erinarkin20's review
4.0
Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke is a book that caught my attention because of the cover…it’s so pretty. With that said, the story itself was quick to grab my attention and I found I didn’t want to put it down until I finished. The fact that I finished it in less than a day should tell you I enjoyed it. I’ll do my best not to include spoilers but be warned, that might be harder than I think.
The story is told from multiple perspectives and normally I favor one over another but in this case, I liked all perspectives equally. I think this speaks to Gruenke’s ability to make every chapter as engaging as the last, regardless of who’s perspective it was.
Now to the story – Ren Kolins is a silver wielder. This is important because a number of years prior, the King did what he needed to to eliminate anyone who had this magic but wasn’t a member of the royal family. Ren’s family was killed but she ended up surviving and living on the streets of Erdis. Ren is definitely a survivor. With the help of her magic, she’s actually been able to get by and you could say she’s a pretty successful thief and pit fighter. When Ren is approached by the leader of a group of rebels to join them and use her magic to overthrow the King, she bargains to get a fortune that will get her out from under the thumb of a gang leader she owes money to.
Our rebel leader is Darek and he doesn’t really make a great first impression with Ren. Having taken on the mantle of leader of the rebels when his mother died, Darek isn’t interested in Ren’s reasons for not doing whatever she could to make things better for the people of Erdis. Having grown up protected by his father and their money, he doesn’t really know what Ren has gone through and it shows. Luckily for Darek, he has his younger brother Markus, who is a bit more sensitive and is able to talk (negotiate) a deal with Ren to get her on board.
Adley Farre is one of the King’s Children; a group of warriors raised and trained by the King so you can imagine her life hasn’t been that easy. With that said, she has been able to carve a place for herself within the castle walls and by doing so, she is now a primary person responsible for hunting down the rebels. Her motivation is the competition the king has created amongst the Children. Whoever is able to hunt down the rebel leader will be made the King’s Fang (his right hand) and Adley sees this as an opportunity to obtain her freedom (and potentially that of the person she loves, another warrior named Lesa).
The final point of view is that of Kellen, the second son of the King. His ability to get in and out of the castle and make people believe that he doesn’t have a care in the world are what helps him survive in the world he grew up in - Kellen recognizes just how dangerous his father and his brother are. Unbeknownst to Kellen, his relationship is what gets him pulled into the world of the rebels and with a side gig he has, he finds himself right in the middle of Ren’s world.
I loved how Gruenke developed the characters, brought them all together, and leveraged them all to move the story forward. Yes, Ren is right at the center of everything but everyone in this book has a role to play and it makes the story that much more interesting.
This book has plenty of action and the pacing felt right. Every time I thought I had the storylines figured out, there was a twist or something else happened that required the characters to completely adjust their intended plans and it made things more interesting.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you’re looking for a new young adult fantasy, consider adding this one to your tbr shelf. I will definitely be picking up more stories from Gruenke whenever she writes them as this was a great read!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from multiple perspectives and normally I favor one over another but in this case, I liked all perspectives equally. I think this speaks to Gruenke’s ability to make every chapter as engaging as the last, regardless of who’s perspective it was.
Now to the story – Ren Kolins is a silver wielder. This is important because a number of years prior, the King did what he needed to to eliminate anyone who had this magic but wasn’t a member of the royal family. Ren’s family was killed but she ended up surviving and living on the streets of Erdis. Ren is definitely a survivor. With the help of her magic, she’s actually been able to get by and you could say she’s a pretty successful thief and pit fighter. When Ren is approached by the leader of a group of rebels to join them and use her magic to overthrow the King, she bargains to get a fortune that will get her out from under the thumb of a gang leader she owes money to.
Our rebel leader is Darek and he doesn’t really make a great first impression with Ren. Having taken on the mantle of leader of the rebels when his mother died, Darek isn’t interested in Ren’s reasons for not doing whatever she could to make things better for the people of Erdis. Having grown up protected by his father and their money, he doesn’t really know what Ren has gone through and it shows. Luckily for Darek, he has his younger brother Markus, who is a bit more sensitive and is able to talk (negotiate) a deal with Ren to get her on board.
