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Shadow Knights #2
Rise of the Shadow
After tasting financial success and the Shadow Knights’ power, Veron lost everything. Now, trapped in slavery, jealous servants and harsh justice threaten his ability to fulfill his destiny. Caught between secrets he cannot divulge and attention from the master’s daughter, Chelci, Veron must choose between following the rules or following his heart as he fights to rise again.
Meanwhile, King Bale searches to kill the young shadow knight, and Veron’s old friend Brixton is the only one who knows where he is. Will the lure of power entice Brixton to turn on him again? His first betrayal nearly cost Veron everything. A second would cost him his life.
Meanwhile, King Bale searches to kill the young shadow knight, and Veron’s old friend Brixton is the only one who knows where he is. Will the lure of power entice Brixton to turn on him again? His first betrayal nearly cost Veron everything. A second would cost him his life.
444 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2021
621 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Michael Webb
10 books152 followersMichael Webb is a fantasy author who lives in Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. A graduate of Berry College, he is married and has a son. He began writing on a whim in 2019 and fell in love with it. In addition to finishing The Shadow Knights Trilogy, he plans to write additional books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
February 25, 2022
3.5/5
75% of this book felt like a filler with romance subplot which in my opinion is a bit too much.
Nothing was resolved in this book.
Last 50 pages or so were really good. Probably going to continue this series since I liked the first book and last few chapters of this one.
75% of this book felt like a filler with romance subplot which in my opinion is a bit too much.
Nothing was resolved in this book.
Last 50 pages or so were really good. Probably going to continue this series since I liked the first book and last few chapters of this one.
November 9, 2021
I was excited to read an eARC of this book! It picks up right where the last one stopped and it was an easy book to read though. I was excited to see how the three main characters continued their journeys of overcoming hardships and continuing to sink into muddier morals. The plot twist at the end was something I wasn't expecting, and was genuinely surprised. Makes me very excited to see how it plays out in the third book.
That being said, I did feel like the pacing was a bit rushed, as well as some of the character relationships and developments, especially with the romance. It was hard to follow how much time had passed over the course of the story. There were some subplots that seemed to progress rather quickly or reoccur at times that seemed odd to me. Some of the character motivations and developments could have been fleshed out a bit more to really get a sense of why they were doing what they were doing and how they felt about the actions and things happening. I felt like Bale needed a a few more appearances to build him up more. I also would have liked a bit more descriptions about the world and settings.
Overall though it was a fun read and I look forward to the third installment of the trilogy.
That being said, I did feel like the pacing was a bit rushed, as well as some of the character relationships and developments, especially with the romance. It was hard to follow how much time had passed over the course of the story. There were some subplots that seemed to progress rather quickly or reoccur at times that seemed odd to me. Some of the character motivations and developments could have been fleshed out a bit more to really get a sense of why they were doing what they were doing and how they felt about the actions and things happening. I felt like Bale needed a a few more appearances to build him up more. I also would have liked a bit more descriptions about the world and settings.
Overall though it was a fun read and I look forward to the third installment of the trilogy.
December 1, 2021
I was so pleased to be sent an ARC of this book and to continue the story of Veron and Chelsi as I absolutely loved book 1. This book was just as good as the first one, picking up where we left Veron as a slave in Chelsi’s childhood home. I became even deeper involved with the character’s stories and this is a testament to Michael’s writing. His world building and descriptive writing is fabulous and is pitched just right. There is enough detail to paint a vivid picture but without being too drawn out that it becomes wordy. This book has all the traits of the classic fantasies that I read many years ago, with political intrigue and strong character growth. A twisting plot and a cliff hanger ending has me desperate for book 3 and I cannot recommend this series enough.
March 17, 2022
Alternative title: Teenage drama on capital hill.
Story started off by finally bringing the leading female character to the main story; a strong, independent, beautiful woman, who needs no- yeah she got captured three times damsel in distress style and the third time it cost everybody their lives. So the entire first book where she trained sword and fought monsters was a bullsht setup.
The bulk of the book was petty bickering between the masters, the slaves, and Veron. Grunt: Veron you're a pu**y. Veron: staaap, I'm noottt... grunt: yes you are, now go get captured so someone can die for you and the universe can even out the karma score to make you feel like you're not getting jipped.
