IN A KINGDOM RIDDLED WITH UNPREDICTABLE MAGIC, GRANT ANDERSON CARRIES A DARK, SOUL-REAPING GIFT HE NEVER ASKED FOR. NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, HE IS HAUNTED BY A MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN HIS DREAMS. WITH HIS BEST FRIEND WILLIAM BANKS, GRANT EMBARKS ON A DANGEROUS JOURNEY THROUGH A MONSTER LADEN FOREST IN SEARCH OF HIS VENGEFUL FATHER, LORD ANDERSON. CONSUMED BY GRIEF AND DRIVEN MAD WITH THE NEED FOR REVENGE FOR HIS WIFE'S BRUTAL MURDER, THE ONCE HONORABLE LORD SEEKS TO FULFILL A DANGEROUS PROPHECY AND RAISE AN ARMY OF THE DEAD. WITH THE HELP OF A GIFTED NECROMANCER AND HER DAUGHTER, GRANT FINALLY DISCOVERS THE IDENTITY OF THE APPARITION IN HIM NIGHTMARES - AND THE TERRIBLE PRICE OF SAVING HER. TO STOP HIS FATHER AND PROTECT THOSE HE LOVES, GRANT MUST EMBRACE THE DARKNESS. BUT IT MAY COST HIM EVERYTHING.
Themes & Tropes:
- Fated Mates
- Supernatural Creatures
- Found Family
- Dark Magic
- Revenge
- Shape Shifter
- Kingdom at War
Book Review:
We start out with Addie in peril. She’s desperately trying to save her kingdom, but unfortunately, it isn’t enough.
Meanwhile, Grant is having nightmares and begins hearing a mysterious voice he doesn’t recognize. With the help of his best friend, Will, Grant sets off on a quest to find his father, Lord Anderson, and figure out who or what is calling to him. Their journey begins with a witch, whose daughter, Cora, eventually joins them on their quest. Grant soon discovers that the mysterious voice belongs to Princess Addie, and that the two of them share a magical connection.
And just like that, Grant, Cora, and Will are off to save the princess!
The Magic
I found the magic system really interesting. At least four of our main characters have magical abilities, and I liked that their powers weren’t all the same. Some abilities were easy to understand, while others were a little more complicated and mysterious.I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about how the magic works. I can’t wait to see Ryder expand the magic system in the next installment because there’s clearly a lot more to discover.
The Characters
The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Each one had their own distinct voice, which is especially important when you’re juggling so many different points of view.
This is definitely a character-driven story, and those are some of my favorite kinds of books. I enjoyed getting to know everyone and seeing how their individual personalities shaped the story. I’m especially excited to see how these characters grow and change as the series continues.
The Romances
There are three different love stories happening throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing how each one developed.
First, we have Will and Cora. I absolutely LOVE these two together. Their banter is probably my favorite part of their relationship, and I found myself looking forward to their chapters the most. They have such a fun dynamic!
Then there’s Addie and Grant. I really hope we get more of their backstory in the next book because it seems like these two have a LOT of history. As a reader, we only get a small glimpse into their relationship, so I’m very curious to learn more about what happened between them.
Finally, we have Elinore and Andrew. Their love story is just getting started, but I thought they were really cute together. Chapter 31 was my favorite! I thought that scene was absolutely adorable and very well done.
Six POVs?!
A Soul in the Shadows is told through six different points of view: Addie, the princess; Grant, our hero; Will, the trusty sidekick; Cora, the oracle; Elinore, the spy; and Andrew, Addie’s brother and the prince.
Now, as someone who reads a LOT of fantasy, six POVs is a lot for me to keep track of. There were definitely a few times when I got a little lost and had to reread chapters to figure out whose perspective I was in.
That being said, I do think the different POVs were handled well. Each character had a distinct voice, which helped, and I appreciated getting to see the story from so many different perspectives. It just took me a little while to keep everyone straight!
Wrap Up:
Overall, I really enjoyed A Soul in the Shadows by H.M. Ryder. I thought this was a great debut novel with an interesting magic system, fun characters, intriguing romances, and plenty of potential for the books to come.
I’m definitely curious to see where Ryder takes this story next, and I’ll be looking forward to learning more about the characters, their magic, and all the secrets that are still waiting to be uncovered.
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