What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadowseer #2
Paris
Shadowseer: Paris continues the story of Kaia, 17, an orphan coming of age in the Victorian Europe of the 1850s. Kaia yearns to escape her horrific orphanage, to discover who her parents were, and to understand why she can sense shadows when others cannot. When the brilliant Detective Pinsley, 45, takes Kaia under his wing and enlists her help in solving a series of mysterious and bizarre murders sweeping over Europe, the two of them become unlikely partners.
Are they part of a greater war of light versus dark? And is Kaia the only one who can stop it?
Are they part of a greater war of light versus dark? And is Kaia the only one who can stop it?
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2021
93 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Rice
611 books3,382 followersMorgan Rice is the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the epic fantasy series THE SORCERER’S RING, comprising seventeen books; of the #1 bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, comprising twelve books; of the #1 bestselling series THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic thriller comprising three books; of the epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS, comprising six books; of the epic fantasy series OF CROWNS AND GLORY, comprising 8 books; of the new epic fantasy series A THRONE FOR SISTERS, comprising eight books (and counting); and of the new science fiction series THE INVASION CHRONICLES. Morgan’s books are available in audio and print editions, and translations are available in over 25 languages.
TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals), ARENA ONE (Book #1 of the Survival Trilogy), A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 in the Sorcerer’s Ring) and RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Kings and Sorcerers—Book #1) are each available as free downloads!
Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!
TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals), ARENA ONE (Book #1 of the Survival Trilogy), A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 in the Sorcerer’s Ring) and RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Kings and Sorcerers—Book #1) are each available as free downloads!
Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 1, 2022
Shadowseer: Paris
By Morgan Rice
This follows right after book one, London. Although I didn't find it as intriguing as book one, I did enjoy it. The two partners continue to fight the shadows but few can see the Shadows, Kaia being one of them.
By Morgan Rice
This follows right after book one, London. Although I didn't find it as intriguing as book one, I did enjoy it. The two partners continue to fight the shadows but few can see the Shadows, Kaia being one of them.
January 11, 2026
Trama/Plot ⭐⭐
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐
Non mi è piaciuto: una trama banale e poco approfondita, sembra più un racconto breve che un romanzo. Nel corso del racconto accade ben poco e non ci si avvicina più di quanto fatto con il primo libro della serie a comprendere qualcosa del worldbuilding.
***
I didn't like it: the plot is banal and shallow, it feels more like a short story than a novel. Very little happens over the course of the story, and it doesn't get any closer to understanding the worldbuilding than the first book in the series.
Personaggi/Characters ⭐⭐
Stile/Style ⭐⭐⭐
Non mi è piaciuto: una trama banale e poco approfondita, sembra più un racconto breve che un romanzo. Nel corso del racconto accade ben poco e non ci si avvicina più di quanto fatto con il primo libro della serie a comprendere qualcosa del worldbuilding.
***
I didn't like it: the plot is banal and shallow, it feels more like a short story than a novel. Very little happens over the course of the story, and it doesn't get any closer to understanding the worldbuilding than the first book in the series.
February 22, 2022
I'm going to need to find something amazing to read after the string of mediocrities I've slogged through lately, capped by this slightly less than mediocre fantasy ... In the book description on Scribd, a quote from a critic is included: "Rice is setting up for an amazing series to rival series such as Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness, with her strong female protagonist making waves in her world and building the confidence of young women in ours." Strong? I've heard good things about Tamora Pierce, though I've yet to read her books - and from what I've heard, she wouldn't write a protagonist as bird-brained and annoying as Kaia.
"Kaia, wait here, I'll be right back". Kaia wanders off. "Kaia, stay put, it's more dangerous than you can imagine to wander around". Kaia wanders off and gets beaten up. By the third time, she should have simply been locked in - or shackled - because she is (all together now) too stupid to live. (The situation also indicates a level of stupidity in her guardian/partner/whatever he is Pinsley, because seriously, man, you can't honestly be surprised every time she does this. Just plan for it, would you?) I sincerely hope this girl is not used as an example by anyone - "building confidence"? The only reasons she survived her forays out where she was specifically told not to go were, first, because a street-wise London copper followed her and saved her bacon, and second, because a superpower she didn't know she had which fortuitously manifested. The one good thing about this book was the commentary by the landlady about how, yeah, a seventeen year old girl should be able to wander the streets of Paris alone at night, except in the reality they're given it would be truly and deeply moronic to do so, on account of all the other people out wandering the streets of Paris at night who would be delighted to find her there, all juicy and tender and alone.
But it's ok that Kaia's not a genius, because the bad guys aren't too bright (pun only slightly intended) themselves. They have a Diabolical Plan, you see, to begin the destruction of the world, which Kaia barges in on. So of course, instead of killing her outright, or at least tying her up and gagging her, they let her natter on at them. And they answer her questions. Because of course they do. Because apparently the author couldn't find a more organic way to introduce the information they give her? I guess? Not that the reader gets any kind of comprehensive idea of what the Plan is. It must be stopped, that's all! And then their Diabolical Plan is slightly delayed - JUST long enough for it to be stopped. Of course. (There are, after all, three more books.) I had an impression, which may or may not be true (and I'll never find out, because I won't be reading any more of this series), that what one of the shadows knows filters out to all of them, which would mean that these should know that a) the girl screams with effect, and b) she is accompanied by the so-effective Pinsley. Except when she wanders off, at which times she is followed by Pinsley.
It is awfully nice that Kaia apparently needs absolutely no training in using her evidently boundless powers. (Because of course not.) She gets in trouble, and they deus ex machina her right out again, with absolutely no - what was that word? Agency? I suppose if I forced myself to read the rest of the series there would be chapters and chapters about other Shadowseers teaching her stuff. But, happily, she's fine without instruction.
There is plenty I could complain about here, but the only other thing I'll bring up is the whole issue of Pinsley's daughter. I can cut a little slack for the way she is located - that wasn't entirely absurd. But when the final climax (there were a few, none very strong) pulls her in (because of course), and the narration asks "Was it coincidence ...? Or fate?" My reply was "Neither - it's bad writing". And there's no payoff. Because - well, that's another paragraph.
Because I lied - there is one more thing I will complain about: the way this and the first book were ended. I'm starting to get the feeling that they were written as one book, or else these mini-cliffhangers are the lamest way I've seen to bridge two books in a series. The final scenes are more like the last episode of a television season than of an entry in a book series. Ending a book in mid-scene does not amount to suspense. It's just annoying.
"Kaia, wait here, I'll be right back". Kaia wanders off. "Kaia, stay put, it's more dangerous than you can imagine to wander around". Kaia wanders off and gets beaten up. By the third time, she should have simply been locked in - or shackled - because she is (all together now) too stupid to live. (The situation also indicates a level of stupidity in her guardian/partner/whatever he is Pinsley, because seriously, man, you can't honestly be surprised every time she does this. Just plan for it, would you?) I sincerely hope this girl is not used as an example by anyone - "building confidence"? The only reasons she survived her forays out where she was specifically told not to go were, first, because a street-wise London copper followed her and saved her bacon, and second, because a superpower she didn't know she had which fortuitously manifested. The one good thing about this book was the commentary by the landlady about how, yeah, a seventeen year old girl should be able to wander the streets of Paris alone at night, except in the reality they're given it would be truly and deeply moronic to do so, on account of all the other people out wandering the streets of Paris at night who would be delighted to find her there, all juicy and tender and alone.
But it's ok that Kaia's not a genius, because the bad guys aren't too bright (pun only slightly intended) themselves. They have a Diabolical Plan, you see, to begin the destruction of the world, which Kaia barges in on. So of course, instead of killing her outright, or at least tying her up and gagging her, they let her natter on at them. And they answer her questions. Because of course they do. Because apparently the author couldn't find a more organic way to introduce the information they give her? I guess? Not that the reader gets any kind of comprehensive idea of what the Plan is. It must be stopped, that's all! And then their Diabolical Plan is slightly delayed - JUST long enough for it to be stopped. Of course. (There are, after all, three more books.) I had an impression, which may or may not be true (and I'll never find out, because I won't be reading any more of this series), that what one of the shadows knows filters out to all of them, which would mean that these should know that a) the girl screams with effect, and b) she is accompanied by the so-effective Pinsley. Except when she wanders off, at which times she is followed by Pinsley.