The writing was good, the pacing was good, I would give this series a 3/5 if there was 5 books in the series for everything to develop, but as you can see ↑ it's a trilogy.
From how embarrassingly the characters behaved his sequel compared to the first book, the author should declare his gender neutrality to not tarnish the entire male species.
Story started off by finally bringing the leading female character to the main story; a strong, independent, beautiful woman, who needs no- yeah she got captured three times damsel in distress style and the third time it cost everybody their lives. So the entire first book where she trained sword and fought monsters was a bullsht setup.
The bulk of the book was petty bickering between the masters, the slaves, and Veron. Grunt: Veron you're a pu**y. Veron: staaap, I'm noottt... grunt: yes you are, now go get captured so someone can die for you and the universe can even out the karma score to make you feel like you're not getting jipped.
The writing was good, the pacing was good, I would give this series a 3/5 if there was 5 books in the series for everything to develop, but as you can see ↑ it's a trilogy.
From how embarrassingly the characters behaved his sequel compared to the first book, the author should declare his gender neutrality to not tarnish the entire male species.
October 6, 2021
Since reading the first book as my first leisure book since childhood, Michaels novel got me hooked into reading.
I read the first in less than a week.
After reading the first shadow knights book, I transitioned to the mistborn trilogy, then the king killer chronicles.
This book was a little slower start than the first but grabbed me hard and pulled me into the story again. I sunk into the story just as deeply as the first, and the ending even pulled me harder into it wanting for the rest of the story.
You get a good feel for the characters and seem to fall for them.
I like how their lives intertwine, separate, only to cross paths again.
I also enjoy the torn evil of one of the main characters and how they struggle with their place in life.
Just when I think I’ve got it figured out, there were twists I would never see that could happen knock me off guard.
If you enjoyed the first you definitely should read this one!
I read the first in less than a week.
After reading the first shadow knights book, I transitioned to the mistborn trilogy, then the king killer chronicles.
This book was a little slower start than the first but grabbed me hard and pulled me into the story again. I sunk into the story just as deeply as the first, and the ending even pulled me harder into it wanting for the rest of the story.
You get a good feel for the characters and seem to fall for them.
I like how their lives intertwine, separate, only to cross paths again.
I also enjoy the torn evil of one of the main characters and how they struggle with their place in life.
Just when I think I’ve got it figured out, there were twists I would never see that could happen knock me off guard.
If you enjoyed the first you definitely should read this one!
October 10, 2021
The second installment is equally as good if not better than the first, there are so many twists and turns that each chapter is a revolation. The characters have depth and the author really paints the scene in such detail it is easy to immerse yourself in their world. If you enjoy well written fiction you wont be disappointed.
December 30, 2021
Engaging characters, deeply nuanced plot and clever story telling, well done.
Read both first two books in this trilogy immediately, highly engaging story, that captures my interest. Engaging, clever, suspense driven, cannot wait to read book three asap . Michael Webb combines all the successful elements of an epic fantasy and delivers . Well done.
Read both first two books in this trilogy immediately, highly engaging story, that captures my interest. Engaging, clever, suspense driven, cannot wait to read book three asap . Michael Webb combines all the successful elements of an epic fantasy and delivers . Well done.
December 3, 2021
One Sentence Summary: After losing everything and becoming enslaved, Veron works only to protect the people he cares about, but his master’s daughter catches his attention and his enemies loom on the horizon
Warning: May contain spoilers for Book 1: The Last Shadow Knight.
Overall
Rise of the Shadow is the second book in The Shadow Knight Trilogy and continues to follow Veron (the shadow knight), Chelcie (a lord’s daughter), and Brixton (the son of newly risen Baron of Karad with thanks to Veron’s mortal enemy King Bale). While it doesn’t completely evade the middle book syndrome, the second half of this book made it all worth it. The characters all shone just as brightly and the bit of romance was sweet and natural. There’s still the same excellent world building done through the focus on business, commerce, and economics instead of court politics and soaring castles. Overall, Rise of the Shadow was a delightful second book, an excellent link between the beginning and ending of the trilogy. It wraps up the ending events of the first book and sets the main characters on their different paths for the third book.
Extended Thoughts
Rise of the Shadow picks up where The Last Shadow Knight ends: with Verson basically enslaved, Chelcie newly returned home, and Brixton established as the son of the new Baron of Karad. Veron only wants to do his work in Chelcie’s family’s household to protect the lives of the people he listed as collateral, but his sense of duty tangles his life with Chelcie’s. Thanks to a jealous servant, their blooming romance is nipped in the bud, and Brixton unexpectedly becomes tangled with Chelcie’s family. But Brixton has his own secrets, ones that could both destroy Felting and bring Veron in arm’s reach of his destiny.
The Last Shadow Knight was such a pleasant surprise that I couldn’t wait for the second book. I love that, instead of sweeping battles and stories of destiny alongside traveling around the world, this story focuses in on the city level especially in terms of business. It’s refreshing and offers a new take on fantasy.
My favorite part of this book is the characters. They were exactly as I remembered from the first book and, while there wasn’t a ton of growth, I loved how they became to entangled in each others’ stories. I am disappointed the characters didn’t mature as much as I had hoped they would and the romance came on a little strong during the first half. But I did like that the romance felt more natural and it was really fun to watch them dance around each other. Bale, though, was excellent. As the king terrified of Veron being the one to kill him, I loved how he was wrapped up in his need to find and eliminate him to the point of obsession. It was brutal, but I really enjoyed how it depicted a powerful king seemingly teetering on madness.
Veron, as always, is incredible. Despite his beginnings as an orphan and street thief, he has a strong moral compass and an equally strong sense of duty. He always strives to do what’s right and works hard without seeming to expect or want anything in return, though he’s often quite lucky. While Chelcie may have blinded him a little, he really has a great head on his shoulders. He’s a huge pleasure to read, especially as the reader really gets to know his struggles and the fact that his destiny is still hanging over him. He’s overall such a good person it might come off as annoying, but I felt his good heart really overcame that. I really enjoyed his story in Rise of the Shadow since he was enslaved, and I couldn’t wait to see how he would manage that and somehow get out to fulfill his destiny.
Chelcie was quite a fun character, going toe to toe with her dominating mother as she tried to find her purpose in life. I really liked that she wasn’t a typical female looking to marry well. After her years of living in the words and becoming part of the village’s watch, she’s quite capable. It did make some of the things she went through a little less believable because I was expecting her to be a bit stronger, but I really enjoyed that she’s still stubborn and determined to do what she deems best instead of what someone else wants her to do. It does get her tangled in a bit of a web, but her heart of gold helps shine her way and now I’m dying to see what the third book has in store for her.
Brixton, as manipulative as he is, has weirdly become my favorite of the trio. Whenever I thought I understood him, he flipped things around so I wasn’t sure if I could trust him or not. At his core, he’s just trying to gain his father’s favor, but he’s such an excellent actor that I never really know what’s going on with him. I was sorely missing him during the first half as it was more about Veron and Chelcie, but, during the second half, he was quite a force! I loved everything about him, how he made the story twisty and kept me guessing. I don’t know if I’ll ever pin him down, but I really love that about him.
Not only does Rise of the Shadow present wonderful characters, but the story is just as much fun to read. While I didn’t feel the first half evaded the middle book syndrome, I thought the second half more than made up for it. The first half seemed mostly centered about Veron finding his way in Chelcie’s family’s household and his romance with Chelcie herself. I enjoyed how the other servants looked down on him as he’s basically enslaved and how many just tried to destroy him. At the same time, knowing what he’s destined to be and do, I felt a little frustrated because there seemed to be no out for him and he just kept getting himself tangled further in the household. There’s definitely glimmers of what might happen next, but I couldn’t shake the feeling Veron felt a little too comfortable with his new lot in life. Then the second half hit, and never really stopped hitting. It really made up for a weaker first half and had me flying through the pages, desperate to know who to trust and what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns and new revelations. While the first half made me wonder how the characters were possibly going to get to the conclusion of the trilogy, I had no such questions by the end of the book. Instead, I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. I do wish there had been more of a clash between Bale and Veron, but I’m also glad it was minimal because I think the finale will be that much more epic.
