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Tournament of Shadows #3
Shadow Schemes
A lost child will uncover old secrets....
After her triumphant performance as goddess of the night at a royal banquet, Sera is instructed by the Mage Council to stay out of public sight. She is tasked with settling a restless spirit who has been roused by the fate of a descendant. A noblewoman stands accused of orchestrating the sad fate of her daughter, and the ghost will not return to her grave until Sera does something.
Sera journeys to the countryside in pursuit of evidence to free the woman, but finds a gothic manor harbouring secrets within its walls, and a lord intent on being rid of his troublesome wife. Did the noblewoman truly do away with her daughter, or was a more sinister hand responsible?
As Sera struggles to reveal the truth, doubts invade her mind. Will her efforts see the mother walk free, or to the gallows?
After her triumphant performance as goddess of the night at a royal banquet, Sera is instructed by the Mage Council to stay out of public sight. She is tasked with settling a restless spirit who has been roused by the fate of a descendant. A noblewoman stands accused of orchestrating the sad fate of her daughter, and the ghost will not return to her grave until Sera does something.
Sera journeys to the countryside in pursuit of evidence to free the woman, but finds a gothic manor harbouring secrets within its walls, and a lord intent on being rid of his troublesome wife. Did the noblewoman truly do away with her daughter, or was a more sinister hand responsible?
As Sera struggles to reveal the truth, doubts invade her mind. Will her efforts see the mother walk free, or to the gallows?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
37 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Wallace
36 books602 followersTilly writes whimsical historical fantasy books, set in a bygone time where magic is real. With a quirky and loveable cast, her books combine vintage magic and gentle humour. Through fierce friendships her characters discover that in an uncertain world, the most loyal family is the one you create.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 20, 2023
A change of setting, a change of pace - but I liked it just the same.
The haunted house gave the whole story a gothic twist I didn't know I'd missed, but greatly appreciated.
The men were pushed to the side in this book and were somewhat missed, if you ask me, but I actually liked "the girls" getting out on an adventure, of sorts, on their own.
I did think Sera took a bit too long to figure out what had actually happened to the little missing girl, but the mystery with the missing will held more interest for me, personally, and that bit had better forward-momentum.
All in all: I really like this series! It's got a marvellous narrator that elevates it to a great experience to listen to. I will soon return for more.
The haunted house gave the whole story a gothic twist I didn't know I'd missed, but greatly appreciated.
The men were pushed to the side in this book and were somewhat missed, if you ask me, but I actually liked "the girls" getting out on an adventure, of sorts, on their own.
I did think Sera took a bit too long to figure out what had actually happened to the little missing girl, but the mystery with the missing will held more interest for me, personally, and that bit had better forward-momentum.
All in all: I really like this series! It's got a marvellous narrator that elevates it to a great experience to listen to. I will soon return for more.
August 31, 2023
This was good, but pretty much more of the same. Not a lot of plot progression for the series, but I do like how things are going with Sera and Hugh.
See all my reviews at Writings of a Reader and on Facebook.
See all my reviews at Writings of a Reader and on Facebook.
December 3, 2023
I'm still enjoying this series a lot, even though not as much as Manner and Monsters one.
Shadow Schemes by Tilly Wallace sees our main character find her footing in society a bit more, even though it's a mens world and she has to fight every step of the way. I always liked this sort of historical fantasy, that's so often more about manners and society and how to deal with it, not making too light of it, but still having a somewhat cosy feel to it.
The romance is very light and cute, and not at all a main focus of the book, which I like.
I'm already looking forward to the next book!
Shadow Schemes by Tilly Wallace sees our main character find her footing in society a bit more, even though it's a mens world and she has to fight every step of the way. I always liked this sort of historical fantasy, that's so often more about manners and society and how to deal with it, not making too light of it, but still having a somewhat cosy feel to it.
The romance is very light and cute, and not at all a main focus of the book, which I like.
I'm already looking forward to the next book!
January 10, 2024
Look out, time will pass while reading
This series does not disappoint! You will find your captivated and looking forward to the next one, so be ready to keep reading!
This series does not disappoint! You will find your captivated and looking forward to the next one, so be ready to keep reading!
November 7, 2023
These were short and quite… vanilla I must say.
The world-building is not skimp exactly but it just is not as involved and mystically developed as one would expect. This magical world consists of mages and even fantastical creatures and it seems we get the cliff notes version of that. Like there is a fixed number of mages and magic is not passed down and most mages born in history have primarily been male so when the h shows with magical ability it's a big deal and gives the men mages the big scare but then they just kind of act sexist against her and underestimate her ability thinking she doesn't have much of the magical power cuz she is just a womant. Cuz she got born with it they just treat it as a fluke and not something more meaningful considering there is some foreshadowing that something bad might have happened in the past when another woman mage got born. But it is given in these tiny forget-they-are-there moments and all the focus is placed on the murder mystery ocuping each book. Which instead of serving to drive the plot forward and allow for all these characters to come forward and reveal more information about this world and some deeper information on how this magical stuff works it ends up being just one big distraction. I just kind of wish there was a way of us finding more of it and more involved than the mysterious death of some fringe characters one doesn't really care to know about.
I am now on my second book and I do not like the thread of the murders either. It follows the same plot twist as the Grantchester TV series which manages to pull it off with more depth and a thought-provoking process. Here we get to know that the murdered victims were some really bad people and were offed by good tragic supporting characters doing it to protect their families. But it ends up being used in such a user way that it just seems like a cheap ploy to add some value to these characters. It just seems rather bland and manipulative in a way.
And the romance is also introduced in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it-moments. The H is just kind of nothing guy just this big burly dude that follows the h around like a little puppy saying some not-too-memorable stuff that the h can use to complete her briliant purpose and bla bla bla just not connecting with them at all.
Not sure if I am finding these books worth the time… they just lack any kind of sink-your-teeth-in drama and some valid stakes. Everything is just so pleasant and polite and even the h getting it on with the H with some kissing action, calling it 'Friends with benifites' was just done with no threat of scandal or any kind of emotional chemistry. It's just she likes kissing the guys so she's going to keep doing it and he is just in for the ride. Their meeting had potential but it too was kind of managed to be dulled down despite actual sparks having been flowing at their first touch. I guess that should have been an indication to expect how their relationship will be managed to matrimonial dullness. The end.
For a world that has magic and the king is half insane and has a Fae half-brother whose story we never hear about but he is a royal bastard so even though all historical records and even in this book it is shown there will be some serious prejudice towards all things creature and non-human. The half-Fae bastard is just allowed to exist alongside the other nobles at court because he is of royal blood and there is no undercurrent of drama and some complicated emotions shown there even by all the laws of human relationships there should totally be some unspoken shots fired in the polite English of that time way.
The author just handles all of it in a very modern eye and tries to PC a lot of the more questionable things or speak about them in some open way that would not have been done in that time, while ignoring some potential for dramatic tension and it just screams politely managed to debutant boredom.
Just kind of a waste of a good potential and some nice world creation.
The world-building is not skimp exactly but it just is not as involved and mystically developed as one would expect. This magical world consists of mages and even fantastical creatures and it seems we get the cliff notes version of that. Like there is a fixed number of mages and magic is not passed down and most mages born in history have primarily been male so when the h shows with magical ability it's a big deal and gives the men mages the big scare but then they just kind of act sexist against her and underestimate her ability thinking she doesn't have much of the magical power cuz she is just a womant. Cuz she got born with it they just treat it as a fluke and not something more meaningful considering there is some foreshadowing that something bad might have happened in the past when another woman mage got born. But it is given in these tiny forget-they-are-there moments and all the focus is placed on the murder mystery ocuping each book. Which instead of serving to drive the plot forward and allow for all these characters to come forward and reveal more information about this world and some deeper information on how this magical stuff works it ends up being just one big distraction. I just kind of wish there was a way of us finding more of it and more involved than the mysterious death of some fringe characters one doesn't really care to know about.
I am now on my second book and I do not like the thread of the murders either. It follows the same plot twist as the Grantchester TV series which manages to pull it off with more depth and a thought-provoking process. Here we get to know that the murdered victims were some really bad people and were offed by good tragic supporting characters doing it to protect their families. But it ends up being used in such a user way that it just seems like a cheap ploy to add some value to these characters. It just seems rather bland and manipulative in a way.
And the romance is also introduced in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it-moments. The H is just kind of nothing guy just this big burly dude that follows the h around like a little puppy saying some not-too-memorable stuff that the h can use to complete her briliant purpose and bla bla bla just not connecting with them at all.
Not sure if I am finding these books worth the time… they just lack any kind of sink-your-teeth-in drama and some valid stakes. Everything is just so pleasant and polite and even the h getting it on with the H with some kissing action, calling it 'Friends with benifites' was just done with no threat of scandal or any kind of emotional chemistry. It's just she likes kissing the guys so she's going to keep doing it and he is just in for the ride. Their meeting had potential but it too was kind of managed to be dulled down despite actual sparks having been flowing at their first touch. I guess that should have been an indication to expect how their relationship will be managed to matrimonial dullness. The end.
For a world that has magic and the king is half insane and has a Fae half-brother whose story we never hear about but he is a royal bastard so even though all historical records and even in this book it is shown there will be some serious prejudice towards all things creature and non-human. The half-Fae bastard is just allowed to exist alongside the other nobles at court because he is of royal blood and there is no undercurrent of drama and some complicated emotions shown there even by all the laws of human relationships there should totally be some unspoken shots fired in the polite English of that time way.
The author just handles all of it in a very modern eye and tries to PC a lot of the more questionable things or speak about them in some open way that would not have been done in that time, while ignoring some potential for dramatic tension and it just screams politely managed to debutant boredom.
Just kind of a waste of a good potential and some nice world creation.
May 23, 2023
Shadow Schemes is an endearing fantasy novel that immerses readers in a world of intrigue and magic, showcasing the remarkable resourcefulness of its female protagonist. Sera is developing into her powers and it can't happen quick enough, since the missions the Mage Council give her test the boundaries of her emerging powers.
Her cunning and quick thinking take center stage as she navigates treacherous political schemes and perilous situations with adaptability and a sense of fairness. The book's masterful world-building and intricate plots kept me on the edge of my seat since I enjoy each new "unnatural" that Tilly Wallace introduces into the world.
The greater plot of Sera's place in the magical world, and if anyone on the Mage Council is acting against her, doesn't move forward much in this book. Nevertheless, the blooming relationship with Hugh is charming, as is the development of Sera's other relationships of friendship with the Countessa and Elliot. Sera's compassion and fiery resilience make her a likeable heroine. She thrives on her wits and draws on the resources and cleverness of her companions to bring about a fair outcome which, if convenient, may fall within the boundaries of the law.
An excellent addition to Sera's story and it makes me eagerly reach for the next book in the series. I listened to this book and, as always, the narrator Marian Hussey is an absolute joy to listen to.
Her cunning and quick thinking take center stage as she navigates treacherous political schemes and perilous situations with adaptability and a sense of fairness. The book's masterful world-building and intricate plots kept me on the edge of my seat since I enjoy each new "unnatural" that Tilly Wallace introduces into the world.
The greater plot of Sera's place in the magical world, and if anyone on the Mage Council is acting against her, doesn't move forward much in this book. Nevertheless, the blooming relationship with Hugh is charming, as is the development of Sera's other relationships of friendship with the Countessa and Elliot. Sera's compassion and fiery resilience make her a likeable heroine. She thrives on her wits and draws on the resources and cleverness of her companions to bring about a fair outcome which, if convenient, may fall within the boundaries of the law.
An excellent addition to Sera's story and it makes me eagerly reach for the next book in the series. I listened to this book and, as always, the narrator Marian Hussey is an absolute joy to listen to.
September 19, 2025
As in the previous series Manners and Monsters, we switch up the setting for the third book and head to a single house. This time, Sera is tasked by the Mage Council to settle a restless spirit, and it leads her to go with a vampire, her best friend, and a sick woman to a house that is sad.
This was my favorite book so far in the series. I particularly liked the female friendships shown in this.
The bad guy in this was a truly horrid man, and between the lines, it’s definitely possible to read all the things Wallace didn’t write out. He got what was coming for him. However, as in previous books, it feels a bit cheap with the amount of power Sera has. Yes, she laments not being able to heal her sick friend, but other than that, it seems she can do almost anything. It lowers the stakes a lot.
The mystery wasn’t that difficult, and it felt like Sera took too long to get it for how smart she is.
And there is some continued romance-y stuff with Hugh, which is possibly my favorite part of this series.
This was my favorite book so far in the series. I particularly liked the female friendships shown in this.
The bad guy in this was a truly horrid man, and between the lines, it’s definitely possible to read all the things Wallace didn’t write out. He got what was coming for him. However, as in previous books, it feels a bit cheap with the amount of power Sera has. Yes, she laments not being able to heal her sick friend, but other than that, it seems she can do almost anything. It lowers the stakes a lot.
The mystery wasn’t that difficult, and it felt like Sera took too long to get it for how smart she is.
And there is some continued romance-y stuff with Hugh, which is possibly my favorite part of this series.
November 8, 2023
Mixed feelings
I like this story very much, but I can't rate it just on the story itself. There are too many inconsistencies both within this book and between all the books to date. There are also too many other kinds of mistakes. The biggest problem in this book though is that the main plot device was so blatantly transparent the main characters looked like a bunch of dimwits because they never saw it until almost the end. OTOH, this author regularly throws in writing that is so profoundly insightful and beautifully written it takes my breath away. I also love all the great characters. So I will finish this series, something I have done only once in the fantasy genre. Obviously my mind craves the combination of insight and poetry like prose. The magic is also pretty amazing!
I like this story very much, but I can't rate it just on the story itself. There are too many inconsistencies both within this book and between all the books to date. There are also too many other kinds of mistakes. The biggest problem in this book though is that the main plot device was so blatantly transparent the main characters looked like a bunch of dimwits because they never saw it until almost the end. OTOH, this author regularly throws in writing that is so profoundly insightful and beautifully written it takes my breath away. I also love all the great characters. So I will finish this series, something I have done only once in the fantasy genre. Obviously my mind craves the combination of insight and poetry like prose. The magic is also pretty amazing!
May 25, 2023
I am really loving this series! Book 3 was just as entertaining and engaging as the first two books.
I honestly enjoy everything about this world. Sera is a wonderful main character who is smart and capable and not only determined to live her own independent life out from under the control of the Mage Council, but also truly cares about helping others with her magic.
The plot of this book was another interesting clever story with plenty of twists and turns and opportunities for Sera to use her magic.
I really do love everything about this series and hope the author has more books planned to continue it. I will read as many as I can get!
I honestly enjoy everything about this world. Sera is a wonderful main character who is smart and capable and not only determined to live her own independent life out from under the control of the Mage Council, but also truly cares about helping others with her magic.
The plot of this book was another interesting clever story with plenty of twists and turns and opportunities for Sera to use her magic.
I really do love everything about this series and hope the author has more books planned to continue it. I will read as many as I can get!
September 2, 2024
Shadow Schemes is the third installment in the Tournament of Shadows series by Tilly Wallace. This story dealt a lot with the position of women in Georgian England, both magical and non-magical. The book revolves around a woman’s spirit awakening and asking for help for her descendant accused of murdering her young daughter.
I enjoyed the book although I am hoping we start to focus on Serena’s story more upfront in future books. Still, this was a good story with humor and interesting characters included.
I listened to the audiobook. Marian Hussey did a fantastic job once again. She adds a lot to the story, and I plan to stick to audiobooks for the entire series.
I enjoyed the book although I am hoping we start to focus on Serena’s story more upfront in future books. Still, this was a good story with humor and interesting characters included.
I listened to the audiobook. Marian Hussey did a fantastic job once again. She adds a lot to the story, and I plan to stick to audiobooks for the entire series.
December 3, 2022
Slightly different setting as this series progresses with Seraphina heading to a country manor in disguise the determine the fate of a young child. As always, good mystery, interesting characters, and a whole lot of women kicking misogynist ass.
March 15, 2025
I really enjoyed the mystery in this one. Trying to help a spirit that cannot lay back to rest until a wrong has been righted. I love that each one of these books has a relatively cozy mystery to solve and we get little pieces to a bigger mystery within the series. It been such a fun ride so far.
November 25, 2022
Another enjoyable read
I love this series and this book didn't disappoint. A well written and fast paced storyline that kept me engaged until the very end. Highly recommend.
I love this series and this book didn't disappoint. A well written and fast paced storyline that kept me engaged until the very end. Highly recommend.
December 13, 2022
I am loving Sera and Hugh's story.
December 26, 2023
I still love this series for the cozy, feel good vibes... but by this point, I'm also a bit antsy for more progress on the overarching plotline...
May 16, 2024
It’s interesting reading about the other fmcs mum and dad in this series. I like that. Learning about the families past.
Enjoyable listens
Enjoyable listens
September 15, 2024
For me, the stronger write of the series..
February 25, 2025
NB: updating books I've read way after the fact (Feb 2025), so ratings and reviews are really based on fuzzy vibes.
October 24, 2024
4 stars (Audible). Truly love this author + this series. Glad Sera is finally getting the recognition she deserves!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews