The Sharpest Blade

Shadow Reader #3

by Sandy Williams

McKenzie Lewis's ability to read the shadows has put her--and those she loves--in harm's way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined?

After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she has a regular--albeit boring--job.

But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm.

With the fae she loves and the fae she's tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, she will either rip the Realm apart--or save it.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Paranormal, Adult, Magic

367 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2013

About the author

Sandy Williams writes urban fantasy and science fiction, both with a strong shot of romance. She's a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and loves books with high stakes and fantastical settings. When she's not being a bookworm, she loves playing board and card games like Dominion, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Dungeon Petz, etc (but not Goblins because she ALWAYS loses that damn game).

15% off your first order when you buy direct at www.sandy-williams.com

Reviews

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must re-read the last of this amazing trilogy!!

Deep breath.... Words escape me! I haven't read a book that has had this effect on me in such a long time... This book, this trilogy is stunning, amazing, breath catching and gut wrenching - sometimes all at once, other times bit by slow debilitating bit!!!

I am deeply saddened to reach the ending of these books but I have to say it is a trilogy that will remain with me for a very long time and I know for a fact they will reach my re-read pile - on more than one occasion.

I have to tip my hat to Sandy Williams, her writing is beautiful and it captured my imagination, the detail she imprinted onto my mind was second-to-none... I can't explain it properly...

Sandy's characters were 'out of this world', no pun intended and as I read the final book, Sandy's characters dove into my heart and at times wrenched the tears right from my eyes... I was torn apart at times, the action that pulled me through the pages left no emotion unturned...

I have to say I highly recommend this trilogy, the best books I have read in a long time... simply stunning!

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Faes / Magic
✅ Fighting and action
✅ Romance
✅ Nice ending (but a little cheesy)
✅ Aren 💙
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 Characters were frustrating at times
✅🆗 Love-triangle

Ok... I do not mind drama once in a while (actually I love drama and angst), but I got so frustrated at some of the characters while reading this book! From the reviews I've read, this is a "love it or hate it" type of book, and luckily I loved it, even though it was not as good as the previous books in the series.

"What if the evil vigilante steals you away?" he asks, his lips brushing against my ear.
"Then you'll come find me." I dig my fingers into his shoulders. "Or I'll kick his ass. Whichever is easier."

Aren has decided to give McKenzie some space so she could get used to the life-bond between her and Kyol. That means that he basically ignored her for the past 3 weeks, adding angst and emotional suffering to her already intense life. McKenzie said that she wanted to be left alone so she could live a "normal" human life, but let's face it, there was never anything normal about her.

The first half of the book felt a little slow, while the last stretch was a non-stop rollercoaster of fighting, alliances, and near-death experiences. I am also left with questions, the ending felt a little rushed, and while we understand that everything is now resolved, I did not see or feel the nice wrap-up of it. We were just told that everything was fine now. Also, we still have no news of Lorn... What happened to him?! I need to know because while he was not the most trustworthy, I kinda liked him.

between two rapid beats of my heart, someone else's breaks.

I was annoyed, while also loving the angst and drama. Aren is being completely stupid (and McKenzie gave him way too many chances), Kyol is playing the martyr and McKenzie lets them make her feel like shit for almost every decision she makes. I loved it, but I got so frustrated at the same time...

But it is still a very good book and I really enjoyed this series. I liked the complicated love triangle, mixed with magic, politics, and a lot of action. Besides the frustrating characters, the story comes to a nice ending... maybe a little too cheesy, but it is still a very good last book to this AMAZING trilogy.


1. The Shadow Reader ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Shattered Dark ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


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[Alexandria · Rating 1 out of 5]

BEWARE! SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Allow me to begin by simply stating that this book pissed me off. I honestly received a few strange looks from family, friends, and complete strangers because I would break out into random fits of anger and spout shit like....



It simply pissed me off that much.

Everything about this book was a cluster fuck. I lost all respect for the characters (McKenzie and Aren being the main two). And the story, for a last installment, was extremely lacking. The writing was mediocre, the followup from the previous installment was so laughable that you could probably exempt any characters introduced in the second novel (that's what I did), and the world building (one of the few good things going for this book) lost all of my interest.

And last, but certainly not least, the love triangle in this series consumed more attention, and possessed more importance than anything else in this series. So much so, that it became disgustingly pathetic and annoying. I was so frustrated by it it nearly gave me an apoplexy.


I swear, McKenzie put more focus and attention on her failing love life than anything else in this book. Even when the world is crashing down around her, her love life is still the only thing she can really focus on. I could seriously rant about her blatant stupidity, shear lack of self preservation, and blatant selfishness for days .

So let me get this all ironed out. McKenzie ends her ten year relationship with Kyol because he is too controlling, tries to protect her too much, and doesn't want to make their relationship official because, hey, the king of the realm and other fae may just have a problem with the kings sword master having an open relationship with a human. Thus putting her in more danger and under more scrutiny.

All in all, expect for being a little contorlling, Kyol had every reason not to make things official between them.

But obviously failing to see this fact, McKenzie falls for the first person willing to give her an ounce of attention and proclaim their love to her, and promise that nothing will get in the way of said love, and that he would never try to hide their relationship or hide anything from her like horrible ex boyfriend Kyol did.

But we see Aren is all full of shit when Kyol and McKenzie's life bond gets in the way. A life bond that he spends half of this book saying is "sacred" and should be "respected". But a quick roll in the hay with McKenzie makes those words to total and complete shit. Aren does a complete 180 and once again spouts his undying love for McKenzie.

And in the end, although the life bond is still in place, McKenzie throws a total bitch move to Kyol and pretty much says that he'll eventually get over her. Yeah, no biggy. You, saying this to the guy that has been there for you longer than Aren, has kept saving your ass even after finding out about your relationship with Aren, apologizes time and time again for is past transgressions, and time and time again, nearly gives his life for you. Not to mention that Kyol will have to feel every time that the woman he loves has sex with another man, Aren, while the life bond is still in place. That's so very considerate of you McKenzie. Just say he'll get over you. I'm sure that will be very easy. You are such a great person.

Sorry, but after everything, it's obvious that Kyol wins more points with me. Especially with Aren constantly reneging on his past promises. The guy seriously can't say he'll do something and follow through unless his dick is leading the way. And only when his dick is leading the way does he, for once, actually follow through.

Once again, I just lost any and all respect for the characters; Lena included. She proves to be a sorry excuse for a monarch. She doesn't really heed any of Kyols or anyone's advice. She just does what she wants. So it doesn't surprise me at all when the enemy come waltzing into the front gates of the palace like it's open for viewing.

Just another stupid character on my stupid character list for this book. There were so many, that it damn near made this book unbearable to read.

And the story? There really wasn't one. If you exclude the raging love triangle that rules and owns this series with an iron fist like a pimp with his bitches, then you can sum up the story in a few short sentences. It was that poorly thought out and executed.

And there is one question I really want answered. Why the hell didn't the false blood just kill Aren and Lena. Aren just disappears to fight the false blood, and said false blood is kind and loving enough to not kill Aren and simply place him in the dungeons. Maybe to play with him later? The same is said for Lena. If she is a threat to your rule, why not just kill her immediately? He did it to everyone else in the palace apparently. This was one of the many flaws I found in the story. It wasn't just unrealistic, but incredibly stupid. And the author easily makes characters like Lorn, Lee, and Paige, look incredibly unimportant, even after all their involvement earlier in the series. She also fails to properly tie up a lot of lose ends.

There was just so much wrong with this book. So, so much wrong with it. If McKenzie had made her decision not long after the first book, then I would have been a little happy. But instead of progressing, she digresses as a character. She becomes more illogical and confused as the series progresses. And even at the very end, she snuggles up and takes comfort from Kyol, just to run into Aren's arms. She contradicts herself either in words or actions so much in this series that it's not even funny.

By the last book, you should be able to at least know who a character is and be able to look back and see how much they've grown. But there is none of that here. It is unapologetic-ally stupid.

I could really continue on about how much I hated this book, and in all, this series. But I wont. The first novel was good, but I honestly think things should have ended there. I don't believe the author put enough thought into what she wanted out of this series past the first installment. If I had known it would have ended this badly, I would have never picked it up.

I'm giving this book 0.5 stars for being and epic disappointment, and a colossal waste of my time.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Premise:

McKenzie has "the sight" meaning she can see Fae. She is also a Shadow Reader who's able to see where Fae fissure(transport) to.

She used that ability for ten years helping the King...and helping Kyol who she fell in love with and thought he loved her. But the King forbade human/Fae relationships.

A war started and the Rebels kidnapped McKenzie...and that's where she met Aren and Lena, who's now the unconfirmed Queen.

In the last book, McKenzie and Kyol have life bonded and that makes things weird for Aren and he's keeping his distance.

On top of that, McKenzie's helping the Fae deal with a "false-blood" who's trying to take the throne and anti-Fae humans who have developed a serum that give you "the sight".




The Lure:

Fae...I just love stories about the Fae and this is no exception especially with two yummy ones! And having a kickass heroine is always a plus.


The Characters: (I'm just going to highlight a few.)

McKenzie - she really just wants a normal life away from all the violence in the Realm. And she wants Aren and I can't blame her. I do love how she was able to accomplish some amazing things just by accident.

Aren - I was a little upset with him for most of the book. I'm glad he finally came around and I love what he did at the end.

Kyol - How can you not feel for the guy! I couldn't imagine having to feel that all the time.

Lena - like how things finally worked out for her but it was hard reading about all the political stuff she had to go through.

Trev - the new revelation was interesting and I think it made me like him more but it was sad what happened.

Sosch - breaks my heart.

Lorn - I've always liked him but I hate not knowing!

Nick and Kynlee - I love the elements they brought to the story.


The Emotions:

For the most part, pretty typical Urban Fantasy - lots of kickassing for everyone. But this one really has some heart tugging and sad moments.




The Steam Factor:

Wow...finally!! Makes you want some sexy time with those Faes!!


The Problems:

I think the only thing that really bothered me was the life bond. I liked when they knew where each other was but the constant emotions wore me out!


The Outcome:

I was happy with how the series ended. There were a few things left unanswered but that's okay. And some things didn't work out exactly how I thought they might but I like the results all the same.

The Quotes:

♥ “I told you I was the right thing.”

♥ “I’m in love with you, McKenzie. You’re the most courageous and beautiful person I’ve met in either of our worlds, and I want . . . No, I need to be with you, and I can’t let you go without a fight.”

♥ “Y-You’re out of anchor-stones?”

[mich · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I wish I had just stopped after The Shadow Reader.

This book started off well for me. I loved that I was almost immediately thrown into some fast-paced, tension-filled moments. I thought if the whole book was going to keep me on my toes like that, I was in for a wild awesome ride.

The ride actually ended up sucking. Things slowed down very quickly and then all those old familiar plot elements took over: more of Lena and fae court politics, more of the remnants, the serum, the vigilantes – it was all the same shit from the previous book and frankly, I wasn’t all that into it back then. I mean, yes, we need to keep going with it, but can we get some damn PROGRESSION please? I felt like nothing was moving forward - McKenzie and Co were just going from here to there and back to here again but never getting even remotely close to solving ANY of their problems.

And the love triangle. The goddamn love triangle. Who was that stupid bitch who said she was cool with that plot twist at the end of the last book that brought this back into play? Oh it was me? Shit. Yeah, sorry, not sure what I was smoking when I said that. The thing is, Williams played this device out rather nicely in the first book, she seemed like a pro at it and I thought she could make it work again here. WRONG. She made it such a huge gigantic part of this story and yet nothing was happening with it, it was just THERE, getting mentioned over and over. I got frustrated pretty early on and began to dislike McKenzie, notwithstanding that I had never had a problem with her before. At one point, I got so annoyed and tired of it that I had to put the book down and didn’t feel all that enthusiastic about picking it up again. (btw, it was at this point: I shouldn’t have two men on my mind. It’s not right, and it’s not fair to them. ) Barf.

So, the big question is – was it worth it? Did the ending make up for it? My answer: No.

The thing I hated most about this book was what it did to the characters. It ended up making me dislike them, even though I had really enjoyed them previously. Kyol was a huge depressing bore, Aren was frustrating and felt barely there, and McKenzie was downright annoying. And everyone else? Fuck ‘em apparently! Practically everyone else ended up just being throw away characters. Paige? Lee? Naito? Trev? Schoch? Yeah, don’t expect to be satisfied about any of them in this book. And don’t get me started on Lorn. WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO LORN? Arggh so fricken annoying. Dammit, writing this is making me irritated so I’m gonna just end it here. Oh wait, one more thing! Love that the whole big issue with the life bond was totally not solved AT ALL. What the fricken hell man? Oh well Kyol, you’ll just have to find someone else, that should make it better. Until then, sucks to be you I guess! WTF?! Ugh, it sucks that my first book this year sucked.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Slight spoilers, especially for the previous books in this series. **


I don't say this lightly. I've thought long and hard. After reading this series, I can honestly say that Aren can now join Terrible, Bones and Barrons in my Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame. It's true. Aren has to be one of my most favorite male heroes in urban fantasy and I am bereft that this is the last time we will see this handsome, cunning, roguish fae.

Aren. I could go on about him for days. What makes him so appealing is that he's an alpha male, but not too alpha; he's cocky, but not too cocky; he's sweet, but not too sweet. He's the perfect balance of what I look for in a male main character. He's the type that would sacrifice his own happiness and well-being for the good of others. He would die for McKenzie if it came down to that. He's also loyal to his roots and to the Realm. He made a huge decision in this book that has dire consequences in an effort to secure peace in the Realm, and it proves just how selfless Aren is.

I'm addicted to his scent and his touch, to the way his arms encircle me, pulling me against him, but mostly, I'm just addicted to him. He's a light in all this darkness. He's strong and caring, and he's sacrificed so much.

McKenzie is a great heroine. Although she has longed for a "normal" life outside of the Realm, she just can't seem to get away from the fae. In the beginning of this book, she is living a mostly normal, human life. And she is bored to tears in a dead end job, living in a subpar apartment with no real friends or family around her. To top it off, she is constantly feeling Kyol's emotions. Kyol tries to put a barrier up between him and McKenzie, but oftentimes that barrier slips. McKenzie's thoughts are often on the Realm, Aren and her other fae friends. I think that although McKenzie yearned for a "normal" life, the reality of it does not suit her. Her idea of what a "normal" life entailed was better than actually living it.

I'm sick of people taking away my choices. I'm not putting up with it anymore.

Kyol is a loyal, strong, and worthy man. He loves McKenzie as much as he can, but will not force her into loving him based on their bond. I think that Kyol fully understands that he destroyed their relationship when he refused to put McKenzie ahead of the Realm and his king. I believe that will be his life's biggest regret. But here's the kicker - when it comes down to choosing McKenzie's happiness or the well-being of the Realm, he chooses the Realm every. Single. Time. Does it make him a bad guy? Nope. Kyol will always make what he believes to be the most noble choice. He is a constant in McKenzie's life, and with their bond, he will always remain a part of her.

He'll always see his love for me as a weakness.

I don't think there was ever a real choice for McKenzie in the Kyol-McKenzie-Aren love triangle. Her choice was made long ago. The story isn't about the men in her life and whom she chooses - it's about McKenzie becoming comfortable with herself and her self-acceptance. McKenzie is a strong, kick ass heroine, willing to lay her life down for those she loves. She is smart and loyal and refuses to give up on her friends, even when facing seemingly impossible odds. She makes terribly difficult choices for the greater good, but refuses to put her feelings last. McKenzie has too much self-respect for that. She doesn't flip-flop between Kyol and Aren. When things don't go her way, she doesn't give up. Both men will always be tied to McKenzie; it's just a matter of whom she picks to be romantically involved with.

I meet his gaze, see the regret in his stormy eyes. I've never felt so betrayed.

The reason I didn't give this amazing conclusion 5 stars was because of the abruptness of the ending. An epilogue would have been a wonderful addition to this book. Things are pretty much tied up by the end, but it just happened so quickly, I would have liked to read a bit more about these characters' lives after the conclusion of the action. I would be first in line to buy a novella that tells us about what happenes to McKenzie, Aren and Kyol down the line. I hate losing these characters. Three books is just not enough. Surely there are more stories to tell about the Realm!

If you are a fan of well written, intricate plot lines, urban fantasy and paranormal romance, please, please, please - I beg you to pick up this series. Sandy Williams is an author to keep an eye on - I expect big things from her in the future. I love books about fae, and there just aren't enough good ones to keep me interested, but this one fits the bill. Oh, and Ms. Richelle Mead - THIS is how you end a UF/PNR about fae. Take notes. Well done, Sandy!

[Renee Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an early copy of the final book in this excellent series and it is a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. Sandy does a great job of tying up all the plot treads from THE SHADOW READER and THE SHATTERED DARK into a thrilling, heart-pounding final battle for control of the Realm. The love triangle is masterfully wrapped up as well -- I loved the ending. Great read. I can't wait to see what Sandy does next!

[Susana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Arc provided by Penguin Group (USA)through Netgalley



I loved the first book of this series. The world building and Mckenzie's powers were sketchy at best, but even so, I liked it. Mainly because the characters and the story, were so promising.

There was a love triangle. But for once, I thought it was feasible. And then I didn't had complains about the way the author dealt with it.
In fact, it was perfectly done.

In the second book, things went downhill. The plot didn't pick up. Things became boring, and what do you know, after having resolved the love triangle, the author decided to reinstate it again.
Since the plot was that weak.

By the end of "the Shattered Dark" I was ready to throw my copy out of my window and into a water puddle (the advantages of reading in paper). I was so mad, that in the review I wrote of that book, I said that I wasn't going to pick up this book unless I had read a huge amount of spoilers, that would show me the direction this story was going to take.
Right....

I don't know how many time has passed since I read that second book, but I'm betting on a year or so, and while browsing through Netgalley I saw this title, and due to _what I can only categorize _ as momentary insanity moment, I decided to request it...
Against my better judgement...on the hope that the author would be able to get the story back on track...
She didn't.

For those of you, who like me, like solid world building, characters (who are adults) behaving like adults, and an actual plot, _basically an urban fantasy book _ you'll be sorely disappointed.

If on the other hand you like teenage angst, a plot that goes back and forth, repetitions, and a whole lot of drama mixed with paranormal romance traits, then this book is for you.
I'm not judging. To each their tastes.
This just wasn't mine.

They were many the times in which I thought about not finishing this book.
I honestly had to force myself to finish it, and I'm guessing that if Aren wasn't involved, I just wouldn't have bothered myself with it.
In the end, this is a "series" that I won't miss.
If I ever miss Aren, I guess I will just go and read the first book, or most specifically, I will read what he says to Mckenzie in the end of that book:

“If I were a good man,” he says, “I’d acknowledge that Taltrayn is an honorable fae, that he loves you and would take care of you. I’d step down and let you have the man you’ve always wanted, but, McKenzie, I’m not as good as Taltrayn. I never will be, and I can’t step down. I’ll fight for the chance to be with you.”

Author Official Site

Pre-order "The sharpest Blade"

[♥ Rebecca ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found on my blog: A Match Made in Heaven

So this was the final installment of this amazing series, and it was a great way to go. This series has always been non-stop action and thrills, with dozens of characters and constant changing of settings. So much is going on that it feels like an Urban Fantasy. But with the amount of romance in it, it also feels like a PNR.

I love McKenzie as a heroine. She held her own against the fae. She couldn't beat them in a fight, but she could keep her wits about her, and she was never afraid to do what she had to for the fae she sided with. But her number one trait, is the fact that she made a decision in regards to the love-triangle at the end of book 1, and she never went back. She never regretted it. She never even bent a little bit. Even though she may have loved Kyol once, she will never betray the one that she chose. More YA heroines need to be more like her!

I love this fae world and the idea of shadow readers and the fae powers. It was a combination of the familiar fae world and the new. I feel the exact same about this book as I did the first two in the series. Either of my other reviews could be applied to this one. I highly recommend this book to fans of fae, strong heroines, and action-packed romance.

ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of Ace, in exchange for an honest review.

[Melliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was waiting for the release of this book since the end of the second volume. It must be said that many things happened there and we could only wait to see what would happen now. Then adding to that, this third volume closes the trilogy of the adventures of McKenzie. We can therefore only be curious to see what the author had in store for us in this last volume.

Our young heroine can finally lead a normal life in her world as she had always wanted, except that it is now no longer her desire, and it is difficult for her to get used to this routine so tasteless. Moreover, her link to Kyol is quite complicated to bear by its multiple consequences. In fact, she can feel his emotions, what he is doing at all times and has feelings that she hoped to forget. Of course, it is the same for him and it is even more difficult because while he can happen to control himself, it’s not the case for McKenzie. But if only it was just that, but Aren constantly avoids her and does not understand that she loves him and not the man with whom she is bounded to. But letting him accept this fact seems impossible with such an unfailing determination. Thing that irritates our heroine at the highest point! Personal life aside, the fae realm is upside down since Lena tries to become queen. Nothing seems easy and everyone seems to want to kill her or usurp her place. Many nobles refuse to approve her and rebels stand with a « king » that everyone is trying to discover the identity. Yet it was a real surprise when I learned who he really is.

I was completely blown away by this story! It’s awesome, fantastic, exciting, and just amazing. Yes, to this point! When I think that I was anxious to read it because I was a little scared to see how it was going to be in this last novel… What a mistake, I completely and undeniably loved the story from beginning to end. It therefore took me a few hours to finish it. This is an explosive mixture of action, conspiracies, magic and excitement! Oh yes, and full of emotions! I did not cry, no, but my little heart has struggled many times. McKenzie will face a lot of things and I admit that I am really impressed by her will and determination. Whether her moments with Kyol or Aren , the whole is always filled with intense emotions that mark us. Sandy Williams perfectly manages to make us feel a range of emotions in a short time, either joy or sadness. But my heart has been broken more than once at the thought of what McKenzie was going to endure. She has a lot of courage throughout the novel and despite her pain, she will have to make decisions that could change her life forever, and yet she can not always do what she wants, but rather what is important to do.

To conclude, I must say that if you do not know the series, you really miss something and I can only advise you to read it. This is one of the best trilogies I have ever read and I know it is sometimes difficult to have so much in three volumes. But the world that Sandy Williams has created as her ideas are completely unique and we take a great pleasure in discovering everything. McKenzie has evolved tremendously through each volume to become a great woman as well as the two men in her life. I would never have imagined how her world would change but everything is beautifully done. It’s definitely a must read!

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: The final novel in the Sharpest Blade series was a bit of a letdown as I couldn’t get over the main characters and their dramatic love triangle.

Opening Sentence: The time in the bottom right corner of my computer screen mocks me.

The Review:

The final book in The Sharpest Blade trilogy had me going on an emotional roller coaster. I think the only thing I didn’t do was shed a tear, although I do feel that two characters (Trev and Kyol) got the shaft and I was kind of upset about that. I read the first two books in this series, but I honestly don’t remember much and I think that played up how indifferent I was to the story. I went back and read my review for the second book and it didn’t help bring back any memories. There will obviously be spoilers for the first two books so don’t read on if you want to read this series.

McKenzie just wants to live a normal human life. But that will never happen for her, not while she can see the fae and read their unique “shadows” when they shift “teleport”. It allows her to tell her allies where the enemy travels too so they can quickly chase after them. Also, McKenzie is now in a life bond with Kyol. The life bond is for life so she can never leave the fae world behind. Her life is now tied with Kyol in life and death. This bond allows each other to know exactly how the other is feeling, it even lets them know where the other is, as in physical place.

The fae world is in disarray. Lena is trying to establish herself as ruler but the elders won’t instate her as queen while there is a false blood vying for the throne. A false blood who wants everyone dead, including all humans in the fae world with McKenzie at the top of his list. I’m still not entirely sure why everything falls to McKenzie to help the fae defeat the enemy. She can see through illusions but she isn’t entirely useful when most of the fae population fear her.

The first half of this book was incredibly slow. I blame a lot of that on not remembering the world, who’s who and what exactly was going on. The writing wasn’t entirely great either. It felt like everything was just a list of things happening. After a while the story started picking up steam, once things started happening and I knew who the characters were, it was a much faster read. Although, I did still have a hard time remembering some of the terms and who was human or not. If I had read this book closer to the other two I don’t think I would have had such a problem with it. Overall, I still enjoyed the book more than I was frustrated with it. I still really enjoyed the world that was created between the human and the fae.

There is a love triangle. This series has pretty much been a love triangle. I didn’t mind it in the first two books from what I can remember. I also rooted for Aren, but in this book. I just couldn’t stand him. I wanted him to go away. He was so wishy washy, changing his thoughts and feelings every single time he saw McKenzie. I felt so sorry for Kyol. The dude can feel everything that McKenzie feels and back and forth. Also, McKenzie was sending him some mixed signals at times. What if he had been doing some other lady? What would her thoughts have been like then? Instead I just couldn’t get over McKenzie’s treatment of Kyol. I realize she based everything on the life bond, saying it was manipulating her emotions, but she had those same emotions before the life bond so… yeah. I just got tired of the life bond being the ONLY thing she could think about or talk about.

The Sharpest Blade does wrap up an ending but there was still quite a bit left open. I kind of felt unfulfilled by the ending. If there was a next book, I’m not sure I would read it. I might skim it to see what happens in her relationship with Aren and Kyol just to see if it is still just as frustrating.

Notable Scene:

Kyol’s expression softens. He releases his grip on his sword hilt and places his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently.

“It’s okay, kaesha,” he says. I stiffen, expecting to feel some wave of regret for calling me kaesha, but there isn’t any. Roughly, the word translates into loved one, only, it’s so much more than that. For the last decade, it’s been Kyol’s way of telling me that he loves me. He used it rarely since we weren’t supposed to be together, but that only made it more special. It’s still special now.

He senses my confusion, my unease, and drops his hand.

FTC Advisory: Ace/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Sharpest Blade. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Cristina Buzoianu · Rating 5 out of 5]

**WARNING! Possible minor spoilers from volumes 1 and 2**

My thoughts: I’m certain that all my reader friends and all my older blog followers know that I’ve been fangirling over The Shadow Reader (and Sandy) since the first day of 2012. Yep! That’s how I’ve spent my New Year’s Day back then, reading the first book in this amazing series. And I couldn’t stop, It was SO, SO good!

Now, after reading the ARC of the third and final book and taking some time to let it sink in, I’m able to share my thoughts about it for the last time *sobs*. Yes, I’m nostalgic. I’ll miss it all: the amazing world of the Fey, my favorite and least favorite characters, the love, the angst...everything.

I’ve read it with a lot of patience, because I didn’t want for it to end, and with a little bit of fear: I was afraid of getting to the last page of McKenzie’s adventures, although I knew that Sandy wouldn’t disappoint me. And of course she didn’t.

The whole book, much like the first two in the series, explodes with action. The War isn’t over, another enemy appears and even if McKenzie has decided to cut all the strings with the Realm and live her life as a normal human being, she is more tied to it than ever. Actually, to my surprise, she finally learns how to use that blade she’s wearing on the covers.

[...] any normal human would say they’re done with this. They’d leave us to fight our own war. You don’t. You always pick yourself up and put your life at risk again and again.”
I tilt my head. “Are you calling me an adrenaline junky?”
His arms tighten around me. “I’m calling you brave.”

I’ve kept my fingers crossed for Aren until the end, but not for the reasons you would think of. You’d have to read the book to find it all out, but I have to tell you that he changes a lot. Those who have already read The Shattered Dark might have seen this change coming, or some of it. I certainly haven’t expected for it to be this big. Well, he was very different from Kyol since the beginning, and he did let us understand that there are other things that matter to him more than the war and the laws of the fey, but in this book he lets you see past the Rebel in him. I actually wondered if the Rebel was part of him at all. Still, I fell in love with him all over again.

I’m addicted to his scent and his touch, to the way his arms encircle me, pulling me against him, but mostly, I’m just addicted to him. He’s a light in all this darkness. He’s strong and caring, and he’s sacrificed so much for Lena and the Realm. He makes me happy, and I want so much to make him happy, too.

For me, Kyol is the only character in this series who remained the same. I wasn’t his biggest fan at the beginning of the story, but he kind of grew on me in The Sharpest Blade. It’s not that he changed in any way, just that I had the chance to see him from different angles and I came to know and understand him better. I still can’t agree with him completely, but I do admire him.

This last installment in the series, besides the fact that it’s the last book and I generally have a love-hate relationship with these, ties up all the loose ends and brings the story to a sweet and much anticipated conclusion. There are loses, I almost cried for some of them, but they make the story more real and that’s the beauty of a great book.

Although I would have loved to find out more about The Realm and how the characters go on with their lives after the conclusion, this series is one of the best I’ve ever read and I recommend it to everyone! Sandy did an outstanding job and I’m going to stalk her forever and hunt down every book she writes! Maybe she’s preparing a novella for us. Don’t you, Sandy?

I slide my hands to his face, pull him closer.
I can’t lose you, I want to say, but I kiss him instead.

Happy reading!

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I'm sad that Sandy Williams' Shadow Reader trilogy has come to an end but boy, talk about going out with a bang! And, I'm glad that the author didn't try to milk more books out of this series because the result is three absolutely stellar installments instead of seven+ so-so ones. The story starts off a little on the slow side, McKenzie is finally getting the "normal" life that she's always wanted but after three long, uneventful weeks she can't help but jump on the first opportunity that presents itself to return to the Realm.

The plot line of this novel is beyond riveting; the crick in my neck, sleepless night and blurry vision were small prices to pay to finish The Sharpest Blade in one sitting. The remnants are scattered but Lena's fight for the throne continues when a false-blood begins to amass support with his Tar Sidhe claim. I enjoyed all of the Fae politics that came into play in this installment; there's far more to being queen than just a strong bloodline. I loved watching the story arc come full circle and the author does a nice job of tying-up loose threads as well. Although, I was a little disappointed that Paige's Sight Serum dilemma was so easily resolved. I realize that having it end otherwise would have probably added another one hundred pages to this book but I still felt cheated by Williams' easy out.

This trilogy has wreaked havoc on my fictional boyfriend loyalties; I had the damnedest time picking a favourite and towards the end I was secretly hoping that Kyol, Aren and McKenzie would be the one love triangle that actually worked. The life-bond between Lewis and the sword-master added a whole new level of complicated to an already difficult situation. I wanted to hate him for the way he treated McKenzie over the past 10 years but being made aware of his emotional turmoil through their connection made it impossible. It didn't help that Aren acted like a fool for the better part of this book either. I was pleasantly surprised by this love triangle's resolution even though Williams makes readers wait until practically the last page. Talk about sheer torture!

I was happy to see McKenzie come into her own in this final novel; her shadow reading skills make her a hot commodity in the Realm but she's still human and thus weak. The life-bond that she's formed with Kyol changes all that. Their link runs deeper than mere emotions, she also benefits from increased reflexes and muscle memory courtesy of the sword-master. She's still not on the same playing field as the Fae but it was nice to see her holding her own in a fight. Her boost in confidence was evident in her decisions and allowed her to give Aren an ultimatum similar to the one she should have given Kyol all those years ago. I've enjoyed watching McKenzie's progress throughout this trilogy and felt satisfied by the final result.

The Sharpest Blade is the perfect ending to this eventful trilogy with non-stop sword fights, relationship drama and sneaky Fae politics. I don't know what's next for Sandy Williams but I'll definitely be on the look-out for more books from this fab author!

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that with this review I can kiss any future galleys goodbye.
Sorry if I can't be all hearts and kisses, I honestly thought I would have liked this one better.
Ah, well… here we go.


I think that the main issue I have with this series is its intended marketing segment. The covers clearly suggest an adult heroine, and the synopses hint at adult topics; both are widely misleading, and these books would be more suited to a YA/NA audience.

The lexicon is not overly explicit (there are just a few instances of the word "fuck" —and derivatives—), the sexual content is negligible until the second half of the last book (even after that, the sex is not graphically described), and the plot revolves mainly around a love triangle (a topic usually enjoyed mostly by young readers). If I were six fifteen, I would have LOVED these books!

As it is, I liked them well enough, but I was mostly annoyed.
I was annoyed by all the importance given to the silly love triangle: I mean, you are in the middle of a war, surely your complicated love life can wait.
And then I was annoyed by all the angst, by the heroine's naivete, by all her fumbling around, by the sketchiness of the world building, by the implausibleness of some action/battle scenes… well, in short, I was annoyed.


Would I recommend this book?
Yes, if you are below twenty years old or not overly demanding. If you are looking for a quick, entertaining read, and you're willing to overlook some details, this series can be for you.
If you can't stop your brain from picking at the discrepancies, this series can frustrate the hell out of you.


Side note: there are NO katanas in these books! Do illustrators even read the books before designing the covers? That woman on the cover can't possibly be clumsy, insecure McKenzie.

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I enjoyed the series overall, but I felt The Sharpest Blade was repetitive, rushed, left too many unanswered questions and had other issues.

Completed Series
*********************
The Shadow Reader - 4.5
The Shattered Dark - 4
The Sharpest Blade - 3.5

Content/Trigger Warning: Graphic torture (off page, but with results shown/discussed), rape (discussed) and animal cruelty/death.

[Kt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..


It is always so hard to say goodbye to a much loved series so I typically go into a a final book with much trepidation, and THE SHARPEST BLADE was no exception. That being said, I was largely happy with the way things turned out, minus the very rushed ending. I'm a big advocate for epilogues, and I definitely feel like this would have been one of the books that would have largely benefited from one. Don't get me wrong, I was very satisfied with the ending, and it was really what I had hoped for. It's just you are still on the edge of your seat until the very last few pages, and it left me feeling more wrung out than content as there wasn't really any time for the ending to sink in. I guess I'm just wishing there had of been more time to savor and enjoy things.

In my previous review I had stated that I was torn between the two men in McKenzie's life, but early on I realized that I was actually pretty decided that I wanted her to end up with Aren. Unfortunately as luck would have it, it also became apparent early on that things would not be so cut and dry with who she would end up with, in fact, it was left open until the very end. That being said, I realize that the choice couldn't have been easy without cheapening things due to the circumstances of the bond between her and Kyol, but it didn't make the frustration any easier for this reader. To make matters worse, I almost feel guilty for choosing Aren as Kyol felt everything clear as day through the bond. I mean it's bad enough to see someone you love wanting to be with someone else, but to actually feel it would be awful. However, the biggest reason that I felt Kyol was the wrong choice for her was, when push comes to shove, he will always choose duty over her. While honorable, that doesn't exactly mean the best thing for her. But putting that aside, it was really enjoyable to see it all play out, and as for who she winds up in the end, you'll just have to read to find out.

Fans of the series will be pleased with THE SHARPEST BLADE as it wraps up the trilogy nicely. And for those who haven't discovered this amazingly unique urban fantasy series yet, I say, well what are you waiting for. You'll want to snatch these right up. Trust me, you won't regret it.

[VampireNovelFan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sharpest Blade (Shadow Reader, #3) by Sandy Williams

I read the first Shadow Reader novel a couple of years ago, but due to the supposed cliffhanger nature of the second book I decided to hold off on continuing the series until it was completed. After a back-to-back read I don’t feel either novel was as strong as the original.

I do appreciate the world that Sandy Williams creates and how it intertwines and conflicts with the human world. The fae culture is very developed and unique in this series. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a boring read because things are constantly happening, but I honestly didn’t feel as if I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what would happen either. I kind of figured out where things would go, it was just a matter of how the story would get there.

Most of the time I actually felt these books could be better suited to the young adult genre than the adult genre. Part of that could be due to how immature McKenzie is sometimes along with the usual interrupted opportunities. I am a big fan of good characterization (most of the time that keeps me engaged better than a plot will) and I felt like there was more to be desired when it comes to personality from these characters. I liked all of them more in the first book, but in the sequels there was more self-centered drama that I could have done without.

I felt like the love triangle was already settled in the first book, so I was annoyed with the perpetual reminders about why she chooses who she chooses. The life bond situation served to annoy me more than entertain because it unnecessarily reinforced that idea. That and its place in the story still didn’t make sense to me. She felt how she felt about that person before the bond, so why would she doubt her feelings now just because the feelings between both of them are connected? “Oh boo hoo, I’m connected to someone who loves me more than anything. Whatever shall I do?” Ultimately, I just really didn’t like the dynamics of the trio.

Flaws aside, I think it’s a fairly solid trilogy. It's just that my gripes are strong in this one.

*ARC Provided by the publisher.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a fantastic series and I loved how it ended. But my happiness at the end was tinged with sadness, because unfortunately, some characters that I'd grown to really like, were lost in the battle for the Realm at the end.

I love the world that Sandy has created in these books, and I'm going to really miss these characters now. I can't wait to do a re-read of this series. Hopefully I'll manage to get it in this year :)

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 4.0

*MY Thoughts*

Sandy Williams ends her Shadow Reader trilogy with the release of The Sharpest Blade. For McKenzie Lewis and her ability to read the shadows of the fae, life hasn't exactly been easy. She spent 10 years working for the former King of the Realm Atroth, before joining the rebel faction under Lena, and Aren, and finding herself conflicted between her love for Kyol, as well as Aren.

The Sharpest Blade opens with McKenzie having found her way back to the human realm, and trying to live a so called normal life by working a fairly mundane job. But, the Realm is always on her mind and when Kyol finds himself in a difficult situation, McKenzie can't help but jump back into the action to save a friend. When push comes to shove, the Realm always wins out when it comes to McKenzie's heart and desire.

Since her connection to Kyol took place, McKenzie has found herself with some new abilities while dealing with the constant struggle to keep her emotions and Kyol's from completely drowning her. It's a struggle not to worry and wonder what is happening to Aren since she hasn't seen or heard from him in several weeks. This part has always been a challenge for me to sit through. I find 3 way love triangle aberrant and there's no real way to get over my hatred for them.

When all is said and done however, I can't fault McKenzie's final choice even though it clearly leaves someone out in the rain. But, you pretty much KNEW this was coming from the first book forward! If you've read the book or the series, you probably have your TEAM already chosen and will either jump or joy or weep in misery. I will stay out of that debate and let things go without any form of struggle or complaint since all it does is give me consternation.

You really can't hate either Aren or Kyol. Both would die for McKenzie to ensure her happiness. Both have their faults as well as their positives. But, there can be only one since this is not BDSM, or M/M, or menage de trois.

There is one little question I have about a certain villainous character who make things interesting for McKenzie in the end and then there is nothing after that. Does the character survive, is this character killed, what happened to him? Perhaps I'll direct the question towards the author herself.

In the end, The Sharpest Blade ends the trilogy in a way that could be considered abrupt. There is no insight into what happens next for anyone. It is all based on the authors desire to let readers choose what they would like to see for McKenzie, Aren, and especially Kyol. There was also the lack of resolution in regards to Paige and where she stands. As McKenzie's only real human friend, her life was totally changed in The Shattered Dark and we are left to presume that everything will be fine. I'm not okay with loose ends people!

*Recvd 10/29/2013 via NetGalley - Expected publication: December 31st 2013

[Ornella · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been keeping up with this trilogy you are probably salivating at the chance to finally find out what the hell is going to happen between McKenzie, Kyol and Aren. The constant back and forth of McKenzie's decisions was driving me insane, and the infuriating and frustrating part is that I understood her so I couldn't really blame her all that much for it. Of course this didn't mean that I had to like, cause I didn't. I wanted her to pick already and just stick to it cause her waffling back and forth was just unnecessarily hurting all three of them. But then that ending in The Shattered Dark happened and I about died! Just when it seemed like some kind of resolution was happening THAT happened. Boy was I pissed. I didn't know what direction this last book was going to take but I'm happy to report that the ending and the whole book was just right.

This book started with a bang and didn't stop till the very end. This is one of the many things that I love about this series. Most of you know I hate love triangles so a book that manages to keep me glued to the pages regardless of it is incredibly rare, and this one never disappointed. I was both sad but proud of McKenzie through most of this book, she really shined in this one. She finally made some tough decisions, and once she finally made them she stuck to them and never looked back. Not only did she not look back but she followed through with such determination, made me really root for her and their cause.

Speaking of their cause this book like it's previous predecessors had so much convoluted politics going on that it was a bit rough at times to keep up with but mostly cause I didn't remember all the details from the past books. It all gets cleared up eventually but I'd recommend doing a quick re-read of both books just to be on the safe side. I can't really go into too much detail about the plot since I don't want to spoil anything for both new and old readers of this great trilogy. Suffice it to say it had action, intrigue, back stabbing, death, and romance. Do not read that spoiler if you haven't read this bookThere was one thing with the ending, I kinda wish there had been a way to get rid of the life-bond but at the same time I have to give Williams credit for not making the ending just one huge nice big red bow

If you are an old reader you won't be disappointed at the way things ended, and if you haven't read it The Shadow Reader Trilogy then what are you waiting for!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The exciting finale to Sandy Williams' Shadow Reader series did not disappoint! From the first page, The Sharpest Blade kicks it into high gear--it's packed full of adventure, exciting fight sequences (which Williams does so well), and even some swoon-worthy sexy times (which was well worth the wait!).

Admittedly, the ending of this third installment did come across a little reminiscent of the movie, The Departed: everyone fucking dies. (Most I could live with, except SOSCH...NOOOO!!! NOT THE KIMKI! WHY, GOD, WHY??).

I approached this book with slight trepidation. Some of my fellow reviewers have expressed frustration at the seemingly abrupt and unfinished nature of the ending. Now that it's over, however, I can breath a sigh of relief and respectfully disagree. Williams left me feeling quite satisfied and hopeful I got my HEA! (yes, my erradatae is still tingling, tee hee), and yet there is a lingering sadness that I can respect.

The author did not tie everything up in a tidy bow--life isn't like that, especially life in the Realm. There are always casualties of war--and of life, for that matter--and sacrifices have to be made to initiate revolution and ultimately change. Overall, I think that Williams handled situations and characters thoughtfully and realistically (well, as realistic as an urban fantasy about world-hopping fae can be).

And, oh god...can we talk about AREN??!!!



He's just so...amazing (*sigh*).

I love the way he loves McKenzie. And I also think it's refreshing to see some role reversal: McKenzie saves Aren's ass multiple times throughout the series, not always the other way around. She's one determined, bad ass bitch in this book, and Aren loves her for it.



One of my favorite book couples foreva eva, yo.

[Shy The WidowMaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of this series before starting with this one but I loved the author's writing style as she still made it easy for me to follow along and figure out what was going on. I have to say I love anything involving the fae and this book was no exception.I loved the character of McKenzie as she was a fierce character even though she was a mere human dealing in the fae world. I liked that McKenzie wanted a normal life but was also loyal to her friends so when they needed help she didn't hesitate to jump back into the world she was trying to leave behind. McKenzie had a lot going on this time around as the fae are in the middle of a war and she has to deal with the two men that love her.

I have to say that I liked both guys for her and was interested in which way the author was going to send her love life and I am happy with who she picked. The feelings that she shared for both guys was real and genuine and she had to make some really tough decisions in regards to them and I loved that she was strong enough to do so. The fae in this book were ones you didn't want to mess with as they were fierce and strong and played no games at all. I loved that there was really nothing weak about them and they pulled no punches and took no prisoners either.

Overall this was a nice read enough that I am going to have to go back and read the other books as I really enjoyed this author's world and writing style. I could get wrapped up in these characters and would love more back story on them. I think this was a nice way to end the series and there is a lot that is resolved in this book. I really enjoyed this book and the delightful characters. I would highly recommend this series to others.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received an ARC

Eeeeeeeek. I've loved this series since I picked up the first book when it initially came out. The second book pissed me off. This one, this one was just a fantastic and sad ending to the series.

Sosch! Why?! Why?!
It's like Hedwig all over again! *ugly cry* well at least the author wasn't afraid to kill people while writing a book about war. *mutters* not afraid to kill innocent cute little critters either which is JUST WRONG!

I'm not 100% happy with how everything wrapped up, but she did finish out the series nicely.

The smut scene leaves much to be desired. The love triangle ... It's not reciprocated so technically not a triangle.

I love the heroine in this book. She literally says, she does NOT need a man. She has lived through heartbreak before and she will do it again. She doesn't want to so she will fight for Aren, but She can also be alone if she has to. Love that!

Lots of action in the book. Lots of death. Some unnecessary. *pets my cats* great conclusion. Loved the trilogy. Happy with the ending :0)

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exceptional ending to the most thrilling trilogy i have read this year!

Having already read book 1 and 2 of the Shadow Reader trilogy {the shadow reader & the shattered dark}, i was eagerly awaiting with much anticipation the conclusion to this addictive series!

I adore urban fantasy and love how this story contains all those qualities which you expect to find; from the gutsy heroine to the non-stop, fast-paced action and shocking twists in the tale. I was glued to the pages throughout lost within the vast world-building and colourful characters, all of which was so magnetic and alluring on the page. Sandy Williams vision and refreshing creative flair that she sprinkles within her stories, will delight all avid readers of fantasy and novels that contain an unexpected eclectic edge to them.

I was blown away by book 3 and so would highly recomend this undeniably magnificent series to all who seek a story that will grab you from page 1...and never let go!

5*

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did I NOT know that THE SHARPEST BLADE was the last book of the series until AFTER I read it and was excited to find out what was next? What a bummer that was for me.


So looking back some of my thoughts changed for the better. Overall I really enjoyed the last installment, the love triangle is put to rest once and for all, the bad guys get what they deserve, we get to meet some neat new characters, and the action is just as fierce as the previous installments were. If you have not given this series a try now is the perfect time so you don't have to wait for a long period of time to find out the answers to all your burning questions.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacia (the 2010 club)]

Arc provided from the publisher. Publication date 12/31/2013.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0
Although I still adore this series, this last installment had a few annoyances that left it short of perfect for me. Aren, who has been such a strong character who is willing to fight for what he wants and is known to think outside the box to achieve his goals throughout the first two books suddenly went completely against character and just quit fighting for the the love of his heart. Huh? Didn’t make any sense whatsoever and continued throughout the majority of the book. Even when he decided to try again, it was only at the very end so it lacked any real believability.

I also felt really sorry for Kyol throughout this book. McKenzie spends the entire book hurting him and feeling horrible about it while she chases after Aren - when Kyol’s reasons for staying away from her were more believable than Aren’s. It would really, REALLY be a shame to leave his character hanging without a book of his own. It is still a riveting, action-packed story, however, so it was well worth the read.

I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.

[Stephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Usually I’d start out with a description of the novel, but I’ve tried that, three different ways. I keep coming up with major spoilers from the past two books. So I want to start with this: The Sharpest Blade is the last book in William’s Shadow Reader trilogy. It’s the story of McKenzie, a Shadow Reader for the fae Realm. She is kidnapped from Kyol, the fae she reads shadows for by Aren, a rebel. It has been one of my favorite ongoing UF series. It’s sexy, interesting, action packed, chair-to-butt-gluing, and a ton of fun.

Here is my review for book one: The Shadow Reader

Do not read below this if you don’t want the spoilers from the first two.

McKenzie has stayed out of the fae Realm since her bond with Kyol. Aren hasn’t seen her or spoken to her since the bond was formed. When Kyol is hurt she ends up back in the Realm to save him. Politics are still raging on, and the nobles still want the head of the king killer. On top of that it looks like there is a false-blood who wants to take the throne.

McKenzie is forced to make a decision in what she wants, the fae world or the human world. She rushes, heedlessly, back into the Realm when Kyol is injured, driving her right back into the plot. After that one of the fanatical fae-hating humans ends up on her door step with serum information. In other words, the crazy is happening everywhere, but this is what propels Aren back into the story. The fae-hating human is injured. Aren is sent to patch him up. Faced with Aren McKenzie knows what she wants, but then she’s made that clear before.

Political intrigue is heavy, but so is the romance. It’s the romance that first sold me and it doesn’t let up in book three. McKenzie is still sold on Aren, even if he can’t figure out what he wants or seems like he can’t. This left me frustrated, flustered, and turning pages. Meanwhile I’m at the same time feeling bad for Kyol, our old main guy. I won’t say what happens, but I will say that McKenzie surprised me, not with her decisions, but her lack of stupid decisions when it came to the men in her life.

McKenzie is done right! I believe her struggle and connect with her. She has developed as the series progressed in a real way, even if this world is unbelievable.

I’ve wished from the start for more detailing in the Realm. This is another world, even the air is different, but I’ve never been able to successfully see it. Overall this has been the biggest flaw for me in the series, but it didn’t stop me from staying up until 2 a.m. to finish The Sharpest Blade.

In a wrap up of the series, I want to say that I’ve enjoyed it. I’m going to fan-girl it for a second: this is a story I wanted and needed out of the UF genre. It has a strong heroine who grows as the story progresses. It also has a romance that is not only tested, but poked with sharp swords. The end was quick, but still satisfying. I do want more, not because the story didn’t end but because I’ll miss these characters as well as their struggles.

I can’t wait for what comes next from this author.
- Elizabeth

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

Because I’m entirely too OCD to read the last book in a series without having read the ones before, I’ve spent the past two weeks catching up on the McKenzie Lewis series. And I’m very glad I did. Not that I don’t think there would have been enough backstory within THE SHARPEST BLADE to catch me up, but the emotional ride wouldn’t have meant as much.

What a ride it was. Happy, sad, giggling out loud and tears spilling onto my Kindle, I felt the full gamut.

I’m unashamed about the fact that I read for romance. I eat it up like a glutton. And there was romance aplenty in THE SHARPEST BLADE, but for me, that fell secondary to the story. It wasn’t McKenzie and her choices between the two fae she’s drawn to that kept me reading until 2am. It was the Realm: Lena’s battle against the false-blood, finding out what was happening with Lorn, with Shane, with Paige and Lee and the serum. The plot itself drove me page after page until I finally hit the end. I’m happy to report that all my questions were answered and I came away with no lingering sense of “I wonder what happened to…”

Keeping everything spoiler free, I won’t dive into the final battles or romance angle of the story more than to say it left me wholly satisfied (save one thing). I truly loved the way Williams used the triangle plot device in the whole McKenzie Lewis series, and in THE SHARPEST BLADE in particular. There was no Team this or Team that, there was no indecisive heroine wondering which hot guy she was going to choose. McKenzie knew her mind. Tthe only mystery was if she would be able to ever have what she wanted. The battles themselves? Williams didn’t pull any punches – the action kept me on the edge of my seat, cheering and gasping and omg-no!-ing.

One thing worth mentioning about the McKenzie Lewis series on the whole and THE SHARPEST BLADE in particular is the way the fae are handled. Williams’ fae are beautiful, and yes, and kissing them is addictive but she doesn’t hammer this point home repeatedly, nor does she leave the heroine at the mercy of it. McKenzie knows a fae’s touch will set off a magical reaction, but she feels it, maybe gives in a little, but eventually overcomes it by her own strength of will. Refreshingly handled and one of the reasons I’d happily return to a fae world if Williams is at the helm.

The only reason the book landed four stars over five is a tendency towards wordiness, sometimes getting even a little purple in the prose. It wasn’t enough to completely turn me off, but it did occasionally bog the story down in words, words and more words.

I’m sad to see the series end and to leave McKenzie and her crew behind to their world as I move on with mine. I’m also pretty sure I’ll revisit this book a few more times to reread my bookmarked pages and favorite chapters again. I will be on the lookout for more from the author and really hope the wait isn’t too long.

Sexual content: A few sex scenes – light R rated

[Zeenat · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY

Summary: Stuck between the fae she is tied to and the one she loves, McKenzie has enough on her plate. But with Lena’s reign deeply threatened, McKenzie will have to throw all of that aside and do the right thing, even if it means she has to sacrifice her heart.

Review: The Sharpest Blade is the end to Shadow Reader trilogy, tying off the most valuable threads. Yet as final as the story was, it wasn’t as satisfying of a conclusion as I hoped.

Williams has created a fantastic world between humans and fae. It isn’t overly complicated as it only spans 3 books. However, that is a strength. Many author’s over complicate their world with minute details that only confuse the reader. Williams kept her details consistent and neat. Finishing the trilogy, I understood where her characters stood.

I was annoyed frequently with the characters in this trilogy. First there is McKenzie. She is an every girl. I hate every girl’s. They have no personality and no depth. What are her likes? Dislikes? Is she athletic? Is she fearful? She reminds me so much of Bella from Twilight, it’s nauseating. Williams’s strong characters, Aren and Lena also fell flat in the final book. Aren had so much potential in this book, especially considering the plot. Yet he seemed like a brat in the first half who just managed to win the girl’s heart by a “oops, I screwed up.”

I will say Williams did a fantastic job with Kyol’s character. In the first book he was boring, second book got more interesting. But he was downright complex in this book. His feelings, his thoughts and his love for McKenzie shined through. This love triangle was resolved from the beginning and I never thought of them two as happily ever after, but Kyol is definitely the winning character in this story. If Williams is writing a spin off, I would be fascinated to see stories about him.

The plot was tied perfectly well at the end. I was pleased that there were losses that were sad and not everyone ended up in a happy couple. Those always annoy me. But the main plot and love stories were resolved, and the realm became a peaceful place to live. It wasn’t an explosive ending, very predictable, but at least it wasn’t gag worthy. The love triangle could have been annoying, but she was resolved from the end of book one, so I was not to bothered by it.

Overall, I’m glad I read this book and the whole trilogy, but I doubt it’ll ever reach the reread stage. For Urban Fantasy fans, this is a good read in between favorites. If fae and romance aren’t your thing, this book probably isn’t for you either.

Sex: Kissing and low key sex scene
Violence: Death and blood, some of our favorites

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Series Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Quote:
He closes his eyes in a wince as a wave of pain passes over him. "Should have gone straight to Lena."
I'm surprised you didn't," I say.
If the false-blood killed you, I wouldn't get revenge."
"He sounds like he's worth saving," Nick mutters, grabbing Lorn's wrist to lift his hand away from his stomach wound.