What really separates this trilogy from most other fantasy stories is how it focuses on the world building. This series, by far, has my favorite way of exploring a new world: through business, commerce, and economics. Instead of a confusing mass of court politics, though this book did have some great gems of it, it’s really focused on how cities are run, how business is done. Even though I couldn’t really say what these cities looked like, I still felt like the book transported me there. It’s different and unique and really kept my attention. Even though I don’t care for numbers, Rise of the Shadow made me appreciate it and how it impacts world building that much more
Rise of the Shadow is an excellent sequel to The Last Shadow Knight. It’s a great way to get from Book One to what I hope Book Three will bring even if it didn’t completely manage to evade the middle book syndrome. The second half really packs it in and the first half perfectly set up that second half. Not quite as full of business and adventure, it does have me dying to know how all the threads tie up together and how the Dream given in the first book will actually play out. Overall, I found this to be just as enjoyable as the first book and have no doubt this trilogy will be one of the standouts in fantasy for me for a long time.
Thank you to Michael Webb for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Warning: May contain spoilers for Book 1: The Last Shadow Knight.
Overall
Rise of the Shadow is the second book in The Shadow Knight Trilogy and continues to follow Veron (the shadow knight), Chelcie (a lord’s daughter), and Brixton (the son of newly risen Baron of Karad with thanks to Veron’s mortal enemy King Bale). While it doesn’t completely evade the middle book syndrome, the second half of this book made it all worth it. The characters all shone just as brightly and the bit of romance was sweet and natural. There’s still the same excellent world building done through the focus on business, commerce, and economics instead of court politics and soaring castles. Overall, Rise of the Shadow was a delightful second book, an excellent link between the beginning and ending of the trilogy. It wraps up the ending events of the first book and sets the main characters on their different paths for the third book.
Extended Thoughts
Rise of the Shadow picks up where The Last Shadow Knight ends: with Verson basically enslaved, Chelcie newly returned home, and Brixton established as the son of the new Baron of Karad. Veron only wants to do his work in Chelcie’s family’s household to protect the lives of the people he listed as collateral, but his sense of duty tangles his life with Chelcie’s. Thanks to a jealous servant, their blooming romance is nipped in the bud, and Brixton unexpectedly becomes tangled with Chelcie’s family. But Brixton has his own secrets, ones that could both destroy Felting and bring Veron in arm’s reach of his destiny.
The Last Shadow Knight was such a pleasant surprise that I couldn’t wait for the second book. I love that, instead of sweeping battles and stories of destiny alongside traveling around the world, this story focuses in on the city level especially in terms of business. It’s refreshing and offers a new take on fantasy.
My favorite part of this book is the characters. They were exactly as I remembered from the first book and, while there wasn’t a ton of growth, I loved how they became to entangled in each others’ stories. I am disappointed the characters didn’t mature as much as I had hoped they would and the romance came on a little strong during the first half. But I did like that the romance felt more natural and it was really fun to watch them dance around each other. Bale, though, was excellent. As the king terrified of Veron being the one to kill him, I loved how he was wrapped up in his need to find and eliminate him to the point of obsession. It was brutal, but I really enjoyed how it depicted a powerful king seemingly teetering on madness.
Veron, as always, is incredible. Despite his beginnings as an orphan and street thief, he has a strong moral compass and an equally strong sense of duty. He always strives to do what’s right and works hard without seeming to expect or want anything in return, though he’s often quite lucky. While Chelcie may have blinded him a little, he really has a great head on his shoulders. He’s a huge pleasure to read, especially as the reader really gets to know his struggles and the fact that his destiny is still hanging over him. He’s overall such a good person it might come off as annoying, but I felt his good heart really overcame that. I really enjoyed his story in Rise of the Shadow since he was enslaved, and I couldn’t wait to see how he would manage that and somehow get out to fulfill his destiny.
Chelcie was quite a fun character, going toe to toe with her dominating mother as she tried to find her purpose in life. I really liked that she wasn’t a typical female looking to marry well. After her years of living in the words and becoming part of the village’s watch, she’s quite capable. It did make some of the things she went through a little less believable because I was expecting her to be a bit stronger, but I really enjoyed that she’s still stubborn and determined to do what she deems best instead of what someone else wants her to do. It does get her tangled in a bit of a web, but her heart of gold helps shine her way and now I’m dying to see what the third book has in store for her.
Brixton, as manipulative as he is, has weirdly become my favorite of the trio. Whenever I thought I understood him, he flipped things around so I wasn’t sure if I could trust him or not. At his core, he’s just trying to gain his father’s favor, but he’s such an excellent actor that I never really know what’s going on with him. I was sorely missing him during the first half as it was more about Veron and Chelcie, but, during the second half, he was quite a force! I loved everything about him, how he made the story twisty and kept me guessing. I don’t know if I’ll ever pin him down, but I really love that about him.
Not only does Rise of the Shadow present wonderful characters, but the story is just as much fun to read. While I didn’t feel the first half evaded the middle book syndrome, I thought the second half more than made up for it. The first half seemed mostly centered about Veron finding his way in Chelcie’s family’s household and his romance with Chelcie herself. I enjoyed how the other servants looked down on him as he’s basically enslaved and how many just tried to destroy him. At the same time, knowing what he’s destined to be and do, I felt a little frustrated because there seemed to be no out for him and he just kept getting himself tangled further in the household. There’s definitely glimmers of what might happen next, but I couldn’t shake the feeling Veron felt a little too comfortable with his new lot in life. Then the second half hit, and never really stopped hitting. It really made up for a weaker first half and had me flying through the pages, desperate to know who to trust and what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns and new revelations. While the first half made me wonder how the characters were possibly going to get to the conclusion of the trilogy, I had no such questions by the end of the book. Instead, I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. I do wish there had been more of a clash between Bale and Veron, but I’m also glad it was minimal because I think the finale will be that much more epic.
What really separates this trilogy from most other fantasy stories is how it focuses on the world building. This series, by far, has my favorite way of exploring a new world: through business, commerce, and economics. Instead of a confusing mass of court politics, though this book did have some great gems of it, it’s really focused on how cities are run, how business is done. Even though I couldn’t really say what these cities looked like, I still felt like the book transported me there. It’s different and unique and really kept my attention. Even though I don’t care for numbers, Rise of the Shadow made me appreciate it and how it impacts world building that much more
Rise of the Shadow is an excellent sequel to The Last Shadow Knight. It’s a great way to get from Book One to what I hope Book Three will bring even if it didn’t completely manage to evade the middle book syndrome. The second half really packs it in and the first half perfectly set up that second half. Not quite as full of business and adventure, it does have me dying to know how all the threads tie up together and how the Dream given in the first book will actually play out. Overall, I found this to be just as enjoyable as the first book and have no doubt this trilogy will be one of the standouts in fantasy for me for a long time.
Thank you to Michael Webb for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 11, 2025
Hi Michael. I don’t want to make your dog sad, so I’m writing a review.
I am enjoying your books so much! Thank you for taking the time and energy and imagination to write them! I used to read a lot of fantasy series, but lost interest. It became hard to get myself psyched up to read three 600 page books—the second of which would usually be a snooze fest. I’m glad I found your series, with the great action, the ups and downs of the characters, and the development of the plot. The way you weave the moral quandaries of the characters has been thought provoking. Great work! I’m so happy there are still four to go!
I am enjoying your books so much! Thank you for taking the time and energy and imagination to write them! I used to read a lot of fantasy series, but lost interest. It became hard to get myself psyched up to read three 600 page books—the second of which would usually be a snooze fest. I’m glad I found your series, with the great action, the ups and downs of the characters, and the development of the plot. The way you weave the moral quandaries of the characters has been thought provoking. Great work! I’m so happy there are still four to go!
March 4, 2025
I absolutely cannot get enough of this series. So good! 😍
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December 1, 2021I am only half way through, but cannot put the book down. The first book in the series hooked me. Great character development that left a pit in my stomach wanting to despise the main antagonist. The moment I picked up the second book all of the anger and resentment at this character came back and I wanted more. The two main characters have such an interesting, intertwining tale that I am anxious to see develop more. I expect to be through the second book this week and know I will be on edge awaiting the final chapter.
December 1, 2021
Fantastic sequel to the first book (The Last Shadow Knight)! The Rise of the Shadow delves more deeply into the story and the characters to deliver an amazing novel filled with unexpected twists and turns. The book is so well written that you won't want to put it down. This is a great read for everyone from adults to preteens (and even a bit younger) and for fantasy lovers and those new to the genre. You won't be disappointed!
I can't wait for the third book of the trilogy to find out what happens next!
I can't wait for the third book of the trilogy to find out what happens next!
December 1, 2021
Michael Webb doesn't disappoint with this second instalment of his Shadow Knights series - thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning excitement. His engaging characters continue to get into tricky situations, awkward moral dilemmas and gripping action. Next book, please!
