aly36's review
5.0
I love horror books and I love books about witches! This is a great series. I was so excited to get a chance to read it! It did not disappoint. A 7th generation witch hunter, I think could be a good dreamboat! This book had me right from the start and didn't let go. I was so looking forward to the next books in the series. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
thehamsterreads's review
4.0
This is a great book! Hunter Astley is a 7th gen witch hunter. Most witch hunters are 1st to 3rd gen, so he’s pretty special. While he’s supposed to be on vacation he rescues Sophie from witches who were going to sacrifice her for their magic. She’s grateful but cold and aloof so he goes home and doesn’t think anything of it. But then she shows up at his door a couple months later and wants to become a witch hunter. In the meantime, a dark power is rising and it will take everything the witch hunters have to stop it.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are great and it’s well written there are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! I can’t wait to read the next book! I really like the dynamic between Hunter and Sophie as their relationship grew. I also found it really interesting how witch hunters gain powers that are stronger with each generation. I’m very curious to see how Hunter’s powers develop in the next book.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy involving witches. I haven’t read any other book quite like it, so it’s definitely worth picking up!
I received a free copy of The Shadow Rises from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are great and it’s well written there are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! I can’t wait to read the next book! I really like the dynamic between Hunter and Sophie as their relationship grew. I also found it really interesting how witch hunters gain powers that are stronger with each generation. I’m very curious to see how Hunter’s powers develop in the next book.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy involving witches. I haven’t read any other book quite like it, so it’s definitely worth picking up!
I received a free copy of The Shadow Rises from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
m3l89's review
2.0
Initially I was surprised this book had a modern setting, but that was an assumption on my part rather than something to do with the book.
A tiny bit of backstory and scene setting and then straight into the action. I thought Hunter was quite an arrogant character (initially). He’d just saved someone from something they didn’t understand and was whining about not being thanked. This rescued girl did then serve as a vehicle for the reader to learn more about the world as she asked questions that otherwise might have been glossed over or skipped altogether.
Hunter’s partner James was the perfect opposite to Hunter. He was from Yorkshire and I liked the attention to detail of his dialogue being written with a Northern accent; “can claim t’ be” “nowt more than a lowly assistant t’ MMC”.
Marsden has a very easy to read and follow writing style.
A tiny bit of backstory and scene setting and then straight into the action. I thought Hunter was quite an arrogant character (initially). He’d just saved someone from something they didn’t understand and was whining about not being thanked. This rescued girl did then serve as a vehicle for the reader to learn more about the world as she asked questions that otherwise might have been glossed over or skipped altogether.
Hunter’s partner James was the perfect opposite to Hunter. He was from Yorkshire and I liked the attention to detail of his dialogue being written with a Northern accent; “can claim t’ be” “nowt more than a lowly assistant t’ MMC”.
Marsden has a very easy to read and follow writing style.
bookish_satty's review
3.0
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank K. S. Marsden, author of The Shadow Rises, for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.
Here we get to see the evil witches who are hunted by the witch-hunter Hunter, He saved a girl Sophie from the clutches of the evil witch and she joins his team just when the evil of the evils shadow witch is about to rise, again. Will Hunter and his team will be able to stop this centuries old black magic user or will they surrender to her power?
I liked this story quite a lot though the characters were underdeveloped quite a bit and it spoiled my excitement too. I liked Hunter out of all the other characters, his leadership qualities impressed me. The whole concept is quite fascinating with the evil witches but the background to the characters as well as the history of the shadow witch seemed a bit sketchy and not detailed. The shifting POV was not smoothly presented and I had to read a full paragraph before understanding the narrator of it.
The action is great though and well portrayed and I liked the suspense that the author kept well till the end, hooking the readers interest to the story. The writing style is good but could have been more enriched though I felt comfortable with it.
Over all a good story with a nice plot and big twists and turns that were totally unexpected to me and shocked me as well. It’s worth a shot definitely, so go ahead people and grab it!
Firstly I would like to thank K. S. Marsden, author of The Shadow Rises, for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.
Here we get to see the evil witches who are hunted by the witch-hunter Hunter, He saved a girl Sophie from the clutches of the evil witch and she joins his team just when the evil of the evils shadow witch is about to rise, again. Will Hunter and his team will be able to stop this centuries old black magic user or will they surrender to her power?
I liked this story quite a lot though the characters were underdeveloped quite a bit and it spoiled my excitement too. I liked Hunter out of all the other characters, his leadership qualities impressed me. The whole concept is quite fascinating with the evil witches but the background to the characters as well as the history of the shadow witch seemed a bit sketchy and not detailed. The shifting POV was not smoothly presented and I had to read a full paragraph before understanding the narrator of it.
The action is great though and well portrayed and I liked the suspense that the author kept well till the end, hooking the readers interest to the story. The writing style is good but could have been more enriched though I felt comfortable with it.
Over all a good story with a nice plot and big twists and turns that were totally unexpected to me and shocked me as well. It’s worth a shot definitely, so go ahead people and grab it!
cmbohn's review
2.0
I got this one for free, so I can't complain too much, but it just didn't catch my interest. The characters were flat and I just wasn't buying the romance at all.
barb4ry1's review
2.0
There’s a society of witch-hunters and Hunter (not his real name) is probably the best at what he does. He’s got money, the looks, and the skill. I mean, he’s almost like James Bond of the supernatural world. A girl he once saved from the clutches of the evil witch wants to join witch-hunters. A tragic turn of events makes him accept her as his apprentice. In the meantime, the evil raises and things get trickier than ever.
I liked the story and the concept. Everyone needs a good popcorn read from time to time, and the Shadow Rises mostly succeeds at offering high-octane, if slightly predictable, fun. Some action scenes and suspenseful moments are drawn out appropriately, but then a key piece of exposition or character development may be glossed over, or opportunities for those moments are missed. Both main and secondary characters have some distinct traits but, in general, remain underdeveloped and flat.
The writing itself could use a bit of a polish, particularly in the structure of the sentences and establishing POV and keeping it. Long stretches of simplistic phrases make the story accessible and easy to follow, but also remove the suspense or tension building in the story.
Despite many weak spots in the writing and the lack of more depth to the storyline and characters, Mardsen succeeds at creating an interesting blend of reality and fantasy. She explores the concepts of loyalty, individuality, and difficult choices and offers some unpretentious fun. As long as you approach it as a fast pulp read, you should appreciate at least parts of the story.
I liked the story and the concept. Everyone needs a good popcorn read from time to time, and the Shadow Rises mostly succeeds at offering high-octane, if slightly predictable, fun. Some action scenes and suspenseful moments are drawn out appropriately, but then a key piece of exposition or character development may be glossed over, or opportunities for those moments are missed. Both main and secondary characters have some distinct traits but, in general, remain underdeveloped and flat.
The writing itself could use a bit of a polish, particularly in the structure of the sentences and establishing POV and keeping it. Long stretches of simplistic phrases make the story accessible and easy to follow, but also remove the suspense or tension building in the story.
Despite many weak spots in the writing and the lack of more depth to the storyline and characters, Mardsen succeeds at creating an interesting blend of reality and fantasy. She explores the concepts of loyalty, individuality, and difficult choices and offers some unpretentious fun. As long as you approach it as a fast pulp read, you should appreciate at least parts of the story.
_michelle_'s review
DNF @ 48%
This just wasn't for me. The book is fairly short, so there isn't a lot of worldbuilding, as you might expect; the MC is even supposed to be special because he's a 7th gen witch hunter, but there's no known attributes associated with it (witch hunters usually die before they have kids, so good on his paternal line for being virile, I guess).
No one is really likable. Of the MC and his cohorts, Hunter's mom is a bitch, Sophie is an overly-sensitive loudmouth, while pretty much all the guys are violent assholes or a wee bit sexist (a compatriot who hits on Sophie accused her of being a tease when she shoots him down, though her personality made clear what she thought of him beforehand); Hunter is...OK, but not much to latch on to.
I just have a lot on my plate right now and I'd be forcing myself to finish this. Sorry.
Audiobook version recieved courtesy of the author. All opinions are my own.
This just wasn't for me. The book is fairly short, so there isn't a lot of worldbuilding, as you might expect; the MC is even supposed to be special because he's a 7th gen witch hunter, but there's no known attributes associated with it (witch hunters usually die before they have kids, so good on his paternal line for being virile, I guess).
No one is really likable. Of the MC and his cohorts, Hunter's mom is a bitch, Sophie is an overly-sensitive loudmouth, while pretty much all the guys are violent assholes or a wee bit sexist (a compatriot who hits on Sophie accused her of being a tease when she shoots him down, though her personality made clear what she thought of him beforehand); Hunter is...OK, but not much to latch on to.
I just have a lot on my plate right now and I'd be forcing myself to finish this. Sorry.
Audiobook version recieved courtesy of the author. All opinions are my own.
thebooktwthief's review
3.0
Copy won in a giveaway hosted here on Goodreads.
Actual rating : 3.5
It took me a while to finish this book because I thought it was slow paced at the beginning even though I liked the plot. But halfway through it, it got easier for me to really get into the book and into the characters. Even if I thought the love interest in the story got together out of nowhere, their relationship was interesting to read. I especially loved the ending of the book because it was more action packed and there where some "omg moments".
Actual rating : 3.5
It took me a while to finish this book because I thought it was slow paced at the beginning even though I liked the plot. But halfway through it, it got easier for me to really get into the book and into the characters. Even if I thought the love interest in the story got together out of nowhere, their relationship was interesting to read. I especially loved the ending of the book because it was more action packed and there where some "omg moments".