author, I one-clicked the trilogy after seeing that all 3 were free for a short period of time. I enjoyed The Shadow Children, the first in the trilogy. It was a busy story line with lots of different characters to familiarise with at the start of the story. I think the second book in the trilogy will be more interesting as the storyline between Grace and Sam develops further, and I'm assuming Grace will also further develop her powers . I can't say for books 2 & 3 yet, but the first book is one my teenage daughter would like reading - paranormal with very minimal romance.
June 11, 2017
Have had this book on my kindle for quite a while but just hadn't picked it up. I'm not sure why, but am now wishing I'd picked it up a lot sooner! This is a new and interesting take on Angels/Demons. I really enjoyed the story, the characters are well built and complex and the world building is great, it's set in Ireland but they travel around to London and New York. The plot held my interest throughout the book and it had several twists and turns, some I saw coming and some I didn't. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what the author brings us next.
November 4, 2017
Great premise, some spots were less then greatly executed. A few times I had to reread a paragraph or more to understand what was going on. I ran into two parts that just seemed to come outta no where. The love interest is so confusing. I just can't place my finger on why Sam is so hot and cold.
December 23, 2017
I like the concept but I wish there was more darkness to the demon children. like a certain nature to themselves that makes them have an internal struggle. I also wish the "bond" that Sam and grace have with each other was more of a battle. sure she rejected the Sam idea at first and vice versa but they got together too fast, it was too easily accepted. overall there are a lot of details, back stories, and descriptions missing. this book could have easily been 2 with the missing info. I will continue to finish the series so hopefully it turns around :)
September 1, 2017
1 star.
Honestly I lost interest in the story. DNF @ 44%
Honestly I lost interest in the story. DNF @ 44%
May 31, 2018
I enjoyed the start of this trilogy. I did have to pay a significant amount of attention to make sure I understood what was going on. You are also pushed straight into the middle of the story with not a lot of background. However, I did enjoy this book.
Grace lives from place to place with her foster mom, sister, and niece. She knew why they moved somewhat, but not to the full extent. One day, Grace has to be taken back to her house by one of her schoolmates and they bombard her with telling her that they know who she is, etc. While this is happening, Grace and her family are found by the ones that they were running from. Grace is saved by her foster mom and wakes up in the Shadow Hall (with her classmates). The story develops from there.
Grace lives from place to place with her foster mom, sister, and niece. She knew why they moved somewhat, but not to the full extent. One day, Grace has to be taken back to her house by one of her schoolmates and they bombard her with telling her that they know who she is, etc. While this is happening, Grace and her family are found by the ones that they were running from. Grace is saved by her foster mom and wakes up in the Shadow Hall (with her classmates). The story develops from there.
Read
June 4, 2018I’m up to chapter 7 of 48 and… it’s hard to explain but it’s a confusing mess at this point. Huge info dumps to start. There are so many characters, there’s a very weird attempt to explain why they are where they are doing what they are but it’s not clear. It’s not making any sense.
Grace is eighteen but seems very immature. And she’s also meant to be a half demon angel thing… but she has no powers.
I don’t get why the MC cares about people. She tells rather than shows, you know? And meanwhile the odd HS type thing for privileged children is just so… odd.
And the writing is not good.
What?
A stranger approaches her and this is her reaction:
Slime? What??? She’s supposed to be protecting her baby sister from evil angels or something… and this is not how a trained girl should react.
And then…
*frowns* did he stab her? With irritation? I’m confused.
She won’t stand up for herself. And then she leads strangers right to her house because she won’t tell them not to drive her there. Their LIVES depend on her not doing this. She walks people through the magic barriers her foster mother has made.
Tsunami of mortification… *blinks* yeah. And foster what?
Not working for me…
Did not finish at 15%
Grace is eighteen but seems very immature. And she’s also meant to be a half demon angel thing… but she has no powers.
I don’t get why the MC cares about people. She tells rather than shows, you know? And meanwhile the odd HS type thing for privileged children is just so… odd.
And the writing is not good.
Images of the moment Cat had arrived in my life assaulted my brain . (Kindle Locations 161-162)
What?
A stranger approaches her and this is her reaction:
I focused on his body language , shooting a glance at his friend waiting beside the car . He appeared sincere , but I had seen enough teenage movies to know that he might be planning to empty a bucket of slime in my face .
Slime? What??? She’s supposed to be protecting her baby sister from evil angels or something… and this is not how a trained girl should react.
And then…
His fingertips brushed the bare skin between my top and my jeans , and I felt a stab of irritation spear my abdomen . (Kindle Locations 312-313).
*frowns* did he stab her? With irritation? I’m confused.
She won’t stand up for herself. And then she leads strangers right to her house because she won’t tell them not to drive her there. Their LIVES depend on her not doing this. She walks people through the magic barriers her foster mother has made.
A tsunami of mortification burned my skin as I stepped in front of Jasmine . How long had it been since my foster had seen anyone besides us ? (Kindle Locations 480-481). Kindle Edition.
Tsunami of mortification… *blinks* yeah. And foster what?
Not working for me…
Did not finish at 15%
November 28, 2016
Not all Demons are bad, but not all Angels are good.
I really enjoyed this book. It's tumultuous family situations, the Keepers of the Shadow Children, and the betrayal of their own, make it a paranormal story anyone of any age would like. The heroes and villains in this story have no age definitions. I believe anyone can relate to that.
The descriptive settings, the pure heart of those people who fight for their lives & the lives of others, those that have had to give up their own blood, literally and figuratively, to help the Demon-Born survive have some wonderful gifts.
Eve is an unsung hero & no one knows what she has given up to care for her rag-tag family for whom she is fiercely protective. Cat finally gets to see her young daughter blossom & heal from her "sickness", and Grace loses her binding and finds that she's really an amazing swan and not a stunted duckling.
This is a powerful book with great characters who I am sure will become better known to us soon. There are a few twists and turns that you don't see coming, making it fun, as well as thought provoking, and will likely set your sights on getting your hands on the next book. I hope it comes soon!
Read it. You'll enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this book. It's tumultuous family situations, the Keepers of the Shadow Children, and the betrayal of their own, make it a paranormal story anyone of any age would like. The heroes and villains in this story have no age definitions. I believe anyone can relate to that.
The descriptive settings, the pure heart of those people who fight for their lives & the lives of others, those that have had to give up their own blood, literally and figuratively, to help the Demon-Born survive have some wonderful gifts.
Eve is an unsung hero & no one knows what she has given up to care for her rag-tag family for whom she is fiercely protective. Cat finally gets to see her young daughter blossom & heal from her "sickness", and Grace loses her binding and finds that she's really an amazing swan and not a stunted duckling.
This is a powerful book with great characters who I am sure will become better known to us soon. There are a few twists and turns that you don't see coming, making it fun, as well as thought provoking, and will likely set your sights on getting your hands on the next book. I hope it comes soon!
Read it. You'll enjoy it.
November 16, 2016
I picked up this book with no preconceptions and in fact tried to avoid reading the blurb too much, so, other than knowing it was vaguely about angels and demons I didn't really know what it was about.
In a nutshell: it blows any expectations of the usual angel and demon storytelling out of the water.
I do not want to give away any spoilers but I will say the plot is very well thought out and leaves the reader wanting the next book (like now please) and the characters are believable and stay true to themselves.
While at times I wanted to slap some sense into one of the characters, every action is explained and subtle hints are dropped throughout the book which are then picked up at a later stage in a "oh, so that's why" moment (unless, like me, you start stringing the breadcrumbs together to start getting a vague idea of just what the witch's house may have in store for the unsuspecting).
In my opinion it is definitely worth picking up and reading and I will certainly be getting my little mitts on the second book when it is released.
In a nutshell: it blows any expectations of the usual angel and demon storytelling out of the water.
I do not want to give away any spoilers but I will say the plot is very well thought out and leaves the reader wanting the next book (like now please) and the characters are believable and stay true to themselves.
While at times I wanted to slap some sense into one of the characters, every action is explained and subtle hints are dropped throughout the book which are then picked up at a later stage in a "oh, so that's why" moment (unless, like me, you start stringing the breadcrumbs together to start getting a vague idea of just what the witch's house may have in store for the unsuspecting).
In my opinion it is definitely worth picking up and reading and I will certainly be getting my little mitts on the second book when it is released.
November 13, 2016
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Grace is 18 and has been running her entire life with her foster family. For now they are living among humans but it feels like it is only time before the angels find them as the magic which binds them is starting to fail. For over two thousand years the Half-Born like Grace have been hunted to maintain the barrier that hides magic from the human population.
Then they suddenly encounter some unexpected allies and are introduced to the world of The Shadow Children. She finds a world here that she belongs in, but there are battles to come, and nothing is certain - even down to who she can trust.
I loved this book - the way they were hiding and the mixture of races and half-breeds was very interesting and added a lot of variety. The writing was very clear, the descriptions of feelings, objects and emotions was very clear. I definitely enjoyed this first book in the series and can't wait for the next book now.
Grace is 18 and has been running her entire life with her foster family. For now they are living among humans but it feels like it is only time before the angels find them as the magic which binds them is starting to fail. For over two thousand years the Half-Born like Grace have been hunted to maintain the barrier that hides magic from the human population.
Then they suddenly encounter some unexpected allies and are introduced to the world of The Shadow Children. She finds a world here that she belongs in, but there are battles to come, and nothing is certain - even down to who she can trust.
I loved this book - the way they were hiding and the mixture of races and half-breeds was very interesting and added a lot of variety. The writing was very clear, the descriptions of feelings, objects and emotions was very clear. I definitely enjoyed this first book in the series and can't wait for the next book now.
November 29, 2016
Well this was a gang buster of a read.First off there is a lot to keep straight lots of different races and who is good and who is bad and how is after who and why and twist to plots and people you thought good peeps aren't and magic but it isn't released for one reason or another. A strong heroine who also has her weakness and it is seen but at the appropriate time. A sulking hunk that sulks for a good reason but steps up when needed. It was busy, exciting, energetic, emotional, betrayal, twist and turns, with a good strong group of characters you must also keep straight but it all makes sense. The writing is strong and true and so are the characters. I loved it. This is my first book by this author and I loved all that she poured into the book. I can't wait for the next book in the triology.
**This review is of the updated version uploaded by the author after release**
**This review is of the updated version uploaded by the author after release**
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