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Shadow and Soul #1
Shadow of the Beast
Percival Ashford wants nothing more than a fresh start.
He finds his chance in Runswick, a sleepy town situated along the Andervael's southern coast. It's a perfect place for a werewolf to blend in and spend his better days with his newly awarded Lordship.
However, his hopes for a new beginning fall apart when disaster strikes in the gruesome murders of several townspeople. Percy must discover who is committing these heinous acts and ensure justice for the deceased, but his investigations are hindered by the haunting suspicion that he, or at least his wolf-self, might be the very culprit he is hunting.
He finds his chance in Runswick, a sleepy town situated along the Andervael's southern coast. It's a perfect place for a werewolf to blend in and spend his better days with his newly awarded Lordship.
However, his hopes for a new beginning fall apart when disaster strikes in the gruesome murders of several townspeople. Percy must discover who is committing these heinous acts and ensure justice for the deceased, but his investigations are hindered by the haunting suspicion that he, or at least his wolf-self, might be the very culprit he is hunting.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2021
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Diviak
15 books83 followersBorn and raised in California, Cassandra Diviak loves stories more than life.
When her mother gifted her a Greek mythology atlas, her love of reading jumpstarted her interest in writing. As a child with severe ADHD, Diviak would consume a book a day and start to imagine stories of her own.
Between the schoolyard at recess and the quiet lunch table during the lunch hour, Diviak wrote stories starting at age 8. She had dreams of becoming the next big thing in writing.
For years, she honed her craft with plenty of practice. Everything she learned about writing came from reading and doing. Self-taught, she didn't take her first creative writing course until she was 19 and in college.
During the 2020 pandemic, a professor had convinced Diviak to try her hand at Nanowrimo with a set of characters she'd been holding on to for a while. After a successful draft, completed in 6 months, Diviak set out to become an indie author.
Since her debut novel, published in October 2021, Diviak has continued to write stories in several romance genres. Although she has lived many lives, writing remains a fixture in her world.
When she's not writing, Diviak is likely obtaining a college degree. She has a Bachelor's in Political Science with a minor in gender studies and is in the process of getting a JD from a Los Angeles-based law school.
When her mother gifted her a Greek mythology atlas, her love of reading jumpstarted her interest in writing. As a child with severe ADHD, Diviak would consume a book a day and start to imagine stories of her own.
Between the schoolyard at recess and the quiet lunch table during the lunch hour, Diviak wrote stories starting at age 8. She had dreams of becoming the next big thing in writing.
For years, she honed her craft with plenty of practice. Everything she learned about writing came from reading and doing. Self-taught, she didn't take her first creative writing course until she was 19 and in college.
During the 2020 pandemic, a professor had convinced Diviak to try her hand at Nanowrimo with a set of characters she'd been holding on to for a while. After a successful draft, completed in 6 months, Diviak set out to become an indie author.
Since her debut novel, published in October 2021, Diviak has continued to write stories in several romance genres. Although she has lived many lives, writing remains a fixture in her world.
When she's not writing, Diviak is likely obtaining a college degree. She has a Bachelor's in Political Science with a minor in gender studies and is in the process of getting a JD from a Los Angeles-based law school.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 31, 2021
I don't often read murder mystery mixed with romance, but Diviak makes it work. Shadow of the Beast does read like a debut novel, but I can hardly fault it for that because it is one. I found myself impressed by the plot twists and the healthiness of the slowburn romantic relationship (the man actually listening to the woman and not forcing himself where he isn't wanted, even in the name of protecting her? Yes, please!). The suspense of trying to figure out the killer and how to stop them kept me reading, while the developing friendship and then (in the very last bit) romantic relationship between the love interests relieved the bloody tension with sweet moments. The book lost a star from me due to some line edits that I (as a fellow writer) would make and the lesser emotional impact of the later murders as opposed to the earlier ones (the suspense picks up as we get closer to discovering the culprit and the plot behind it all and as the protagonist's past and its role in the mystery come to light, not to mention the platonic and romantic relationships playing out, but at the expense of page time for the minor characters who die in the second half). In the next book, I would like to see the effects of those deaths on the town and the protagonist. These things, however, didn't stop me from flipping the pages faster and faster as I got to the climax (no spoilers, but, ouch, that climax hurt me and raised questions of the morality of killing and of living, which I something I always appreciate in a book).
