For Bran of Ealdor, this is the one thing stopping him from becoming a member of the legendary warriors known as summoners. They are gods among men who can call monsters into battle to fight alongside them.
Mages, Rangers, Beastmasters, Protectors, Hunters, and Lancers. These are the six classes of summoners. None of which Bran can become.
Until one day, when a griffin crash lands into the stable, a summoner riding on top of the beast.
That day, everything changes for Bran. He is thrust into a world of magical creatures and their masters, and he soon discovers just how unique he is among them. But being special puts a target on his back. Some of the most powerful summoners in the world would do anything to discover just what makes him so special.
Summoner’s Shadow is a LitRPG series that occurs in a medieval fantasy world. Bonding with monsters grants a summoner special abilities, dictated by the monster type and their class. Monsters can be leveled up, augmented, and evolved.
This book started really great with an interesting magic system and Pokemon Esque monster taming stuff but that all went down the drain when the author chose to make the MC waaaaaaaaayyy too OP like crazy OP.
Spoiler Alert
The main thing that set me off is that the MC can change his Class whenever he wants. So instead of picking a single class, he chose all the classes. He can be a mage for a time and then Ranger for another time and so on.
Another thing that made me groan is that the monster companions can be brought back from the dead so obviously, there's no real stake in the action sequences which made the reading a tedious experience for me.
I don't get why others are nitpicking and complaining about the things in this book. I was dreading it, actually... 'cause of the negativity, but I thought I should just give it a try and I liked it. The discoveries Bran finds about himself was exciting to see.
I have read prior books from this author before, and usually enjoyed them.
Summoner's Shadow involves Bran, the MC and former soldier who won some award he no longer cares about because he faced a summoner who cut down most of his friends. Now he's a stable boy with a slightly odd friend.
A mage crashes down out of the sky with a griffon, and the griffon is not happy. They land in the middle of the stables, and because Bran doesn't know any better, he protects the mage. His weird friend absorbs and then merges with the griffon, and that's how the story starts.
This is a fantasy book set in the monster realms for the most part, where summoners fight monsters to grow stronger, yet also find potential candidates to join them in battle. I won't explain how or why it happens, but it does.
The problem for me is that there wasn't a true antagonist for Bran. Life was easy as a stable boy, and while it's different now, it's still fairly easy. He does surprisingly well with things he's never seen or done before, creating a mystery for other people, but not as much for us.
Don't get me wrong. This is a pleasant escapist novel, and I enjoyed my time with it. I just think I'd like a little bit more with these kinds of novels.
4/5* Solid editing, with a few tables and some interesting beasts.
This is a good point from another reviewer and why its a good point is because its brought more than a dozen times. This is not a LItrpg because the stats and levels mean jackshit if you have your MC go up against another summoner who's been in school for years and the monster companions are 10 levels over his!!!!
"I found the protagonist's history as a war vet utterly pointless too - he should have just been an unknown stable hand. Every time this guy goes into combat it just feels amateur hour to me." The dude is 20th something, Not only that, but he was a spearman, that is it. Some low level foot soldier.
It was not some bowman or master bowman, but hey lets have the MC pick up a bow for the first time and start to use one like he is robin hood, also what is the point of this academy if he doesn't attend it? This whole story is not believable and the interactions of other characters are the same.
You hafta grab this action-driven litRPG! A binge with me...
I figured that gettin this would be a safe bet. I really love litRPG's about Summoners and I've enjoyed reading DB King in the past. Thank the Dev for Goodreads which is brain when it comes to remembering all the books I've read. As expected I loved the book from right from the get go! And Bran is an amazing MC! I was enamored by him as he accidently discovered that he was potentially a summoner, a really strong summoner. Still he couldn't quite believe it, 'cause he'd been tested more than once! But here was an Grand Archmage telling him that he was, and insisting that he needed to go back to the Ketria Academy with him. Which is what he's been dreaming about doin his whole life. Even though he's a bit old (25) for a first year student and with the Grand Archmage, training him as if Bran was a 3rd year student... but with tutors, he'll hopefully pass the finals, which are quickly approaching. And for Bran it turns out that training is his middle name, cause man he has'ta train hard, more than any other student in the history of the Academy! So yeah grab the book so you can binge the rest of the books with me!!!
Like the title says, this book reminded me of Pokémon just for a slightly more mature audience. The different aspects of the summoner classes were cool to read, and the monster abilities were fun too. It was also nice to have a more seasoned adult as the MC, when a lot of these types of books have a teenager in the lead.
It was a little weird to me that class level ups don’t seem to change anything for the summoners so far, but monster level ups do for monsters. Maybe this will be explained later? Or maybe it’s just a double of the system. On another note, it was really nice to see the MC actually use common sense or be smart for once in a book! Using a spell application combined with his class to defeat an enemy in a way that I was sure he’d never think of! I was pleasantly surprised! How novel! Haha.
While this one does leave us with questions about Bran, it also teased some things that I was wondering about from early on in the book. So it was nice to know I was in at least somewhat of the right track! Will definitely pick up book 2!
Surprises are ahead for our stable hand MC, as he discovers he’s different
Bran is a stable hand at an inn, but was a spearman in the army during the last war. He’s just doing this job to be earn a living and work close to monsters, he even has hopes of being a monster medic. They take care of the monsters that Summoners take and use as mounts and beasts of battle. Little does he know that he has that power inside him, it’s just not like everyone else, he is very different and that always brings trouble. As Bran saves the life of the headmaster of a summoner school, he suddenly is told he is a summoner and brought to the school to learn. His oddities have captured the headmasters attention and he’s taking special interest in Bran, sadly he’s not the only one. Read on for an adventure full of monsters, magic, and intrigue!
Bran is a 23 year old War veteran who after surviving a battle and loosing most of his group to a Summoner from the otherside, to a down in the mud stable boy. One night he saves a guy from a violent griffin that crashes into his stable. Turns out that putting you life on the line can have positive outcomes, when he steps in front of the griffin and somehow he bonds to it. He has been tested so many times that bonding should not be possible. ... off to an Academy. On the way he learns that he can connect to each branch of Summoning, something not possible... He must choose what branch Summoner he wants to follow, but he wants them all... The friends he lost from the war, he will get his revenge for them, one day!
Fun read with good fights. Bonding to multiple monsters and learning to fight with them is a lot of fun.
So I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This looks to be a fun new series. Interesting twist on summoner's. And of course we always like an overpowered MC. That said the MC is certainly not overpowered at this point but has the potential with lots of work to be. Of course is the way I like my MC's. Potential but after needed. But he is/was a soldier so there won't be any problem with effort. By the end of this book of course there is a long list Of questions concerning both the MC's powers and other summoners but that's why there's more books in the series can't wait to go read them.
It been a nice read so far, not a lot of character development but the story is pretty new, a month has passed by what I can tell and yes a lot has happened, his status being one everything has been slow and steady. There's are plenty of questions that haven't been answered, the exact timeline of the exams is one that's annoying me plus what time of year is it? Are festivals a thing? Why doesn't he go to at least one class? Like crafting as it would benefit him and doesn't should of his class... Little things that I am hoping are shifted now we're past the vital net and greet stage 😁
Mix in the mechanics of Pokemon with a plot and characters derived from a Hogwarts backdrop and you got the story. Provided that the protagonist is out of teens but behaves like a preteen, a headmaster in love with another friend from the past, a Hermione and Ron as mentors, you have the plot. King puts in effort not to reveal the protagonists background but with similar pathos built in to the backdrop. The game mechanics is wearily similar to Pokemon without a satisfactory explanation. Progression is plodding and seems tepid. There is absolutely no feedback for progression with the story.
This was even better than I expected! I feel like these books can kind of be hit or miss, but this book had very few errors, a likable and consistent character that grew throughout the book, interesting supporting characters (though they could do with a bit more rounding out), and a really fun dynamic between the main character and his summoned monsters. I cant wait to see what new spells and shenanigans are discovered in the next book. Gonna dive right into it as soon as I can!
The MC goes from an ex-spearman, infantry soldier to a summoner by a chance encounter. He is then recruited to a summoner academy by the dean and assigned two trainers to help him level up. He seems to have zero interest in the female trainer, who is the Dean's disciple. He levels and is instrumental in uncovering an incursion by a rival school.
Interesting, but not outstanding. A relationship development would bring additional dimension to the story, as it does to life.
Looking for interesting monsters and summons then you came to the right place.
Pacing is good Grounnding or rooting elements are present. Foreshadowing is good World building is good for this stage of the book. Mystery about the main characters orgins is interesting.
If you are looking for a fun not to cliche book about summoning then you will enjoy this book. And cry for more after you have read though the whole series like me
I admit, when I first started reading this book I did not expect to like it. But life is fully of surprises and this book was no exception. I really, really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written and believable and the magic system was fantastic. The only real issue with this book IMO are the typos. And honestly, while they do exist in this book, they didn't take me out of the story. All in all, this was a fantastic book and I am looking forward to reading Book 2.
It's not terrible and is pretty entertaining but its just a bit similar to others out there. Started out great, MC is veteran from the war and stared down a manticore down and even damaged it but thats about as cool as he gets imo.. it feels like the mc is regressing in age from an adult to a teenager.
Made it about 65% before I lost interest... honestly It really isn't bad it's just not my cup of tea
A pleasant read if you have time for it and one I would definitely recommend. D.B King definitely has a style and he keeps to it in this book, so if you've enjoyed other books by him, you'll enjoy this one too.
One criticism was that some of the stats for the monster evolutions changed after a few chapters and at one point near the end Gale Breath leveled up to level two twice which was a bit of an immersion break...
This is a fun series; you take an experienced soldier, give him powers later in life, and have him interact with younger magic students. This would be problematic for sexual relationships, so there aren't any, which is OK. Good action and lovely power building, and these are summoners, so you get some friendly critters. Oh, an ongoing mystery about what this guy is makes things even more enjoyable. Fun book, and I am already halfway through the next one in the series.
DB KING again delivers a great story. Harry Potter-esq.
What do you get when you have an "older" (25) former soldier who dreamed of being a summoner, saves a mage & finds out that he's a late bloomer? This story! In addition, he's got weird magic. Great MC and supporting characters. Interesting storyline. Unusual monsters. I can't wait to grab the next book in the series. ENJOY!
I liked this book but man the inconsistencies of the MC made this a struggle. The combat felt like an old table top game where you take turns. The MC was a combat vet but had no situational awareness and was stupidly naive in the weirdest ways in regards to money. Poor people know how to bargain or thrift. I liked the summoning and I have some thoughts on the twist the author alludes to. All in all I would say 5.5/10
The combat is horrible, the stats are useless, the school is set dressing. The world state is forced and has no sense of realism. The academy and the teaching are a joke. This is an idea that has left out the details and tried to be a story anyway. It makes no sense and has a terrible narrative.
Pet classes are my favorite and now a book where all the “players” are pet classes. Checks all the boxes for me. Great concept.
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis.
Good read and flow. Main character has a maturity not found in others because of a life before the change. The start is not developed fully but picks up with jumps and starts. The opposition starts to abrupt with little lead up for Bran, the main character. Looking forward growth of main character and growth in story line.
Very creative and original world and magic system. Character development was ok. Big plot hole in that it made no sense that the school didn't post guards after the first incident. The enemy should have never been able to waltz back in a second time.
This book was just bad. Handed everything, there is nothing to grow into. Who tells a new student that they can just have a book that is a couple of hundred years old? Also hey new guy you can use my ingredients to make potions, and you can keep everything that you make. No challenges or growth. Dropped this at 36%.
I love beast taming and summoner stories. And if these books have a unique element I can gobble them up no time. The MC is unique as in he can use all summoner classes which are pretty interesting. I would love to see other develop this into a unique story. will definitely pick up the next one ☺️.
This could have been a really good series, but there was zero depth throughout the book. The main character only interacts with about 10 people throughout the entire story, even while being at a school with hundreds of people. It feels like a children's book level writing. I would like to continue the series but I haven't decided yet.
Characters are well developed and grow throughout while still undergoing trials. The story holds you to wanting more making it hard to take a break. Looking forward to seeing what directions book two takes.
While I loved this book, I noticed an irregularity in a later chapter. The only downside I noticed was that one spell was mentioned to not be at lv 2, despite being at lv 2, I think it has to be rectified
Decent story, with an interesting mix of rpg and pokemon mechanics.
But it needs a good editing. There were a lot of errors. Mostly things like swapping character names or referencing something and then saying something different the next paragraph.