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Kingdom of Shadows and Dust #1
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust
A voiceless captive of tradition, driven to defend her kingdom.
As the king’s only daughter, Ava has suffered the solitary isolation of a noble woman as long as she can remember. While she dreams of fighting alongside the armies of Ankara, she’s forced to hide her identity behind a veil.
It seems her prayers are answered when fate intervenes, allowing Ava to sneak away and join the battle. Yet the tides of war turn on her, leaving the young beauty defeated... her hopes shattered. Her only chance at salvation is Callan, a mysterious black wolf willing to risk everything by hiding her away among his kind.
But there are some dangers far more ominous than the snapping jaws of a wolf.
Ripped away from the brave Turnskins, Ava is imprisoned by the beguiling Shadow King who fills her head with promises of peace and a haze of passion. Forced to choose between family, the bond she shares with Callan, and the handsome king, Ava finds herself torn between duty and desire.
When sacrifice is required to save all she holds dear, will Ava accept the crushing demands of taking the crown? Or follow her heart to the forbidden touch she desperately craves?
As the king’s only daughter, Ava has suffered the solitary isolation of a noble woman as long as she can remember. While she dreams of fighting alongside the armies of Ankara, she’s forced to hide her identity behind a veil.
It seems her prayers are answered when fate intervenes, allowing Ava to sneak away and join the battle. Yet the tides of war turn on her, leaving the young beauty defeated... her hopes shattered. Her only chance at salvation is Callan, a mysterious black wolf willing to risk everything by hiding her away among his kind.
But there are some dangers far more ominous than the snapping jaws of a wolf.
Ripped away from the brave Turnskins, Ava is imprisoned by the beguiling Shadow King who fills her head with promises of peace and a haze of passion. Forced to choose between family, the bond she shares with Callan, and the handsome king, Ava finds herself torn between duty and desire.
When sacrifice is required to save all she holds dear, will Ava accept the crushing demands of taking the crown? Or follow her heart to the forbidden touch she desperately craves?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2021
13 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Sherry D. Ficklin
44 books669 followersSherry is the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
Sherry also writes contemporary romance under the pen name SJ Noble. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin.
Sherry also writes contemporary romance under the pen name SJ Noble. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 19, 2024
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you TrueType Press). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🆗 Ordinary characters with no real development.
🆗 Choppy writing and dialogues (sometimes)
🆗 Interesting world-building, but not developed enough.
❌Insta-love
❌Not the best love-triangle
Ava is a princess that has been hidden for most of her life. She is to be kept away from the lustful court (her father’s words) until she is ready to be sold to the best potential political ally. Of course, Ava is not happy with her boring and sheltered life, she dreams about leaving the palace and helping her people. That’s why, when the occasion arises, she leaves for the front with her best friend, where things don’t really go as planned. Ava meets some Magus and Turnskin (people with the ability to shift), and soon realizes that what she was led to believe about them is quite wrong.
The world-building could be more developed. We know that there are kingdoms at war, that the Magus have magical abilities, but are outsiders, and the Turnskins are shapeshifters, but they are worth nothing according to the king and they live hidden in the woods. There is potential for political moves, complex relationships, and different worlds and cultures, but we don’t really see it, and we don’t have enough backstory about the different groups involved.
The writing felt choppy at times, and the dialogues were not the best. Some characters can share their thoughts through a mental bond, but it was hard sometimes to tell if the characters were talking to each other or communicating through telepathy. The story was easy to follow, but it also lacked some depth (as did the characters). The characters are nice, but everyone is good (except for the few villains) and feels unidimensional. It would have been better if some of the characters were morally grey or at least had more depth. There is a hint of betrayal coming from one character, but it’s swiped away as soon as it appears in the story.
There are also inconsistencies in the plot, and overall, it felt as if the characters' thoughts and feelings shifted to accommodate the plot, rather than the other way around.
Another issue that I had with this book is the insta-love between Ava and Callan. Their relationship was so fast-paced there was no time for me to process what was happening, and the next thing I know is that she is jealous because he is talking to another girl, and he proclaims his eternal love for her because they are (apparently) mates. It just annoyed me honestly. The whole telepathic part where Callan accidentally projects thoughts such as “she’s really beautiful” or “don’t touch her, she’s not for you”, was not cute. It was weird. And later on, they had whole telepathic conversations while being far away from each other, but it was not cute or sweet, it just made me roll my eyes because everything progressed so fast between them (and I am most definitely NOT a fan of insta-love).
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🆗 Ordinary characters with no real development.
🆗 Choppy writing and dialogues (sometimes)
🆗 Interesting world-building, but not developed enough.
❌Insta-love
❌Not the best love-triangle
Ava is a princess that has been hidden for most of her life. She is to be kept away from the lustful court (her father’s words) until she is ready to be sold to the best potential political ally. Of course, Ava is not happy with her boring and sheltered life, she dreams about leaving the palace and helping her people. That’s why, when the occasion arises, she leaves for the front with her best friend, where things don’t really go as planned. Ava meets some Magus and Turnskin (people with the ability to shift), and soon realizes that what she was led to believe about them is quite wrong.
The world-building could be more developed. We know that there are kingdoms at war, that the Magus have magical abilities, but are outsiders, and the Turnskins are shapeshifters, but they are worth nothing according to the king and they live hidden in the woods. There is potential for political moves, complex relationships, and different worlds and cultures, but we don’t really see it, and we don’t have enough backstory about the different groups involved.
The writing felt choppy at times, and the dialogues were not the best. Some characters can share their thoughts through a mental bond, but it was hard sometimes to tell if the characters were talking to each other or communicating through telepathy. The story was easy to follow, but it also lacked some depth (as did the characters). The characters are nice, but everyone is good (except for the few villains) and feels unidimensional. It would have been better if some of the characters were morally grey or at least had more depth. There is a hint of betrayal coming from one character, but it’s swiped away as soon as it appears in the story.
There are also inconsistencies in the plot, and overall, it felt as if the characters' thoughts and feelings shifted to accommodate the plot, rather than the other way around.
Another issue that I had with this book is the insta-love between Ava and Callan. Their relationship was so fast-paced there was no time for me to process what was happening, and the next thing I know is that she is jealous because he is talking to another girl, and he proclaims his eternal love for her because they are (apparently) mates. It just annoyed me honestly. The whole telepathic part where Callan accidentally projects thoughts such as “she’s really beautiful” or “don’t touch her, she’s not for you”, was not cute. It was weird. And later on, they had whole telepathic conversations while being far away from each other, but it was not cute or sweet, it just made me roll my eyes because everything progressed so fast between them (and I am most definitely NOT a fan of insta-love).
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September 12, 2021
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust follows Ava, a princess whose kingdom is embroiled in a war with a neighboring kingdom. As Ava becomes more immersed in the war, she finds out that things are not always what they seem, and as she uncovers greed, secrets, and power-hungry motivations, Ava must decide who and what she is fighting for.
Ava wants to be more than just a princess and a political pawn and spends much of the story on a physical, as well as an emotional, journey. She learns so much about herself and what kind of leader she wants to be. She learns what it means to be strong. Above all, she understands that there are many different kinds of love, and all are worthwhile and good. Ava grows and learns so much over the course of the story, and she never loses that fierce determination to help her people.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the love triangle. I like both of Ava’s potential love interests and can totally see her with both. They both have a deep and profound respect for Ava, though one seems to truly love her, which makes sense since he’s Ava’s fated mate. He, like Ava, is willing to sacrifice anything to see her protected and happy. The other potential romance has a lot of chemistry and witty banter and is promising, but it isn’t as deep and strong as the first. It’s interesting to see who Ava chooses as she grapples with staying true to her heart and doing what is best for her brother and her people.
I love some of the other relationships Ava had, including her lovely bond with her younger brother and her long-lasting friendship with her best friend. Ava’s motivation often stems from protecting those she loves, especially her brother, which says a lot about her character and the strength of their love. And I love that she has such a strong relationship with her best friend. They have been so close for so long that they act more like brother and sister than friends, and it’s clear that they love each other (in a totally platonic way). And I think that’s what at the heart of this story – love. What are you willing to sacrifice to protect those you love? Can love conquer all? Is there room in one’s heart for many different loves? Do people show love in different ways?
I do wish there was a bit more world-building, as I found so many aspects of the book really interesting. The story introduces many different kingdoms, lands, people, legends, and magical elements, but they weren’t as vividly described as I had hoped. However, I believe this is the first book in the series, and these elements will probably be developed more in future books.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more by this author. The story is filled with action, romance, political drama, battles, humor, natural disasters, secrets, betrayal, and more. I think readers who enjoy YA fantasy will enjoy Kingdoms of Shadow and Dust. Thanks so much to NetGalley, TrueType Press, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Ava wants to be more than just a princess and a political pawn and spends much of the story on a physical, as well as an emotional, journey. She learns so much about herself and what kind of leader she wants to be. She learns what it means to be strong. Above all, she understands that there are many different kinds of love, and all are worthwhile and good. Ava grows and learns so much over the course of the story, and she never loses that fierce determination to help her people.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the love triangle. I like both of Ava’s potential love interests and can totally see her with both. They both have a deep and profound respect for Ava, though one seems to truly love her, which makes sense since he’s Ava’s fated mate. He, like Ava, is willing to sacrifice anything to see her protected and happy. The other potential romance has a lot of chemistry and witty banter and is promising, but it isn’t as deep and strong as the first. It’s interesting to see who Ava chooses as she grapples with staying true to her heart and doing what is best for her brother and her people.
