The King's Shadow

The King Trials #2

by M.L. Farb

Halavant overthrew a tyrant, but his kingdom is starving, his nobles are scheming, and the illness killing his closest friend will eventually kill him too. He faces an impossible choice: stay and rule a fracturing kingdom, or venture into enemy territory to find the cure that could save them both.

Yosyph's shadow-walking made him the perfect spy—invisible, invaluable, untouchable. Now it's destroying him. When Halavant departs, Yosyph must step out of the shadows and rule as regent. To survive, he'll need to trust others to see what he cannot, and build a government that doesn't depend on one indispensable person—even him.

Katrin refuses to stand by while the people she loves tear themselves apart. When Yosyph can no longer move through shadows, she learns to do it for him—hunting traitors while playing the perfect, harmless fool. Even if it means becoming as dangerous as the enemies closing in.

Three impossible tasks. Halavant must find a cure among bloodthirsty enemies. Yosyph must lead a splintering kingdom while rebellion brews unseen. Katrin must unmask the traitors before they strike.

But even if they succeed, the hardest truth remains: tearing down a tyrant is easy. Building something better will change them forever.

The thrilling conclusion to The King's Trial duology.

Perfect for fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Robin Hobb, and Brandon Sanderson.

***
Part Two of The King's Trial Duology
Epic fantasy where tearing down a tyrant is only half the battle.
Two books. One complete story.

Genres: Fantasy

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2019

About the author

M.L. Farb writes fantasy with a fairy-tale soul—stories where forgotten folktales find new life, and original worlds blossom from mythic roots.

From intimate retellings to sweeping tales of political intrigue, her books grapple with power, identity, and what it truly means to be seen. Readers can expect lyrical prose, richly layered characters, and questions that linger long after the final page.

Hers is clean, thoughtful fantasy where hope is hard-won, not handed out, and happy endings are always worth the fight.

She lives in a lively, geeky household with her husband and six kids, who spark many of her story ideas with single offhand comments. When she’s not writing, she’s building—converting a shed into a writing nook or a bunk bed into a recording studio—proving her imagination thrives equally in words and sawdust.



WHAT READERS SAY

“The writing style is smart and engaging. Brave young men, vivacious heroine. Vibrant world, exciting stakes!” – H.S.J. Williams, author of Moonscript

“Farb has created story line, character development, humor, plot twists, incredible prose, and deep truths that are all phenomenal.” – Petey (Goodreads)

“I love JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, and now ML Farb.” – John (Goodreads)

“This could be one of my all time favorite series, right up there with Harry Potter and the Hunger Games!“ – Mari (Audible)

“It is an exquisite tale of hope and redemption.“ – Onlinebookclub review

“It can be difficult to find a story that can boast exciting adventure, true love, clever riddles, exceptional and believable character arc, as well as a complete lack of rudeness or depravity. “
– Melanie (Goodreads)

Reviews

[Stephanie]

I received an ARC of The King's Shadow, and this review represents my honest opinion.

This book builds upon what was previously established in The King's Trial - the characters are pushed again to grow, to adapt, to trust in God and one another. Having overthrown the tyrant Queen, their hope for a land of peace is yet to be fulfilled. There are real consequences for every action, every decision, whether made for the right or wrong reasons.

Halavant struggles to unite his kingdom with crippled hands; Yosyph suffers from the 'Slow Wasting', the illness which took the life of his father, the late King Luukas (his condition is worsened by his frequent shadow-walking, but he stubbornly persists); Katrin installs herself as a flighty lady among the restless noble class, hoping to uncover their treachery.

The kingdom is divided, and conflict flourishes between the nobles and their underlings. Lansimetsa is left in the hands of Yosyph, as Halavant travels to the land of their enemies to seek a cure for the Slow Wasting. The book cuts between his struggle to hold everything together at home, and Halavant's trials in a faraway land full of surprising revelations and dangers at every turn.

I was pleased that the love triangle wasn't as much a part of the story as I thought it would be - the characters figured things out, and without the usual frustration that goes along with it. It was clear from the previous book where they each were best suited, and I'm happy that it didn't take too long for it to be sorted out (one character takes most of the book to figure out his feelings, but he's not hung up on the other girl the whole time, which is nice).

I felt that the climax of the story was perhaps sorted out a little too neatly, but the ending was satisfying, and I enjoyed the following the journeys of these characters through these two books. The character growth was the true strength of this story, and makes for a worthy read!

[Maegan Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

Loved King’s Trial. I wasn’t sure how The King’s Shadow would hold up to the first. I shouldn’t have been worried.

This book has some of the most well developed and fleshed out characters I’ve ever read. They each have trials. They each have pitfalls. They each struggle and fail. They made me snort-laugh, especially Katryn. I’ll try to not give anything away, but she is perfect for her man. AND I LOVED THE END. Won’t say anything more, but... Miss Farb knows how to leave you somehow wanting more and at the same time giving you a warm, heart throbbing ending.

This is a clean, beautiful read for all ages. I would recommend to my nephews and my grandmother for its stories of light and hope, trial and pain, action adventure, and the fleshed out characters who I wish I could meet. If you haven’t yet, grab book 1, The King’s Trial. You will be hooked. Trust me. I stayed up WAY too late finishing these books. Always the mark of a good author. Please write more books, Miss Farb! I’ll keep reading ;)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King’s Shadow is a fantastic sequel to The King’s Trial—with faster-paced adventure, more sweet romance, and plenty of hope.

I loved having so many chapters in Elise’s and Katrin’s voices (in addition to Halavant’s and Yoseph’s). I felt attached to Katrin in the first book and continued to love her in this one. She’s strong, impulsive, and courageous. Elise is wonderful—sweet and kind. I’d wondered while reading the first book if we’d see more of her, and I’m glad we did.

Romance always draws me in, and without giving any spoilers, I truly enjoyed seeing how it developed in this book. There was uncertainty from the beginning, and I’m happy with how everything worked out for the various characters.

This is “clean fiction” with no cursing, limited violence, and romantic scenes that stop with mild kissing.

I love when the second book of a series is better than the first, and that was the case with this duology! M.L. Farb is a wonderful storyteller.

[Carole Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to get my hands on this since I really enjoyed book 1.



We continue on the journey of Halavant and Yosyph. The queen mother is overthrown and the people are saved from slavery. However, the battle is not over. Yosyph is the new King's eyes and ears, but being invisible is putting his life at risk and he is wasting away. To save him, Halavant has to travel to the land of the skin-carving Carani and find a cure. While he's gone Yosyph has to try and rule the troubled people who are the verge of rebellion.



They cannot have a moment of relaxation and peace! I feel for them for sure, but I figured it wasn't going to be easy taking over these people and bringing peace. They were under the queen's thumb for so long. Poor people.



I do like how you can read this as a standalone okay, but I do highly encourage reading book 1 to fully see everything and watch our characters grow. Totally worth it.



There was a romance mixed in, but it didn't take over the story which made me happy. They have enough on their plates! But yes - we do get to see some resolution and love that I've been rooting for since book 1. NO spoilers at all. SOOO I will stop there ;)



I will also applaud the author for not letting Katrin and Elise fall in the background and be damsels. They had a huge part in the story too. I like both of them a lot too and I was worried that now that were going to be left behind and not included since the boys have their power. Yayy.



This was a quick read. I got this done in 3 sittings. I really couldn't put it down. I was sooooo worried about Yosyph (who is my absolutely my favorite). Eeee! SAVE HIM DON'T LET HIM WASTE AWAY! WAAH!



The ending was good. It made me cheer!



Overall, I really liked this as much as book 1. The characters have really continued to grow and the adventure is not over for our team. I couldn't put this down. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a good fantasy. Maybe there will be a book 3 ;). I'm going to stamp this with 4 stars.

[Lelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once deadly enemies, Halavant and Yosyph now rule a country that has been divided by civil war. Many of the nobles preferred the prior wicked queen. How do you rule people who try to obstruct you in every way possible, despite the fact that an invasion from people who like to torture is imminent?
Tyranny would seem an easy answer, but these young men want everyone to have a voice in the new government, even from people who would tear that government away from them.
Despite famine, assassination attempts, conspiracies, and disease, romance blooms and adventurous journeys to jungles and steppes are made. There are lovely spiritual lessons learned as well as compelling dilemmas posed. The characters are complex and have complex problems.
You can read The King's Shadow as a stand-alone, though I strongly suggest that you first read The King's Trial so that you can understand the depth of characterization of the main people. The point of view switches often among a variety of individuals. I thought that made the ending especially exciting.
If you like epic fantasy with royalty and castles but also want something a little bit different, you will enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to Farb's next book.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for an exciting sequel to the epic The King's Trial, which made Book Dragon's Top 10 reads of 2019. Most of the characters from the first book make at least a cameo appearance, but this story takes off on a different tangent with multiple dangers and challenges for young King Halavant, his brother Yosyph (known variously as the Shadow Demon and the Yorel), Lady Katrin, and the healer Elise, the four viewpoint characters. A good portion of Halavant's journey is spent with the Carani, and it felt like total immersion into their fascinating culture(s). There are several scenes of nail-biting tension while this reader worried about what would happen to her favorite characters, and many twists and turns keep the reader guessing and turning those pages as quickly as possible! The only (very minor) disappointment was that the climactic battle seemed to happen too quickly; I would have loved to "see" a bit more of the struggle. But the story line is fantastic, the sensory details lush and realistic, and it was satisfying to see Yosyph's faith grow through his trials, and also Halavant's unexpected growth. Recommended to anyone who likes Christian fantasy adventure! Suitable for all ages.

[Erin Dydek · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Sequel

I loved book one of this series, The King’s Trial, so I was very eager to see how the stories of Halavant and Yosyph continued. Like the first book, The King’s Shadow follows two main storylines from their first-person perspective. But book two has the added delight of Elise’s and Katrin’s voices. I enjoyed having the female views, and I adored Elise! I hoped that she would play a larger role in book two after briefly meeting her in book one, and I loved her involvement in this story.

I appreciated the amount of action, suspense, and romance throughout the storylines. Each character faced trials and challenges, and they each had a chance to make decisions and grow as the story progressed. I also enjoyed learning more about the Carani people mentioned in book one. Their culture was well developed, and exploring their world was an exciting addition to the narrative.

I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy clean YA fantasy. There is some mild violence and a few battle sequences, but the content is not graphic. The story is smooth-flowing and well-paced for readers who enjoy Kingdom politics and treasonous acts, a pinch of magic, a race against time, and a happy ending.

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though The King’s Shadow is well written, I did not enjoy it as much as The King’s Trial. I began reading with the expectation that the story would revolve more around Yoseph as the Shadow Walker (The King’s Shadow), instead, the book splits the main character position into four characters: Yoseph, Halavant, Katrin, and Elise. That meant reading four characters, all in first person perspective. Though Farb does a good job with creating individual characters, I still had to remind myself whose ‘I’ perspective I was reading which pulled me out of the story.
With the constant shifts and short chapters, I never developed the same connection with the characters or the story that I had with the first book. It is still an interesting and well-developed tale and probably well suited to readers with shorter attention spans. For me, however, I think if it had been written in third person, I would have found the rapid chapter and character changes less jarring. All in all, probably best suited for its target audience.

[Charity Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! Each character’s depth continues where it left off and makes you love them even more. I loved the struggles each faced and the growth each showed along the way. So many surprises. The romance was perfection and so unique to each relationship without going overboard. I was sucked in, eager for each page! When something happened in the real world I was startled out of the amazing story. I was sad when I finished the last page because the adventure was over but in the best kind of finish way. This is one I will keep thinking about for a long time. Definitely one I’ll read again, and I do that very infrequently. High marks!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King's Shadow is the sequel of The King's Trial. It continues the story after the attack on the palace. Halavant now is the king and Yosyph is the eyes and ears of Halavant, the king's shadow. But this is very dangerous for Yosyph, he gets very ill. Halavant travels in search of a cure for him, but that trip might get them both dead. After the first book in the series, I couldn't wait to read the sequel. I was very curious to see what would happen next. And it didn't disappoint me at all! Again I loved the story and the characters. The world building was amazing! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves to read fantasy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A_MOTUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

New quest, but in some kind of reversal. The one who left before to be a shadow stay in plain view while the other leave for a far away journey. But despite these differences they both learn a story of loss, weakness and rising of new strengths. And two voices join their tale to become their closest ally. They all deepen their trust and faith. And this despite the not so perfect ending of their quest make it a happy ending and a lesson for the reader.
The word humbling was repeated often, and I think it is one I will remember from this book.

[Annie Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! It's a fitting sequel to The King's Trial and is just as good as the first book. It was fun reconnecting with the characters and watching them grow through the difficulties they faced and the choices they had to make. The worldbuilding is complex, and the cultures and government system are well thought out. I highly recommend The King's Shadow to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure with wonderful characters

A great adventure. Yosyph, Katrin, Elise, and Halavant had lots of individual character development. The interactions between the main characters showed their loyalty, friendship, and love for each other. While the switches between each character’s telling of the story almost drove me crazy at times, still it was interesting to see the story unfold from each person’s perspective. Excellent world building.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of two brothers, one is a king the other is a shadow walker.

Yosyph has a wasting disease that is common among the people that he comes from. Halavant has gone with Elise to find the cure, not realizing that he is going back to the land of his ancestors. Halavant is going to do some growing up and strengthening in this story and Yosyph draws closer to the Lord, seeking Him for His wisdom in how to lead the country until Halavant can return. Katrin is at his side, and learning some of his tricks!

I quite enjoyed these two books. They are clean reads.

[Erin Stewart Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one!
I loved hearing from Elise and meeting Gaven (he's my favorite!). The further development of characters and cultures was amazing (especially the cultures). I don't know what I can gush about without giving spoilers.
It has relatable problems and emotions. Just go read it, 'kay? ;)

[Karren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this clean, fast paced, suspenseful sequel to the King's Trial. Having lived in climates similar to both described in this book I found it very believable. I liked the continued character growth and the exposure of even minor character changes. I did find it a little hurried at the end and, although satisfying, maybe concluded a little too tidily. Definitely a good read.

[Megan Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

Much enjoyed! As I neared the end of the book I both hoped and feared there would be a sequel. I wanted the story to be wrapped up without a cliff hanger, but I also didn't want the journey to be over!!

[Rukshy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning sequel to ‘The King’s Trial’ portrays the tale of two princes who learn to rule amidst great trouble. The growth and maturity of these very fascinating characters is lovely to see. Fantastic plot, action packed and fascinatingly complex characters. The three-dimensional characterisation of the main characters and love interests is well done, and a real credit to the writing of M.L Farb. Even more fascinating is the moral and religious undertones to this story, with the portrayal of endurance and character growth arising from times of great trouble.

[Beaulah McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! How the female characters are not damsels in distress, but actually strong enough to make it through without a knight in shining armor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Faith promoting.

This sequel was really hard to put down. It is excellent. I kept seeing it as a movie given its verbal illustrations, its cliffhangers, and believable plots.

[Tegan Brinkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an epic story that screams for an adaptation as well

While I don’t really like the way it again jumps pov I understand why it’s done again

It was heart pounding and wrenching all at once

I’m hoping for book 3 soon

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again once i started reading this book i could not put it down. The characters are well rounded and the story flows seemingly effortlessly.
Definitely a book to get lost in!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.