December 11, 2021
The Difficult Second Book?
when you read a first book and think it is wonderful, you really want the second book. Then you get it and they can disappoint. Spoiler Alert, it doesn’t. Michael Webb has continued the development of his trilogy with this excellent addition. And at the end of reading it I want more. does the second book disappoint? No! Could there be more content? Yes I think there could be! But I am hoping for more in the Third book of the trilogy. Th action is well written, the characters and their relationship are believable and the skill they learn are challenging to find. Could there be more than three in the series? Only the author can truly know, but as a reader of epic series, I can see spin offs and new characters coming during the future writing of this story. Michael Webb Thank You. Really cannot wait for the next, already preordered.
when you read a first book and think it is wonderful, you really want the second book. Then you get it and they can disappoint. Spoiler Alert, it doesn’t. Michael Webb has continued the development of his trilogy with this excellent addition. And at the end of reading it I want more. does the second book disappoint? No! Could there be more content? Yes I think there could be! But I am hoping for more in the Third book of the trilogy. Th action is well written, the characters and their relationship are believable and the skill they learn are challenging to find. Could there be more than three in the series? Only the author can truly know, but as a reader of epic series, I can see spin offs and new characters coming during the future writing of this story. Michael Webb Thank You. Really cannot wait for the next, already preordered.
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November 18, 2021Michael Webb does it again!
The second book in this fantastic series delivers all the goods: world building that pulls you into the beating heart of a kingdom, political intrigue, clean romantic subplot, and characters facing epic internal and external struggles.
I loved experiencing Veron’s hardships and joys as he matures into a powerful (yet humble) Shadow Knight. And I enjoyed Chelci’s growth into a confident and caring young lady, as well as a stronger villain element from King Bale and Brixton. But what really grabbed me in this installment is how Webb brings their stories together with an entwined destiny. YA epic fantasy at its finest!
Brace yourself for a shocking plot twist and abrupt ending that will leave you wanting more. I can’t wait for the next book!
The second book in this fantastic series delivers all the goods: world building that pulls you into the beating heart of a kingdom, political intrigue, clean romantic subplot, and characters facing epic internal and external struggles.
I loved experiencing Veron’s hardships and joys as he matures into a powerful (yet humble) Shadow Knight. And I enjoyed Chelci’s growth into a confident and caring young lady, as well as a stronger villain element from King Bale and Brixton. But what really grabbed me in this installment is how Webb brings their stories together with an entwined destiny. YA epic fantasy at its finest!
Brace yourself for a shocking plot twist and abrupt ending that will leave you wanting more. I can’t wait for the next book!
October 24, 2021
I am a science fantasy fan and I have read books in this genre for more than 5 decades. The Shadow Knight Trilogy can be ranked among the best fantasy novel that I have read. The trilogy appeals to both the younger generation as well as the older generation. A key example is when Vernon does meet his father but I rather not reveal the events as it would be a spoiler. The Rise of the Shadow did indeed follow up the events from the Last Shadow Knight seamlessly. It is engrossing and I could not put it down thus managing to complete reading it within a week.
I do hope to read the next part of the install
I do hope to read the next part of the install
August 12, 2023
I could not wait to continue Vernon’s story. He’s a character that stays with you long after you close the pages of his story. No time has passed from the previous book, and Vernon has gone from barely surviving on the streets to slavery. Of course, no story is totally complete without a little love interest, and who better than his master’s daughter, Chelci? Webb does an excellent job of bringing both characters and the world to life, and weaving a story that will capture you. I definitely recommend reading book one, or you might be a little lost, but I can honestly say I can’t wait to read the final book of the trilogy!
November 28, 2021
Do not read this book unless you have lots of free time (as you will not be able to put it down!). Lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you may have it all figured out, you haven't and you have to keep reading to see what happens next! Well done Michael Webb, another home run.
December 5, 2021
Utter Garbage
The book is well written...but that's about all the good I can say. If you are expecting a continuation of the characters from the first book, don't get your hopes up. While this book does continue the story of the characters in the first book, it's like the two main characters completely regressed to their 12 year old selves and lost all the character development in the first book.
If I could sum up the direction of this book: Love makes you stupid!
The only consistent characters from the first book are the villains and vile secondary characters.
The book is well written...but that's about all the good I can say. If you are expecting a continuation of the characters from the first book, don't get your hopes up. While this book does continue the story of the characters in the first book, it's like the two main characters completely regressed to their 12 year old selves and lost all the character development in the first book.
If I could sum up the direction of this book: Love makes you stupid!
The only consistent characters from the first book are the villains and vile secondary characters.
November 7, 2021
I NEED THE THIRD BOOK NOW!!! An author can’t just do this to his readers LOL
Again we have lots of action, some of the characters we liked so much coming back and lots of surprises!!
Veron is probably one of the most lucky and at the same time unlucky characters I’ve known 😂 but that is probably one of the things that make the story interesting, because anything can happen when he’s involved, things can turn upside-down anytime. Read these books, you won’t regret it!! 😍
Again we have lots of action, some of the characters we liked so much coming back and lots of surprises!!
Veron is probably one of the most lucky and at the same time unlucky characters I’ve known 😂 but that is probably one of the things that make the story interesting, because anything can happen when he’s involved, things can turn upside-down anytime. Read these books, you won’t regret it!! 😍
November 1, 2021
So many times, I thought I knew what was coming but there were lots of surprises and unexpected turn of events. I quickly reconnected with the characters and once again was drawn into their world. Books and merch will make great Christmas presents!
March 3, 2024
There was at one stage a movie on the circuit featuring Clint Eastwood called The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
That movie title would easily fit as title to this book as well. In quite a number of incidents. Veron would easily fit the description of the good guy, just looking at how well he did with the Market and the people he engaged in helping to do so
Also his actions later on what with meeting Chelci and subsequent amazing performances as slave.
The there is the Bad and Brixton and his father perfectly fits into this description. Especially the treachery by Brixton successfully framing Veron for murder. And subsequent events following from that act.
The ugly?
Ah, that would probably be events like Morgan's family being killed. The actions of a certain gardener called Windsor. The actions of an egomaniac like Bale.
It is quite amazing how involved the various events in Rise of The Shadow follows a mixed pattern of good and evil from quite a mix of the characters. It is this that captures one's attention and keep one fascinated chapter by chapter in the ups and downs of the various characters, whether main characters or not.
Excellent storyline.
Enjoy.
That movie title would easily fit as title to this book as well. In quite a number of incidents. Veron would easily fit the description of the good guy, just looking at how well he did with the Market and the people he engaged in helping to do so
Also his actions later on what with meeting Chelci and subsequent amazing performances as slave.
The there is the Bad and Brixton and his father perfectly fits into this description. Especially the treachery by Brixton successfully framing Veron for murder. And subsequent events following from that act.
The ugly?
Ah, that would probably be events like Morgan's family being killed. The actions of a certain gardener called Windsor. The actions of an egomaniac like Bale.
It is quite amazing how involved the various events in Rise of The Shadow follows a mixed pattern of good and evil from quite a mix of the characters. It is this that captures one's attention and keep one fascinated chapter by chapter in the ups and downs of the various characters, whether main characters or not.
Excellent storyline.
Enjoy.
March 7, 2022
In this instance I dropped a *, 4 does seem harsh & it's probably somewhere between there & a 4.5, the latest fantasy trope appears to be the baddie or bad guys escaping to basically live another day or in this case another book! Bale escaping I could live with but Brixton too? Also why does every Hero now seem to be naïve to the point it's a wonder they have made it through life at all! Escaped a kids home, grew up on the streets but get fooled by other characters over & over? Literally Veron's big secret get's spilled to a character that has only just arrived & tells him that he is also a child of a Shadow Knight- called John & there might be somebody called John on the list!
Big reveal at the end doesn't really add much to the story but as long as it remains a trilogy I'll buy the 3rd book.
Big reveal at the end doesn't really add much to the story but as long as it remains a trilogy I'll buy the 3rd book.
November 28, 2022
Rhe only reason why I finished these books is because I had no Internet on my kindle and could not download anything else.
Judging by the rating i thought it was going to ve pretty good. The books are extremely predictable, with 0 plot twists and painfully boring characters.
If you are someone that loves pathetic happy ever after stories, this book is perfect for you. I mean after his friend frames him for murder, steals his business, sells him as a slove, helps the villain kidnap the love of his life, kills his king and is directly responsible for ruining the life of people he deeply cares about, Veron just goes like "I forgive you, i will only judge you based on your future actions and not on the past ones". Are you fuckin* serious????? And Brixton gets away with no punishment whatsoever for having committed high treason??
Judging by the rating i thought it was going to ve pretty good. The books are extremely predictable, with 0 plot twists and painfully boring characters.
If you are someone that loves pathetic happy ever after stories, this book is perfect for you. I mean after his friend frames him for murder, steals his business, sells him as a slove, helps the villain kidnap the love of his life, kills his king and is directly responsible for ruining the life of people he deeply cares about, Veron just goes like "I forgive you, i will only judge you based on your future actions and not on the past ones". Are you fuckin* serious????? And Brixton gets away with no punishment whatsoever for having committed high treason??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book, even though it was hard to watch the protagonist end up on the losing end over and over. The second book was a little tougher for me. It was still a good read, but the suffering of the protagonist with people going out of their way to cause him harm was almost distracting from the story.
The suspicion that the protagonist showed, for trusting people before they prove themselves trustworthy, in the first book was too completely gone. That's probably the best way to put why I was uncomfortable with the second book. It's one thing to hope for the best, but I had trouble accepting the level of trust offered to newly met people by someone who grew up in a less than ideal orphanage and then spent years on the streets.
The suspicion that the protagonist showed, for trusting people before they prove themselves trustworthy, in the first book was too completely gone. That's probably the best way to put why I was uncomfortable with the second book. It's one thing to hope for the best, but I had trouble accepting the level of trust offered to newly met people by someone who grew up in a less than ideal orphanage and then spent years on the streets.
August 26, 2022
I'm really enjoying these series. It is fun, fast paced, lead characters you can relate to etc. Has all the elements of a fun story! I think it would be elevated to a 5 star for me if the characters had better or at least faster character development. How often can someone get surprised by lies and betrayals before building some kind of defense for it? I don't understand why the author is choosing to make some of these characters, especially the lead one, to be so clueless in this area. It can get incredibly frustrating for the reader.
August 17, 2023
As much as I loved the first book in this series, this one was EVEN BETTER!! These characters are so real, and I love how (so far) everyone seems to be getting what they deserve (whether good or bad). I hope to see more of that in the next book, which I will be starting immediately because OMG THAT ENDING!! I was absolutely SHOCKED. Literally the last line of the entire book.
This book is perfect for you if you love strong character development, lots of action, and a good balance of dark times and hope.
This book is perfect for you if you love strong character development, lots of action, and a good balance of dark times and hope.
December 25, 2021
Good but weaker than book 1
I enjoyed the read but I was left constantly frustrated by how dumb Veron is. Throughout he is portrayed as an educated and smart young man. However he consistently makes poor judgements about people and also suggested Chelsi stay behind out of danger. She is the hottest target there is in finding him. For a book so well written I was often left shaking my head and having to put the book down for a while.
I enjoyed the read but I was left constantly frustrated by how dumb Veron is. Throughout he is portrayed as an educated and smart young man. However he consistently makes poor judgements about people and also suggested Chelsi stay behind out of danger. She is the hottest target there is in finding him. For a book so well written I was often left shaking my head and having to put the book down for a while.
January 10, 2022
Shadow Knight's Trilogy - Awesome
The first two book's of this trilogy are a great read. Well written about a young boy living on the streets in starvation, found and trained by a elderly man who explains that this boy's father was dead and had been a shadow knight. The boy becomes a young man and evil follows him from the greed of men! Well worth reading and seeing goodness overcome evil. Awesome fight scenes, vert good book.
The first two book's of this trilogy are a great read. Well written about a young boy living on the streets in starvation, found and trained by a elderly man who explains that this boy's father was dead and had been a shadow knight. The boy becomes a young man and evil follows him from the greed of men! Well worth reading and seeing goodness overcome evil. Awesome fight scenes, vert good book.
November 14, 2022
This review is entirely subjective based on my personal preference, take that as you will.
This book in particular wasn't entirely terrible but I could see the cliche setup for the third book coming from half the book away. I won't be finishing this series as I, personally, find the story type that the third book is literally guaranteed to be, utterly detestable.
Waste of two audible credits for me.
This book in particular wasn't entirely terrible but I could see the cliche setup for the third book coming from half the book away. I won't be finishing this series as I, personally, find the story type that the third book is literally guaranteed to be, utterly detestable.
Waste of two audible credits for me.
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