I love some of the other relationships Ava had, including her lovely bond with her younger brother and her long-lasting friendship with her best friend. Ava’s motivation often stems from protecting those she loves, especially her brother, which says a lot about her character and the strength of their love. And I love that she has such a strong relationship with her best friend. They have been so close for so long that they act more like brother and sister than friends, and it’s clear that they love each other (in a totally platonic way). And I think that’s what at the heart of this story – love. What are you willing to sacrifice to protect those you love? Can love conquer all? Is there room in one’s heart for many different loves? Do people show love in different ways?
I do wish there was a bit more world-building, as I found so many aspects of the book really interesting. The story introduces many different kingdoms, lands, people, legends, and magical elements, but they weren’t as vividly described as I had hoped. However, I believe this is the first book in the series, and these elements will probably be developed more in future books.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more by this author. The story is filled with action, romance, political drama, battles, humor, natural disasters, secrets, betrayal, and more. I think readers who enjoy YA fantasy will enjoy Kingdoms of Shadow and Dust. Thanks so much to NetGalley, TrueType Press, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
March 27, 2021
Honestly wtf just happened 😂
The book started off as 4 star read for me till around half way through. It started to get super boring, I kept reading hoping it would pick up but it didn’t.
The ending wasn’t all that great like i’m so disappointed as i feel like this had so much more potential 😭
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this arc to give an honest review.
The book started off as 4 star read for me till around half way through. It started to get super boring, I kept reading hoping it would pick up but it didn’t.
The ending wasn’t all that great like i’m so disappointed as i feel like this had so much more potential 😭
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this arc to give an honest review.
April 20, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my exclusively my own.
I was excited for this book however I was ultimately disappointed by it.
My main issue with this book is the writing itself. I didn’t like the pacing, world building or character development. I found most of the characters to be very one dimensional and so many scenes felt rushed that I couldn’t feel connected to them, their relationships or the world itself.
I was excited for this book however I was ultimately disappointed by it.
My main issue with this book is the writing itself. I didn’t like the pacing, world building or character development. I found most of the characters to be very one dimensional and so many scenes felt rushed that I couldn’t feel connected to them, their relationships or the world itself.
April 14, 2021
I received a copy of this book via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A sheltered princess goes to war and discovers that all is not as it seems in her kingdom, finding her heart and her strength in the process.
There were a few -- a very few -- things I liked about this book. I thought the elf-analogue people were interesting, although the name Magus fooled me into thinking they were a type of advisor to the king for a while. And I thought the tension between Ava and Aldin was engaging.
However, the book had multiple problems with pacing, character development, and craft that I found impossible to overlook. (In fact, this was a DNF for me -- I made it about halfway though, and then read the ending.) The pacing and character flaws are linked. It feels as if each character is one of those talking dolls equipped with five sentences each -- "I'm brave!", "I don't like being isolated!" etc. The author has put all these dolls on the Plot Train and sent it off at top speed, allowing each doll to say one or two of its five Themes at each of the many stops along the line. At the end of the journey, we disembark, befuddled and with windswept hair, only to discover that we are once again at the place we began, and the dolls have not changed at all.
In the first chapter, we learn that Ava is "isolated" and has to stay shut up in the Terem. She also spars with her friend, goes out to help peasants, talks to her Magus friends, attends court. Her time in the Terem spans maybe five pages of the book total. The book is full of contradictions like these -- as an example, Ava thinks her father is terrible, but she's shocked to discover that he's the cause of the war; later, he's quick to acquiesce to the treaty. The characters' thoughts and feelings shift to accommodate the plot, rather than the other way around.
A good amount of character building occurs in the form of contrived conversations that the characters in question would, realistically, have had long ago, or in less direct forms. For example, when Ava asks her stepmother, "What if I don't want to be someone else's reason for living? Is it so terrible to want to live and fight for myself?" Given who Ava is, this would have come up in their relationship long ago, and it feels expository in an unpleasant way to hear it so directly.
I will say also that the theme of isolation is one that runs through the book, although I don't think this is intentional. She's isolated in the Terem. Bridger isolates her while she's traveling with the army, under the guise of "if you spend time with the men, they'll know who you are". (She later refers to the soldiers as "her friends" when the book needs her to see the soldiers as individuals whose loss is personally affective, although she never said a single word to any of them.) Callan and his family plan to ransom her back to the king. Aldin imprisons her. At every point in her journey, she is more isolated than she was at the beginning of it. This never appears in any of her introspection.
As far as craft goes, I will keep it short -- there is not really space to cover all of the sentences I highlighted as Bad Sentences, so I'll just cover the two instances that stuck out to me the most.
The book's first sentence is "If you sit still long enough, at the edge of the sea, you get the feeling that all of time itself is marching past you." This is an interesting and evocative image. However, it's immediately undermined by the beginning of the next sentence: "Today it is not time marching past...". Like, great? I've imagined something and now I have to immediately throw that nice image away for something else? Similarly, the sentences later on -- "A gust of wind blows, sending the fallen leaves into the air. But they don't fall, they dance in perfect circles around us." Fallen leaves that don't fall. All right. I understand what the author is going for, but the repetition of "fall" makes the language awkward to understand.
And partway through, as Ava spends time with the Turnskins (werewolves), her love interest's sister explains (doesn't explain) the werewolf marriage bond: "Something about the wolf magic binds us in a way that you couldn't possibly understand...". This just feels condescending to the reader.
I think there are the bones of a good story here (although, crucially, I think Ava should've chosen Aldin, not Callan...) but as-is, this book feels like something I would read on FictionPress dot com in 2005.
A sheltered princess goes to war and discovers that all is not as it seems in her kingdom, finding her heart and her strength in the process.
There were a few -- a very few -- things I liked about this book. I thought the elf-analogue people were interesting, although the name Magus fooled me into thinking they were a type of advisor to the king for a while. And I thought the tension between Ava and Aldin was engaging.
However, the book had multiple problems with pacing, character development, and craft that I found impossible to overlook. (In fact, this was a DNF for me -- I made it about halfway though, and then read the ending.) The pacing and character flaws are linked. It feels as if each character is one of those talking dolls equipped with five sentences each -- "I'm brave!", "I don't like being isolated!" etc. The author has put all these dolls on the Plot Train and sent it off at top speed, allowing each doll to say one or two of its five Themes at each of the many stops along the line. At the end of the journey, we disembark, befuddled and with windswept hair, only to discover that we are once again at the place we began, and the dolls have not changed at all.
In the first chapter, we learn that Ava is "isolated" and has to stay shut up in the Terem. She also spars with her friend, goes out to help peasants, talks to her Magus friends, attends court. Her time in the Terem spans maybe five pages of the book total. The book is full of contradictions like these -- as an example, Ava thinks her father is terrible, but she's shocked to discover that he's the cause of the war; later, he's quick to acquiesce to the treaty. The characters' thoughts and feelings shift to accommodate the plot, rather than the other way around.
A good amount of character building occurs in the form of contrived conversations that the characters in question would, realistically, have had long ago, or in less direct forms. For example, when Ava asks her stepmother, "What if I don't want to be someone else's reason for living? Is it so terrible to want to live and fight for myself?" Given who Ava is, this would have come up in their relationship long ago, and it feels expository in an unpleasant way to hear it so directly.
I will say also that the theme of isolation is one that runs through the book, although I don't think this is intentional. She's isolated in the Terem. Bridger isolates her while she's traveling with the army, under the guise of "if you spend time with the men, they'll know who you are". (She later refers to the soldiers as "her friends" when the book needs her to see the soldiers as individuals whose loss is personally affective, although she never said a single word to any of them.) Callan and his family plan to ransom her back to the king. Aldin imprisons her. At every point in her journey, she is more isolated than she was at the beginning of it. This never appears in any of her introspection.
As far as craft goes, I will keep it short -- there is not really space to cover all of the sentences I highlighted as Bad Sentences, so I'll just cover the two instances that stuck out to me the most.
The book's first sentence is "If you sit still long enough, at the edge of the sea, you get the feeling that all of time itself is marching past you." This is an interesting and evocative image. However, it's immediately undermined by the beginning of the next sentence: "Today it is not time marching past...". Like, great? I've imagined something and now I have to immediately throw that nice image away for something else? Similarly, the sentences later on -- "A gust of wind blows, sending the fallen leaves into the air. But they don't fall, they dance in perfect circles around us." Fallen leaves that don't fall. All right. I understand what the author is going for, but the repetition of "fall" makes the language awkward to understand.
And partway through, as Ava spends time with the Turnskins (werewolves), her love interest's sister explains (doesn't explain) the werewolf marriage bond: "Something about the wolf magic binds us in a way that you couldn't possibly understand...". This just feels condescending to the reader.
I think there are the bones of a good story here (although, crucially, I think Ava should've chosen Aldin, not Callan...) but as-is, this book feels like something I would read on FictionPress dot com in 2005.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5.0
From captivating characters to heart pounding adventures, Sherry D.Ficklin’s “Kingdom of Shadows and Dust” has it all.
Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
From captivating characters to heart pounding adventures, Sherry D.Ficklin’s “Kingdom of Shadows and Dust” has it all.
Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 30, 2021
I received an ebook of this book for an honest review via NetGalley.
I have such mixed feelings about this book I am not sure where to start.
I definitely loved the story and I think it's got so much grasp, I was really invested and I found Ava a super relatable character, we all struggle with choices and we all doubt ourselves a lot.
But something about the writing and the pace of the book wasn't right. It felt really rushed at times and, even though I already know this is going to be a series, it just feels like even the first book was not explored enough. Some of the scenes, the love stories, it just felt rushed to me.
I think the characters are nice, but almost everyone is good except for the couple of evil characters and it would have been amazing to see some morally grey characters around, maybe some development in them.
I also think the world building could be explored some more, the world sounds amazing and with great opportunity to explore the Magus areas, Sandoval, Aldin's kingdom, etc!
There are a few grammar errors and the writing (in my humble opinion) could be improved in some sections.
Despite all of this, I'd still struggle to give it less than 3/3.5 stars because I actually did enjoy the story A LOT, and I read this in two days! I am already looking forward to the next book tbh.
I have such mixed feelings about this book I am not sure where to start.
I definitely loved the story and I think it's got so much grasp, I was really invested and I found Ava a super relatable character, we all struggle with choices and we all doubt ourselves a lot.
But something about the writing and the pace of the book wasn't right. It felt really rushed at times and, even though I already know this is going to be a series, it just feels like even the first book was not explored enough. Some of the scenes, the love stories, it just felt rushed to me.
I think the characters are nice, but almost everyone is good except for the couple of evil characters and it would have been amazing to see some morally grey characters around, maybe some development in them.
I also think the world building could be explored some more, the world sounds amazing and with great opportunity to explore the Magus areas, Sandoval, Aldin's kingdom, etc!
There are a few grammar errors and the writing (in my humble opinion) could be improved in some sections.
Despite all of this, I'd still struggle to give it less than 3/3.5 stars because I actually did enjoy the story A LOT, and I read this in two days! I am already looking forward to the next book tbh.
April 10, 2021
I received an e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this story.
I definitely enjoyed the plot and thought the story was quite different with the Magus(similar to fae) and Turnskins(Werewolves) present throughout the book.
It was a fast paced read, but that may have been just because I read it in one sitting. It features all the things I enjoy in fantasy, royalty, betrayal, love.
I had thought I knew where the end was going and I was slightly disappointed because I really adored Callan and that’s what I wanted.
I wasn’t much of a fan of Aldin, I think he always seemed to try too hard, but he does make a good king.
Whilst the world building was there, it was lacking and I felt I didn’t know too much about any of the countries featured. And I would have loved more backstory on Callan and the Magus.
But overall, I really did enjoy this read. As I mentioned, I read it in one sitting and I definitely recommend this book.
It releases in September!
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this story.
I definitely enjoyed the plot and thought the story was quite different with the Magus(similar to fae) and Turnskins(Werewolves) present throughout the book.
It was a fast paced read, but that may have been just because I read it in one sitting. It features all the things I enjoy in fantasy, royalty, betrayal, love.
I had thought I knew where the end was going and I was slightly disappointed because I really adored Callan and that’s what I wanted.
I wasn’t much of a fan of Aldin, I think he always seemed to try too hard, but he does make a good king.
Whilst the world building was there, it was lacking and I felt I didn’t know too much about any of the countries featured. And I would have loved more backstory on Callan and the Magus.
But overall, I really did enjoy this read. As I mentioned, I read it in one sitting and I definitely recommend this book.
It releases in September!
April 19, 2021
The story and the characters had both so many potential and when I started the book and was a few chapters in, I actually thought this would be a very well written book. But the more I progressed through the book, the more I found it lacking. The story felt rushed and for me lacked in information on the world it's set in. The conversations switched between immature and mature.
The book is very easy to read though and the story is certainly entertaining, but I had hoped for more when I read the description. But if lack of information doesn't bother you, certainly give this one a try!
The book is very easy to read though and the story is certainly entertaining, but I had hoped for more when I read the description. But if lack of information doesn't bother you, certainly give this one a try!
June 1, 2021
Sherry's first book in a fantastic young adult fantasy series is astounding! This is not the first book I have read by her and I patiently await the next.
If you like kingdoms, a badass princess, bad boys and a whole bunch of royal intrigue. This is the book for you!!
Enjoy it as I did. 5 stars goes to Sherry!
I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. MORE.
If you like kingdoms, a badass princess, bad boys and a whole bunch of royal intrigue. This is the book for you!!
Enjoy it as I did. 5 stars goes to Sherry!
I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. MORE.
October 21, 2021
Thank you TrueType Press and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
The cover and description sounds really good. Unfortunately, these were in my opinion the only good things about this book. The character development lacked and the instant love and plot were for me very annoying.
The cover and description sounds really good. Unfortunately, these were in my opinion the only good things about this book. The character development lacked and the instant love and plot were for me very annoying.
October 21, 2021
Thank you TrueType Press and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
The cover and description sounds really good. Unfortunately, these were in my opinion the only good things about this book. The character development lacked and the instant love and plot were for me very annoying.
The cover and description sounds really good. Unfortunately, these were in my opinion the only good things about this book. The character development lacked and the instant love and plot were for me very annoying.
March 25, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin is an amazing YA fantasy debut. It reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout, and I'm sure fans of that series will enjoy reading this book. The story revolves around Ava, the royal princess of Ankara. Although her father the King wants to marry her off to secure a political alliance, Ava does not want to conform to gender roles. She fights in battles and rescues children who are falsely imprisoned. She is the definition of Girl Power.
A large part of the plot involves a love triangle. Although some readers may be turned off by that cliche, I thought it was well done. There is no "insta-love" here. Ava falls gradually in love with Callan, a Turnskin, the author's term for werewolf. Soon afterward, she is "imprisoned" by the Shadow King, Aldrin, the King of a neighboring country. However, Aldrin turns out to be a decent fellow, and I enjoyed the witty banter between him and Ava. Ava will be forced to choose between the two young men. While one match will help her country and secure an alliance, she's formed a close bond with the other one. Overall, this story is part love story, part fantasy, part action adventure, and part court intrigue. Fans of From Blood and Ash and similar YA Fantasy books should definitely check out Kingdom of Shadows and Dust when it comes out.
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin is an amazing YA fantasy debut. It reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout, and I'm sure fans of that series will enjoy reading this book. The story revolves around Ava, the royal princess of Ankara. Although her father the King wants to marry her off to secure a political alliance, Ava does not want to conform to gender roles. She fights in battles and rescues children who are falsely imprisoned. She is the definition of Girl Power.
A large part of the plot involves a love triangle. Although some readers may be turned off by that cliche, I thought it was well done. There is no "insta-love" here. Ava falls gradually in love with Callan, a Turnskin, the author's term for werewolf. Soon afterward, she is "imprisoned" by the Shadow King, Aldrin, the King of a neighboring country. However, Aldrin turns out to be a decent fellow, and I enjoyed the witty banter between him and Ava. Ava will be forced to choose between the two young men. While one match will help her country and secure an alliance, she's formed a close bond with the other one. Overall, this story is part love story, part fantasy, part action adventure, and part court intrigue. Fans of From Blood and Ash and similar YA Fantasy books should definitely check out Kingdom of Shadows and Dust when it comes out.
April 27, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.
This story was told from the point of view of Ava a noble princess who craves to be more than just another noble women behind a veil. I quickly connected with Ava and felt that I understood her motivation even though I did not always agree.
Full review https://pjsandbooks.wordpress.com/202...
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I definitely recommend this book. I plan to explore more books by Sherry D Ficklin.
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust is released in September 2021!
This story was told from the point of view of Ava a noble princess who craves to be more than just another noble women behind a veil. I quickly connected with Ava and felt that I understood her motivation even though I did not always agree.
Full review https://pjsandbooks.wordpress.com/202...
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I definitely recommend this book. I plan to explore more books by Sherry D Ficklin.
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust is released in September 2021!
May 30, 2022
DNF 70%
Sadly this was dissapointing, had somewhat high hopes. But the story and the characters were meh...i was waiting to get interested...but it never happend.
I got this eARC from Netgalley.
Sadly this was dissapointing, had somewhat high hopes. But the story and the characters were meh...i was waiting to get interested...but it never happend.
I got this eARC from Netgalley.
May 31, 2021
Thank you Netgalley & Author for the privilege of reading this arc.
This is the best arc I have read this year and a solid 4-5* novel, YA Fantasy. I have been reading a lot of YA & NA fantasy this year and this one is great, held my attention, was original; with some fairytale vibes too.
A strong female MC
Warewolves
Magic
A love triangle
It is hard to find fantasy stand alones.
I read this in 1 day and it held my attention.
I highly recommend to fantasy lovers.
I am now going to Google Sherry Ficklin & read some of her other works. I hope she continues to write fantasy as she has a new fan in me!
Sincerely.
This is the best arc I have read this year and a solid 4-5* novel, YA Fantasy. I have been reading a lot of YA & NA fantasy this year and this one is great, held my attention, was original; with some fairytale vibes too.
A strong female MC
Warewolves
Magic
A love triangle
It is hard to find fantasy stand alones.
I read this in 1 day and it held my attention.
I highly recommend to fantasy lovers.
I am now going to Google Sherry Ficklin & read some of her other works. I hope she continues to write fantasy as she has a new fan in me!
Sincerely.
March 25, 2021
I'm a fan of anything fantasy, so as soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to give it a try.
First off, I love the cover. It gives me badass female character vibes. I was looking forward to reading this book because it has everything that I like:
A strong female lead ✔️
A prince ✔️
An interesting plot ✔️
Romance ✔️
This book starts with Princess Ava, our main character, trying to find a way to help her people. She wants to be a knight and protect her kingdom from the upcoming war against the shadow king. But her father has a different idea. He wants to marry her off to gain allies. Ava, if course hates this plan. She wants to change the customs of her kingdom, but she can't do this alone. She might find an ally in an unexpected place.
I really liked the world building and the overall plot of this book. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy world to get lost in!
First off, I love the cover. It gives me badass female character vibes. I was looking forward to reading this book because it has everything that I like:
A strong female lead ✔️
A prince ✔️
An interesting plot ✔️
Romance ✔️
This book starts with Princess Ava, our main character, trying to find a way to help her people. She wants to be a knight and protect her kingdom from the upcoming war against the shadow king. But her father has a different idea. He wants to marry her off to gain allies. Ava, if course hates this plan. She wants to change the customs of her kingdom, but she can't do this alone. She might find an ally in an unexpected place.
I really liked the world building and the overall plot of this book. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy world to get lost in!
March 30, 2021
This was an enjoyable read that has everything a YA fantasy novel needs - fun, escapism, good, solid story, and the ability to switch off from the real world.
The writing was solid. There were a few patchy areas where the prose sounded stilted, but overall nothing too cringeworthy.
A strong female lead that doesn't constantly simper over the boys is refreshing, and I enjoyed her relationship with her best friend.
a solid 4 stars
The writing was solid. There were a few patchy areas where the prose sounded stilted, but overall nothing too cringeworthy.
A strong female lead that doesn't constantly simper over the boys is refreshing, and I enjoyed her relationship with her best friend.
a solid 4 stars
March 30, 2021
short review due to disabilities
fun read, flowed well and kept me interested. Typical YA story-telling but still fresh. Credit to the author. Enjoyed this one
fun read, flowed well and kept me interested. Typical YA story-telling but still fresh. Credit to the author. Enjoyed this one
May 7, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and TrueType Press for allowing me to read Kingdom of Shadows and Dust and share an honest review.
As the king's only daughter, Ava was supposed to be many things; meek, submissive, and above all, silent. While she dreams of fighting alongside the armies of Ankara, she's forced to hide her identity behind a veil..
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust tells the story of Ava, the princess of Ankara, a country at war with the army of the evil Shadow King. Ava dreams of a change and wishes to join the battle, protecting her people, instead of remaining hidden away in her father’s castle.
Upon first reading the synopsis, I was immediately sold and requested a review copy. It just sounded so good! I mean, a princess, wolves, a shadow king, a love triangle?! In my opinion, those are all aspects that could really make the perfect fantasy novel! However, after reading, I have to admit that I feel quite torn about Kingdom of Shadows and Dust. Unfortunately, even thought it was an enjoyable read, the book did not leave me as satisfied and enthusiastic as the synopsis did, as there were quite a few things that bothered me while reading. However, I would like to add here that reading is very much a personal experience and therefore something that might not work for me, may work very well for someone else. However, I would like to remain honest in my review, so I will go on by listing some aspects which I enjoyed about Kingdom of Shadows and Dust and some aspects which were not really my cup of tea.
When I first started reading, I personally quite enjoyed the author’s way of writing. I enjoyed that it was quite easy to read yet still very intriguing. Yet, after a while, I started to feel as if it, primarily the dialogue, was a bit too basic at times (for my liking) and I started to notice quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes popping up, which made the reading a bit less enjoyable for me. I soon noticed that I started paying more attention to the construction of the sentences and to its grammar than to the actual story and dialogue, which I thought to be quite a shame at times. In my opinion, this distracted me a bit from the actual story and caused me to perhaps enjoy it less than I could have.
What I really enjoyed about the book, were the various groups; the Turnskins and the Magus. I truly enjoyed the idea behind them and I thought they were a great introduction to the actual story. I’m primarily referring to the events concerning the Turnskin boy immediately in the beginning of the book as well as the first time the reader gets to meet Ava's Magus friend: Yoann, I thought both were great moments that made for a nice introduction of the book’s world and its various inhabitants. I also enjoyed that there was a supposed tension between the various groups, although I did hope that the tensions would be more focused on and further developed. I was also hoping for more background information on both. I wanted to get to know more of their history, their way of living, their cultures. I think there is a lot of potential there for further exploration.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Ava and Bridger. It was nice to read about a childhood friendship in a book that doesn’t immediately turn into a romance from page 1, as is often the case in many other YA novels. I especially liked the fun ‘training’ scene between them in chapter 1 or 2. However, sadly, I felt like there wasn’t enough Bridger in the book. I definitely wanted more of his wit! And more of those playful scenes between him and Ava!
Three characters that I really liked were Aldin, Yoann and Ulmer. In my opinion, they were definitely the most interesting, but again here, especially with the latter two, I needed moooore! I wanted to see them more often! I felt like there weren’t a lot of bad or morally grey characters in the book, and for someone (like me) who is a sucker for morally grey characters, I thought that to be a bit of a shame. To me, Ulmer felt like the only villain or true bad guy in the book and I just wish we would’ve gotten to see more from him, more character development, more focus on his reasons behind being the bad guy he is, but it wasn’t really there that much.
I also have to admit that I expected Aldin to be more morally grey than he ended up being. I didn’t expect him to be bad, but I also didn’t expect him to be so sweet to Ava immediately upon meeting her, either. I do have to be honest and admit that the character I probably enjoyed the least was Ava. I think Ava had a lot of interesting aspects, I enjoyed the relationship between her and her little brother (even though I felt like reading more about that) and she very much felt like a bad-ass character to me, especially in the beginning part of the story. However, I have to admit that I had a very difficult time connecting and I found it difficult to understand or recognise her character development. For some reason, I felt like I could never truly figure her out. I felt like I didn’t really get to know her character traits and her train of thought as they seemed to change rather quickly as well. To me, her character did not always feel very consistent and therefore it was hard for me to connect with her and like her as the main character. In addition, even though I quite enjoyed Cassian (even though the readers don’t see him that much), one other thing that bothered me at times was Cassian’s way of speaking. I understand the reasons why it's difficult for him to speak, but I felt like the dialogue for Cassian could have been more than just brief sentences like “Ava back?” and “Ava sad?”.
Some aspects that I did not enjoy that much were the world building as well as the romance.
During the beginning of the story, the reader is told that the ‘Shadow King’s’ army is attacking innocent villages as well as being informed about the war that is going on between Ava’s kingdom and the Shadow King’s kingdom, yet the war never feels fully fleshed out, as well as the various kingdoms. We get to know about the Turnskins, the Magus, some of the reasons behind the bad ‘relationship’ between King Aldin and Ava’s father, but it still felt very flat in my opinion. I wanted to know more about their kingdoms, what do their kingdoms look like? What kind of cultures are there? What do the people look like? And then I’m also referring to the villagers and not just the people inside the royal courts. In what sort of area does the story take place?
I also felt a need for more political tension, more war, between the kingdoms and the various groups. I feel like the book started out really well on this front: the events concerning the Turnskin child, Ava going to war against the Shadow King, getting to know the groups (Turnskins, Magus) that are not truly accepted by the King, etc. However, in my opinion, this very much changed once Ava meets Callan and, in my opinion, there seemed to be a shift, from a focus on the war, the political tensions, the world building, etc. to a focus on the romance in the novel. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m a true sucker for romance in books, especially in fantasy books, and love triangles always excite me, but the romance between Ava and Callan / Aldin didn’t excite me very much. I think this was primarily caused by the romance, especially between Ava and Callan, happening very quickly. It felt like they hadn’t even spent a full day together yet were already madly in love. I truly enjoyed the idea of the bond shared between them, the sort of Sarah J. Maas-like ‘mating bond’, but I did not really enjoy how they immediately seemed to be head over heels in love, only a couple of pages after their first meeting. I know that there are a lot of readers who truly enjoy an insta-love romance, but I’ve personally always had a preference for more of a slowburn romance, so once again, I think it also comes down to personal preference a lot. For me, the romance happened way too quickly and was also a bit way too fluffy. I mean, as a girl who falls in love with pretty much every morally grey fictional prince, I really hoped there would be a more enemies-to-lovers type of romance, with Aldin especially. The synopsis truly made me feel like that was what the story would include, but I felt like Aldin was too sweet from the get go, like Callan was as well in my opinion, and therefore the romance, from both sides just felt too fluffy for my taste. I remember Ava telling Aldin that she felt that the two of them “brought out the worst in each other” and during that moment I was rather confused because I felt like there hadn’t really been many ‘bad’ or ‘enemy-like’ moments between them where the reader was able to see this.
