A review by ex_libris_ad_astra
Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke
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!!!