Overall, I greatly enjoyed Shadow of the Beast and got to see some of my favorite wishes brought to life in the pages (respectful slowburn that I read as demiromantic asexual but isn't lacking any romantic spice? Check. Woman ties a key to her cat's collar, and whoever catches the cat and unties the key can court the woman? Check. Adorable, sassy cat? Check. A competent woman who isn't physically the strongest but can defend herself by other means (that don't just include flirting)? Check. Ancient spirit with sardonic commentary residing in the protagonist's head? Check.). In conclusion, I can't wait to read the next installment in this series and anything else that Diviak releases!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed Shadow of the Beast and got to see some of my favorite wishes brought to life in the pages (respectful slowburn that I read as demiromantic asexual but isn't lacking any romantic spice? Check. Woman ties a key to her cat's collar, and whoever catches the cat and unties the key can court the woman? Check. Adorable, sassy cat? Check. A competent woman who isn't physically the strongest but can defend herself by other means (that don't just include flirting)? Check. Ancient spirit with sardonic commentary residing in the protagonist's head? Check.). In conclusion, I can't wait to read the next installment in this series and anything else that Diviak releases!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2023
I should probably preface this review by saying this definitely isn't my usual thing, so I'm already coming at it as someone who doesn't typically enjoy this type of content.
Anyway, Shadow of the Beast was not bad by any means, but it does suffer from bloated, often repetitive writing. Personally, I can't say I'm a big fan of the werewolf lore in this story either. The final third of the book was the most enjoyable to me, the development of the characters and their relationships with one another was very satisfying, and I loved how
The first two thirds, however, were rather slow, dragged on, and certain aspects of the story felt a little under-developed. Admittedly, I found I lost some motivation to keep reading at points, until things started to pick up in the last third or so.
What Diviak probably executes best is her characters. Cordelia and Percy are both very likeable, and real. Despite the fact we are introduced to all of Percy's pack and don't get a lot of time with them, it's easy to believe their strong connection pretty quickly, and Percy's connection to each of them also. His motivations are relatable, well-intentioned, though maybe a little flawed. I think that's what makes him such a good character. The relationship that develops between him and Cordelia is genuinely very sweet and compelling too.
It shows that Diviak has a lot of love for her own characters.
Anyway, Shadow of the Beast was not bad by any means, but it does suffer from bloated, often repetitive writing. Personally, I can't say I'm a big fan of the werewolf lore in this story either. The final third of the book was the most enjoyable to me, the development of the characters and their relationships with one another was very satisfying, and I loved how
The first two thirds, however, were rather slow, dragged on, and certain aspects of the story felt a little under-developed. Admittedly, I found I lost some motivation to keep reading at points, until things started to pick up in the last third or so.
What Diviak probably executes best is her characters. Cordelia and Percy are both very likeable, and real. Despite the fact we are introduced to all of Percy's pack and don't get a lot of time with them, it's easy to believe their strong connection pretty quickly, and Percy's connection to each of them also. His motivations are relatable, well-intentioned, though maybe a little flawed. I think that's what makes him such a good character. The relationship that develops between him and Cordelia is genuinely very sweet and compelling too.
It shows that Diviak has a lot of love for her own characters.
October 29, 2021
Shadow of the Beast, the debut novel from Cassandra Diviak, grabs your focus from the first pages, and takes you on an adventure as you try to untangle the clues about who or what is stalking the citizens of Runswick.
It's story is well crafted and engaging from start to finished, however, it is the characters that truly held my attention. Percy and Cordelia start out with their own lives, troubles, and concerns, but as danger stalks the dark streets of Runswick, and deaths threaten the tentative security of both their lives, the two main characters find themselves having to work together. Not only to solve what's hunting the townspeople, but to find a way to move forward as their two separate paths become inextricably tangled.
The slow, burgeoning relationship between the two protagonists is a joy to watch, and the steady progression from strangers, to friends, with the potential for more hovering on the horizon is a refreshing change of pace from many books I've read recently where the relationships seem forced or rushed.
Overall this is a joy to read, and I greatly look forward to seeing how all of these characters, Percy and Cordelia's relationship, and the subtle hints of a deeper and lore rich world, develop in future books from this writer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It's story is well crafted and engaging from start to finished, however, it is the characters that truly held my attention. Percy and Cordelia start out with their own lives, troubles, and concerns, but as danger stalks the dark streets of Runswick, and deaths threaten the tentative security of both their lives, the two main characters find themselves having to work together. Not only to solve what's hunting the townspeople, but to find a way to move forward as their two separate paths become inextricably tangled.
The slow, burgeoning relationship between the two protagonists is a joy to watch, and the steady progression from strangers, to friends, with the potential for more hovering on the horizon is a refreshing change of pace from many books I've read recently where the relationships seem forced or rushed.
Overall this is a joy to read, and I greatly look forward to seeing how all of these characters, Percy and Cordelia's relationship, and the subtle hints of a deeper and lore rich world, develop in future books from this writer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2023
Shadow Of The Beast completely took me by suprise on all levels, the compelling and lyrical prose is rich and detailed in the most perfect design, the Author Cassandra Diviak is obviously well-read and knowledgeable about her craft. There's some beautiful phrases in this book that I highlighted so I could come back and read them again. It's by parts heartbreaking, hilarious, and always a wonderful thrilling story. It has the most beautiful language.