It is awfully nice that Kaia apparently needs absolutely no training in using her evidently boundless powers. (Because of course not.) She gets in trouble, and they deus ex machina her right out again, with absolutely no - what was that word? Agency? I suppose if I forced myself to read the rest of the series there would be chapters and chapters about other Shadowseers teaching her stuff. But, happily, she's fine without instruction.
There is plenty I could complain about here, but the only other thing I'll bring up is the whole issue of Pinsley's daughter. I can cut a little slack for the way she is located - that wasn't entirely absurd. But when the final climax (there were a few, none very strong) pulls her in (because of course), and the narration asks "Was it coincidence ...? Or fate?" My reply was "Neither - it's bad writing". And there's no payoff. Because - well, that's another paragraph.
Because I lied - there is one more thing I will complain about: the way this and the first book were ended. I'm starting to get the feeling that they were written as one book, or else these mini-cliffhangers are the lamest way I've seen to bridge two books in a series. The final scenes are more like the last episode of a television season than of an entry in a book series. Ending a book in mid-scene does not amount to suspense. It's just annoying.
March 13, 2022
Quick, simple and cute! A little bit too simple for me, yet here I am eating it up! I am enjoying the characters. The audio along with the setting reminds me of HP by the great Agatha Christie...
June 20, 2025
Solid 4.5. This book is truly a set that could have been one book, but because she divided it into cities it makes them quick reads.
August 25, 2021
Oh would the story only had lasted longer!
Well written, exciting but had hoped-for the longer epic story so needed...I read it so quickly. Almost as if unexpectedly falling off the short end of a dock.
Moving on to Munich continuing story...
Well written, exciting but had hoped-for the longer epic story so needed...I read it so quickly. Almost as if unexpectedly falling off the short end of a dock.
Moving on to Munich continuing story...
July 20, 2024
Non sono sicura se sia la scrittura di questo romanzo ad essere veramente "povera" o
se sia la traduzione in italiano ad essere poco più che amatoriale e piena di errori, e già questo non aiuta: è comunque un libro pieno zeppo di ripetizioni e frasi inutili che ribadiscono più volte gli stessi concetti con pressappoco le stesse parole.
La trama poi alterna due schemi di comportamento fissi dei protagonisti, ed errare è umano ma perseverare è diabolico (e noiosissimo). Schema 1: Kaja vuole andare in un posto, Pinsley dice di no, lei ci va lo stesso, finisce nei guai finché Pinsley arriva ad aiutarla. Schema 2: Pinsley va in qualche posto, non dice dove e perché a kaja, ma solo di aspettarlo ferma lì. Lei non aspetta perché trova qualcuno da inseguire e da lì si ripete lo schema n.1
Noia mortale, nessuna maturazione dei personaggi, e un finale farlocco che ha l'unico scopo di indurre a leggere il libro successivo. No grazie, addio.
se sia la traduzione in italiano ad essere poco più che amatoriale e piena di errori, e già questo non aiuta: è comunque un libro pieno zeppo di ripetizioni e frasi inutili che ribadiscono più volte gli stessi concetti con pressappoco le stesse parole.
La trama poi alterna due schemi di comportamento fissi dei protagonisti, ed errare è umano ma perseverare è diabolico (e noiosissimo). Schema 1: Kaja vuole andare in un posto, Pinsley dice di no, lei ci va lo stesso, finisce nei guai finché Pinsley arriva ad aiutarla. Schema 2: Pinsley va in qualche posto, non dice dove e perché a kaja, ma solo di aspettarlo ferma lì. Lei non aspetta perché trova qualcuno da inseguire e da lì si ripete lo schema n.1
Noia mortale, nessuna maturazione dei personaggi, e un finale farlocco che ha l'unico scopo di indurre a leggere il libro successivo. No grazie, addio.
June 28, 2021
I was given an ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it because it continues the mysterious idea of Shadowseers; this time in Paris.
Kaia and Pinsley journey to Paris in the hope of finding more information about the shadows, a supernatural entity from somewhere other than Earth. While Kaia is fully committed to the idea, Pinsley, a rational thinker, tries to find other explanations for what is happening.
It's well-written and fast-paced and, in my opinion, different from other books by this author - and I really love it.
I don't want to give spoilers so I will just say - highly recommended.
Kaia and Pinsley journey to Paris in the hope of finding more information about the shadows, a supernatural entity from somewhere other than Earth. While Kaia is fully committed to the idea, Pinsley, a rational thinker, tries to find other explanations for what is happening.
It's well-written and fast-paced and, in my opinion, different from other books by this author - and I really love it.
I don't want to give spoilers so I will just say - highly recommended.
August 14, 2022
APPLAUSE. Seriously, the way Morgan Rice gives and takes throughout this novel is admirable. He gets us close enough to something Pinsley wants pulls it away until we finally get the payoff. The same thing happens with Kaia where we got a shocking ending that paid off a promise early on.
I loved the slow burn transformation and challenge to Pinsley’s pragmatic world. He’s stubborn while Kaia is pushy and it’s so perfect. The grounded approach to a fantastical world works well. It’s an admirable trust Rice has in his writing along with his ability to string readers along.
I loved the slow burn transformation and challenge to Pinsley’s pragmatic world. He’s stubborn while Kaia is pushy and it’s so perfect. The grounded approach to a fantastical world works well. It’s an admirable trust Rice has in his writing along with his ability to string readers along.
January 20, 2023
Better than book 1 in the series!
This book outdid the first book in the series. It was full of twists and turns going in all directions and an incredible mystery that kept me guessing right up to the end. Very good indeed!
I am now heading to Amazon to buy book 3! Can't wait to see what happens next!
This series is so worth a read. I definitely recommend it.
This book outdid the first book in the series. It was full of twists and turns going in all directions and an incredible mystery that kept me guessing right up to the end. Very good indeed!
I am now heading to Amazon to buy book 3! Can't wait to see what happens next!
This series is so worth a read. I definitely recommend it.
June 29, 2021
I have to say that every book that I read by Morgan Rice is very good. This is one book of many that she has written that is excellent. The characters are always intriguing and the storylines interesting. I recommend this book highly.
July 6, 2021
The Shadowseer series is such an intriguing concept, fast paced mystery.
In this second story Kaia & Detective Pinsley go to Paris to look for answers about her heritage & her ability to see shadows.
In this second story Kaia & Detective Pinsley go to Paris to look for answers about her heritage & her ability to see shadows.
July 5, 2022
This book just reiterates why I enjoy Morgan Rice's books so much. Good character development, just the right amount of supernatural happenings, a mystery, and an ending that makes you want to pick up the next book immediately so you can find out what happens next.
November 27, 2022
Better
First one was good this is better. Follow a story and get a sense different world, values very different than today. 1840s France different than england. More than Lee miserable
Looking forward to the next one.
First one was good this is better. Follow a story and get a sense different world, values very different than today. 1840s France different than england. More than Lee miserable
Looking forward to the next one.
July 8, 2021
What an imagination you have Morgan Rice. It's brilliant book.
October 21, 2021
Action, suspense, tension; Morgan Rice is a master in heightening my nerves. I have purchased the next book and must keep reading.
May 19, 2022
Victorian mystery with paranormal activity.book 2 in the series
May 26, 2022
A historical, atmospheric story, it's a page-turner in parts. This is part of a series and invites you to follow the next instalment.
June 7, 2022
Second in the Shadowseer series, focusing on a young woman with supernatural senses and a Scotland Yard detective. Fast-moving and suspenseful.
February 25, 2024
Really enjoying this series. Very well thought out plot and a great continuation of book one.
Read
April 14, 20242024
April 17, 2024
I'm all for a story that skips the romance in lieu of some good father-daughter adventures.
May 28, 2022
How I rate the books:
5 stars - "oh my gosh... Can't stop reading. Just one more chapter. Don't want this to end." I am going to buy another book even if I am frugal.
4 stars - I am going to read another book, but something was missing in it. Still really good.
3 stars - it's okay. I maybe consider reading another book of the series or from this author.
2 & 1 stars - I will not write a negative review again. I write myself, and I know what it means to put your heart and soul into a story. I will not contribute negative feelings to someone who managed to do what I didn't yet. :)
5 stars - "oh my gosh... Can't stop reading. Just one more chapter. Don't want this to end." I am going to buy another book even if I am frugal.
4 stars - I am going to read another book, but something was missing in it. Still really good.
3 stars - it's okay. I maybe consider reading another book of the series or from this author.
2 & 1 stars - I will not write a negative review again. I write myself, and I know what it means to put your heart and soul into a story. I will not contribute negative feelings to someone who managed to do what I didn't yet. :)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews