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Shadow Walker #1
Shadow Walker
Nine Houses rule the nation, and Melaina stays away from them at all costs. She lives by one hard rule: never mingle with the supernatural.
Driven by fear of discovery, she remains on the fringes of society, occasionally stealing to provide for her aunt and her brother. When the opportunity to work for a corporation not owned by a House falls into her lap, she can’t believe her luck. With a forged non-magical certification in hand, she’s ready to embrace a bright future.
Unfortunately, the future is an ambush by blackmailing thugs, notorious assassins, and an unscrupulous House leader.
Entrenched in House conflict, Melaina’s dream of normalcy has turned into her worst nightmare.
Now, to save her brother and family secrets, she’ll have to partake in one last dangerous heist. Success means exposing her forbidden magic, but failure could cost the lives of everyone she loves.
Driven by fear of discovery, she remains on the fringes of society, occasionally stealing to provide for her aunt and her brother. When the opportunity to work for a corporation not owned by a House falls into her lap, she can’t believe her luck. With a forged non-magical certification in hand, she’s ready to embrace a bright future.
Unfortunately, the future is an ambush by blackmailing thugs, notorious assassins, and an unscrupulous House leader.
Entrenched in House conflict, Melaina’s dream of normalcy has turned into her worst nightmare.
Now, to save her brother and family secrets, she’ll have to partake in one last dangerous heist. Success means exposing her forbidden magic, but failure could cost the lives of everyone she loves.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2022
72 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Jina S. Bazzar
37 books140 followersJina S. Bazzar is a Palestinian author, born and raised in Brazil.
Like most writers, her love of books began at a young age. Unlike most writers, she never aspired to become one.
It was only years after she became blind that she tried her hand at writing, giving voice to all the wild, rambling thoughts in her mind.
She now lives in Palestine with her family, taking inspiration from the smallest things in life. When she’s not writing or networking on social media, you can find her in the kitchen, baking while listening to (often very loud) music.
Find writing updates at:
linktree/jina_bazzar
Like most writers, her love of books began at a young age. Unlike most writers, she never aspired to become one.
It was only years after she became blind that she tried her hand at writing, giving voice to all the wild, rambling thoughts in her mind.
She now lives in Palestine with her family, taking inspiration from the smallest things in life. When she’s not writing or networking on social media, you can find her in the kitchen, baking while listening to (often very loud) music.
Find writing updates at:
linktree/jina_bazzar
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 7, 2022
Shadow Walker is the first book in a new series by Jina Bazzar, and it is an exciting and immersive paranormal, dystopian fantasy.
Melaina, who used to be an elusive and successful thief from The Underground, has put her criminal ways behind her in favor of a steady, non-criminal life. Working toward a legit career, Melaina tries to stay as far away from the Nine Houses that control her world. However, when she is blackmailed, Melaina must use her retired skills to steal from the very houses she’s tried to avoid. If Melaina doesn’t do what her blackmailers ask, her brother will go to prison, but as Melaina learns why her blackmailers want the scrolls she’s tasked to steal, the more at risk she is of revealing her hidden magic, and the more she realizes just how dangerous these scrolls are if put in the wrong hands.
Melaina is a bad-ass heroine. She’s a trained thief who works hard to provide for and protect her brother and aunt. She is smart and strong, and her acerbic wit is fantastic. I also love her relationships with her family. They are so close, and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. It’s great to see a softer side of Melaina since she spends much of the story pushing down her emotions and focusing on the danger in front of her.
Melaina also has some loyal friends who have her back when she needs it most, and there are some she doesn’t even realize are helping her. Her friendship with tech wizard and hacker Edge is one I found particularly interesting. Their banter is fantastic, and I kind of hoped their friendship might grow into something more. Some of the scenes where they’re working together are super intense, and they show the implicit trust and confidence they have in each other.
Melaina’s ex also has a significant role in the story, and I like how each chapter has snippets of an interview he was subjected to. These brief interrogations offer insight and a different perspective in regard to her character and the events that are unfolding in the plot. I have a feeling he’s going to have a larger role in the story as it progresses, and hopefully, he and Melaina can reconcile some of the unresolved feelings they have for each other.
The story is suspenseful and intriguing, and there are many heart-pounding moments, as Melaina is chased, kidnapped, blackmailed, and constantly put in harm’s way. Her stints of breaking and entering and the many close calls that come with it add to the tension and high-stakes feel of the story. With several great twists and turns, it’s an entertaining read, and I’m eager to continue the series and see what’s in store next for Melaina and the other characters. I have a feeling her story is far from over, and after what she learned in this book,
Special thanks to Jina Bazzar for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Melaina, who used to be an elusive and successful thief from The Underground, has put her criminal ways behind her in favor of a steady, non-criminal life. Working toward a legit career, Melaina tries to stay as far away from the Nine Houses that control her world. However, when she is blackmailed, Melaina must use her retired skills to steal from the very houses she’s tried to avoid. If Melaina doesn’t do what her blackmailers ask, her brother will go to prison, but as Melaina learns why her blackmailers want the scrolls she’s tasked to steal, the more at risk she is of revealing her hidden magic, and the more she realizes just how dangerous these scrolls are if put in the wrong hands.
Melaina is a bad-ass heroine. She’s a trained thief who works hard to provide for and protect her brother and aunt. She is smart and strong, and her acerbic wit is fantastic. I also love her relationships with her family. They are so close, and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. It’s great to see a softer side of Melaina since she spends much of the story pushing down her emotions and focusing on the danger in front of her.
Melaina also has some loyal friends who have her back when she needs it most, and there are some she doesn’t even realize are helping her. Her friendship with tech wizard and hacker Edge is one I found particularly interesting. Their banter is fantastic, and I kind of hoped their friendship might grow into something more. Some of the scenes where they’re working together are super intense, and they show the implicit trust and confidence they have in each other.
Melaina’s ex also has a significant role in the story, and I like how each chapter has snippets of an interview he was subjected to. These brief interrogations offer insight and a different perspective in regard to her character and the events that are unfolding in the plot. I have a feeling he’s going to have a larger role in the story as it progresses, and hopefully, he and Melaina can reconcile some of the unresolved feelings they have for each other.
The story is suspenseful and intriguing, and there are many heart-pounding moments, as Melaina is chased, kidnapped, blackmailed, and constantly put in harm’s way. Her stints of breaking and entering and the many close calls that come with it add to the tension and high-stakes feel of the story. With several great twists and turns, it’s an entertaining read, and I’m eager to continue the series and see what’s in store next for Melaina and the other characters. I have a feeling her story is far from over, and after what she learned in this book,
Special thanks to Jina Bazzar for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
September 23, 2022
It's finally up!
Find it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
Find it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
October 14, 2022
This book is awesome!
In a world where magic co-exists with non-magic users, Melania tries to avoid standing out. She is a shadow walker, and very much in demand for her particular sneaky skills. A black-mailing attempt later (I say attempt because our girl is a smart cookie!) and she's back in the life she swore she would stay away from.
If you like James Bond mixed with magic, you are going to love this!
In a world where magic co-exists with non-magic users, Melania tries to avoid standing out. She is a shadow walker, and very much in demand for her particular sneaky skills. A black-mailing attempt later (I say attempt because our girl is a smart cookie!) and she's back in the life she swore she would stay away from.
If you like James Bond mixed with magic, you are going to love this!
December 17, 2022
Melaina has a secret—her affinity (magic ability) is forbidden. She’s a shadow walker, capable of drawing the shadows around her and turning into a winged beast. Fearful of discovery, she tries to live a normal life by avoiding the nine magic houses that wield immense power and wealth. To support her aunt and brother, she worked as a thief, but now she has a chance at a real job. Only it turns out that the job is her worst nightmare. One of the houses wants her to steal from the others. If she fails, her aunt and brother will pay the price.
This isn’t the first series that I’ve read from this author and like her others, it’s got a deeply imagined world, a complex and fast-paced plot, and some kick-ass characters, particularly the main character. Bazzar's female leads are all tough, skilled, and smart, and Melaina is no exception. While she has a conscience and big heart, she doesn’t back down from a confrontation.
There are a fair number of characters in the novel, but they aren’t hard to keep straight, especially the secondary characters who are fully developed with distinct personalities. Their relationships with Melaina are interesting, and I’m curious about where they’ll go. The book is not a standalone and it ends without a great deal of resolution, but the series is complete, so readers don’t have to wait. Highly recommended to urban fantasy readers who enjoy complex plots and strong female leads.
This isn’t the first series that I’ve read from this author and like her others, it’s got a deeply imagined world, a complex and fast-paced plot, and some kick-ass characters, particularly the main character. Bazzar's female leads are all tough, skilled, and smart, and Melaina is no exception. While she has a conscience and big heart, she doesn’t back down from a confrontation.
There are a fair number of characters in the novel, but they aren’t hard to keep straight, especially the secondary characters who are fully developed with distinct personalities. Their relationships with Melaina are interesting, and I’m curious about where they’ll go. The book is not a standalone and it ends without a great deal of resolution, but the series is complete, so readers don’t have to wait. Highly recommended to urban fantasy readers who enjoy complex plots and strong female leads.
October 14, 2022
mixed feelings - good story but cliffhanger and messy
There is a good story here, but major cliffhanger and very messy. I feel like the cliffhanger literally stopped in the middle of a sentence.
Also the story is pretty messy and could use some additional character development and clean up throughout.
Overall interesting, but needs work
There is a good story here, but major cliffhanger and very messy. I feel like the cliffhanger literally stopped in the middle of a sentence.
Also the story is pretty messy and could use some additional character development and clean up throughout.
Overall interesting, but needs work
April 17, 2025
This book has been on my TBR for a while. The author sent me an ARC of it back in 2022 and I just now managed to get to reading it. Thankfully I didn't have a time limit on when I needed to get it read but I still feel bad that it took me so long to read it. Thank you, Jina, for sending this my way. I also have to thank Jonny for suggesting it as a buddy read because that was the push I needed to finally read it.
I've been a longtime fan of Jina's stories, and this one was no different. I really enjoyed this one and I'm kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. This is the start of a new paranormal dystopian series. There are 9 houses that control this world and Melaina has made it her mission to stay as far away from the houses and those who rule at all costs. At the start of this book our main character Melaina (Mel) has decided to put her criminal ways behind her, but someone has something else in mind.
This was a bit slow going for me to begin with, slower than I typically like but despite that I was still invested in the characters and the story overall. Once things picked up though I started flying through it. I loved the world building and the magic, and I can't wait to learn more in the next book. Mel is such a badass main character. She does what she needs to do to survive and doesn't take any crap from anyone even those who scare the shit out of her. Did I mention she also has a disability, and she doesn't let it hold her back. For the most part we get to know Mel as this hard ass who doesn't care about anything except those, she loves which is true, but we also get to see her softer side make an appearance at several points throughout the book. Mel is just a well-rounded character and I'm looking forward to getting to know her more in the next book.
While this book did have a bit of a slow start it is action packed and will have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. I'm also hopeful that a romance will be introduced in the next books I'm just not 100% sure who the love interest will be because after reading this book I feel like there are 2 possibilities. If you haven't read this book or any others by this author, I recommend you do.
I've been a longtime fan of Jina's stories, and this one was no different. I really enjoyed this one and I'm kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. This is the start of a new paranormal dystopian series. There are 9 houses that control this world and Melaina has made it her mission to stay as far away from the houses and those who rule at all costs. At the start of this book our main character Melaina (Mel) has decided to put her criminal ways behind her, but someone has something else in mind.
This was a bit slow going for me to begin with, slower than I typically like but despite that I was still invested in the characters and the story overall. Once things picked up though I started flying through it. I loved the world building and the magic, and I can't wait to learn more in the next book. Mel is such a badass main character. She does what she needs to do to survive and doesn't take any crap from anyone even those who scare the shit out of her. Did I mention she also has a disability, and she doesn't let it hold her back. For the most part we get to know Mel as this hard ass who doesn't care about anything except those, she loves which is true, but we also get to see her softer side make an appearance at several points throughout the book. Mel is just a well-rounded character and I'm looking forward to getting to know her more in the next book.
While this book did have a bit of a slow start it is action packed and will have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. I'm also hopeful that a romance will be introduced in the next books I'm just not 100% sure who the love interest will be because after reading this book I feel like there are 2 possibilities. If you haven't read this book or any others by this author, I recommend you do.
November 1, 2022
I loved this story, both for the heist, the inner workings of supernatural powers in an alternative urban setting, and the heroine, Melaina, who knows her weaknesses and has no intention of letting others walk all over her. If I had to pick a “complaint” (and I say this loosely), it would be that I would like this to be a bit longer, if only so I had more time to submerge myself in the world and all the people within it before the plot takes off.
Using the first-person POV centered around Melaina is a solid choice. This means that everything the audience learns about is given through Melaina's eyes, which certainly works if you want the readers to be biased toward her way of thinking. And given how Melaina seems to think she has to take care of her problems (as well as the problems of those around her) on her own, it makes sense that her thoughts and internal conflict take over the narrative. To this end, I did find the various Interlude chapters a bit of a distraction, especially at the beginning of the story when I was still trying to understand who Melaina was. It was hard to tell when the Interludes were occurring in the timeline: if they were happening after the story's events, at the same time as the preceding chapter, or something else entirely. The Interludes I felt also spoil the introduction of Bradley since him being Melaina's ex-boyfriend is already known to the readers before he's officially "introduced" to the main plot. However, I will say that the Interludes made way more sense later on and offered a bit more insight into his character beyond “the ex-boyfriend/jilted lover.” I believe the story will continue in book 2… It is a terrific read for all magical realism lovers out there: well-written, action-packed with ‘almost real’ characters. Don’t hesitate to add it to your bookshelf!
Using the first-person POV centered around Melaina is a solid choice. This means that everything the audience learns about is given through Melaina's eyes, which certainly works if you want the readers to be biased toward her way of thinking. And given how Melaina seems to think she has to take care of her problems (as well as the problems of those around her) on her own, it makes sense that her thoughts and internal conflict take over the narrative. To this end, I did find the various Interlude chapters a bit of a distraction, especially at the beginning of the story when I was still trying to understand who Melaina was. It was hard to tell when the Interludes were occurring in the timeline: if they were happening after the story's events, at the same time as the preceding chapter, or something else entirely. The Interludes I felt also spoil the introduction of Bradley since him being Melaina's ex-boyfriend is already known to the readers before he's officially "introduced" to the main plot. However, I will say that the Interludes made way more sense later on and offered a bit more insight into his character beyond “the ex-boyfriend/jilted lover.” I believe the story will continue in book 2… It is a terrific read for all magical realism lovers out there: well-written, action-packed with ‘almost real’ characters. Don’t hesitate to add it to your bookshelf!
November 16, 2022
4.5 stars
Melaina is a Shadow Walker with inherited 'despicable' 'forbidden sinister magic,' but her 'fire was weak and manageable, and it had been easy to hide it from the outside world.'
Melaina is a loveable thief, and was once known as the chameleon, she wants to retire... BUT...!!! NOT Going to happen!
I loved the characterisation in this story, the mention of all sorts of magic abilities, the powerful houses, Melaina's disguises, her roller skating and physical exertions even with an injured ankle! And her obvious love and devotion to her family, plus the lovely touches of humour and vivid descriptive scenes.
It's an exciting and intricate tale, which needs a far amount of close reading to understand the finer points of the world building and set up.
Melaina is a fantastic female heroine with guts aplenty!
There is sizzling mention of her attraction to former boyfriend Bradley but in this novel relationships are more focused on family loyalty to her Aunt Camila and brother Aiden and friendships. Though it sits there as a tempting prospect... which I enjoyed!
This is book one. The ending is a little surprising and more heartfelt than explosive but encourages the reader to find out more in book two, Shadow Pawn.
Highly recommended for YA fans of heist, magic, fantasy and shadow characters - a favourite of mine! I am a recent member of Ms. Bazzar's arc team, many thanks to the author for a copy!
Melaina is a Shadow Walker with inherited 'despicable' 'forbidden sinister magic,' but her 'fire was weak and manageable, and it had been easy to hide it from the outside world.'
Melaina is a loveable thief, and was once known as the chameleon, she wants to retire... BUT...!!! NOT Going to happen!
I loved the characterisation in this story, the mention of all sorts of magic abilities, the powerful houses, Melaina's disguises, her roller skating and physical exertions even with an injured ankle! And her obvious love and devotion to her family, plus the lovely touches of humour and vivid descriptive scenes.
It's an exciting and intricate tale, which needs a far amount of close reading to understand the finer points of the world building and set up.
Melaina is a fantastic female heroine with guts aplenty!
There is sizzling mention of her attraction to former boyfriend Bradley but in this novel relationships are more focused on family loyalty to her Aunt Camila and brother Aiden and friendships. Though it sits there as a tempting prospect... which I enjoyed!
This is book one. The ending is a little surprising and more heartfelt than explosive but encourages the reader to find out more in book two, Shadow Pawn.
Highly recommended for YA fans of heist, magic, fantasy and shadow characters - a favourite of mine! I am a recent member of Ms. Bazzar's arc team, many thanks to the author for a copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2022
I’ve read most of Mrs. Bazzar’s books and loved each. Her world-building is incredible, and Shadow walker, as with her other stories, did not disappoint. The author has a gift for writing strong, leading female characters with badass fighting skills, and magical powers with daunting obstacles to overcome.
Melania is a shadow walker, a retired thief, descended from powerful beings with supernatural abilities, hunted and killed centuries ago. Now the descendant of changelings or Valderex spawns must conceal their identities in this dystopian fantasy world. Melania will do anything to protect her family. Her palpable love for her aunt and brother drew me to her character.
With prospects of a decent life and a new job, Melania is devastated when she discovers the corporate interview was a sham, a setup by enemies. Now she has no choice but to resume her old profession. Stakes are high: enemies discovering her true identity and endangering her loved ones’ lives.
What will Melania do next? This question kept me curious and immersed in the story, anticipating her every action. She dons disguises and uses mad bold skills to stay ahead of threats.
This well-written story is an action-packed fantasy, unputdownable, and a fantastic beginning to a new series. Mrs. Bazzar, thanks for the incredible read. I’m eagerly awaiting book two.
Melania is a shadow walker, a retired thief, descended from powerful beings with supernatural abilities, hunted and killed centuries ago. Now the descendant of changelings or Valderex spawns must conceal their identities in this dystopian fantasy world. Melania will do anything to protect her family. Her palpable love for her aunt and brother drew me to her character.
With prospects of a decent life and a new job, Melania is devastated when she discovers the corporate interview was a sham, a setup by enemies. Now she has no choice but to resume her old profession. Stakes are high: enemies discovering her true identity and endangering her loved ones’ lives.
What will Melania do next? This question kept me curious and immersed in the story, anticipating her every action. She dons disguises and uses mad bold skills to stay ahead of threats.
This well-written story is an action-packed fantasy, unputdownable, and a fantastic beginning to a new series. Mrs. Bazzar, thanks for the incredible read. I’m eagerly awaiting book two.
June 23, 2023
Sooo 4.5 when you can’t sleep you read and oh I’m so glad I couldn’t sleep! The different directions this story takes will take you on an amazing roller-coaster of adventure! I enjoyed the Melaina has to keep her magic a secret because it is forbidden so so much. A shadow walker?? Freaking loved this and honestly I will CONTINUE to read books by this author!!
did-not-finish
April 4, 2024DNF @ 21%
I loved this author's scifi series but this one is not working for me. It jumps into the action pretty quickly but the plot is coming across as boring and I'm just not interested in the characters.
I loved this author's scifi series but this one is not working for me. It jumps into the action pretty quickly but the plot is coming across as boring and I'm just not interested in the characters.
February 9, 2023
Shadow Walker (2022) by Jina S. Bazzar is a really wonderful read.
The story follows the protagonist Melaina who decides she will stay away from all supernatural-related situations. As a consequence of this, she finds herself outside of society and is robbing to provide for her aunt and brother. However things don’t stay like this for very long as Melaina is offered a job with a corporation which isn’t owned by one of the nine magic-related Houses. She takes the post but the job does not turn out quite as she had planned and soon she is confronted by numerous undesirable people. She is now caught in a dilemma to save her brother and the secrets of her family.
I found the book really, really interesting. There are so many twists and turns that will definitely keep readers intrigued and wanting to know what happens next. Melaina is a character you find yourself rooting for too which really helps to keep readers engaged. Melaina has secret magical ability which is forbidden. She is a shadow walker but she wants to live an easier, hassle-free life by avoiding the nine magic houses. I found in my own way as a person who has faced gaslighting and as a trans man, especially an opinionated one, I could relate to her story. The kind of staying away from situations out of fear and not being true to yourself for fear of judgement but then finding that you are able to deal with anything when it comes your way are definitely things I could relate to in my own way. Melaina as a character and the plot she finds herself in teaches people to be less afraid, to trust themselves and that everything will in the end work out and I think that is a really powerful message which this book puts across. I adore Melaina as a character. I think she is really relatable and amazing. The writing is stunning. I have read work by this author before so I didn’t expect it to be anything else and this book was no exception. It is perfectly crafted, so much storytelling, so much emotion and so much detail. You really get to know the characters and where they are coming from with their situations and it’s really, really interesting seeing all that and seeing all the pieces coming together.
This book is part of a series so don’t expect all your answers to what will happen next in one go. It is the first book in the author’s Shadow Walker series and is an excellent start to the series. I think you will be hooked once you read book one. A must-read.
The story follows the protagonist Melaina who decides she will stay away from all supernatural-related situations. As a consequence of this, she finds herself outside of society and is robbing to provide for her aunt and brother. However things don’t stay like this for very long as Melaina is offered a job with a corporation which isn’t owned by one of the nine magic-related Houses. She takes the post but the job does not turn out quite as she had planned and soon she is confronted by numerous undesirable people. She is now caught in a dilemma to save her brother and the secrets of her family.
I found the book really, really interesting. There are so many twists and turns that will definitely keep readers intrigued and wanting to know what happens next. Melaina is a character you find yourself rooting for too which really helps to keep readers engaged. Melaina has secret magical ability which is forbidden. She is a shadow walker but she wants to live an easier, hassle-free life by avoiding the nine magic houses. I found in my own way as a person who has faced gaslighting and as a trans man, especially an opinionated one, I could relate to her story. The kind of staying away from situations out of fear and not being true to yourself for fear of judgement but then finding that you are able to deal with anything when it comes your way are definitely things I could relate to in my own way. Melaina as a character and the plot she finds herself in teaches people to be less afraid, to trust themselves and that everything will in the end work out and I think that is a really powerful message which this book puts across. I adore Melaina as a character. I think she is really relatable and amazing. The writing is stunning. I have read work by this author before so I didn’t expect it to be anything else and this book was no exception. It is perfectly crafted, so much storytelling, so much emotion and so much detail. You really get to know the characters and where they are coming from with their situations and it’s really, really interesting seeing all that and seeing all the pieces coming together.
This book is part of a series so don’t expect all your answers to what will happen next in one go. It is the first book in the author’s Shadow Walker series and is an excellent start to the series. I think you will be hooked once you read book one. A must-read.
September 29, 2022
Melaina is a thief, a professional thief but she only steals on occasion to provide for her aunt and brother. When Melaina has a chance at a legitimate job she jumps at the opportunity. But the job turns out not to be so legitimate.
Melaina lives in a world that is controlled by Nine Houses. Melaina has always tried to stay as far away from the Houses as possible until now. When Melaina shows up for her interview she walks into something she was not expecting.
The interview was just an excuse to get Melaina to show up. One of the leaders of the Houses offers Melaina a job. A job that she wants nothing to do with as she does not work for anyone. She only works alone.
But these guys have some very incriminating evidence against her brother. If Melaina doesn’t do what they ask then he will go to prison. The tables have turned now as Melaina will do whatever it takes to keep her brother safe. These guys have no idea who they are messing with as Melaina is a lot tougher and smarter than they will ever know.
Shadow Walker has some pretty big twists, twists that kept me hooked and hanging on from one page to another wanting to know what was waiting on the next page for Melaina. It also left me with lots of questions. When one question was answered another one popped up. Melaina kept me on my toes just trying to figure out where she was going next and what she was going to do.
Melaina is one tough cookie that never gave up. She just kept on rolling taking one punch after another so to speak. I loved the way her mind worked and how fast she could switch gears if the situation called for it.
I highly recommend Shadow Walker to all dystopian and magical realism fans! Grab your copy of Shadow Walker today!
Melaina lives in a world that is controlled by Nine Houses. Melaina has always tried to stay as far away from the Houses as possible until now. When Melaina shows up for her interview she walks into something she was not expecting.
The interview was just an excuse to get Melaina to show up. One of the leaders of the Houses offers Melaina a job. A job that she wants nothing to do with as she does not work for anyone. She only works alone.
But these guys have some very incriminating evidence against her brother. If Melaina doesn’t do what they ask then he will go to prison. The tables have turned now as Melaina will do whatever it takes to keep her brother safe. These guys have no idea who they are messing with as Melaina is a lot tougher and smarter than they will ever know.
Shadow Walker has some pretty big twists, twists that kept me hooked and hanging on from one page to another wanting to know what was waiting on the next page for Melaina. It also left me with lots of questions. When one question was answered another one popped up. Melaina kept me on my toes just trying to figure out where she was going next and what she was going to do.
Melaina is one tough cookie that never gave up. She just kept on rolling taking one punch after another so to speak. I loved the way her mind worked and how fast she could switch gears if the situation called for it.
I highly recommend Shadow Walker to all dystopian and magical realism fans! Grab your copy of Shadow Walker today!
April 17, 2025
This action-packed fantasy book was awesome!
Melaina lives with her brother Aiden and aunt. She used to make a living by using her flame and shadow abilities to pull off near impossible heists. She's recently turned a new leaf and is dedicated to her education and doing things the right way, but when her family becomes ensnared in a plot by one of the ruling Houses, she has no choice but to pull off her biggest heist yet, one that will change everything she knows about her world.
The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal! I loved the alternate history of her Earth. Magic was brought into her world over a century ago, irrevocably changing it and establishing a new world order. I loved learning about the Houses and the myriad abilities they use to rule, and though the beginning had a lot of information to digest, it was all very exciting.
Melaina was everything I want in an MC: courageous, smart, and ambitious. Despite the walls she's built around her heart, she truly cares about her family and the good people around her, and that had me rooting for her from beginning to end.
Every chapter had plenty of action and plot developments with some nice pauses in between. I especially loved the superpowered battles that happened throughout, and there's a consistent mystery underneath it all that kept my eyes glued to the page.
If you love action-packed fantasy, superpowers, and deadly heists, you're gonna love this one!
Melaina lives with her brother Aiden and aunt. She used to make a living by using her flame and shadow abilities to pull off near impossible heists. She's recently turned a new leaf and is dedicated to her education and doing things the right way, but when her family becomes ensnared in a plot by one of the ruling Houses, she has no choice but to pull off her biggest heist yet, one that will change everything she knows about her world.
The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal! I loved the alternate history of her Earth. Magic was brought into her world over a century ago, irrevocably changing it and establishing a new world order. I loved learning about the Houses and the myriad abilities they use to rule, and though the beginning had a lot of information to digest, it was all very exciting.
Melaina was everything I want in an MC: courageous, smart, and ambitious. Despite the walls she's built around her heart, she truly cares about her family and the good people around her, and that had me rooting for her from beginning to end.
Every chapter had plenty of action and plot developments with some nice pauses in between. I especially loved the superpowered battles that happened throughout, and there's a consistent mystery underneath it all that kept my eyes glued to the page.
If you love action-packed fantasy, superpowers, and deadly heists, you're gonna love this one!
November 15, 2022
Shadow Walker follows the story of Melaina who desperately wants to live a mundane life. However, might have something to say about that. Inevitably Melaina takes on “one last heist” -the biggest and most dangerous yet.
Jina S. Bazzar’s world feels relatable yet fantastical. Full of magical heists, overpowered villains, and Shadow Walker is a thrilling tale lacking a conclusion. However, the cliffhanger will make you want to jump straight into book 2: Shadow Pawn.
Jina S. Bazzar’s world feels relatable yet fantastical. Full of magical heists, overpowered villains, and Shadow Walker is a thrilling tale lacking a conclusion. However, the cliffhanger will make you want to jump straight into book 2: Shadow Pawn.
October 1, 2022
This is a brand new series by this new author. It’s set in dystopian, magical fantasy world. In this world there are 9 ruling houses and of course each house has an heir.
We meet Melania as our FMC. She is a trained thief and works to support her brother and aunt. She finds herself in trouble and gets caught. After that she goes into hiding and “retires.”
Melania is trying to find legitimate work and avoids the houses at all costs. She has a secret no one can know about. She is able secure an interview at company that is neutral to the 9 ruling houses. Melania shows up only to realize she has been set up. Without spoiling too much she has no choice but to come out of retirement as thief.
There are so many twists you don’t see coming. This books keeps you guessing and in your toes. I love how fierce Melania is.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
We meet Melania as our FMC. She is a trained thief and works to support her brother and aunt. She finds herself in trouble and gets caught. After that she goes into hiding and “retires.”
Melania is trying to find legitimate work and avoids the houses at all costs. She has a secret no one can know about. She is able secure an interview at company that is neutral to the 9 ruling houses. Melania shows up only to realize she has been set up. Without spoiling too much she has no choice but to come out of retirement as thief.
There are so many twists you don’t see coming. This books keeps you guessing and in your toes. I love how fierce Melania is.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
October 12, 2023
Shadow Walker by Jina Bazzar
Shadow Walker is a paranormal dystopian fantasy. The plot is suspenseful and the main character, Melaina, is extremely family orientated. She goes through a lot to protect them. At the beginning of the story, she is caught by one of the feuding factions that she has always refused to join. They force her into a situation that she would rather not think about. But Melaina, still fighting for her family, will stop at nothing to carry out the goal she is forced to complete.
I feel there was the beginning of various storylines throughout the book that will further develop in later novels in the series, but the Shadow Walker for me hotted up 80% of the book. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. I think, once you have read this novel, you will be hooked to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Shadow Walker is a paranormal dystopian fantasy. The plot is suspenseful and the main character, Melaina, is extremely family orientated. She goes through a lot to protect them. At the beginning of the story, she is caught by one of the feuding factions that she has always refused to join. They force her into a situation that she would rather not think about. But Melaina, still fighting for her family, will stop at nothing to carry out the goal she is forced to complete.
I feel there was the beginning of various storylines throughout the book that will further develop in later novels in the series, but the Shadow Walker for me hotted up 80% of the book. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. I think, once you have read this novel, you will be hooked to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
September 30, 2022
Loved the sprinkle of information about the world without an overwhelming exposition dump. It was natural and informative.
This book is descriptive, wonderful at letting the reader know what the main character is feeling, and sensing from other characters.
The characters feel rich and real. Even the mundane details of their lives are intriguing. And detailed accounts of their actions are intriguing, adding to the sense of the world and the character's journey rather than slowing the pace.
This was such a wonderful blend of the world we know with a world that could have been. The world building and lore were thorough, and everything revealed thus far left me wanting more.
I can't wait to read more of this series!
This book is descriptive, wonderful at letting the reader know what the main character is feeling, and sensing from other characters.
The characters feel rich and real. Even the mundane details of their lives are intriguing. And detailed accounts of their actions are intriguing, adding to the sense of the world and the character's journey rather than slowing the pace.
This was such a wonderful blend of the world we know with a world that could have been. The world building and lore were thorough, and everything revealed thus far left me wanting more.
I can't wait to read more of this series!
October 14, 2022
This is simply incredible! From the minute I picked this up I was hooked. The world building is amazing and the author is so descriptive as she pulls you into this world where magic users co-exist with non magic users. Melania Is our mc and she is a shadow walker which she tries to keep hidden. She’s strong, she’s feisty and yep she can totally kick a**. Set in a dystopian style world Melania is just trying to keep on the straight and narrow and look after her aunt and brother but when what she thinks is her chance at normalcy actually turns out to be a set up she has no choice but to return to the life she thought she left behind. Fast paced and action packed this gripping and exciting read keeps you on the edge of your seat as we join this incredible fantasy adventure.
October 2, 2022
This book had me HOOKED. I was torn between devouring it whole and never putting it down or putting it down so it didn't end.
Jina has created a well paced, action packed novel in an entirely new way. The storyline will suck you in and keep you guessing all the way till the end.
The world is new but also somehow familiar. The characters are rich and well fleshed out. Melaina is tough as nails with amazing talents but is surprisingly down to earth at the same time. You will be absolutely rooting for her each step of the way.
I cannot wait till book 2 as I absolutely have to know what happens next!!
Run, don't walk and get a copy. An absolutely 5/5 for me!
Jina has created a well paced, action packed novel in an entirely new way. The storyline will suck you in and keep you guessing all the way till the end.
The world is new but also somehow familiar. The characters are rich and well fleshed out. Melaina is tough as nails with amazing talents but is surprisingly down to earth at the same time. You will be absolutely rooting for her each step of the way.
I cannot wait till book 2 as I absolutely have to know what happens next!!
Run, don't walk and get a copy. An absolutely 5/5 for me!
December 11, 2024
Excellent series
A dystopian world with human dynamic of systemic prejudice, power imbalances & morally grey types every where. The character had depth, grit & growth. I wanted her to be more intent on justice & a little LESS forgiving of betrayal & hidden agendas from those close to her. I also respected the fact that she wouldn't let her physical injuries limit her. Although the injury was very realistic I really wanted some way to fix/support her ankle given how much it hurt & hindered her at key moments. All around great world building, great plot & character development. This was a great series that truly snuck on me so I'll be following Ms. Bazaar for more.
A dystopian world with human dynamic of systemic prejudice, power imbalances & morally grey types every where. The character had depth, grit & growth. I wanted her to be more intent on justice & a little LESS forgiving of betrayal & hidden agendas from those close to her. I also respected the fact that she wouldn't let her physical injuries limit her. Although the injury was very realistic I really wanted some way to fix/support her ankle given how much it hurt & hindered her at key moments. All around great world building, great plot & character development. This was a great series that truly snuck on me so I'll be following Ms. Bazaar for more.
October 15, 2022
New interesting YA series for urban fantasy lovers.
I could be picky and complain about the generic world building or the juvenile drama
but apparently there's a big fandom of people who enjoy this subgenre and ask no questions.
As books go, it wasn't bad, but for me to rate it five stars, it lacked logical world building that would align with character development and timeline. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Cannot wait to read more about cool super powers!
I could be picky and complain about the generic world building or the juvenile drama
but apparently there's a big fandom of people who enjoy this subgenre and ask no questions.
As books go, it wasn't bad, but for me to rate it five stars, it lacked logical world building that would align with character development and timeline. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Cannot wait to read more about cool super powers!
November 6, 2023
book 1 of a new series. It was ok. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought this was a new author. The story was difficult to get in to and sometimes to follow. It felt disconnected and truthfully, I didn't care about the MC that much until about 3/4 into the book. The storyline about the Houses felt overused but convoluted as well as incompletely explained. Cliffhanger ending that wasn't very satisfying. Maybe Book 2, but not in a hurry.
November 21, 2022
This is a paranormal/dystopian book and a good start to a series. The story was slow to start and a lot of detailed world building. It felt like there were multiple stories trying to develop and take place at once. I struggled a bit to get through it but it started ramping up at around 80%. It leaves off in a cliffhanger and holds promise for a faster paced second book.
January 11, 2023
In this urban fantasy Melaina is trying hard to lead a normal life. She has put the not so legit life she led in the past behind her. But to save someone she loves she needs to return to that life. And in doing so she she unleashes a long dormant magic within herself. This book is action packed. Melaina succeeds by using her resourcefulness and leaning on good friends to pull through.
April 4, 2023
Melaina was thought (by others) to be mundane but she inherited Umbra magic which is forbidden. She is using her talents under duress. One of the heads of a powerful house is blackmailing her to steal artifacts from the other houses. She needs all her strength, luck and help to stay one step ahead.
I was given an ARC of this book via Voracious Readers Only and I am leaving an honest review.
I was given an ARC of this book via Voracious Readers Only and I am leaving an honest review.
August 19, 2023
Relatable characters and plenty of action
I really enjoyed this story. Mel is a relatable character. Everyone fit there personalities well. There was plenty of action and mystery. I look forward to what book two has in store.
I really enjoyed this story. Mel is a relatable character. Everyone fit there personalities well. There was plenty of action and mystery. I look forward to what book two has in store.
October 4, 2022
I had a hard time finishing because….. I DIDNT WANT IT TO END! 😭 such a good book I definitely recommend!
November 1, 2022
I love it! I love the world, the actions and how descriptive the story is. It really pulls you into the story! Look forward to book 2!
January 28, 2024
Another excellent book
I picked this up because I really enjoyed the Maclee Chronicles. It's UF instead if SF, but the author writes both well.
I picked this up because I really enjoyed the Maclee Chronicles. It's UF instead if SF, but the author writes both well.
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