This second book in the Shadowfell series was pretty good. I think in some ways it was less engaging than the first. Neryn must travel to the west and the north to learn from some of the "Big Ones" about how to use her powers. A lot of explanation is provided as to the why and wherefore of the kingdom's current situation, and sometimes it detracted from the story a bit. I really loved the development of the setting and characters in the west and the north and the way Neryn had to struggle to work out a solution to a problem, thus providing her with the learning she was seeking. I am looking forward to the third book. The biggest crime of this book is being mildly boring. The beginning is shock full of recap in such detail that I almost put this book aside. We do have a cool event that finally starts off proceedings for this book but it is mired in a whole lot of boring exposition. We finally get on the road and find we are covering ground we've already been over - while new things happen and there are a few deviations it is still nothing compelling. Once the setup is over the middle part of the book is really quite good. We just had to wade through a whole lot of nothing to get there and now we're tired.The best bits have Flint in them, of course. I like Neryn well enough but she's rather flat without having something to doubt Flint about or to think badly of him. Tali too is okay (a little erratic because she doesn't seem the type to risk her charge to protect a stranger), but I'm not sure what she and Neryn experience is a friendship exactly so much as a comrade in arms bonding. Which isn't bad but also isn't anything overwhelmingly friendly. And that's another problem with the story at times it's almost too perfect for the world. In other words nothing unexpected happens, nothing incredibly cool or outrageous (unless it's rank stupidity, more on that later), it makes for a rather dull story, especially if you are well read about history or the societies on which this world is based upon.I love the Fae world. Love the caller business and the odd little abilities that make a smirched. Love what the Hag taught her and what she did for the Lord of the North. Loved meeting Whisper again and seeing his ability. Loved the Twa too, probably my favorite fae from this book. I liked how her experiences with the Hag were much different than the ones with the sleeping Lord and how her skills built on what she had learned before. When developing specifics within her world our author rocks it! I would have liked to meet more Fae this book though, not less, though those Fae we revisit were well done.Actually really enjoyed meeting the king up close and personal and seeing how influenced he is by his queen. The events at the Gathering were really well done too - the most compelling part of this book. Neryn always has ridiculous reasons she does or doesn't do things ranging from contrived to cliche (only rarely well thought out) and particularly during this part of the story. We needed this view of what is the ultimate villain for the third book while at the same time upping the stakes for the second book. Smartly done.BOTTOM LINE: if you like old world Fae stories then this series is for you. Really a decent middle book. If not then stay away, it'll bore you to death.Read on to know why a decent story lost two stars and not only one...........at your own peril! **Spoilers After this Point*********************************Once Tali is saved I found the end went seriously downhill. Regan was smart enough not to run in all emotional when his family died but he's suddenly without sense when only going to talk to a source. When getting info from a source only those who can meld in without even their mates knowing are the type to retrieve from enemy territory!!!!! ANYONE knows this! So certainly a man with Regan's skills would too. I don't mind Regan dying or even that his head was cut off but this was POORLY thought out. No leader would have tempted himself by going into the lands of his family's killer. This was purely to make Tali's story be in opposition to Neryn's story. Her love is not voiced, she never had a love filled moment with Regan, she's grief stricken, she's the only one who can be leader (and like Neryn doesn't feel up to the duty). It feels contrived and cliched and the loss of a character we didn't get to explore yet (Regan) in such a moment of stupidity that it makes me doubt my desire to finish this series! If developed so that the author knew we'd lose Regan from the beginning then events could be set in motion where Regan stepped into a trap (which makes a hell of a lot more sense) and where we saw the connection between Regan and Tali and could feel her loss as if our own (in other words let us get to know Regan before cutting his head off so that we cared when he died!! Yes, that means I didn't particularly feel anything when I heard he died - though I did know [stupid blind Neryn] Tali loved Regan, I just didn't know enough of him or really Tali to care. And no, that scene where he respects the old Gods with Neryn is NOT enough! Good people die everyday - I have to know them to really feel their loss.)
Do You like book Ravenvlucht (2013)?
Loved. So much better than Shadowfell, which was good but lacking. I am excited for the next book.
—TayshaG123
Love this series, can't wait for the next!
—bethe515
