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Sacaran Nights
Sacara is decaying. The dead walk the streets, fungi light the night and Dagner must fight to keep the rot at bay.
From SPFBO finalist, Rachel Emma Shaw, comes a new take on dark fantasy. One of death, decay and fallen stars.
The Spare of Galen died the turn his brother fell into the putrefaction fields, tumbling into the decaying detritus below. The Heir of Galen was no more. Species of rot rarely seen before sprouted from his flesh by the time they pulled him out. Those who carried him through the streets held their hands over their mouths, afraid the spores consuming his body might corrupt them too. Throughout the city, word spread that the Heir of Galen had died, but nobody shed a tear. Instead, they turned to his brother, saying, 'Dagner, you are a spare no more'.
Mourning his brother, forced to be the heir, Dagner is torn between carrying on his family's legacy, and his desire to turn his back on the cursed city of death and decay forever. But before he makes his choice, a sinister plot begins to unfold, and he learns just how deep the rot runs deep in Sacara.
From SPFBO finalist, Rachel Emma Shaw, comes a new take on dark fantasy. One of death, decay and fallen stars.
The Spare of Galen died the turn his brother fell into the putrefaction fields, tumbling into the decaying detritus below. The Heir of Galen was no more. Species of rot rarely seen before sprouted from his flesh by the time they pulled him out. Those who carried him through the streets held their hands over their mouths, afraid the spores consuming his body might corrupt them too. Throughout the city, word spread that the Heir of Galen had died, but nobody shed a tear. Instead, they turned to his brother, saying, 'Dagner, you are a spare no more'.
Mourning his brother, forced to be the heir, Dagner is torn between carrying on his family's legacy, and his desire to turn his back on the cursed city of death and decay forever. But before he makes his choice, a sinister plot begins to unfold, and he learns just how deep the rot runs deep in Sacara.
- GenresFantasyDark Fantasy
330 pages, Unknown Binding
Published October 28, 2021
5 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Emma Shaw
7 books63 followersSlytherin author with a Hufflepuff soul. <3
https://linktr.ee/RachelEmmaShaw
Rachel Emma Shaw is a London based author. She started writing as an escape from her PhD in neuroscience and has never stopped. She lives in a house slowly being consumed by plants and loves being outdoors. She will frequently attempt to write her books in local parks, only to inevitably end up falling asleep in the sun. If you want her to hurry up and write more books then wish for rain. Her best work is done when it's stormy outside.
Her debut novel is Last Memoria, a story about love, lies and memory thieves.
Her website: https://rachelemmashaw.wordpress.com/
Her e-mail newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b736c7485e1c/rache...
Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachelthesto...
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_emma...
Her Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/paintedre...
Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelEmma_Shaw
https://linktr.ee/RachelEmmaShaw
Rachel Emma Shaw is a London based author. She started writing as an escape from her PhD in neuroscience and has never stopped. She lives in a house slowly being consumed by plants and loves being outdoors. She will frequently attempt to write her books in local parks, only to inevitably end up falling asleep in the sun. If you want her to hurry up and write more books then wish for rain. Her best work is done when it's stormy outside.
Her debut novel is Last Memoria, a story about love, lies and memory thieves.
Her website: https://rachelemmashaw.wordpress.com/
Her e-mail newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b736c7485e1c/rache...
Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachelthesto...
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_emma...
Her Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/paintedre...
Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelEmma_Shaw
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 29, 2021
4/5 stars
“In all the strange I travelled, none festered inside me like Sacara…”
After the great experience I had with this author, and her previous novel Last Memoria back in 2020, I overjoyed when Rachel approached me again with an ARC of her latest work: Sacaran Nights. I’d like to start this review off by a big thank you to her; not just for another great novel, but also for her patience and kindness regarding my delayed review.
Working on an ICU-ward during another peak of a pandemic, made me weary of anything with heavy death-themes for the past few months, making my put off this book again and again. Once I got started however, I was hooked. Sacaran Nights brought me an intriguing, vivid and capturing escape into a dark fantasy world, that I thoroughly enjoyed. While on the surface, it may seem like “a dark-fantasy about death”, that description is selling the book short. Instead it holds another layer about legacy, heritage and keeping our dead alive in one way or another.
Welcome to Sacara: a city divided and permeated by rot, decay and corruption. A city blanketed in perpetual darkness by a vulcanic ashcloud, where the only light comes from the bioluminescent fungi that litter the crumbling walls. A city where the shadows of the dead walk the streets, and the living will go to great lengths to protect their legacies from the corruption that lingers around every corner of their society…
Dagner dreams of leaving the stink of Sacara behind forever. Instead, after the sudden passing of his father, he’s trapped by an inheritance he never wished for, and forced to protect it.
Going into more depth would spoil part of the joy of exploring this darkly fascinating world and its characters by yourself. Shaw doesn’t hold your hand, or spoon-feeds you any of the lore of this world, and instead invites you to do some puzzling for yourself. She trusts you as the reader, and herself as the storyteller to be able to put the pieces together, and I can always respect that in an author.
Like Last Memoria, Sacaran Nights brings a bit of a layered experience that I love in my fantasy. Despite being set in such an alien and dreary world, Sacaran Nights addresses themes that will be familiar (and maybe even comforting) to all of us who’ve ever lost a family-member or loved one. Reading the Thankword by the author confirms that this is, again, a story from the heart. Whether you know this or not; it shows on the page and makes the book a bit better for it.
Sacaran Nights is an independently published novel, available on Amazon, via the link below or the authors website https://rachelemmashaw.wordpress.com/ .
“In all the strange I travelled, none festered inside me like Sacara…”
After the great experience I had with this author, and her previous novel Last Memoria back in 2020, I overjoyed when Rachel approached me again with an ARC of her latest work: Sacaran Nights. I’d like to start this review off by a big thank you to her; not just for another great novel, but also for her patience and kindness regarding my delayed review.
Working on an ICU-ward during another peak of a pandemic, made me weary of anything with heavy death-themes for the past few months, making my put off this book again and again. Once I got started however, I was hooked. Sacaran Nights brought me an intriguing, vivid and capturing escape into a dark fantasy world, that I thoroughly enjoyed. While on the surface, it may seem like “a dark-fantasy about death”, that description is selling the book short. Instead it holds another layer about legacy, heritage and keeping our dead alive in one way or another.
Welcome to Sacara: a city divided and permeated by rot, decay and corruption. A city blanketed in perpetual darkness by a vulcanic ashcloud, where the only light comes from the bioluminescent fungi that litter the crumbling walls. A city where the shadows of the dead walk the streets, and the living will go to great lengths to protect their legacies from the corruption that lingers around every corner of their society…
Dagner dreams of leaving the stink of Sacara behind forever. Instead, after the sudden passing of his father, he’s trapped by an inheritance he never wished for, and forced to protect it.
Going into more depth would spoil part of the joy of exploring this darkly fascinating world and its characters by yourself. Shaw doesn’t hold your hand, or spoon-feeds you any of the lore of this world, and instead invites you to do some puzzling for yourself. She trusts you as the reader, and herself as the storyteller to be able to put the pieces together, and I can always respect that in an author.
Like Last Memoria, Sacaran Nights brings a bit of a layered experience that I love in my fantasy. Despite being set in such an alien and dreary world, Sacaran Nights addresses themes that will be familiar (and maybe even comforting) to all of us who’ve ever lost a family-member or loved one. Reading the Thankword by the author confirms that this is, again, a story from the heart. Whether you know this or not; it shows on the page and makes the book a bit better for it.
Sacaran Nights is an independently published novel, available on Amazon, via the link below or the authors website https://rachelemmashaw.wordpress.com/ .
January 26, 2022
This review was done back in May 2021 based on the ARC received from the author. Thank you! And I honestly swear all that I write below is 100% my thoughts. I adore this book.
Sacaran Nights is the first book in a duology. It tells a story set in a city covered in ash. The spirits of the dead roam its streets alongside the living, an uncountable amount of completely new and original species of fungi cover all areas of life, the society is shattered between the low, “uncivilized” and “dangerous” citizens and high lineages of Upper Sacara. The latter constantly wear masks made of face-flesh of their dead foreparents. Isn’t this short description already enough to spark your interest and to show how completely unique this setting is?
Rachel Shaw knows how to build worlds. The realization of her concepts is fascinating. It’s not just there to make you feel weird, the plot weaves around these concepts and is inseparable from understanding the scene we’re given here. And everything is so easily explained! You don’t need to break your brain around the setting rules to follow this plot. You know, I’m even slightly envious: this book is something to look up to.
The atmosphere here is… astounding. Dark Sacara under the cloud of volcanic ash, the fungi serving as both life and death of this isolated city… shadows of the dead everywhere, deathmasks, masques in killing frenzy… I am really fascinated by all this.
At some point, I even caught the parallel between Sacara and Pompeii. And this made everything so much cooler.
Every little thing here is original. Rachel’s writing is getting better and better, and her style is so beautiful I have no words.
Everything happening in Sacara is inseparable from the place itself which shows how scrupulously everything here is written. All life of Sacara revolves around social frames and rules, around the difficulties of being a part of this society. You can see every moment of the hero’s downfall, how he learns the truth about everything he’s been surrounded with. When it seems there’s nothing more to lose, something else happens to prove him wrong. There’s always something to lose. This is what the book makes crystally clear.
There are not that many female characters but all of them are memorable. But again, it is not that surprising. I’ve always been telling Rachel creates such wonderful female characters, I want to love all of them. Eternally.
Dagner himself is full of doubts, guilt. He is the result of Upper-Sacaran society, the result of all the pressure he’s been under for years. He wants things, he’s generally a good guy, but how torn he is. He’s egotistical, too. He’s a completely alive and believable character. But then again, Rachel Shaw is a master of these things.
So, to end all my praising, I’ll mention this. The ending is so abrupt I was left so confused. NOT.ENOUGH. It was the most interesting part!
I don’t mean that the book’s not finished or there’s no conclusion. I’m telling that the cliffhanger is GODLIKE.
I want it so bitterly, for these books to become popular and get the following they deserve.
So, overall:
Read if: you like original and well-written worlds and settings: you like complex intrigues and conflicts within a society buried under difficult social rules; you like eating glass like “the hero loses everything, and then even more”; you love tense situations, hidden inner pain and complex relationships.
Do not read if: you want a detailed romance line; you really don’t want to dive into complex new elements of a unique world; you’re looking for a oneshot or for a part of the series that has almost complete ending/closure;
Sacaran Nights is the first book in a duology. It tells a story set in a city covered in ash. The spirits of the dead roam its streets alongside the living, an uncountable amount of completely new and original species of fungi cover all areas of life, the society is shattered between the low, “uncivilized” and “dangerous” citizens and high lineages of Upper Sacara. The latter constantly wear masks made of face-flesh of their dead foreparents. Isn’t this short description already enough to spark your interest and to show how completely unique this setting is?
Rachel Shaw knows how to build worlds. The realization of her concepts is fascinating. It’s not just there to make you feel weird, the plot weaves around these concepts and is inseparable from understanding the scene we’re given here. And everything is so easily explained! You don’t need to break your brain around the setting rules to follow this plot. You know, I’m even slightly envious: this book is something to look up to.
The atmosphere here is… astounding. Dark Sacara under the cloud of volcanic ash, the fungi serving as both life and death of this isolated city… shadows of the dead everywhere, deathmasks, masques in killing frenzy… I am really fascinated by all this.
At some point, I even caught the parallel between Sacara and Pompeii. And this made everything so much cooler.
Every little thing here is original. Rachel’s writing is getting better and better, and her style is so beautiful I have no words.
Everything happening in Sacara is inseparable from the place itself which shows how scrupulously everything here is written. All life of Sacara revolves around social frames and rules, around the difficulties of being a part of this society. You can see every moment of the hero’s downfall, how he learns the truth about everything he’s been surrounded with. When it seems there’s nothing more to lose, something else happens to prove him wrong. There’s always something to lose. This is what the book makes crystally clear.
There are not that many female characters but all of them are memorable. But again, it is not that surprising. I’ve always been telling Rachel creates such wonderful female characters, I want to love all of them. Eternally.
Dagner himself is full of doubts, guilt. He is the result of Upper-Sacaran society, the result of all the pressure he’s been under for years. He wants things, he’s generally a good guy, but how torn he is. He’s egotistical, too. He’s a completely alive and believable character. But then again, Rachel Shaw is a master of these things.
So, to end all my praising, I’ll mention this. The ending is so abrupt I was left so confused. NOT.ENOUGH. It was the most interesting part!
I don’t mean that the book’s not finished or there’s no conclusion. I’m telling that the cliffhanger is GODLIKE.
I want it so bitterly, for these books to become popular and get the following they deserve.
So, overall:
Read if: you like original and well-written worlds and settings: you like complex intrigues and conflicts within a society buried under difficult social rules; you like eating glass like “the hero loses everything, and then even more”; you love tense situations, hidden inner pain and complex relationships.
Do not read if: you want a detailed romance line; you really don’t want to dive into complex new elements of a unique world; you’re looking for a oneshot or for a part of the series that has almost complete ending/closure;
November 8, 2021
The world of Sacara revolves around legacy. Few people live to inherit, and those who do live their lives to keep the dead alive. They protect their ancestor's ghosts by fighting the corruption always on the verge of taking over. Dagner is one of the few who will live, but he doesn't wish to stay in Sacara. An explorer at heart, he wants to leave the only place he has ever known, but his chances at that were lost when he gained an inheritance he was not supposed to have. Realizing he is trapped, he dives into his role. Someone from his past reemerges to claim the legacy Dagner has become adamant to protect though, forcing Dagner to choose between making his own path that he has always desired and sacrificing everything to save Sacara.
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
I enjoyed this book a lot, but there were a couple of more minor things that I thought could have been improved a bit. I'll start with those and then go into some well deserved praise. First, I recommend not going into the novel with the expectation that you will be able to keep track of all of the fungi. There are a couple of notes that go with the downside though. I don't necessarily think you are meant to do this. It is not the purpose of the novel; it just would have been nice if you could learn them. Another note is that Shaw does do a great job at creating the journal that is a large part of the book that Dagner uses to keep tack of the fungi. The journal entries that are found before each of the chapters are helpful and also very fun to look at. I personally really enjoyed the drawings because it allowed me to imagine the world better. Now back to the original point. There are just so many fungi (because the world of Sacara revolves around them) that it is near impossible to keep track without going back a lot.
The other minor negative is similar to the first in that it really is only a partial negative. For hardcore fantasy readers like myself, it will most likely not be a big deal because we are kind of used to this happening. A lot of fantasy books work out like this. However, if you are new to fantasy or simply don't read too much of it, the beginning of this book may confuse you for a bit. While the issue is resolved and the world explained, the story is confusing for the first couple of chapters. High fantasy worlds such as that of Sacara are completely different from the real world, so it can be puzzling to be thrown into a story not knowing anything about the world but following characters who know everything about it because they live in it. Like I previously mentioned, though, Shaw does a wonderful job of explaining the world, and I can safely promise you that you will understand everything fairly fast.
Those were really the two biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel. Perhaps my second favorite thing about this author is her originality. Not one thing I have read from Shaw (and I've read it all to my knowledge) has felt similar to any other fantasy book I've read (and I'm an avid fantasy reader). I will confidently say that I highly doubt you will have ever read anything even close to the concept of this. The fungi was a really cool, unique center-point.
One thing I have noticed about this particular author that I thoroughly appreciate is her ability to weave valuable lessons throughout her writing without readers even realizing it until the end of the story when it really hits. This is my favorite part of reading Shaw's work. Her stories, at least thus far, are always very dark fantasy. The first book I ever read by her was so dark, in fact, that it was almost hard to get through at certain parts even though I loved the book; however, I would encourage you to stay to the end if you can because there is always a light that you see after in the form of a valuable lesson or two. This book, for example, teaches wonderful lessons about the grieving process that everyone should learn.
I believe that Shaw did a good job with the worldbuilding. Although confusing at first, the world unfurled nicely, and I had a thorough understanding of it. Shaw excellently incorporates plot twists relating to her world that I, at least, did not see coming. These were very enjoyable and built on the story well.
For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. I liked Corenn in particular as his personality was nice comic relief at times, but he also balanced himself out well to fulfill multiple roles in the story beautifully. The antagonists of the story were written well; I truly felt disgust towards them which is just evidence of Shaw's skill in writing character development. I did have slightly mixed feelings on Dagner. I liked him, but he felt a tad repetitive at times. There were a couple of times when he would go back to a subject and my thought process went to Didn't you move on from this already???. Other than that, though, he was a strong protagonist. As far as Merany and Tytus go, I loved all of the twists that accompanied them; they were some of my favorite in the book.
Overall, the book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes unique dark fantasy that teaches you important life lessons. There were a couple of flaws, but they are made up for by the pros of the story, and they also may not apply to everyone. I am definitely looking forward to the release of book two!
Thank you to the author, Rachel Emma Shaw, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
# of Pages: 296
Genre: YA, Dark Fantasy, Thrillers
Series: Masque Duology (Book 2)
Publication Date: May 10, 2021
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
I enjoyed this book a lot, but there were a couple of more minor things that I thought could have been improved a bit. I'll start with those and then go into some well deserved praise. First, I recommend not going into the novel with the expectation that you will be able to keep track of all of the fungi. There are a couple of notes that go with the downside though. I don't necessarily think you are meant to do this. It is not the purpose of the novel; it just would have been nice if you could learn them. Another note is that Shaw does do a great job at creating the journal that is a large part of the book that Dagner uses to keep tack of the fungi. The journal entries that are found before each of the chapters are helpful and also very fun to look at. I personally really enjoyed the drawings because it allowed me to imagine the world better. Now back to the original point. There are just so many fungi (because the world of Sacara revolves around them) that it is near impossible to keep track without going back a lot.
The other minor negative is similar to the first in that it really is only a partial negative. For hardcore fantasy readers like myself, it will most likely not be a big deal because we are kind of used to this happening. A lot of fantasy books work out like this. However, if you are new to fantasy or simply don't read too much of it, the beginning of this book may confuse you for a bit. While the issue is resolved and the world explained, the story is confusing for the first couple of chapters. High fantasy worlds such as that of Sacara are completely different from the real world, so it can be puzzling to be thrown into a story not knowing anything about the world but following characters who know everything about it because they live in it. Like I previously mentioned, though, Shaw does a wonderful job of explaining the world, and I can safely promise you that you will understand everything fairly fast.
Those were really the two biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel. Perhaps my second favorite thing about this author is her originality. Not one thing I have read from Shaw (and I've read it all to my knowledge) has felt similar to any other fantasy book I've read (and I'm an avid fantasy reader). I will confidently say that I highly doubt you will have ever read anything even close to the concept of this. The fungi was a really cool, unique center-point.
One thing I have noticed about this particular author that I thoroughly appreciate is her ability to weave valuable lessons throughout her writing without readers even realizing it until the end of the story when it really hits. This is my favorite part of reading Shaw's work. Her stories, at least thus far, are always very dark fantasy. The first book I ever read by her was so dark, in fact, that it was almost hard to get through at certain parts even though I loved the book; however, I would encourage you to stay to the end if you can because there is always a light that you see after in the form of a valuable lesson or two. This book, for example, teaches wonderful lessons about the grieving process that everyone should learn.
I believe that Shaw did a good job with the worldbuilding. Although confusing at first, the world unfurled nicely, and I had a thorough understanding of it. Shaw excellently incorporates plot twists relating to her world that I, at least, did not see coming. These were very enjoyable and built on the story well.
For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. I liked Corenn in particular as his personality was nice comic relief at times, but he also balanced himself out well to fulfill multiple roles in the story beautifully. The antagonists of the story were written well; I truly felt disgust towards them which is just evidence of Shaw's skill in writing character development. I did have slightly mixed feelings on Dagner. I liked him, but he felt a tad repetitive at times. There were a couple of times when he would go back to a subject and my thought process went to Didn't you move on from this already???. Other than that, though, he was a strong protagonist. As far as Merany and Tytus go, I loved all of the twists that accompanied them; they were some of my favorite in the book.
Overall, the book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes unique dark fantasy that teaches you important life lessons. There were a couple of flaws, but they are made up for by the pros of the story, and they also may not apply to everyone. I am definitely looking forward to the release of book two!
Thank you to the author, Rachel Emma Shaw, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
# of Pages: 296
Genre: YA, Dark Fantasy, Thrillers
Series: Masque Duology (Book 2)
Publication Date: May 10, 2021
August 18, 2021
This was such a unique and captivating read. It's set in Sacara, a fantasy city deep in a canyon shrouded by an ash cloud from a nearby volcano which causes constant night. The only light comes from bioluminescent fungi. With a society focused on legacy, everyone is designated as either an heir or a spare. Dagner dreams of leaving the city, but feels an obligation to his family's heritage. When a major upset occurs at his father's funeral, everything he knows is thrown into disarray.
This was such a richly imagined world. In between each chapter, there is a excerpt detailing some of the fungi found in Sacara. It's very atmospheric and easy to picture. The story has a dystopian vibe, mixed with dark fantasy. Once it gets going it's very fast paced and sucks you in. I enjoyed it and would recommend to readers who enjoy stories about overthrowing dystopian societies.
This was such a richly imagined world. In between each chapter, there is a excerpt detailing some of the fungi found in Sacara. It's very atmospheric and easy to picture. The story has a dystopian vibe, mixed with dark fantasy. Once it gets going it's very fast paced and sucks you in. I enjoyed it and would recommend to readers who enjoy stories about overthrowing dystopian societies.
October 26, 2021
Sacaran Nights is fantasy book with a very unusual and unique premise. The decaying city of Sacaran is set deep in a canyon and shrouded by a cloud of poisonous ash causing the city to be blanketed in constant darkness. The only light comes from the bio-luminescent fungi which emit a blue tinged light and illuminates the city. Fungi in this world grows in abundance and has many uses. The world building is phenomenal, richly described and completely enthralling, I haven’t read anything quite like it before. Each chapter heading has a wonderful little drawing and excerpt from an unfinished catalogue of the Sacaran fungal species. The world is split into lower and upper Sacaran, the lower and upper class societies. The lower Sacarans live an even more miserable existence than those in the upper world.
The characters are well developed and engaging and in particular Dagnar stands out with a fabulous character arc. He’s desperate to escape Sacaran into the world beyond and I was rooting for him throughout the story. The side characters are equally as likeable and have their own unique quirks and personalities, Tytus and Merany to name a few.
This book is a must read for all fantasy fans, it is a fast-paced and fascinating read you will not be able to put down. An atmospheric novel full of danger and excitement and writing that is fluid and easy to read. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens in the final instalment, Darkest Days.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
The characters are well developed and engaging and in particular Dagnar stands out with a fabulous character arc. He’s desperate to escape Sacaran into the world beyond and I was rooting for him throughout the story. The side characters are equally as likeable and have their own unique quirks and personalities, Tytus and Merany to name a few.
This book is a must read for all fantasy fans, it is a fast-paced and fascinating read you will not be able to put down. An atmospheric novel full of danger and excitement and writing that is fluid and easy to read. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens in the final instalment, Darkest Days.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
October 24, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Sacaran Nights
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Asexual side character
Recommended For...: dark fantasy, dystopian, new adult readers
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Genre: NA Dystopian Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, parental death)
Explanation of CWs: Some violence and gore. There’s also death
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 330
Synopsis: Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book is unique and something I don’t think I’ve read before. The book is also well plotted and the book hooks you in within a few chapters.
However, I did think that some of the book was confusing. There’s a lot of information about the fungi and it gets confusing to keep them separated in your mind without using the guide. The beginning is also a little off-putting as it’s very confusing and chaotic.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Sacaran Nights
Author: Rachel Emma Shaw
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Asexual side character
Recommended For...: dark fantasy, dystopian, new adult readers
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Genre: NA Dystopian Dark Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, parental death)
Explanation of CWs: Some violence and gore. There’s also death
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 330
Synopsis: Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
Review: I really liked this book overall. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book is unique and something I don’t think I’ve read before. The book is also well plotted and the book hooks you in within a few chapters.
However, I did think that some of the book was confusing. There’s a lot of information about the fungi and it gets confusing to keep them separated in your mind without using the guide. The beginning is also a little off-putting as it’s very confusing and chaotic.
Verdict: It was good!
September 19, 2021
Wow. This book.
Like most of Shaw's stories, this isn't one you can skim or only vaguely pay attention to while reading. If you do, you'll likely end up missing loads and not understand much of the story.
Most of the set up takes place in the first few chapters, which makes those a fair bit slower than the rest of the book, but considering the world we are introduced to with Sacara, I think this is fair. I often find that books with more extensive worldbuilding require a little longer to adjust to before you're hooked by them, and I think that's what happened here. By the funeral scene though, pretty much everything made sense, and then plot wise we were racing along!
I think my favourite thing about Sacaran Nights has to be the setting. It's such a well imagined world. I like the main character - Dagner - a lot. More so at the end than ever and I'm really curious about what happens to him in book two, but it's the companion characters who really stole my heart in this one. Maybe it's just the dangers posed by their living in Sacara, but this world makes me fear for all of them.
Like most of Shaw's stories, this isn't one you can skim or only vaguely pay attention to while reading. If you do, you'll likely end up missing loads and not understand much of the story.
Most of the set up takes place in the first few chapters, which makes those a fair bit slower than the rest of the book, but considering the world we are introduced to with Sacara, I think this is fair. I often find that books with more extensive worldbuilding require a little longer to adjust to before you're hooked by them, and I think that's what happened here. By the funeral scene though, pretty much everything made sense, and then plot wise we were racing along!
I think my favourite thing about Sacaran Nights has to be the setting. It's such a well imagined world. I like the main character - Dagner - a lot. More so at the end than ever and I'm really curious about what happens to him in book two, but it's the companion characters who really stole my heart in this one. Maybe it's just the dangers posed by their living in Sacara, but this world makes me fear for all of them.
August 3, 2021
ARC REVIEW
Revana wasn’t a spear of sunlight, she was a blaze of it. One that could eat up the night and easily keep my dreams of the sun at bay. - Rachel Emma Shaw
Join us in Sacaran, a place without sunlight where all different kind of fungi have taken over the place and where our main character Dagner is heir to the longest line of descendants in the city. But he was not born the heir, and fears that his forefathers will not recognize him as a worthy heir. When a figure from his past reappears, Dagner's life as he knows changes completely and he has to fight for his life and everyone he has ever loved.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a while to really get into this book. It was a bit confusing at first, but after a few chapters, I was hooked! I liked the whole world in darkness thing and how the fungi were incorporated throughout the entire story. Next to that, I also liked how we saw Dagner develop through the story.
I look forward to the second one!
Revana wasn’t a spear of sunlight, she was a blaze of it. One that could eat up the night and easily keep my dreams of the sun at bay. - Rachel Emma Shaw
Join us in Sacaran, a place without sunlight where all different kind of fungi have taken over the place and where our main character Dagner is heir to the longest line of descendants in the city. But he was not born the heir, and fears that his forefathers will not recognize him as a worthy heir. When a figure from his past reappears, Dagner's life as he knows changes completely and he has to fight for his life and everyone he has ever loved.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a while to really get into this book. It was a bit confusing at first, but after a few chapters, I was hooked! I liked the whole world in darkness thing and how the fungi were incorporated throughout the entire story. Next to that, I also liked how we saw Dagner develop through the story.
I look forward to the second one!
October 11, 2021
What I Didn’t Like:
-All the different fungi were impossible to keep track of, even with the helpful guides at the beginning of each chapter. I found myself struggling to imagine and picture each one as they came up in the book.
-Slightly confusing start. This often happens when you’re tossed into a fantasy world and have to follow the characters who live there, so it’s something avid readers of the genre likely won’t have a problem with. You spend some time feeling off kilter as you try to navigate the world of Sacara.
What I Did Like:
-Worldbuilding. A lot of detail went into creating this fungi journal and the details that make up the world of Saraca. I appreciate the work that went into this and I’m seriously looking forward to uncovering more of the details in the second book.
-Characters. Dagner is amazing. I want only good things for him and I want him to succeed. I loved him in all aspects of his character arc and I am excited to see what comes next for him.
-Big lessons. There are HUGE messages to draw from here in relation to letting people go, grieving, and learning from ancestors. I felt those messages loud and clear throughout the book and was ECSTATIC to see the message from the author at the end of the book confirming that was her intention all along.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans. This is a world you can get lost in. I mean, literally, with the lack of light you could get lost there! But also it’s a world full of new dangers and excitement where honoring your ancestors is the most important thing they claim to do. Fascinating and amazing for fantasy fans.
My Rating: 4 Stars. Fantasy fans will not want to miss this unique world.
-All the different fungi were impossible to keep track of, even with the helpful guides at the beginning of each chapter. I found myself struggling to imagine and picture each one as they came up in the book.
-Slightly confusing start. This often happens when you’re tossed into a fantasy world and have to follow the characters who live there, so it’s something avid readers of the genre likely won’t have a problem with. You spend some time feeling off kilter as you try to navigate the world of Sacara.
What I Did Like:
-Worldbuilding. A lot of detail went into creating this fungi journal and the details that make up the world of Saraca. I appreciate the work that went into this and I’m seriously looking forward to uncovering more of the details in the second book.
-Characters. Dagner is amazing. I want only good things for him and I want him to succeed. I loved him in all aspects of his character arc and I am excited to see what comes next for him.
-Big lessons. There are HUGE messages to draw from here in relation to letting people go, grieving, and learning from ancestors. I felt those messages loud and clear throughout the book and was ECSTATIC to see the message from the author at the end of the book confirming that was her intention all along.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans. This is a world you can get lost in. I mean, literally, with the lack of light you could get lost there! But also it’s a world full of new dangers and excitement where honoring your ancestors is the most important thing they claim to do. Fascinating and amazing for fantasy fans.
My Rating: 4 Stars. Fantasy fans will not want to miss this unique world.
October 6, 2021
I was given an arc for an honest review.
It was great to be back in this world but to see it from a different area. To live in darkness, it really makes for a different world. What I really liked about the book is all the different fungi and that they we were given descriptions of what their purpose was for. We also see an upper and lower class society that is riddled with lies and deceit and a group of people who have had enough of it. Add in the dead are also waking around, this book amazed me and the twists at the end I didn’t see coming. It was a great read.
It was great to be back in this world but to see it from a different area. To live in darkness, it really makes for a different world. What I really liked about the book is all the different fungi and that they we were given descriptions of what their purpose was for. We also see an upper and lower class society that is riddled with lies and deceit and a group of people who have had enough of it. Add in the dead are also waking around, this book amazed me and the twists at the end I didn’t see coming. It was a great read.
June 13, 2022
Some of the best world building I've seen in any book as of late. I truly missed fantasy stories where the setting was as much a living being as the characters. However, I found the bickering and angsty self loathing between the main characters to be a bit more than I could handle. I think I might just not be the target audience, as the friend who recommended this book to me praised the "romantic tension", but for me it only detracted from the engaging plot twists and world building. Absolutely worth a read if you aren't turned off by love triangles or angst.
October 26, 2021
Sacara is a place of perpetual darkness except for the fungi that bring light, and of decay, where the dead walk among the living. Legacy is everything and Dagner will be an heir if he is chosen. He dreams of seeing the rest of the world, though that is quite difficult for he cannot stand the sunlight. When someone from his past returns and threatens this legacy and his city, he must choose to fight or leave and make his own path.
The premise is beyond original, so unique, catering to an ambiance of melancholy, rules and odd hierarchy. A sense of comfort and simultaneous unease, with intrigue permeating the air. The worldbuilding and mythology are as fascinating as you would expect them to be.
A strict and tough place to exist by many counts, oftentimes cruel, I think Sacara symbolizes hardship in life, but do not get the impression this story is all doom and gloom. In addition to Dagner's perseverance and hopefulness in spite of himself, there are also characters like Revena or Corenn who are smile-worthy for many reasons.
The minor gripes I had with this story was that sometimes the belief system and rules were quite confusing and there is a repetitiveness in Dagner's thoughts.
A lasting characteristic of the author is that her books are like nothing you've read before. As is making you care for the characters. There is no way to predict how the story will proceed, but when you think about it, it makes so much sense and leads you to that what the ... finale that makes you excited for the sequel.
Sense of duty battles revenge, heart-lurching moments accompany gasp-worthy actions, revelations bring down beliefs and justice wants to prevail in this satisfying beginning to what will turn out to be an amazing duology.
The premise is beyond original, so unique, catering to an ambiance of melancholy, rules and odd hierarchy. A sense of comfort and simultaneous unease, with intrigue permeating the air. The worldbuilding and mythology are as fascinating as you would expect them to be.
A strict and tough place to exist by many counts, oftentimes cruel, I think Sacara symbolizes hardship in life, but do not get the impression this story is all doom and gloom. In addition to Dagner's perseverance and hopefulness in spite of himself, there are also characters like Revena or Corenn who are smile-worthy for many reasons.
The minor gripes I had with this story was that sometimes the belief system and rules were quite confusing and there is a repetitiveness in Dagner's thoughts.
A lasting characteristic of the author is that her books are like nothing you've read before. As is making you care for the characters. There is no way to predict how the story will proceed, but when you think about it, it makes so much sense and leads you to that what the ... finale that makes you excited for the sequel.
Sense of duty battles revenge, heart-lurching moments accompany gasp-worthy actions, revelations bring down beliefs and justice wants to prevail in this satisfying beginning to what will turn out to be an amazing duology.
September 18, 2021
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the way this book picked up BUT it picked up way to late for me. I had a hard time getting into this story for about 70% of it and I just couldn’t let that go when it finally got super exciting. My first few problems are the Spares. Honestly the whole thing was so confusing and then it just hit as a huge plot point. It would have been fine but, nothing led up to it, and it was also super obvious to figure out once the whole “turning point of the novel” happens. Considering that the whole government and world in general was just not very well explained didn’t help when it came to figuring out the “rot”.
Also, let’s talk about how Lower Sacara knows so much comparatively (cooking mushrooms) but can’t figure out how to clean to keep lower city free from rot? I just… how even does that work out? It seems like a weird plot hole to have.
Speaking of plot holes, I’m still unsure how killing someone makes you homicidal? That was never explained and I felt like the end of the book was just used to further engage the reader. I’m sure it’ll be explained soon, but a hint would have been great.
I really loved the use of mushrooms in this, it’s a great way of comparing government neglect to a natural cycle and I’m just super interested to go further with this series.
I really liked the way this book picked up BUT it picked up way to late for me. I had a hard time getting into this story for about 70% of it and I just couldn’t let that go when it finally got super exciting. My first few problems are the Spares. Honestly the whole thing was so confusing and then it just hit as a huge plot point. It would have been fine but, nothing led up to it, and it was also super obvious to figure out once the whole “turning point of the novel” happens. Considering that the whole government and world in general was just not very well explained didn’t help when it came to figuring out the “rot”.
Also, let’s talk about how Lower Sacara knows so much comparatively (cooking mushrooms) but can’t figure out how to clean to keep lower city free from rot? I just… how even does that work out? It seems like a weird plot hole to have.
Speaking of plot holes, I’m still unsure how killing someone makes you homicidal? That was never explained and I felt like the end of the book was just used to further engage the reader. I’m sure it’ll be explained soon, but a hint would have been great.
I really loved the use of mushrooms in this, it’s a great way of comparing government neglect to a natural cycle and I’m just super interested to go further with this series.
July 4, 2023
>I love RES's worldbuilding. She also has Youtube videos where she talks about different fantasy aspects and how they might culminate, based on science
> Mushrooms are scary and this book validates my unease. There are no cottagecore mushrooms here.
> Dagner can be a little frustrating but also he's 23 and being deprogrammed - his character arc is pretty intense, all things considered
> Mereny (༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ) she's rough around the edges but I love her and her story is heartbreaking
> I adore RES's takes on unrequited love (also a theme in Last Memoria and its sequel)
> It's not an avant-garde attempt at representing wealth disparity but I think it's still an interesting story
> There is a certain character who made me want to tear my hair out bc he has no sense of foresight but that's all I can say bc i don't wanna use the spoiler tag
I want book two and I want more people to read this author's stuff so we can dissect it togetherrrr :(
> Mushrooms are scary and this book validates my unease. There are no cottagecore mushrooms here.
> Dagner can be a little frustrating but also he's 23 and being deprogrammed - his character arc is pretty intense, all things considered
> Mereny (༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ) she's rough around the edges but I love her and her story is heartbreaking
> I adore RES's takes on unrequited love (also a theme in Last Memoria and its sequel)
> It's not an avant-garde attempt at representing wealth disparity but I think it's still an interesting story
> There is a certain character who made me want to tear my hair out bc he has no sense of foresight but that's all I can say bc i don't wanna use the spoiler tag
I want book two and I want more people to read this author's stuff so we can dissect it togetherrrr :(
September 26, 2021
🪴This is a honest review. I received the book from @ram thank you so much for this.
🪴All my opinions are my own.
🪴Synopsis: SACARA IS DECAYING. THE DEAD WALK THE STREETS, FUNGI LIGHT THE NIGHT, AND DAGNER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE ROT AT BAY.
Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
🪴Review: I give this book 4 stars.
🪴 I don’t know how Rachal does it. But she did bring us again such an unique book. I absolutely loved the world of Sacaran. And Dagner the main character takes you along with it. Finding out a secret that’s been hiding un upper sacaran. And one secet that has been living in lower sacaran. If you like dark fantasy than you will love this book.
Also, Sacaran Nights is on sale as a pre-order now for $1.05. Publication date 28 oktober.
🪴All my opinions are my own.
🪴Synopsis: SACARA IS DECAYING. THE DEAD WALK THE STREETS, FUNGI LIGHT THE NIGHT, AND DAGNER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE ROT AT BAY.
Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.
🪴Review: I give this book 4 stars.
🪴 I don’t know how Rachal does it. But she did bring us again such an unique book. I absolutely loved the world of Sacaran. And Dagner the main character takes you along with it. Finding out a secret that’s been hiding un upper sacaran. And one secet that has been living in lower sacaran. If you like dark fantasy than you will love this book.
Also, Sacaran Nights is on sale as a pre-order now for $1.05. Publication date 28 oktober.
June 25, 2021
Such a fascinating world! I've never read a book based in a city like Sacara. There is such a portent of doom hanging over the place. I just couldn't stop reading!
June 25, 2021
I am in LOVE with this world! And Merany. And Revana. And Corenn - dashing asexuals are the best!
January 25, 2025
💥 Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion! The group verdict might wary widely! 💥
3,5 stars
This is a bit of a mixed batch for me. I *adored* some of this, but sadly some other parts didn't work as well, and brought my overall enjoyment of the story down.
Like the author I just recently lost 2 of my grandparents, just a few weeks apart. So the topic of being able to speak to those we miss dearly really resonated very well with me. The book definitely hit home there, and I loved seeing how different Sacara dealt with death. Having the bones of your loved ones turned into keepsakes might weird a lot of people out, but I found it utterly fascinating! Having grown up in a house with four generations, seeing people age and die is a normal part of life for me. That doesn't take away the grief of course, but I never understood the weird relationship a lot of people have with aging, dementia and death. It left me with a weird fascination with death and grief, so this part of the story I really loved and wanted more off!
The legacies however? That didn't work as well for me. Yes, I know a lot of people think like that. Of leaving a legacy to be remembered. In our family that's not the case at all, and everyone is loved for who they are. Not for whose legacy they are. I just couldn't really get behind that mindset at all. It was described in detail, and I feel the author really tried to make me understand, but in the end didn't really succeed. It's completely alien to me still.
The world itself also didn't always feel fully fleshed out and real. A lot of the setting felt more like a backdrop than a world I could just wander off into and find new things behind every corner, and under every mushroom. I loved the idea of the mushrooms and how all life center s around them by necessity. But it just felt a bit lacking here and there.
The twists really were predictable very early on to me, so it just felt strange that all these people didn't see it. Maybe I just read too much fantasy, maybe I just think about death too much, or maybe the foreshadowing was done a bit too generously. Whatever it was, it felt like I knew more about things than those people who spent there whole life in that city, and that even despite me not getting the full immersion.
The characters worked a lot better again for me. I especially liked how well their motivations and loyalties were written. Everyone of them has their own agency and while goals at times align, the reasons are varied and unique. They all felt three dimensional and real to me.
It has romance, but not the "whining and pining" sort, so even as I a decidedly not romance reader thought it fit the story well.
So I really loved parts, and overall I quite enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel, despite it not working perfectly for me all the way through.
3,5 stars
This is a bit of a mixed batch for me. I *adored* some of this, but sadly some other parts didn't work as well, and brought my overall enjoyment of the story down.
Like the author I just recently lost 2 of my grandparents, just a few weeks apart. So the topic of being able to speak to those we miss dearly really resonated very well with me. The book definitely hit home there, and I loved seeing how different Sacara dealt with death. Having the bones of your loved ones turned into keepsakes might weird a lot of people out, but I found it utterly fascinating! Having grown up in a house with four generations, seeing people age and die is a normal part of life for me. That doesn't take away the grief of course, but I never understood the weird relationship a lot of people have with aging, dementia and death. It left me with a weird fascination with death and grief, so this part of the story I really loved and wanted more off!
The legacies however? That didn't work as well for me. Yes, I know a lot of people think like that. Of leaving a legacy to be remembered. In our family that's not the case at all, and everyone is loved for who they are. Not for whose legacy they are. I just couldn't really get behind that mindset at all. It was described in detail, and I feel the author really tried to make me understand, but in the end didn't really succeed. It's completely alien to me still.
The world itself also didn't always feel fully fleshed out and real. A lot of the setting felt more like a backdrop than a world I could just wander off into and find new things behind every corner, and under every mushroom. I loved the idea of the mushrooms and how all life center s around them by necessity. But it just felt a bit lacking here and there.
The twists really were predictable very early on to me, so it just felt strange that all these people didn't see it. Maybe I just read too much fantasy, maybe I just think about death too much, or maybe the foreshadowing was done a bit too generously. Whatever it was, it felt like I knew more about things than those people who spent there whole life in that city, and that even despite me not getting the full immersion.
The characters worked a lot better again for me. I especially liked how well their motivations and loyalties were written. Everyone of them has their own agency and while goals at times align, the reasons are varied and unique. They all felt three dimensional and real to me.
It has romance, but not the "whining and pining" sort, so even as I a decidedly not romance reader thought it fit the story well.
So I really loved parts, and overall I quite enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel, despite it not working perfectly for me all the way through.
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