Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I didn’t start Shadowblack during my dinner break, then continue to read it straight through the last few hours of my shift and then stay up for an extra hour until almost 1:30 in the morning when I got home, binging the last of the homemade chocolate chip cookies, just so I could reach the end, because I simply couldn’t put it down.
Nope, that totally wasn’t me. 👀
Friends, this book was good.
An ARC copy was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Book Info
Publisher: Orbit Books | Release Date: August 2018 | Pages: 384
Age Range: Adult | Genre: Fantasy | Format: Paperback | Source: ARC
It’s a few months since Kellen left his people behind. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, the girl he left behind.
Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn’t blind, and who carries a secret that’s all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help – but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold – and Kellen can’t help but suspect his own people may even be behind it.
On the Page
Referenced
Minor
Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.
Review
Likes
- Shadowblack was a joy to read. It’s face paced and an easy read, in the way that it’s a book that I can just lose myself in it for a couple of hours. Like the first one, the tone of the book fits perfectly with the voice of our protagonist, Kellen, and you can’t help but love the poor the kid and root for him, especially with everything he’s dealing with here in this book (and trust me, it’s a lot). I am really excited that we learned a little bit more about the Argosi, even if a lot about them is still shrouded in mystery.
- By the end of the book, I even felt a little prouder of Kellen and the choices he made? He still has a lot of growing to do, no doubt, but he’s obviously growing up and finding his place in the world. There’s nothing more I want for him, either. I honestly hope, by the end of the series, that we’ll reach a point where Kellen finds a place for himself, a place where he feels at home and comfortable with who and what he is.
- It’s a lot to hope for, I know. But like I said, this kid has completely ensnared me and I’m rooting for him 110%, so it’s hard to not root for the best outcome for him. I think it’ll still take a while to get there (there are six books in the series, after all). I’m totally okay with following him through every step of that journey.
Dislikes
Rating
The Spellslinger series, so far, has proven to be a page-turning adventure that leaves me feeling warm and cozy at the end. It’s a feeling I’m eager to return to in Charmcaster. With how much epic fantasy I devour, with high stakes and a lot of emotion and tension, it’s nice to read something light and fun, yet gripping and emotional at the same time.
If you haven’t started reading this series yet, I think now is the perfect time.
PS: Also, Reichis? You absolutely slayed it in this book, you cute pink little squirrel cat, you.
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