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The Author Cassandra Diviak has done a fascinating job with the dialog and scene setting, at times poignant to very mind-blowing. Cassandra builds up all this intriguing tension, gearing towards the final scenes, introducing twist upon twist which will shatter your brain and heart!
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Cassandra Diviak immerses the readers in a richly imagined world that delights with marvelously drawn characters (my favorite is Nyx), the gripping and addictive historic details of Cordelia and Percy are very interesting and I love their complex relationship, the moment they met for the first time was FIRE!!! I want to read more from their incredible complex relationship!
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This was a 10/5 stars and highly recommended for every reader, Lord Percivan and Cordelia are tattooed in my heart forever!
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The Author Cassandra Diviak has done a fascinating job with the dialog and scene setting, at times poignant to very mind-blowing. Cassandra builds up all this intriguing tension, gearing towards the final scenes, introducing twist upon twist which will shatter your brain and heart!
.
Cassandra Diviak immerses the readers in a richly imagined world that delights with marvelously drawn characters (my favorite is Nyx), the gripping and addictive historic details of Cordelia and Percy are very interesting and I love their complex relationship, the moment they met for the first time was FIRE!!! I want to read more from their incredible complex relationship!
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This was a 10/5 stars and highly recommended for every reader, Lord Percivan and Cordelia are tattooed in my heart forever!
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May 11, 2023
The intricate world-building of SHADOW OF THE BEAST and unique blend of fantasy elements, including witches and werewolves, make us glued to the book and force us to read more and more, the details the Author has elaborated are very unique and intriguing!
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The plot is filled with suspense, action, adventure and fabulous characters. The writing takes us on a filmy journey with the book. The writing is fabulous and engaging, making for a fast-paced, addictive and enjoyable read. I loved the book. I must mention the very poignant lyrical prose the Author uses, it is unique and precocious!
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The structure of the book touches different elements to catch our eyes, the topics are fascinating, witches, loss, betrayal, werewolves, secrets, battles, and an epic cat that I'd give everything to have it in my house!
This was the best debut book I've read since a long time and I highly recommend it to every fantasy and urban fantasy readers, this is a book not to be missed!
.
The plot is filled with suspense, action, adventure and fabulous characters. The writing takes us on a filmy journey with the book. The writing is fabulous and engaging, making for a fast-paced, addictive and enjoyable read. I loved the book. I must mention the very poignant lyrical prose the Author uses, it is unique and precocious!
.
The structure of the book touches different elements to catch our eyes, the topics are fascinating, witches, loss, betrayal, werewolves, secrets, battles, and an epic cat that I'd give everything to have it in my house!
This was the best debut book I've read since a long time and I highly recommend it to every fantasy and urban fantasy readers, this is a book not to be missed!
January 16, 2022
4.5/5
Diviak's debut novel is one that definitely keeps you reading and glued to the page. It follows Percival and Cordelia - a werewolf and a young woman as they uncover the mysterious murders happening around their town.
Mystery and romance isn't a genre I find myself reading often but I found myself impressed by this novel. I quite enjoyed the characterisation, Diviak is good at making characters distinct and real enough to make you feel like you're there with them. I also enjoyed the suspense as the story continued and the plot twists that unravelled. I loved the relationship that happened between the two main characters, I thought it was quite sweet and healthy.
It does read like a debut novel in places, mainly in some small errors and the slight issues I had with scene transitions sometimes. But those were the only issues I had with the novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I really recommend it.
Diviak's debut novel is one that definitely keeps you reading and glued to the page. It follows Percival and Cordelia - a werewolf and a young woman as they uncover the mysterious murders happening around their town.
Mystery and romance isn't a genre I find myself reading often but I found myself impressed by this novel. I quite enjoyed the characterisation, Diviak is good at making characters distinct and real enough to make you feel like you're there with them. I also enjoyed the suspense as the story continued and the plot twists that unravelled. I loved the relationship that happened between the two main characters, I thought it was quite sweet and healthy.
It does read like a debut novel in places, mainly in some small errors and the slight issues I had with scene transitions sometimes. But those were the only issues I had with the novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I really recommend it.
November 1, 2021
An enchanting story and world filled with unique and memorable characters. The story was a bit predictable and dragged in parts, but in the end, the story was still extraordinary and definitely worth the read.
January 8, 2025
4.5/5
This was a fantastic book!! The characters are captivating and the style in which the plot unraveled was very well-planned and kept me engaged in the story.
The only critique I have for this book is that the prose can be wordy at times and sometimes the pacing or transitions feel a bit off, but while occasionally distracting, this did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the story!
I’m looking forward to finishing the rest of the series!!
This was a fantastic book!! The characters are captivating and the style in which the plot unraveled was very well-planned and kept me engaged in the story.
The only critique I have for this book is that the prose can be wordy at times and sometimes the pacing or transitions feel a bit off, but while occasionally distracting, this did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the story!
I’m looking forward to finishing the rest of the series!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews