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The League of Liars #2
Shadows of Truth
This compelling sequel to League of Liars is packed with secrets, suspense and revelations about what lies beyond the veil, and full of magic, mysteries and adventures that will test The League to their limit!
After their dramatic escape from Vardean prison, Cayder and his friends leap into the unknown, tumbling headlong out of Telene and into the strange and mysterious world beyond the veil.
Leta - who grew up believing a world of dark fairytales existed on the other side of the veil - finds that the truth is more magical, and terrifying, than she could ever have imagined. And it's the worst possible place to discover your boyfriend has been mortally wounded.
Meanwhile, Cayder and Elenora learn that both this world and their own are teetering on the brink of destruction. Still reeling from Elenora's betrayal, Cayder must overcome his feelings and work with her to prevent an apocalypse. They have to make it home, and to do so they will need the help of their old enemy, Dr Bueter - as well as old friends they thought were lost forever.
This page-turning sequel to League of Liars takes us beneath the surface of the familiar world of Telene, and into the shadowy realm that is the source of both its magic and its nightmares.
PRAISE FOR LEAGUE OF LIARS
'League of Liars is a thrilling page-turner with enough suspense to keep readers guessing right up until the very end!' - Lynette Noni, bestselling author of The Prison Healer
'Bursting with originality and mile-a-minute action, the twists, turns and thrills kept coming!' - Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising
After their dramatic escape from Vardean prison, Cayder and his friends leap into the unknown, tumbling headlong out of Telene and into the strange and mysterious world beyond the veil.
Leta - who grew up believing a world of dark fairytales existed on the other side of the veil - finds that the truth is more magical, and terrifying, than she could ever have imagined. And it's the worst possible place to discover your boyfriend has been mortally wounded.
Meanwhile, Cayder and Elenora learn that both this world and their own are teetering on the brink of destruction. Still reeling from Elenora's betrayal, Cayder must overcome his feelings and work with her to prevent an apocalypse. They have to make it home, and to do so they will need the help of their old enemy, Dr Bueter - as well as old friends they thought were lost forever.
This page-turning sequel to League of Liars takes us beneath the surface of the familiar world of Telene, and into the shadowy realm that is the source of both its magic and its nightmares.
PRAISE FOR LEAGUE OF LIARS
'League of Liars is a thrilling page-turner with enough suspense to keep readers guessing right up until the very end!' - Lynette Noni, bestselling author of The Prison Healer
'Bursting with originality and mile-a-minute action, the twists, turns and thrills kept coming!' - Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2024
10 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
About the author
Astrid Scholte
6 books1,776 followersAstrid Scholte is the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of Four Dead Queens, The Vanishing Deep, League of Liars and Shadows of Truth. Fallen Beauty is next! She also works in film production, highlights include working on James Cameron’s Avatar and currently works at Industrial Light & Magic on their latest big blockbuster.
You can find Astrid posting about books, cats and Disney on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @AstridScholte
You can find Astrid posting about books, cats and Disney on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @AstridScholte
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Want to read
October 27, 2022Just finished reading ‘League of Liars’. Desperate to get my hands on book 2 already - 2024 is so far away! :’(
December 13, 2024
Solid 3 star read. Possible 3.5 !
Interesting enough, good concept, quick chapters. Done and dusted
Interesting enough, good concept, quick chapters. Done and dusted
March 3, 2024
I loved the strong characters and comedic relief throughout the book, however, I didn’t engage with this book as much as I wanted to.
February 27, 2024
Shadows of Truth is the much-awaited sequel to League of Liars by Astrid Scholte.
At the end of League of Liars we are left with a fairly big cliffhanger which had me wondering if I would be as invested in the second book or not. The first book was very much a legal thriller turned prison heist and it was evident that Shadows of Truth would probably be missing these aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am happy to report, that despite a huge shift in setting, Shadows of Truth did not disappoint.
Shadows of Truth still had the same strong characters, multiple points of view, engaging story line and comic relief of Jey that I loved from the first book. There was never a dull moment, and I honestly couldn't put this book down. There were a few twists in this story and while I guessed some points ahead of time there were others that came as a surprise.
The writing is engaging and very easy to digest. While the magic system was unique, I didn't find it too complicated to understand.
If you are looking for a bingeworthy duology, I highly recommend League of Liars and Shadows of Truth.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia for gifting me with a copy of Shadows of Truth.
At the end of League of Liars we are left with a fairly big cliffhanger which had me wondering if I would be as invested in the second book or not. The first book was very much a legal thriller turned prison heist and it was evident that Shadows of Truth would probably be missing these aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am happy to report, that despite a huge shift in setting, Shadows of Truth did not disappoint.
Shadows of Truth still had the same strong characters, multiple points of view, engaging story line and comic relief of Jey that I loved from the first book. There was never a dull moment, and I honestly couldn't put this book down. There were a few twists in this story and while I guessed some points ahead of time there were others that came as a surprise.
The writing is engaging and very easy to digest. While the magic system was unique, I didn't find it too complicated to understand.
If you are looking for a bingeworthy duology, I highly recommend League of Liars and Shadows of Truth.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia for gifting me with a copy of Shadows of Truth.
Read
October 31, 2022I’m excited to see more of the magic system 😍😍
July 15, 2024
This was a great ending to this duology! I'm surprised I still remember enough from the first one. This had a very different feel, more fantastical, but it was just as great! Very happy to have both of these on my shelves. I also love being up to date with an author, like I now am with Scholte.
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This was super action-packed and fast-paced, just how I like my ya fantasy. I don't read enough of it anymore! Alternate reality/dimension stories are so unique, and I love the use of the tears in reality when enough edem is used. Getting the background to it in this sequel was a great addition.
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This was super action-packed and fast-paced, just how I like my ya fantasy. I don't read enough of it anymore! Alternate reality/dimension stories are so unique, and I love the use of the tears in reality when enough edem is used. Getting the background to it in this sequel was a great addition.
November 8, 2024
DNF :(
the first book had my ENTIRE attention but this one just fell flat for me unfortunately.
the first book had my ENTIRE attention but this one just fell flat for me unfortunately.
October 2, 2024
4.5 stars
The ending felt a little bit rushed but overall enjoyable read.
The ending felt a little bit rushed but overall enjoyable read.
January 17, 2025
Why did you have to try to kill Jey so many times I cried every single time I thought he was going to die. I waited months for this book and I'm really glad it was my first read of the year.
May 20, 2024
Not as gripping as the first book but still a damn fine read - 3.5 stars.
Much like League of Liars the world building continued to be A+++ only instead of 1 world, there are now two that this story has to maintain.
While the trials and tribulations on each side of the veil played out, Shadows of Truth felt like it was missing something that the first book had. It took me a while to realise it was the blended narration.
Book 1 has Cayder in 1st person POV and everyone else in 3rd, however Book 2 has everyone in 3rd.
It started very well, and ended decently too, but I found the middle a little slow, taking a bit too long to get going. As with the first book, I found it to be a little clunky and repetitive, and used way too many exclamation marks.
Still, I enjoyed it and am very glad to have the satisfying ending that I didn’t get with the first book. Houston, we don’t have a problem anymore. All is well.
Much like League of Liars the world building continued to be A+++ only instead of 1 world, there are now two that this story has to maintain.
While the trials and tribulations on each side of the veil played out, Shadows of Truth felt like it was missing something that the first book had. It took me a while to realise it was the blended narration.
Book 1 has Cayder in 1st person POV and everyone else in 3rd, however Book 2 has everyone in 3rd.
It started very well, and ended decently too, but I found the middle a little slow, taking a bit too long to get going. As with the first book, I found it to be a little clunky and repetitive, and used way too many exclamation marks.
Still, I enjoyed it and am very glad to have the satisfying ending that I didn’t get with the first book. Houston, we don’t have a problem anymore. All is well.
May 29, 2024
Find this review and more on my blog at
Worlds Unlike Our Own
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After diving through the veil during their dramatic escape from Vardean, Cayder and his friends find themselves in an unknown land. They discover that both Telene and this world are linked, and are both perilously close to being destroyed due to the usage of edem. With the assistance of some unexpected friends, the group must work together to stop the apocalypse, but they will need the assistance of their old enemy, Dr Bueter, who has disappeared since their arrival in this land. Time is running out quickly and it is critical they discover a way to return home and save both worlds.
After writing about balancing bookish stuff with life last week, I decided to take a little break which is why I skipped my weekend posts, but I’m back with another review today! I was starting to think this book was never going to come out! I read the first book over two years ago and was so annoyed that it ended on a cliffhanger that I was basically checking Goodreads for any update on this book every month.
Given that it has been two years since the last book, I would have really appreciated a recap of events. I didn’t remember much of the plot though the characters were more familiar, and this book wasn’t written in such a way that it was easy to piece together the events leading up to the current plot either, especially not the finer plot points.
I think the thing I had the most trouble with was how drastically the setting and plot shifted in this book. It went from legal storyline and courtroom drama to characters in a new world fighting to prevent the apocalypse. That was not necessarily a bad thing, but the former was what I enjoyed most about the story and this change of pace felt not only very abrupt, but also like the first book didn’t matter much at all.
That said, the world building in this book was pretty good, though I didn’t enjoy the plot as much. I think I was just way more invested in the plot of the first book and this took a left turn into a whole new territory.
The writing was decent and the pacing of the narrative was good. It remained steady and relatively fast throughout, which made this a quick read even though I didn’t enjoy it much. There were some good plot twists and I did manage to guess a few, but the others were quite surprising.
Cayder and his friends were split up almost as soon as they crossed the veil and ended up with two different groups of people, both of whom are working towards the same goal but are at odds with each other. I’ll be frank, I found the characters flat out boring and started skimming the pages every time some sort of drama broke out between them, especially Elenora and Cayder. I found it ridiculous how easily Cayder forgave her for ratting him out and it was all glossed over quickly. Leta’s arc was a bit more interesting as she learnt more about the nature of the veil and what it would take to cross it. The parallel arc in Telene, told through Narena’s POV was not bad, but I thought the narrative spent too much time on this arc.
With a new world came new characters and also a new villain – another thing I wasn’t fond of as I don’t like new antagonists being introduced so late in the game. Up to this point, it seemed like the Regency was the enemy and by the end of this book they seem pretty much irrelevant while most of the story focused on the new villain, the Shadow Queen. Personally, neither the Shadow Queen nor any of the other new characters left any lasting impression and I couldn’t get invested in any of their arcs.
The ending felt very rushed and all the buildup fell flat in my opinion. I suppose it did wrap up everything satisfactorily, if unrealistically at times.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this sequel and conclusion to the duology. Given how the first book was, I was expecting something very different for the sequel, but it felt like the series basically changed genre and it didn’t work for me. However, if the plot sounds good to you and you liked the first book, I would suggest picking up this book, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you do!
After diving through the veil during their dramatic escape from Vardean, Cayder and his friends find themselves in an unknown land. They discover that both Telene and this world are linked, and are both perilously close to being destroyed due to the usage of edem. With the assistance of some unexpected friends, the group must work together to stop the apocalypse, but they will need the assistance of their old enemy, Dr Bueter, who has disappeared since their arrival in this land. Time is running out quickly and it is critical they discover a way to return home and save both worlds.
After writing about balancing bookish stuff with life last week, I decided to take a little break which is why I skipped my weekend posts, but I’m back with another review today! I was starting to think this book was never going to come out! I read the first book over two years ago and was so annoyed that it ended on a cliffhanger that I was basically checking Goodreads for any update on this book every month.
Given that it has been two years since the last book, I would have really appreciated a recap of events. I didn’t remember much of the plot though the characters were more familiar, and this book wasn’t written in such a way that it was easy to piece together the events leading up to the current plot either, especially not the finer plot points.
I think the thing I had the most trouble with was how drastically the setting and plot shifted in this book. It went from legal storyline and courtroom drama to characters in a new world fighting to prevent the apocalypse. That was not necessarily a bad thing, but the former was what I enjoyed most about the story and this change of pace felt not only very abrupt, but also like the first book didn’t matter much at all.
That said, the world building in this book was pretty good, though I didn’t enjoy the plot as much. I think I was just way more invested in the plot of the first book and this took a left turn into a whole new territory.
The writing was decent and the pacing of the narrative was good. It remained steady and relatively fast throughout, which made this a quick read even though I didn’t enjoy it much. There were some good plot twists and I did manage to guess a few, but the others were quite surprising.
Cayder and his friends were split up almost as soon as they crossed the veil and ended up with two different groups of people, both of whom are working towards the same goal but are at odds with each other. I’ll be frank, I found the characters flat out boring and started skimming the pages every time some sort of drama broke out between them, especially Elenora and Cayder. I found it ridiculous how easily Cayder forgave her for ratting him out and it was all glossed over quickly. Leta’s arc was a bit more interesting as she learnt more about the nature of the veil and what it would take to cross it. The parallel arc in Telene, told through Narena’s POV was not bad, but I thought the narrative spent too much time on this arc.
With a new world came new characters and also a new villain – another thing I wasn’t fond of as I don’t like new antagonists being introduced so late in the game. Up to this point, it seemed like the Regency was the enemy and by the end of this book they seem pretty much irrelevant while most of the story focused on the new villain, the Shadow Queen. Personally, neither the Shadow Queen nor any of the other new characters left any lasting impression and I couldn’t get invested in any of their arcs.
The ending felt very rushed and all the buildup fell flat in my opinion. I suppose it did wrap up everything satisfactorily, if unrealistically at times.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this sequel and conclusion to the duology. Given how the first book was, I was expecting something very different for the sequel, but it felt like the series basically changed genre and it didn’t work for me. However, if the plot sounds good to you and you liked the first book, I would suggest picking up this book, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you do!
March 16, 2024
I really wish I could rate this one higher but it's a point of honour for me to always review honestly, and this one just didn't hit the same way the first book in the duology did.
A lot of the fun of the first book was the prison and the legal storyline. The second book is a huge shift in setting, story and plot. That's not a bad thing per se, and a lot of the world building and plot was still fun to read.
There were just a few things I couldn't get past. The main ones were, in no particular order:
1. The majority of the female characters are incredibly annoying. Both Farrow and Elenora made me want to throw the book. The emotional reactions of the characters at times just felt unnatural and awkward, as if they were being forced into a reaction for the sake of injecting drama, even when it didn't make sense. Narena was the best female character by far. The relationship between Elenora and Cayder filled me with so much visceral cringe I almost couldn't read it.
2. There were a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes. Elenora's dislocated shoulder was an example, twice. Firstly, she's been passed out for TWO DAYS and you wait until she's awake to push her dislocated shoulder back in?? And then not long afterwards have an internal thought about how the first hours and days after a dislocation are the most important for healing? Why wouldn't you have pushed it back in while she was passed out, it makes no sense?? Then in the climactic battle, she dislocates it again, and then moments later is jumping on a flying horse creature like it ain't no thang. Secondly, I felt like there were a lot of things that didn't make sense about the rules around edem, where it could and couldn't survive, who could and couldn't go through the veil. Why would Jey, with just a bit of it in his veins, be able to go through, but not the whole ass Shadow Queen?? Why didn't they just all shoot up with edem and go through? Why did the edem in Jey not disappear when all the edem left the world? How TF did the hullen survive without edem?? I was continually asking myself questions like this. It felt like the whole concept of the world just got too tangled for it to make any sense.
3. There was way too much forgiveness in this book. Yeah, I said what I said. Some actions and choices don't deserve to be forgiven. Cayder's parents were both *terrible* people and somehow I'm supposed to get schmaltzy about happy families at the end. No thank you. Not to mention other characters who made unforgiveable choices and yet it all gets glossed over. Elenora narked on Cayder to the cops with no concern for his future or wellbeing and he's totally over it? Erimen committed literal treason that killed his parents, the *reigning monarchs*, and that's fine because everyone makes mistakes? Like, whatttt, I just cannot.
I can deal with an irk or two in a read because I know I'm a very critical reader (not by choice, my brain is just very detail-oriented and pattern aware), but with this one I was irked so frequently that it just felt like one big irk.
There was genuinely a lot I did enjoy about this duology in terms of the unique and interesting worldbuilding. I would recommend it for younger teens or anyone who can turn off their critical thinking easier than I can.
A lot of the fun of the first book was the prison and the legal storyline. The second book is a huge shift in setting, story and plot. That's not a bad thing per se, and a lot of the world building and plot was still fun to read.
There were just a few things I couldn't get past. The main ones were, in no particular order:
1. The majority of the female characters are incredibly annoying. Both Farrow and Elenora made me want to throw the book. The emotional reactions of the characters at times just felt unnatural and awkward, as if they were being forced into a reaction for the sake of injecting drama, even when it didn't make sense. Narena was the best female character by far. The relationship between Elenora and Cayder filled me with so much visceral cringe I almost couldn't read it.
2. There were a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes. Elenora's dislocated shoulder was an example, twice. Firstly, she's been passed out for TWO DAYS and you wait until she's awake to push her dislocated shoulder back in?? And then not long afterwards have an internal thought about how the first hours and days after a dislocation are the most important for healing? Why wouldn't you have pushed it back in while she was passed out, it makes no sense?? Then in the climactic battle, she dislocates it again, and then moments later is jumping on a flying horse creature like it ain't no thang. Secondly, I felt like there were a lot of things that didn't make sense about the rules around edem, where it could and couldn't survive, who could and couldn't go through the veil. Why would Jey, with just a bit of it in his veins, be able to go through, but not the whole ass Shadow Queen?? Why didn't they just all shoot up with edem and go through? Why did the edem in Jey not disappear when all the edem left the world? How TF did the hullen survive without edem?? I was continually asking myself questions like this. It felt like the whole concept of the world just got too tangled for it to make any sense.
3. There was way too much forgiveness in this book. Yeah, I said what I said. Some actions and choices don't deserve to be forgiven. Cayder's parents were both *terrible* people and somehow I'm supposed to get schmaltzy about happy families at the end. No thank you. Not to mention other characters who made unforgiveable choices and yet it all gets glossed over. Elenora narked on Cayder to the cops with no concern for his future or wellbeing and he's totally over it? Erimen committed literal treason that killed his parents, the *reigning monarchs*, and that's fine because everyone makes mistakes? Like, whatttt, I just cannot.
I can deal with an irk or two in a read because I know I'm a very critical reader (not by choice, my brain is just very detail-oriented and pattern aware), but with this one I was irked so frequently that it just felt like one big irk.
There was genuinely a lot I did enjoy about this duology in terms of the unique and interesting worldbuilding. I would recommend it for younger teens or anyone who can turn off their critical thinking easier than I can.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
Shadows of Truth is the sequel to the YA fantasy, League of Liars. It follows the story of several characters (Cayder, Narena, Leta, Jey, Elenora,) after Cayder and his friends stage a dramatic escape from Vardean prison in the world of Telene. Telene is surrounded by a veil and the friends find themselves on the other side, in another world that exists beyond that veil.
Telene and the other world are dangerously close to being destroyed. This group of friends must work together to prevent an apocalyptic ending, and it relies on the assistance of their enemy, Dr Beuter, who appears to have disappeared. Through determination, grit and dogged persistence, despite severe life-threatening injury to some, they are to push through if they want to return home and save their world. There is betrayal, treachery, lies, misunderstanding and confusion throughout the different relationships, making the solution difficult to resolve. Add to the mix several mysteries that also must be solved, and you have an intriguing tale.
Along the way, they need to overcome the all-powerful wiles of the evil Shadow Queen, who seeks to dominate Telene with her creatures of destruction.
The story is complicated in parts, with the involvement of edem (extra dimensory magic), as the chapters alternate from each character’s POV. It is full of dramatic twists and turns, ensuring that the reader is engaged in the plot and characters alike. Even if the reader has not had the benefit of having read League of Liars, the author has woven enough information through the book to inform the reader of the background events leading up to the current story.
This adventure will be enjoyed by those aged 15+.
Telene and the other world are dangerously close to being destroyed. This group of friends must work together to prevent an apocalyptic ending, and it relies on the assistance of their enemy, Dr Beuter, who appears to have disappeared. Through determination, grit and dogged persistence, despite severe life-threatening injury to some, they are to push through if they want to return home and save their world. There is betrayal, treachery, lies, misunderstanding and confusion throughout the different relationships, making the solution difficult to resolve. Add to the mix several mysteries that also must be solved, and you have an intriguing tale.
Along the way, they need to overcome the all-powerful wiles of the evil Shadow Queen, who seeks to dominate Telene with her creatures of destruction.
The story is complicated in parts, with the involvement of edem (extra dimensory magic), as the chapters alternate from each character’s POV. It is full of dramatic twists and turns, ensuring that the reader is engaged in the plot and characters alike. Even if the reader has not had the benefit of having read League of Liars, the author has woven enough information through the book to inform the reader of the background events leading up to the current story.
This adventure will be enjoyed by those aged 15+.
January 3, 2025
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Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Shadows of Truth is the sequel to the YA fantasy, League of Liars, that we have been impatiently waiting for! We dive back into the lives of Cayder, Narena, Leta, Jey, Elenora; right after Cayder and his friends stage a dramatic escape from Vardean prison in the world of Telene. This group of friends must work together to prevent an apocalyptic event, as Telene and the other worlds are dangerously close to be destroyed.
Though there is backstory throughout this sequel, I would still recommend reading League of Liars to fully grasp the characters history and their witness their growth and development as the story progresses. Plus, this cover would look stunning on your shelfies.
Bookstagram
Website
Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Shadows of Truth is the sequel to the YA fantasy, League of Liars, that we have been impatiently waiting for! We dive back into the lives of Cayder, Narena, Leta, Jey, Elenora; right after Cayder and his friends stage a dramatic escape from Vardean prison in the world of Telene. This group of friends must work together to prevent an apocalyptic event, as Telene and the other worlds are dangerously close to be destroyed.
Though there is backstory throughout this sequel, I would still recommend reading League of Liars to fully grasp the characters history and their witness their growth and development as the story progresses. Plus, this cover would look stunning on your shelfies.
January 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and it was a nice ending.
Don't be afraid to dive into this book 2 without remembering much, as there's a good reminder work included in the first pages from what happened in book 1, and everything else comes back the more you read.
I loved the multi POVs, as it gave a lot of actions or important moments from each sides of the group, so it gave a really good pace, not too fast to feel rushed but not too slow either. Once again I really liked the different characters, as well as some reveals made about them!
This world behind the Veil's story is really interesting ; you get to know more about the edem and where it comes from, more about the history and the different creatures creations. Really done well.
The ending was satisfying. But I do feel like some easy takes has been made especially towards the end, I would have perhaps enjoyed it more with more casualties or deaths, but I do get the author's choice for doing that.
Don't be afraid to dive into this book 2 without remembering much, as there's a good reminder work included in the first pages from what happened in book 1, and everything else comes back the more you read.
I loved the multi POVs, as it gave a lot of actions or important moments from each sides of the group, so it gave a really good pace, not too fast to feel rushed but not too slow either. Once again I really liked the different characters, as well as some reveals made about them!
This world behind the Veil's story is really interesting ; you get to know more about the edem and where it comes from, more about the history and the different creatures creations. Really done well.
The ending was satisfying. But I do feel like some easy takes has been made especially towards the end, I would have perhaps enjoyed it more with more casualties or deaths, but I do get the author's choice for doing that.
November 4, 2025
Lange mussten wir auf die Fortsetzung warten und ich bin froh, zuvor Band eins noch einmal gelesen zu haben. "Shadows of Truth" setzt nämlich genau dort an, woe "League of Liars" aufgehört hat. Fast schon, als wäre es ein einzelnes Buch gewesen, das in der Mitte halbiert wurde. Hier also aufgepasst: nur lesen, wenn Teil eins bekannt ist.
Es ist schön, dass die Geschichte zu einem Abschluss gebracht worden ist. Scholte hat wieder sehr kreative Einfälle verarbeitet und viel Spannung und Emotion in ihre Geschichte eingeflochten. Schreiben kann sie auf jeden Fall.
Trotzdem ist der Band in meinen Augen schwächer als der Vorgänger. Es ist einfach zu viel in ein Buch gequetscht worden. Theoretisch wäre es besser gewesen, eine Trilogie daraus zu machen. Zu viele Sachen werden angesprochen und zu schnell verarbeitet, die ganze Erklärlast macht den Text teilweise träge und wenn ständig noch mal eine Wendung kommt, noch ein Geheimnis gelüftet, noch ein Konflikt eingeführt wird, ist die Kapazität einer Geschichte irgendwann ausgereizt.
Sehr schade um die Geschichte, die in Band eins eigentlich wirklich vielversprechend war. Es ist ein guter Abschluss, aber im Vergleich eher mau.
Es ist schön, dass die Geschichte zu einem Abschluss gebracht worden ist. Scholte hat wieder sehr kreative Einfälle verarbeitet und viel Spannung und Emotion in ihre Geschichte eingeflochten. Schreiben kann sie auf jeden Fall.
Trotzdem ist der Band in meinen Augen schwächer als der Vorgänger. Es ist einfach zu viel in ein Buch gequetscht worden. Theoretisch wäre es besser gewesen, eine Trilogie daraus zu machen. Zu viele Sachen werden angesprochen und zu schnell verarbeitet, die ganze Erklärlast macht den Text teilweise träge und wenn ständig noch mal eine Wendung kommt, noch ein Geheimnis gelüftet, noch ein Konflikt eingeführt wird, ist die Kapazität einer Geschichte irgendwann ausgereizt.
Sehr schade um die Geschichte, die in Band eins eigentlich wirklich vielversprechend war. Es ist ein guter Abschluss, aber im Vergleich eher mau.
June 1, 2024
Shadows of Truth was a very well written sequel, actually felt like the author truly cared writing this book. I read the first book (League of Liars) and was unimpressed and it felt like the author had no love for it but this sequel was a different story, it was interesting, engaging and actually made the reader want to continue more while showing off the authors passion.
This sequel continues the story where our ‘heros’ finally get fleshed out with their various story arcs and start unraveling the lies while finding themselves in the process, you get your adventure, mystery, romance, family drama and a whole lot of unique areas to explore, which all adds up to a really good book.
This sequel continues the story where our ‘heros’ finally get fleshed out with their various story arcs and start unraveling the lies while finding themselves in the process, you get your adventure, mystery, romance, family drama and a whole lot of unique areas to explore, which all adds up to a really good book.
June 11, 2025
It is a good book but ill tell you guys why I gave it 4stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
So to start off I did not read the one because I thought that shadow of truth was the first book of the series since there is no identification on it to say that it is the secound book.
Now the vibes of this book were nice. They didin't have me kicking my feet but they got me very intrigue in the book.
Now for the romance girls, there is a little romance in this book. Not alot but still a good amount.
The story is perfect but it probaly would be better if I would have read the first.
So to start off I did not read the one because I thought that shadow of truth was the first book of the series since there is no identification on it to say that it is the secound book.
Now the vibes of this book were nice. They didin't have me kicking my feet but they got me very intrigue in the book.
Now for the romance girls, there is a little romance in this book. Not alot but still a good amount.
The story is perfect but it probaly would be better if I would have read the first.
March 8, 2024
This didn't 'grab' me as much as the first in the duology, but it was still a fun ride. I enjoyed Jey's comedic relief. I also enjoyed the exploration of how children view their parents (although, I know this wasn't perhaps the intended message of the novel). All the teenagers in this go through some kind of discovery that their parents are/aren't what they had built up them to be, but ultimately they all learn that they are human and simply doing their best.
April 28, 2025
Shadows of Truth was really exciting. Cayder and his friends escape from prison and end up in a crazy magical world. Leta finds out the stories she heard growing up were real, and her boyfriend is badly hurt. Cayder and Elenora have to team up, even though they do not trust each other, to stop both worlds from falling apart. There are lots of surprises, and I could not wait to see what would happen next.
September 19, 2024
I loved how the sequel tied up all of the loose ends left in the first book. Having read both now I do think this could’ve been one large story vs two separate books. Overall a great read and I enjoyed the many plot twists that kept me guessing.
January 2, 2026
Shadows of Truth is sadly an unnecessary follow-up to League of Liars. Given the setup of the previous book, Scholte had all the makings of a banger sequel, but sadly, this book feels like an epilogue stretched into a full-length story.
Want to read
July 11, 2023I cant wait to see what happens after they jump in the veil!
March 30, 2024
Far too many exclamation points. Also, my guy had no reason to put lighter fluid in his mouth but he did it anyways
June 16, 2024
Unique world building and engaging characters finish off a very good duology.
November 3, 2024
Jey is my husband, and everyone else ranges between mid to excruciatingly annoying.
2.5
2.5
August 11, 2025
felt a bit too fast paced with dramatic reveal after dramatic reveal, which kinda made surprises feel less shocky and more mundane
October 30, 2025
2,5/5
першою потрібно було все завершувати
першою потрібно було все завершувати
October 31, 2024
This took me a little to get into but that was entirely my own fault as it had been so long since I read the first in the series that I struggled to remember the details.
This was a really interesting story with a very different magic system and world. I enjoyed that the book is written from multiple POVs which made it seem like there was a main cast of characters rather than just 1 or 2 main characters. This book focuses more on the magic system itself and how it came to be as well as uncovering further secrets about the past which I really liked. I thought that the pace was good and the story flowed well. The dynamics between the characters was good and I liked the touch of romance that was in the book.
What to expect:
- Magical creatures
- Mirror world
- One Bed
- Multiple romance storylines
- Forgotten history
- Shadow magic
- Found family
- Reunions
This was a really interesting story with a very different magic system and world. I enjoyed that the book is written from multiple POVs which made it seem like there was a main cast of characters rather than just 1 or 2 main characters. This book focuses more on the magic system itself and how it came to be as well as uncovering further secrets about the past which I really liked. I thought that the pace was good and the story flowed well. The dynamics between the characters was good and I liked the touch of romance that was in the book.
What to expect:
- Magical creatures
- Mirror world
- One Bed
- Multiple romance storylines
- Forgotten history
- Shadow magic
- Found family
- Reunions
April 15, 2025
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
3.5/5 ⭐
I was SO excited to finally read this book! I have been really looking forward to reading it since I read the first book in the series back in the Summer of 2023. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up loving it as much as I was hoping (I gave League of Liars 5 stars!), and I honestly don’t even know what it was about this book.
The last book ended in a pretty wild cliffhanger with (spoiler alert for League of Liars !) the kids jumping through the veil in order to escape the Vardean prison. So exploring this whole other world and following these characters as they tried to get back to their world should have been interesting and exciting but it just... wasn’t for me. The first book sucked me in immediately and I was HOOKED. This book though did not capture my attention in the same way. Now, it wasn’t boring, but I was just not as engaged. I don’t know why and it is honestly so disappointing.
Another thing about this book that I did not love was the romance. From what I remember (because it HAS been a while), League of Liars didn’t have much romance, but I didn’t hate the little that it had. In this book though, I could not stop rolling my eyes. It was SO cheesy and I was just not into it.
The ending was also very predictable. Like, who would’ve thought that this person in particular would do what they did and try to take over the world? Oh no...
However, I did not hate this book, I swear. Lol. I appreciated that we got a little recap at the beginning of the book because it had been SO long since I read the first book, so that was a plus. And like all of Astrid Scholte’s books, I enjoyed the world-building in this. I loved the mythos of the veil and the use of edem—I thought all the new information we got was super interesting. And I also enjoyed all the plot twists throughout the book... minus the big one I saw coming from miles away 😆
All that being said, this book was... fine. I was a bit disappointed because I had such high expectations, especially after giving the first book 5 stars. I just felt like it was very underwhelming compared to that first book. But overall, it was not bad. I just wish it had been better.
3.5/5 ⭐
I was SO excited to finally read this book! I have been really looking forward to reading it since I read the first book in the series back in the Summer of 2023. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up loving it as much as I was hoping (I gave League of Liars 5 stars!), and I honestly don’t even know what it was about this book.
The last book ended in a pretty wild cliffhanger with (spoiler alert for League of Liars !) the kids jumping through the veil in order to escape the Vardean prison. So exploring this whole other world and following these characters as they tried to get back to their world should have been interesting and exciting but it just... wasn’t for me. The first book sucked me in immediately and I was HOOKED. This book though did not capture my attention in the same way. Now, it wasn’t boring, but I was just not as engaged. I don’t know why and it is honestly so disappointing.
Another thing about this book that I did not love was the romance. From what I remember (because it HAS been a while), League of Liars didn’t have much romance, but I didn’t hate the little that it had. In this book though, I could not stop rolling my eyes. It was SO cheesy and I was just not into it.
The ending was also very predictable. Like, who would’ve thought that this person in particular would do what they did and try to take over the world? Oh no...
However, I did not hate this book, I swear. Lol. I appreciated that we got a little recap at the beginning of the book because it had been SO long since I read the first book, so that was a plus. And like all of Astrid Scholte’s books, I enjoyed the world-building in this. I loved the mythos of the veil and the use of edem—I thought all the new information we got was super interesting. And I also enjoyed all the plot twists throughout the book... minus the big one I saw coming from miles away 😆
All that being said, this book was... fine. I was a bit disappointed because I had such high expectations, especially after giving the first book 5 stars. I just felt like it was very underwhelming compared to that first book. But overall, it was not bad. I just wish it had been better.
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