Even though Kingdom of Shadows and Dust contained some aspects that weren’t necessarily my cup of tea, I still consider it to be an entertaining read. A YA novel perfect for fantasy fans with a love for fluffy romances! While reading it was very clear to me that the author had a great time writing this book and her enthusiasm and love for it shows. I will rate Kingdom of Shadows and Dust with a 2.5/5 stars, primarily because of the reasons that I have mentioned above and because I feel like the book has such great potential, but I needed more. I wish Sherry D. Ficklin lots of luck and fun with the release of her book and I hope that many readers will join Ava on her journey, fighting for her kingdom and everyone she loves.
As the king's only daughter, Ava was supposed to be many things; meek, submissive, and above all, silent. While she dreams of fighting alongside the armies of Ankara, she's forced to hide her identity behind a veil..
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust tells the story of Ava, the princess of Ankara, a country at war with the army of the evil Shadow King. Ava dreams of a change and wishes to join the battle, protecting her people, instead of remaining hidden away in her father’s castle.
Upon first reading the synopsis, I was immediately sold and requested a review copy. It just sounded so good! I mean, a princess, wolves, a shadow king, a love triangle?! In my opinion, those are all aspects that could really make the perfect fantasy novel! However, after reading, I have to admit that I feel quite torn about Kingdom of Shadows and Dust. Unfortunately, even thought it was an enjoyable read, the book did not leave me as satisfied and enthusiastic as the synopsis did, as there were quite a few things that bothered me while reading. However, I would like to add here that reading is very much a personal experience and therefore something that might not work for me, may work very well for someone else. However, I would like to remain honest in my review, so I will go on by listing some aspects which I enjoyed about Kingdom of Shadows and Dust and some aspects which were not really my cup of tea.
When I first started reading, I personally quite enjoyed the author’s way of writing. I enjoyed that it was quite easy to read yet still very intriguing. Yet, after a while, I started to feel as if it, primarily the dialogue, was a bit too basic at times (for my liking) and I started to notice quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes popping up, which made the reading a bit less enjoyable for me. I soon noticed that I started paying more attention to the construction of the sentences and to its grammar than to the actual story and dialogue, which I thought to be quite a shame at times. In my opinion, this distracted me a bit from the actual story and caused me to perhaps enjoy it less than I could have.
What I really enjoyed about the book, were the various groups; the Turnskins and the Magus. I truly enjoyed the idea behind them and I thought they were a great introduction to the actual story. I’m primarily referring to the events concerning the Turnskin boy immediately in the beginning of the book as well as the first time the reader gets to meet Ava's Magus friend: Yoann, I thought both were great moments that made for a nice introduction of the book’s world and its various inhabitants. I also enjoyed that there was a supposed tension between the various groups, although I did hope that the tensions would be more focused on and further developed. I was also hoping for more background information on both. I wanted to get to know more of their history, their way of living, their cultures. I think there is a lot of potential there for further exploration.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Ava and Bridger. It was nice to read about a childhood friendship in a book that doesn’t immediately turn into a romance from page 1, as is often the case in many other YA novels. I especially liked the fun ‘training’ scene between them in chapter 1 or 2. However, sadly, I felt like there wasn’t enough Bridger in the book. I definitely wanted more of his wit! And more of those playful scenes between him and Ava!
Three characters that I really liked were Aldin, Yoann and Ulmer. In my opinion, they were definitely the most interesting, but again here, especially with the latter two, I needed moooore! I wanted to see them more often! I felt like there weren’t a lot of bad or morally grey characters in the book, and for someone (like me) who is a sucker for morally grey characters, I thought that to be a bit of a shame. To me, Ulmer felt like the only villain or true bad guy in the book and I just wish we would’ve gotten to see more from him, more character development, more focus on his reasons behind being the bad guy he is, but it wasn’t really there that much.
I also have to admit that I expected Aldin to be more morally grey than he ended up being. I didn’t expect him to be bad, but I also didn’t expect him to be so sweet to Ava immediately upon meeting her, either. I do have to be honest and admit that the character I probably enjoyed the least was Ava. I think Ava had a lot of interesting aspects, I enjoyed the relationship between her and her little brother (even though I felt like reading more about that) and she very much felt like a bad-ass character to me, especially in the beginning part of the story. However, I have to admit that I had a very difficult time connecting and I found it difficult to understand or recognise her character development. For some reason, I felt like I could never truly figure her out. I felt like I didn’t really get to know her character traits and her train of thought as they seemed to change rather quickly as well. To me, her character did not always feel very consistent and therefore it was hard for me to connect with her and like her as the main character. In addition, even though I quite enjoyed Cassian (even though the readers don’t see him that much), one other thing that bothered me at times was Cassian’s way of speaking. I understand the reasons why it's difficult for him to speak, but I felt like the dialogue for Cassian could have been more than just brief sentences like “Ava back?” and “Ava sad?”.
Some aspects that I did not enjoy that much were the world building as well as the romance.
During the beginning of the story, the reader is told that the ‘Shadow King’s’ army is attacking innocent villages as well as being informed about the war that is going on between Ava’s kingdom and the Shadow King’s kingdom, yet the war never feels fully fleshed out, as well as the various kingdoms. We get to know about the Turnskins, the Magus, some of the reasons behind the bad ‘relationship’ between King Aldin and Ava’s father, but it still felt very flat in my opinion. I wanted to know more about their kingdoms, what do their kingdoms look like? What kind of cultures are there? What do the people look like? And then I’m also referring to the villagers and not just the people inside the royal courts. In what sort of area does the story take place?
I also felt a need for more political tension, more war, between the kingdoms and the various groups. I feel like the book started out really well on this front: the events concerning the Turnskin child, Ava going to war against the Shadow King, getting to know the groups (Turnskins, Magus) that are not truly accepted by the King, etc. However, in my opinion, this very much changed once Ava meets Callan and, in my opinion, there seemed to be a shift, from a focus on the war, the political tensions, the world building, etc. to a focus on the romance in the novel. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m a true sucker for romance in books, especially in fantasy books, and love triangles always excite me, but the romance between Ava and Callan / Aldin didn’t excite me very much. I think this was primarily caused by the romance, especially between Ava and Callan, happening very quickly. It felt like they hadn’t even spent a full day together yet were already madly in love. I truly enjoyed the idea of the bond shared between them, the sort of Sarah J. Maas-like ‘mating bond’, but I did not really enjoy how they immediately seemed to be head over heels in love, only a couple of pages after their first meeting. I know that there are a lot of readers who truly enjoy an insta-love romance, but I’ve personally always had a preference for more of a slowburn romance, so once again, I think it also comes down to personal preference a lot. For me, the romance happened way too quickly and was also a bit way too fluffy. I mean, as a girl who falls in love with pretty much every morally grey fictional prince, I really hoped there would be a more enemies-to-lovers type of romance, with Aldin especially. The synopsis truly made me feel like that was what the story would include, but I felt like Aldin was too sweet from the get go, like Callan was as well in my opinion, and therefore the romance, from both sides just felt too fluffy for my taste. I remember Ava telling Aldin that she felt that the two of them “brought out the worst in each other” and during that moment I was rather confused because I felt like there hadn’t really been many ‘bad’ or ‘enemy-like’ moments between them where the reader was able to see this.
Even though Kingdom of Shadows and Dust contained some aspects that weren’t necessarily my cup of tea, I still consider it to be an entertaining read. A YA novel perfect for fantasy fans with a love for fluffy romances! While reading it was very clear to me that the author had a great time writing this book and her enthusiasm and love for it shows. I will rate Kingdom of Shadows and Dust with a 2.5/5 stars, primarily because of the reasons that I have mentioned above and because I feel like the book has such great potential, but I needed more. I wish Sherry D. Ficklin lots of luck and fun with the release of her book and I hope that many readers will join Ava on her journey, fighting for her kingdom and everyone she loves.
April 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot. The writing was a bit basic; the descriptions and dialogue were short and often felt forced, especially in the beginning, and yet this was a very relaxing read. Each scene of the story was quick and to the point and while I found Ava annoying in the beginning, I quickly grew immersed in her story. Ava’s love for her family, friends and people was truly her best quality. I liked how the author chose to deal with the love triangle, but I admit I was expecting a different ending. I guess the way it ended was more romantic overall. I just thought the highlight of this story was Ava’s commitment to her kingdom and brother, and not the romantic sub-plot. A few more years of angst and duty would have made this story more meaningful, in my opinion.
I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2021
Wow what another amazing world written by this author!!
The characters were amazing!! I enjoyed reading and getting to know each individual character. Each character brought forth their own personal story and problems that they had to fight through. Ava was such a strong willed and sassy character and I felt a connection with her from the beginning.
The storyline was addicting and it reeled me in completely!! Ficklin has done it again. She has brought forth a new magical world with new headstrong characters and an unforgettable plot twist that I never saw coming!! This story is chalked full of love, romance, action and suspense and all the feels!! This would not be a proper Ficklin story without a touch of an emotional rollercoaster thrown in for good measure!! I love this story so much that it makes it into my top five faves of 2021!! I loved this story so much and I hope there will be more from these characters in the near future!! I highly recommend this read!!
The characters were amazing!! I enjoyed reading and getting to know each individual character. Each character brought forth their own personal story and problems that they had to fight through. Ava was such a strong willed and sassy character and I felt a connection with her from the beginning.
The storyline was addicting and it reeled me in completely!! Ficklin has done it again. She has brought forth a new magical world with new headstrong characters and an unforgettable plot twist that I never saw coming!! This story is chalked full of love, romance, action and suspense and all the feels!! This would not be a proper Ficklin story without a touch of an emotional rollercoaster thrown in for good measure!! I love this story so much that it makes it into my top five faves of 2021!! I loved this story so much and I hope there will be more from these characters in the near future!! I highly recommend this read!!
April 5, 2021
Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 I’m so disappointed because I really thought I’d love this
At the start of the book we are introduced to our protagonist, Ava, who is the princess of the oppressive kingdom of Ankara and is dying for a way out of the path of arranged marriage laid out for her but her father. The book follows Ava’s journey of love, friendship, betrayal and uncovering if everything told by her father has been a lie. The premise of this story parallels From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout in several ways except it is just, unfortunately, a lot more boring.
The biggest let down in this book for me was the romance. I really did not appreciate the insta-love better Callan and Ava, I’d hoped we’d left that trope in 2015 but I guess not! Their relationship was so fast paced there was literally nothing to get me to route for them to be together at all, if anything, they just created a general sense of annoyance towards the story. Things started to look up when King Aldin was introduced and while the scenes of Ava in the Taurel Court were my favourite and by far the most interesting, there still felt like something was lacking. I feel like the synopsis promised some mysterious stranger and villain love triangle and just never came through. Instead Aldin was just a slightly misunderstood king and Callan a whiny wolf guy.
All that being said, I did really enjoy Ava as a character and also that her lifelong friendship with Bridger was a completely platonic one which is not often seen. As well as that, as I mentioned before, the scenes of Ava being kidnapped and held in the Taurel Court and slowly unravelling the truth while forming friendships really did pique my interest and if the whole book had kept me at that level of intrigue, this would probably have been a 5 star read.
2.5 I’m so disappointed because I really thought I’d love this
At the start of the book we are introduced to our protagonist, Ava, who is the princess of the oppressive kingdom of Ankara and is dying for a way out of the path of arranged marriage laid out for her but her father. The book follows Ava’s journey of love, friendship, betrayal and uncovering if everything told by her father has been a lie. The premise of this story parallels From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout in several ways except it is just, unfortunately, a lot more boring.
The biggest let down in this book for me was the romance. I really did not appreciate the insta-love better Callan and Ava, I’d hoped we’d left that trope in 2015 but I guess not! Their relationship was so fast paced there was literally nothing to get me to route for them to be together at all, if anything, they just created a general sense of annoyance towards the story. Things started to look up when King Aldin was introduced and while the scenes of Ava in the Taurel Court were my favourite and by far the most interesting, there still felt like something was lacking. I feel like the synopsis promised some mysterious stranger and villain love triangle and just never came through. Instead Aldin was just a slightly misunderstood king and Callan a whiny wolf guy.
All that being said, I did really enjoy Ava as a character and also that her lifelong friendship with Bridger was a completely platonic one which is not often seen. As well as that, as I mentioned before, the scenes of Ava being kidnapped and held in the Taurel Court and slowly unravelling the truth while forming friendships really did pique my interest and if the whole book had kept me at that level of intrigue, this would probably have been a 5 star read.
March 30, 2021
I have such mixed feelings about this book I am not sure where to start.
I definitely loved the story and I think it's got so much grasp, I was really invested and I found Ava a super relatable character, we all struggle with choices and we all doubt ourselves a lot.
But something about the writing and the pace of the book wasn't right. It felt really rushed at times and, even though I already know this is going to be a series, it just feels like even the first book was not explored enough. Some of the scenes, the love stories, it just felt rushed to me.
I think the characters are nice, but almost everyone is good except for the couple of evil characters and it would have been amazing to see some morally grey characters around, maybe some development in them.
I also think the world building could be explored some more, the world sounds amazing and with great opportunity to explore the Magus areas, Sandoval, Aldin's kingdom, etc!
There are a few grammar errors and the writing (in my humble opinion) could be improved in some sections.
Despite all of this, I'd still struggle to give it less than 3/3.5 stars because I actually did enjoy the story A LOT, and I read this in two days! I am already looking forward to the next book tbh.
I definitely loved the story and I think it's got so much grasp, I was really invested and I found Ava a super relatable character, we all struggle with choices and we all doubt ourselves a lot.
But something about the writing and the pace of the book wasn't right. It felt really rushed at times and, even though I already know this is going to be a series, it just feels like even the first book was not explored enough. Some of the scenes, the love stories, it just felt rushed to me.
I think the characters are nice, but almost everyone is good except for the couple of evil characters and it would have been amazing to see some morally grey characters around, maybe some development in them.
I also think the world building could be explored some more, the world sounds amazing and with great opportunity to explore the Magus areas, Sandoval, Aldin's kingdom, etc!
There are a few grammar errors and the writing (in my humble opinion) could be improved in some sections.
Despite all of this, I'd still struggle to give it less than 3/3.5 stars because I actually did enjoy the story A LOT, and I read this in two days! I am already looking forward to the next book tbh.
June 16, 2021
This review will contain minor spoilers!
There were some things I certainly liked about this book--the world-building was really good, especially since it was done all through the eyes of one character (and a somewhat sheltered princess at that). There’s a solid childhood friendship that DOESN’T turn into a love interest, which is nice to see. The pacing was quick in the beginning (in a good way), and started off as a promising, action-packed, insta-love story. The insta-love trope is not for everyone, and even with the magical explanations in this story, it can be a tad cheesy… but still, I was loving it, because indulging in a hopeful romantic insta-love story every now and then is my jam. Especially if it has hot werewolves.
However, a little before halfway through, the pacing turned weird. Even with a magical insta-love element, it’s tough to ask readers to fall in love with two characters being together when they actually spend the majority of the story apart. The story became a little boring for me when I couldn’t tell which love interest I was supposed to be rooting for, thinking there wasn’t very much of the book left to flesh out an entire love-triangle plot… And by the time I thought I was sure which love interest was obviously the right one for her and her developing character (the one the author gave us enough time to actually fall in love with) everything was up-ended again. Around 65% for me, it got difficult to see where the story was going in general, and it was a struggle to continue. It did get more interesting later though.
Besides the pacing, the characters were pretty one-dimensional. Even the main character, Ava, had only pure intentions throughout, always just wanting to protect everyone. She did have fairly good character development, even if I’m personally unhappy with the way the ending sorta symbolically threw it all out the window. Other characters would be described as wholly good-intentioned, but then uncharacteristically get angry for the sake of a conflict or to try to make it sexy? Like how the werewolf, Callan, is always just wanting to comfort and protect Ava, but then in one moment goes from begging her not to do something to growling at her and saying possessively “I am your mate.” To me it really seemed like the author just wanted to fit that line into the werewolf book. I also think it was unrealistic how quickly Ava made friends, and that sorta took me out of the story. The story was told through first person-POV, but we only sometimes got to see Ava’s thought process. Other times her actions or words came off as kind of random to me, as a reader.
Finally, I’ve got to comment on representation. There was no excuse for the lack of POC. I know that in a fantasy world, even one inspired by European Medieval times, characters of any color are not going to have the same exact cultural backgrounds they would in a realistic and contemporary book. Still, though, all characters having light skin, golden hair, blue eyes, etc. rather than any other features is avoidable. Simply having characters with a range of physical characteristics would allow readers to at least see themselves in stories in that way. There was not much LGBTQ+ representation either, besides Ava’s immortal friend who is implied to be bisexual or pansexual, and her community of magic people who are said to be often totally androgynous in appearance, some women even having “full beards” (though, shortly after this description, Ava can immediately identify the next magical being she meets as a “woman,” so I guess they still assume genders even in this society, or have gender norms that identify them, as this character was wearing a dress… so the representation negates itself just a little).
Anyway, thanks for reading my extremely long review! I find when I have mixed feelings about a book, it helps me to write and reason out all my criticisms and the things I liked, to decide how I truly feel.
There were some things I certainly liked about this book--the world-building was really good, especially since it was done all through the eyes of one character (and a somewhat sheltered princess at that). There’s a solid childhood friendship that DOESN’T turn into a love interest, which is nice to see. The pacing was quick in the beginning (in a good way), and started off as a promising, action-packed, insta-love story. The insta-love trope is not for everyone, and even with the magical explanations in this story, it can be a tad cheesy… but still, I was loving it, because indulging in a hopeful romantic insta-love story every now and then is my jam. Especially if it has hot werewolves.
However, a little before halfway through, the pacing turned weird. Even with a magical insta-love element, it’s tough to ask readers to fall in love with two characters being together when they actually spend the majority of the story apart. The story became a little boring for me when I couldn’t tell which love interest I was supposed to be rooting for, thinking there wasn’t very much of the book left to flesh out an entire love-triangle plot… And by the time I thought I was sure which love interest was obviously the right one for her and her developing character (the one the author gave us enough time to actually fall in love with) everything was up-ended again. Around 65% for me, it got difficult to see where the story was going in general, and it was a struggle to continue. It did get more interesting later though.
Besides the pacing, the characters were pretty one-dimensional. Even the main character, Ava, had only pure intentions throughout, always just wanting to protect everyone. She did have fairly good character development, even if I’m personally unhappy with the way the ending sorta symbolically threw it all out the window. Other characters would be described as wholly good-intentioned, but then uncharacteristically get angry for the sake of a conflict or to try to make it sexy? Like how the werewolf, Callan, is always just wanting to comfort and protect Ava, but then in one moment goes from begging her not to do something to growling at her and saying possessively “I am your mate.” To me it really seemed like the author just wanted to fit that line into the werewolf book. I also think it was unrealistic how quickly Ava made friends, and that sorta took me out of the story. The story was told through first person-POV, but we only sometimes got to see Ava’s thought process. Other times her actions or words came off as kind of random to me, as a reader.
Finally, I’ve got to comment on representation. There was no excuse for the lack of POC. I know that in a fantasy world, even one inspired by European Medieval times, characters of any color are not going to have the same exact cultural backgrounds they would in a realistic and contemporary book. Still, though, all characters having light skin, golden hair, blue eyes, etc. rather than any other features is avoidable. Simply having characters with a range of physical characteristics would allow readers to at least see themselves in stories in that way. There was not much LGBTQ+ representation either, besides Ava’s immortal friend who is implied to be bisexual or pansexual, and her community of magic people who are said to be often totally androgynous in appearance, some women even having “full beards” (though, shortly after this description, Ava can immediately identify the next magical being she meets as a “woman,” so I guess they still assume genders even in this society, or have gender norms that identify them, as this character was wearing a dress… so the representation negates itself just a little).
Anyway, thanks for reading my extremely long review! I find when I have mixed feelings about a book, it helps me to write and reason out all my criticisms and the things I liked, to decide how I truly feel.
June 17, 2021
Thank you to TrueType Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin is a story about a young princess, Ava, who’s path could change everything. Because she does not want to be stuck behind castle walls for the rest of her life and she wants to help her people, she leaves as soon as she has a reason and a semblance of a plan. However, things aren’t quite as they seem and her path becomes riddled with questions and with conflict. She is torn between her path and her duties while she goes on her journey, while also finding a bit more than she bargained for along the way.
In a general sense, the book didn’t ‘wow’ me on any fronts. There were a lot of areas in which I wished to see more development, one of these being the descriptions of the locations and the lore in general, another being development between the characters. The descriptions and the world building felt a bit lackluster to me, therefore not allowing me to transport myself into the story and truly grasp what was going on in the story. With more description, more of a way to connect to the characters’ environment, I would have felt more in tune with the events of the novel. As for the character development, the base motives behind the characters were satisfactory, but lacked enough depth for me to truly connect with their choices or their path in the novel. Along with this, I had a slight issue with the development of relationships between the main characters, Ava and Callan. It felt incredibly rushed to me and left me feeling a bit blindsided.
The pacing felt very off, either feeling very rushed, or very slow in some areas, and due to this, it didn’t feel like a natural flow. I would have loved to learn more about Ava’s home, about where she was staying, and yet it felt like I turned a few pages and the reader was being transported right into the story immediately. The characters didn’t feel incredibly genuine to me as the story moved along, and it felt as if there were things the characters did that did not quite make sense given their past actions or motives. However, said this, there were still moments I did enjoy within the plot that did have me interested.
Overall, this book felt a bit clunky to me, though I do believe there is a very good base story here. There were certain directions the story took that didn’t feel genuine, though I believe that if there was more description, more build up, I would have felt more connected to the world and to the characters. I was craving more development in the love triangle, more development in the world, and simply just more development in the characters themselves. I can see the passion for these characters and this story on the pages, but I wish that there was just a bit more to capture the reader’s attention and be able to hold it throughout the rest of the book. For fans of YA fantasy or insta-love with a bit more of a simple plot and story, this may be the book for you!
Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin is a story about a young princess, Ava, who’s path could change everything. Because she does not want to be stuck behind castle walls for the rest of her life and she wants to help her people, she leaves as soon as she has a reason and a semblance of a plan. However, things aren’t quite as they seem and her path becomes riddled with questions and with conflict. She is torn between her path and her duties while she goes on her journey, while also finding a bit more than she bargained for along the way.
In a general sense, the book didn’t ‘wow’ me on any fronts. There were a lot of areas in which I wished to see more development, one of these being the descriptions of the locations and the lore in general, another being development between the characters. The descriptions and the world building felt a bit lackluster to me, therefore not allowing me to transport myself into the story and truly grasp what was going on in the story. With more description, more of a way to connect to the characters’ environment, I would have felt more in tune with the events of the novel. As for the character development, the base motives behind the characters were satisfactory, but lacked enough depth for me to truly connect with their choices or their path in the novel. Along with this, I had a slight issue with the development of relationships between the main characters, Ava and Callan. It felt incredibly rushed to me and left me feeling a bit blindsided.
The pacing felt very off, either feeling very rushed, or very slow in some areas, and due to this, it didn’t feel like a natural flow. I would have loved to learn more about Ava’s home, about where she was staying, and yet it felt like I turned a few pages and the reader was being transported right into the story immediately. The characters didn’t feel incredibly genuine to me as the story moved along, and it felt as if there were things the characters did that did not quite make sense given their past actions or motives. However, said this, there were still moments I did enjoy within the plot that did have me interested.
Overall, this book felt a bit clunky to me, though I do believe there is a very good base story here. There were certain directions the story took that didn’t feel genuine, though I believe that if there was more description, more build up, I would have felt more connected to the world and to the characters. I was craving more development in the love triangle, more development in the world, and simply just more development in the characters themselves. I can see the passion for these characters and this story on the pages, but I wish that there was just a bit more to capture the reader’s attention and be able to hold it throughout the rest of the book. For fans of YA fantasy or insta-love with a bit more of a simple plot and story, this may be the book for you!
April 28, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and TrueType Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I'm torn with this book, the title and description had my expectations high—but the result was very lackluster and left me with disappointing feelings. From the story plot to character relationships, it was like everything was halfway effort and that there was no commitment to really take anything further or going for an unpopular vision.
What Kingdom of Shadows and Dust is NOT:
Ava is not your typical YA fantasy heroine, but she's also not that interesting either. She wants to be this strong adventurous princess but she's written into her cage of her position and situation. She does go on an adventure, where she meets the other characters, but it serves to crush her ambitions. If you're looking for a grand adventure to go on with Ava, this book is not it. There's a hint for something more going on with her heritage, but Ficklin doesn't do much with it, resulting in a disappointing plot where not that much really happens.
The relationships with the other characters are quick to form, it was almost unbelievable how quick certain relationships moved. It was also too quick for characters to suddenly change their minds, it was too easy overall. The main "villains" aren't even real villains, and the ending is a bit too easy and very anti-climatic.
However, what this book does well:
The usual trope that our heroes are special, the exception, and can break the mold is fairly overused. While the book did leave me disappointed, it was also refreshing to be reading about a character who cannot do what she really wants because of the responsibilities of her title. I think for a young reader that maybe could be a good lesson as they take on responsibilities of being an adult. (But in a book it's fairly dream crushing.)
Surprisingly the love triangle was very well done in my opinion, and I usually hate love triangles with a passion. I liked both love interests, and by the end I was honestly unsure who I really wanted to end up with Ava.
Overall
I found the language of the book just a tad too flowery and it didn't grip me in the beginning nor throughout. By the end I felt what I read was all fluff and no real substance. But I did end up liking the characters, despite the fast relationships, and lacking plot. If there is a sequel hinted in the epilogue, I would still read it for that character's story.
I'm torn with this book, the title and description had my expectations high—but the result was very lackluster and left me with disappointing feelings. From the story plot to character relationships, it was like everything was halfway effort and that there was no commitment to really take anything further or going for an unpopular vision.
What Kingdom of Shadows and Dust is NOT:
Ava is not your typical YA fantasy heroine, but she's also not that interesting either. She wants to be this strong adventurous princess but she's written into her cage of her position and situation. She does go on an adventure, where she meets the other characters, but it serves to crush her ambitions. If you're looking for a grand adventure to go on with Ava, this book is not it. There's a hint for something more going on with her heritage, but Ficklin doesn't do much with it, resulting in a disappointing plot where not that much really happens.
The relationships with the other characters are quick to form, it was almost unbelievable how quick certain relationships moved. It was also too quick for characters to suddenly change their minds, it was too easy overall. The main "villains" aren't even real villains, and the ending is a bit too easy and very anti-climatic.
However, what this book does well:
The usual trope that our heroes are special, the exception, and can break the mold is fairly overused. While the book did leave me disappointed, it was also refreshing to be reading about a character who cannot do what she really wants because of the responsibilities of her title. I think for a young reader that maybe could be a good lesson as they take on responsibilities of being an adult. (But in a book it's fairly dream crushing.)
Surprisingly the love triangle was very well done in my opinion, and I usually hate love triangles with a passion. I liked both love interests, and by the end I was honestly unsure who I really wanted to end up with Ava.
Overall
I found the language of the book just a tad too flowery and it didn't grip me in the beginning nor throughout. By the end I felt what I read was all fluff and no real substance. But I did end up liking the characters, despite the fast relationships, and lacking plot. If there is a sequel hinted in the epilogue, I would still read it for that character's story.
March 29, 2021
Rather than bury the lede I'm going to say it right up front: this was really not a very good book.
First, the writing was frequently clunky. Consider the following passage from early in Chapter 3:
Let's be clear here, the protagonist, Ava, is not a child. I don't recall her age being specified, but while she may be young, she's definitely an adult. She's old enough to , , , and . That's not a child, but coming from an adult that's an absurd conversation.
Second, for someone as "rah rah girl power" as the passage above exemplifies, Ava largely lacks agency throughout this book. Aside from a pair of decisions made in quick succession early in the book, most of the story does not involve her doing things but rather things happening to her. Even at the end of the book she's saved from having to go through with a difficult choice by a fairly ridiculous deus ex machina ().
Finally, there's an absurdly forced love interest (), and other than the way it's forced, the writing doesn't make it feel like there's much of a connection. I honestly was disappointed when , because not only did I never really buy in to that relationship but
First, the writing was frequently clunky. Consider the following passage from early in Chapter 3:
"I don't want to live in a world where women--noble or otherwise--are subjugated to men. I want to be free to choose my own path, like you."
She turns to face me. "You are so like your mother."
I prop my head on my arm. "Tell me about her again."
Let's be clear here, the protagonist, Ava, is not a child. I don't recall her age being specified, but while she may be young, she's definitely an adult. She's old enough to , , , and . That's not a child, but coming from an adult that's an absurd conversation.
Second, for someone as "rah rah girl power" as the passage above exemplifies, Ava largely lacks agency throughout this book. Aside from a pair of decisions made in quick succession early in the book, most of the story does not involve her doing things but rather things happening to her. Even at the end of the book she's saved from having to go through with a difficult choice by a fairly ridiculous deus ex machina ().
Finally, there's an absurdly forced love interest (), and other than the way it's forced, the writing doesn't make it feel like there's much of a connection. I honestly was disappointed when , because not only did I never really buy in to that relationship but
January 17, 2024
Sherry D. Ficklin is the author of more than a dozen novels. Kingdom of Shadows and Dust was published in 2021. It is the 3rd book I completed reading in 2024.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Ava is the Princess of Ankara. She is 16 years old and the only daughter of King Brandr. Her little brother Cassian is the heir, but his health is poor, and he will likely be an ineffective leader. Ava has always been everything the other women of Ankara are not. She is outspoken and craves the life of adventure left only to the men.
She seizes the opportunity to flee with her childhood friend Sir Bridger. He is leading an army unit north to confront the forces of the Shadow King. Bridger’s unit has an unexpected encounter with the enemy. Most of them are killed or captured. Ava escapes with the help of Callen.
Callen is a Turnskin. He had seen Ava before the battle and had fallen for her. They can transform themselves from human to wolf. They had been potent allies to Ankara in the past but have now fallen out of favor. Ava befriends Callen and his people. She and Callen are bound to one another. When the Shadow King threatens to attack the Turnskin people, Ava surrenders to Aldin, the Shadow King.
Aldin is attracted to Ava and proposes that they marry to end the war between their nations and bring peace. Ava reluctantly agrees as that decision is the best for her people.
Ava finds herself torn between three men. Sir Bridger is the boy she grew up with and who will do anything for her. As a Turnskin, Callen is bound for life to Ava. Aldin is taken by her. With their marriage the war will end, and their nations merged. Ava is attracted to all three in different ways.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 410-page young adult fantasy romance. I expected far more fantasy than romance when I began this novel. I was disappointed with the result. The plot has great potential, but the fantasy aspects are not well developed. I give this novel a rating of 3.4 (rounded to 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Ava is the Princess of Ankara. She is 16 years old and the only daughter of King Brandr. Her little brother Cassian is the heir, but his health is poor, and he will likely be an ineffective leader. Ava has always been everything the other women of Ankara are not. She is outspoken and craves the life of adventure left only to the men.
She seizes the opportunity to flee with her childhood friend Sir Bridger. He is leading an army unit north to confront the forces of the Shadow King. Bridger’s unit has an unexpected encounter with the enemy. Most of them are killed or captured. Ava escapes with the help of Callen.
Callen is a Turnskin. He had seen Ava before the battle and had fallen for her. They can transform themselves from human to wolf. They had been potent allies to Ankara in the past but have now fallen out of favor. Ava befriends Callen and his people. She and Callen are bound to one another. When the Shadow King threatens to attack the Turnskin people, Ava surrenders to Aldin, the Shadow King.
Aldin is attracted to Ava and proposes that they marry to end the war between their nations and bring peace. Ava reluctantly agrees as that decision is the best for her people.
Ava finds herself torn between three men. Sir Bridger is the boy she grew up with and who will do anything for her. As a Turnskin, Callen is bound for life to Ava. Aldin is taken by her. With their marriage the war will end, and their nations merged. Ava is attracted to all three in different ways.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 410-page young adult fantasy romance. I expected far more fantasy than romance when I began this novel. I was disappointed with the result. The plot has great potential, but the fantasy aspects are not well developed. I give this novel a rating of 3.4 (rounded to 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
April 7, 2021
Let’s start with the good, once Ava broke free of the restraints of the castle, I really enjoyed her character development, and watching her view of the world crumble and be rebuilt was really interesting, and as a character I thought her growth was considerable, justified and interesting. She is on the strong end of female protagonists which I really enjoy reading.
I enjoyed the general plot/story, but I think they tried to pack too much into one book. I love a fast-paced book, but there were times where I had to go back a few pages to figure what was happening. The book is very dialogue heavy, but there wasn't a lot of travelling description, often the characters started each new chapter at the next location. I found that this took away from my personal experience in the world, but I suppose this is just preference.
One thing that I found really frustrating about this book was also that I was often left with more questions than answers. There are some amazing ideas and concepts in the world-building here, and I wish that these were explored or explained more thoroughly. The first section of the book highlighted Terem as a huge part of Ava's kingdom, I am still unsure, is this a religion? Ava struggled against Terem viciously but later in the book it is barely mentioned. The same goes for the magic systems, the Magus are introduced and it is suggested they are incredibly powerful, but there is little to no information on their gifts. The Turnskins are in a similar boat, we learn a bit more about them as a race, and how they came to be but were a lot of dropped comments that didn't seem connect with what we were being told.
I suppose looking at this it is arguable that Ava is simply an unreliable narrator, and the lack of information stems from her lack of knowledge.
My overall thoughts are that this book was an alright read. I loved the concept of the Turnskins and the Magus, I wish there had been more insight into these races, and a more in-depth look at the magic system. If you like a fantasy book which is more dialogue heavy and creative concepts of a magical world you might enjoy this book!
Not my favourite personally, but not something I regret reading. If this becomes a series I'd read the follow up to see if some of my questions have answers.
I enjoyed the general plot/story, but I think they tried to pack too much into one book. I love a fast-paced book, but there were times where I had to go back a few pages to figure what was happening. The book is very dialogue heavy, but there wasn't a lot of travelling description, often the characters started each new chapter at the next location. I found that this took away from my personal experience in the world, but I suppose this is just preference.
One thing that I found really frustrating about this book was also that I was often left with more questions than answers. There are some amazing ideas and concepts in the world-building here, and I wish that these were explored or explained more thoroughly. The first section of the book highlighted Terem as a huge part of Ava's kingdom, I am still unsure, is this a religion? Ava struggled against Terem viciously but later in the book it is barely mentioned. The same goes for the magic systems, the Magus are introduced and it is suggested they are incredibly powerful, but there is little to no information on their gifts. The Turnskins are in a similar boat, we learn a bit more about them as a race, and how they came to be but were a lot of dropped comments that didn't seem connect with what we were being told.
I suppose looking at this it is arguable that Ava is simply an unreliable narrator, and the lack of information stems from her lack of knowledge.
My overall thoughts are that this book was an alright read. I loved the concept of the Turnskins and the Magus, I wish there had been more insight into these races, and a more in-depth look at the magic system. If you like a fantasy book which is more dialogue heavy and creative concepts of a magical world you might enjoy this book!
Not my favourite personally, but not something I regret reading. If this becomes a series I'd read the follow up to see if some of my questions have answers.
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