Adley Farre is one of the King’s Children; a group of warriors raised and trained by the King so you can imagine her life hasn’t been that easy. With that said, she has been able to carve a place for herself within the castle walls and by doing so, she is now a primary person responsible for hunting down the rebels. Her motivation is the competition the king has created amongst the Children. Whoever is able to hunt down the rebel leader will be made the King’s Fang (his right hand) and Adley sees this as an opportunity to obtain her freedom (and potentially that of the person she loves, another warrior named Lesa).
The final point of view is that of Kellen, the second son of the King. His ability to get in and out of the castle and make people believe that he doesn’t have a care in the world are what helps him survive in the world he grew up in - Kellen recognizes just how dangerous his father and his brother are. Unbeknownst to Kellen, his relationship is what gets him pulled into the world of the rebels and with a side gig he has, he finds himself right in the middle of Ren’s world.
I loved how Gruenke developed the characters, brought them all together, and leveraged them all to move the story forward. Yes, Ren is right at the center of everything but everyone in this book has a role to play and it makes the story that much more interesting.
This book has plenty of action and the pacing felt right. Every time I thought I had the storylines figured out, there was a twist or something else happened that required the characters to completely adjust their intended plans and it made things more interesting.
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. If you’re looking for a new young adult fantasy, consider adding this one to your tbr shelf. I will definitely be picking up more stories from Gruenke whenever she writes them as this was a great read!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
acozyadventurer's review
5.0
This… is a great fantasy book. I mean, I love it. It’s like Red Queen meets Woven in Moonlight, and I know we all love those! It’s magical. This book was a fantastic escape- something about magical fantasy is soooo good when you need one! Honestly, thank you so much to North Star Editions and Flux Books for sending me this advanced readers copy. I’m so appreciative, it was such a fun book! I can’t wait to post my full review on Instagram and my blog!
sarraareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was really good!!! Sapphic rep was great and the rest of the characters were really entertaining to read about. The magic system was interesting, and the settings were detailed. This book definitely deserves more attention!!
thecozyreaderwbo's review
5.0
Yikes! This book is so good I'm adding it to my top favorites!
The characters! Superb and fascinating individuals. The setting is grand and pulls you right in. The storyline is amazing, jaw dropping, and engrossing. There are several romances going on and each is just lovely.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
The characters! Superb and fascinating individuals. The setting is grand and pulls you right in. The storyline is amazing, jaw dropping, and engrossing. There are several romances going on and each is just lovely.
I can't wait to read more by this author.
ellakostka's review
4.0
3.5/5⭐️
thank you so much to flux publishing and netgallery for the ARC!!
this book is six of crows meets a darker shade of magic and is approximately 20% more gay. adley and lesa were the stars of this book and i will take no criticism on this fact thank you very much. (would like a spin off series of just them pls) also kellen gave off such strong nikolai vibes i stan that boy so hard
the main characters were all so well developed for there being so many i was THOROUGHLY impressed. the worldbuilding was not as strong but im thinking that will be highlighted in the sequel?
and the plot twists WOW at the end they just kept coming like ok thats good wow ok haha i get it omg another one OMG WTF IS HAPPENING
im very excited to see where this series goes next!!
thank you so much to flux publishing and netgallery for the ARC!!
this book is six of crows meets a darker shade of magic and is approximately 20% more gay. adley and lesa were the stars of this book and i will take no criticism on this fact thank you very much. (would like a spin off series of just them pls) also kellen gave off such strong nikolai vibes i stan that boy so hard
the main characters were all so well developed for there being so many i was THOROUGHLY impressed. the worldbuilding was not as strong but im thinking that will be highlighted in the sequel?
and the plot twists WOW at the end they just kept coming like ok thats good wow ok haha i get it omg another one OMG WTF IS HAPPENING
im very excited to see where this series goes next!!
readingcaffeinated's review
4.0
This was absolutely, excruciatingly divine!
Lovers and fans of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi will live for this.
Go on this journey with Ren and find out for yourself how deadly power can be. With so many political strategies and plot twists, I am literally on the edge of my seat for this sequel!
The writing is easy to follow, and much easier to get swept up in. The world-building is clear and concise and easy to navigate, and boy, what a world it is! I absolutely would love to see the coming fan art for this story, because trust me, it's going to be epic.
I found the characters believable and each one at least a little relatable, adding so much depth to this story. Overall character development is great, especially considering that this is a series. I am excited to see where this is going.
Lovers and fans of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi will live for this.
Go on this journey with Ren and find out for yourself how deadly power can be. With so many political strategies and plot twists, I am literally on the edge of my seat for this sequel!
The writing is easy to follow, and much easier to get swept up in. The world-building is clear and concise and easy to navigate, and boy, what a world it is! I absolutely would love to see the coming fan art for this story, because trust me, it's going to be epic.
I found the characters believable and each one at least a little relatable, adding so much depth to this story. Overall character development is great, especially considering that this is a series. I am excited to see where this is going.
ex_libris_ad_astra's review
5.0
***I received a free arc of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Of Silver and Shadow is author Jennifer Gruenke’s debut novel. Focusing on the kingdom of Erdis, Gruenke’s novel is a politically driven young adult fantasy novel. Before we get into the details, I loved this book. The plot and characters kept me engaged, and I found it hard to put the book down when I needed to sleep. Overall, I read the whole thing in a couple of days (which is pretty good considering how sick I was at the time).
Of Silver and Shadow follows Ren, a young silver wielder in the kingdom of Erdis. She’s spent most of her life trying to avoid being noticed, occupying her time running an orphanage and fighting in the kingdom’s illegal fighting pits. The only person who knows about Ren’s silver is her best friend Freya. After all, most silver wielders were exterminated long ago, and magic is forbidden for everyone expect the royal family to use. When the Rebel group discovers her secret, Ren is offered a small fortune in return for her help. The only catch is that she won’t see a penny until the Rebel uprising has succeeded. The novel follows Ren as she navigates working with a rebel group she never wanted to get involved with and becomes the face of a revolution.
Meanwhile, Adley Farre is a King’s Child: a brutal warrior brought up in the palace and trained to do nothing but obey the King’s orders. When the esteemed position of the King’s Fang become available, Adley will do anything she can to win the position and inevitable freedom that comes along with it, even if that means capturing the rebels and torturing her way to their leaders and Ren.
While the plot of a novel like this could easily have become trite, I was pleasantly surprised by the way it was handled. I definitely did not see the plot twist coming, and I thought it was an interesting approach to the genre. The setting was incredibly well done. It was clear we were only getting a glimpse into Gruenke’s world. This story takes place in Erdis but leaves open the possibility of learning more about other kingdoms if there are future installments.
What made the novel for me were the characters. The novel utilizes multiple points of view to follow four main characters: Ren, Adlet, Darek, and Kellen. Each character was well fleshed out, and I loved the way I was attached to all of them. Ren is fierce and independent, but her character develops in ways that allow the audience to gain insight into her. Darek has a tough shell and a quick wit, but he grows on you through the novel. Kind of like mold. Markus is Darek’s younger brother, and the cinnamon roll to his kale juice. Freya is kind but firm, and helps Ren remember her humanity. Kellen is a reluctant prince, well aware of how his father truly feels about him, and he prefers to spend his time away from politics. Adley and Lesa have both been forged in blood, growing up as King’s children and learning how to torture and kill. Adley’s determination and Lesa’s sharp tongue make them a force to be reckoned with. King Mattheus and Prince Heath are vile in every sense of the word, leaving the reader with no choice but to dislike them. And last but not least, Holland, the baker’s daughter, is completely done with everyone else. (She’s great, definitely one of my favorite characters, even though she’s a relatively minor character).
One of the things I absolutely adored was Gruenke’s use of diversity in the book.
My only complaint about this book is the pacing of the relationship between Ren and another character. It seemed a bit sudden, but I understand that the author dove headfirst into the hate to love trope and I can’t be angry at that.
Overall, Of Silver and Shadows is one of my favorite reads so far this year, and I cannot wait for the next one to be released. If you enjoyed novels such as Six of Crows, Shadow and Bone, Throne of Glass, and Serpent & Dove I would definitely check this one out!!!
Of Silver and Shadow is author Jennifer Gruenke’s debut novel. Focusing on the kingdom of Erdis, Gruenke’s novel is a politically driven young adult fantasy novel. Before we get into the details, I loved this book. The plot and characters kept me engaged, and I found it hard to put the book down when I needed to sleep. Overall, I read the whole thing in a couple of days (which is pretty good considering how sick I was at the time).
Of Silver and Shadow follows Ren, a young silver wielder in the kingdom of Erdis. She’s spent most of her life trying to avoid being noticed, occupying her time running an orphanage and fighting in the kingdom’s illegal fighting pits. The only person who knows about Ren’s silver is her best friend Freya. After all, most silver wielders were exterminated long ago, and magic is forbidden for everyone expect the royal family to use. When the Rebel group discovers her secret, Ren is offered a small fortune in return for her help. The only catch is that she won’t see a penny until the Rebel uprising has succeeded. The novel follows Ren as she navigates working with a rebel group she never wanted to get involved with and becomes the face of a revolution.
Meanwhile, Adley Farre is a King’s Child: a brutal warrior brought up in the palace and trained to do nothing but obey the King’s orders. When the esteemed position of the King’s Fang become available, Adley will do anything she can to win the position and inevitable freedom that comes along with it, even if that means capturing the rebels and torturing her way to their leaders and Ren.
While the plot of a novel like this could easily have become trite, I was pleasantly surprised by the way it was handled. I definitely did not see the plot twist coming, and I thought it was an interesting approach to the genre. The setting was incredibly well done. It was clear we were only getting a glimpse into Gruenke’s world. This story takes place in Erdis but leaves open the possibility of learning more about other kingdoms if there are future installments.
What made the novel for me were the characters. The novel utilizes multiple points of view to follow four main characters: Ren, Adlet, Darek, and Kellen. Each character was well fleshed out, and I loved the way I was attached to all of them. Ren is fierce and independent, but her character develops in ways that allow the audience to gain insight into her. Darek has a tough shell and a quick wit, but he grows on you through the novel. Kind of like mold. Markus is Darek’s younger brother, and the cinnamon roll to his kale juice. Freya is kind but firm, and helps Ren remember her humanity. Kellen is a reluctant prince, well aware of how his father truly feels about him, and he prefers to spend his time away from politics. Adley and Lesa have both been forged in blood, growing up as King’s children and learning how to torture and kill. Adley’s determination and Lesa’s sharp tongue make them a force to be reckoned with. King Mattheus and Prince Heath are vile in every sense of the word, leaving the reader with no choice but to dislike them. And last but not least, Holland, the baker’s daughter, is completely done with everyone else. (She’s great, definitely one of my favorite characters, even though she’s a relatively minor character).
One of the things I absolutely adored was Gruenke’s use of diversity in the book.
Spoiler
Freya is a person of color, and the relationship between Adley and Lesa is adorable and sweet. You can’t help but root for them.My only complaint about this book is the pacing of the relationship between Ren and another character. It seemed a bit sudden, but I understand that the author dove headfirst into the hate to love trope and I can’t be angry at that.
Overall, Of Silver and Shadows is one of my favorite reads so far this year, and I cannot wait for the next one to be released. If you enjoyed novels such as Six of Crows, Shadow and Bone, Throne of Glass, and Serpent & Dove I would definitely check this one out!!!
marobbins's review
3.0
I wanted to love this book, but I ended up feeling ambivalent about it when it was all said and done. It had a great premise, and a lot of the characters were interesting, especially Kellen, Adley, and Derek. But I had a hard time feeling sympathy for the main protagonist, Ren. She had a hard life, but I still wanted her to have more redeeming qualities. The plot started off strong, slowed down momentum wise in the middle, and got more interesting toward the end. Overall, it was worthwhile read, and I think dark fantasy upper YA fans will like it. But I think it needed tighter editing and a little bit more character development, especially for Markus, Holland, Ren, and Heath.
thekindworthreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katherineguild35's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0