bexwalsh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
libraryofdreaming's review
4.0
Has S. Jae-Jones done it?? Has she created a sequel that completely fulfills the promise of the first book with fascinating world-building and emotional execution?? I think she has come very, very close.
I'm still reeling from putting down this book. I enjoyed Wintersong, but had quite a few quibbles with it. I have far less problems with this sequel. The writing, the pacing, and the plot were all so tight and compelling. I gobbled up each page.
Honestly, I feel like Shadowsong is really allowed to thrive because, unlike Wintersong, the romance is not the soul-sucking focus. This is Liesel's story. Yes, Liesel or Elisabeth in all her messed up glory is what really captivated me in this book. Her story IS about love, but it's much more complicated and interesting. Her perspective is so entrancing - so overwhelming - that I could not look away. Her voice is unusual and absorbing.
I'm struggling to express myself, but Jae-Jones' forward made me weep before I even started the book itself. At every step (even when I wanted to shake her for her mistakes), I FELT for Elisabeth with a vivid pain. Jae-Jones does not shy away from darkness and ugliness in this book, but it is no less riveting, cathartic, and spell-binding.
Ugh, this book was just so, so good. I'm reeling. The ending made me ugly sob - but managed to both fulfill and subvert my expectations. I'm not saying it was perfect, but I feel like this book is going to haunt me for a long, long time...
I'm still reeling from putting down this book. I enjoyed Wintersong, but had quite a few quibbles with it. I have far less problems with this sequel. The writing, the pacing, and the plot were all so tight and compelling. I gobbled up each page.
Honestly, I feel like Shadowsong is really allowed to thrive because, unlike Wintersong, the romance is not the soul-sucking focus. This is Liesel's story. Yes, Liesel or Elisabeth in all her messed up glory is what really captivated me in this book. Her story IS about love, but it's much more complicated and interesting. Her perspective is so entrancing - so overwhelming - that I could not look away. Her voice is unusual and absorbing.
I'm struggling to express myself, but Jae-Jones' forward made me weep before I even started the book itself. At every step (even when I wanted to shake her for her mistakes), I FELT for Elisabeth with a vivid pain. Jae-Jones does not shy away from darkness and ugliness in this book, but it is no less riveting, cathartic, and spell-binding.
Ugh, this book was just so, so good. I'm reeling. The ending made me ugly sob - but managed to both fulfill and subvert my expectations. I'm not saying it was perfect, but I feel like this book is going to haunt me for a long, long time...
ceridwen83's review
2.0
I received a copy of Shadowsong through Netgalley after reading and reviewing Wintersong. Shadowsong was not the follow-up book I wanted it to be. Wintersong was haunting and intriguing and I was completely drawn to the character of the Goblin King. While I didn't love Liesl she was a strong and active lead in the first installment constantly pushing forward and trying to make things happen. In Shadowsong Liesl seems to take a 180, running from her issues and things just seem to happen to her instead of her setting out to get things done up until the very end. Such a huge step back in character for me was offputting. We switch focus from Liesl and the Goblin King in this book to Liesl and Josef who is yet another passive character which is the main cause for the continued troubles in their relationship. If either one had stepped up and tried to repair the rift between them the story could have gone very differently. Josef's story was no way subtle about what the fate of his character was going to be at the end leaving the ending to feel a little lackluster when I got to it. The writing is still beautiful as it was in the first book but overall I just wanted more from the story.
baakgroundmel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
moirin's review
4.0
This book made me feel very uncomfortable. The feelings of loneliness, despair and madness are very well-written. I found it difficult to shake those feelings in myself at times while reading this book. It's so vivid, so real and unreal at the same time.
wordsbyzahra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It's midnight and I've just finished this and hope to write a more descriptive review once I get my thoughts in order. But until then, I will say that I absolutely adored this novel. Shadowsong is as l beautifully written as Wintersong, and a wonderful conclusion to this story of Liesl and the Goblin King. I loved every word.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, and Drug use
Minor: Self harm
danibee3's review
3.0
“Take care of her,” he whispered to the man beside him. “She deserves to be loved”
This was an a amazing book about love, loss, family, music, and little bit of magic.
This is Liesl and her companions story about after she returns from the underground, trying to grow both hers and her brothers musical careers. To save the barrier between worlds she must return to the underground and face what awaits.
I received an arc of this book for an honest review. I think it was its own musical number. It started off a little slow and soft and ended with a bang. At the end i was gasping, smiling and in tears. I was hoping for more Liesl/goblin king romance and to see their relationship further. I loved the connection between Liesl and her brother, it is a relationship that should be seen in more books
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a copy to review. It was a pleasure to read and give my review.
This was an a amazing book about love, loss, family, music, and little bit of magic.
This is Liesl and her companions story about after she returns from the underground, trying to grow both hers and her brothers musical careers. To save the barrier between worlds she must return to the underground and face what awaits.
I received an arc of this book for an honest review. I think it was its own musical number. It started off a little slow and soft and ended with a bang. At the end i was gasping, smiling and in tears. I was hoping for more Liesl/goblin king romance and to see their relationship further. I loved the connection between Liesl and her brother, it is a relationship that should be seen in more books
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a copy to review. It was a pleasure to read and give my review.
katiecatbooks's review
2.0
Dark. Twisted. Not much action.
Story: (spoilers if you have not read book #1, Wintersong). Liesl is back in the above ground, and she is not coping well. She is changed after her adventure from the first book, now not belonging to either world. After many months of letters to Josef with no reply, suddenly comes a letter begging her to come quick. But a pair of new characters in Josef's world change everything.
Characters: Liesl is surviving and struggling between sanity and madness. Her sister Käthe is the only grounded one in the story, being the rock to her family near and far. Josef, who was once innocent and fair, is now tormented and moody. Faithful Francois supports him and tries to pull him out of his despair.
Language: While the language in the first book was more mysterious and fairy tale, this book is darker in tone. Twisted, hopeless, torn, misery, hostage, demon, monster are words relating to this book. This book is not action driven, so much of the pace is slow and dragging with bleakness and darkness in between. This book also is split up into chapters from multiple points of view, which makes the book disjointed, rather than tying plotlines together.
The author states in her acknowledgements, "First books are a dream, but second books are a nightmare." True enough, this book is a nightmare in tone and was just as unpleasant to read.
Story: (spoilers if you have not read book #1, Wintersong). Liesl is back in the above ground, and she is not coping well. She is changed after her adventure from the first book, now not belonging to either world. After many months of letters to Josef with no reply, suddenly comes a letter begging her to come quick. But a pair of new characters in Josef's world change everything.
Characters: Liesl is surviving and struggling between sanity and madness. Her sister Käthe is the only grounded one in the story, being the rock to her family near and far. Josef, who was once innocent and fair, is now tormented and moody. Faithful Francois supports him and tries to pull him out of his despair.
Language: While the language in the first book was more mysterious and fairy tale, this book is darker in tone. Twisted, hopeless, torn, misery, hostage, demon, monster are words relating to this book. This book is not action driven, so much of the pace is slow and dragging with bleakness and darkness in between. This book also is split up into chapters from multiple points of view, which makes the book disjointed, rather than tying plotlines together.
The author states in her acknowledgements, "First books are a dream, but second books are a nightmare." True enough, this book is a nightmare in tone and was just as unpleasant to read.