elisa_menz's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This story leans towards the darker side of Fantasy, and I'm not one to veer in that direction often. Or ever. However, I was unable to give up this book due to it being fricking amazing.
The writing is flawless. Everything, from the characters, the setting, the horrors of war, the political intrigue, the history and nuances surrounding every race of people living in this world, build a plot that makes you want to know what is going to happen to these people and how are we going to survive this big, bloody mess.
The author doesn't pull his punches. There are some truly horrifying moments and others that make you want to jump into the story and knock the lights out of some characters. I may now have cried while reading this book, but I certainly hurled some pretty scathing words at my screen. Strong feelings, indeed!
Some highlights of my reading journey:
-I gave up trying to pronounce Haltveldt pretty soon.
-I didn't skip any fighting scenes, which I'm ashamed to say I do often.
-I'm on team "I think Calene is crazy for reacting to Zanna's actions as she did," but honestly, who am I to judge?
-If Tilo is hurt, we riot.
-Can Garet die again, please?
-Where can I get an application to adopt Arlo?
The writing is flawless. Everything, from the characters, the setting, the horrors of war, the political intrigue, the history and nuances surrounding every race of people living in this world, build a plot that makes you want to know what is going to happen to these people and how are we going to survive this big, bloody mess.
The author doesn't pull his punches. There are some truly horrifying moments and others that make you want to jump into the story and knock the lights out of some characters. I may now have cried while reading this book, but I certainly hurled some pretty scathing words at my screen. Strong feelings, indeed!
Some highlights of my reading journey:
-I gave up trying to pronounce Haltveldt pretty soon.
-I didn't skip any fighting scenes, which I'm ashamed to say I do often.
-I'm on team "I think Calene is crazy for reacting to Zanna's actions as she did," but honestly, who am I to judge?
-If Tilo is hurt, we riot.
-Can Garet die again, please?
-Where can I get an application to adopt Arlo?
kitvaria_sarene's review
4.0
This is a novella that packs in as much world, characters and political machinations as a lot of big tomes.
While in some points it made me lack a little bit of depth, mostly it worked out really well, and made for a really fast paced and engaging read that drew me in very quickly!
It's on the darker side with elves an enslaved race and some mysterious "banished" people being kept at bay by a big fortress. Quite a lot of death, fights and war, so not for the faint of heart.
We have multiple POV characters, and I liked all of them. It took me a bit longer to warm up to some than others, but in the end I was happy to read about any of them, and cared for what would happen next. For such a short book it was great to see how those different paths slowly run together throughout the story.
I also appreciated the handling of some traumatic experiences in the characters past, and how it still shapes them to this day.
I liked the magic in here, and the mystery of it. There's no hard magic system, it's more the very soft and mysterious kind - and the mystery there, later in the book, definitely was a main hook for me! I can't wait to see more of that!
All in all a really good book that easily held my attention all the way through, and had some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
While in some points it made me lack a little bit of depth, mostly it worked out really well, and made for a really fast paced and engaging read that drew me in very quickly!
It's on the darker side with elves an enslaved race and some mysterious "banished" people being kept at bay by a big fortress. Quite a lot of death, fights and war, so not for the faint of heart.
We have multiple POV characters, and I liked all of them. It took me a bit longer to warm up to some than others, but in the end I was happy to read about any of them, and cared for what would happen next. For such a short book it was great to see how those different paths slowly run together throughout the story.
I also appreciated the handling of some traumatic experiences in the characters past, and how it still shapes them to this day.
I liked the magic in here, and the mystery of it. There's no hard magic system, it's more the very soft and mysterious kind - and the mystery there, later in the book, definitely was a main hook for me! I can't wait to see more of that!
All in all a really good book that easily held my attention all the way through, and had some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
shellycampbellauthor's review
4.0
Believable character who are easy to empathize with
In Solitude’s Shadow, David does an admirable job pairing epic stakes, and large-scale war with character driven stories. This read was easy to fall into and every POV was realistic, individual and believable. Looking forward to the second in the series.
In Solitude’s Shadow, David does an admirable job pairing epic stakes, and large-scale war with character driven stories. This read was easy to fall into and every POV was realistic, individual and believable. Looking forward to the second in the series.
riverheritic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely love this series. It is dark, hopeful, filled with wonderful characters and interesting magic system. Easy to follow and utterly captivating. The main characters will pull you in, make you fall in love and then break your heart
egswriter's review
5.0
I’ll say this simply: I love epic fantasy. When it’s done well, the world is fascinating and immersive, the characters are intriguing (or really annoying in only the best way) , the story is dramatic…yeah, it’s pretty exciting. Which is why, when I get a new epic fantasy to read, such as Dave Green’s In Solitude’s Shadow, I am excited. To say the least.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book takes place two millennia after a war was hard won, with human and elves on one side and the First Ones—or later, the Banished—on the other. As usually happens so long after an event, the reason for certain things has been forgotten and the memories of the war are twisted and changed. Which makes it difficult when the aftermath, the true consequences, begin to reveal themselves. This book primarily follows Zanna Alpenwood, a mage guarding the fortress Solitude from a long forgotten threat in the north, and her adventures onces she realises that the Banished are returning. Also significant is her daughter, Calene, a mage who discovers a Banished far from home, and learns further secrets about the world they thought they knew.
This book is the perfect mix of lore and action, spreading the events of the book out over a well-paced plot, which makes it really easy to get absorbed. As far as epic fantasies are concerned, this book was not overly action or event oriented; in fact, I have a feeling that the next books in the series are going to be exponentially more dramatic than this one. (Okay, minus the ending, that was pretty dramatic.) Still, I enjoyed it, was engrossed, and want to know more.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As far as characters go, Zanna is a pretty fantastic one. I appreciate her slightly subdued nature, given all the things that have happened to her. She could easily be cynical, but I feel like she’s more…cautious. And Calene, a feisty sort who is capable of thinking, despite being able to rush into a situation with magic blazing.
There are more characters that I would like to know more about, but as a first book in a series, I feel like the appropriate amount of information was presented so that we knew the characters but weren’t inundated with information that wouldn’t be necessary until later.
3. Favourite part
The dramatic bit at the end. I mean, my goodness!
4. Critique
I haven’t really got a critique for this book, to be honest. It was entertaining, rich in world lore, and with characters to root for.
Overall, I would say that In Solitude’s Shadow is an excellent first book in an epic fantasy series that looks to be a truly awesome adventure.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book takes place two millennia after a war was hard won, with human and elves on one side and the First Ones—or later, the Banished—on the other. As usually happens so long after an event, the reason for certain things has been forgotten and the memories of the war are twisted and changed. Which makes it difficult when the aftermath, the true consequences, begin to reveal themselves. This book primarily follows Zanna Alpenwood, a mage guarding the fortress Solitude from a long forgotten threat in the north, and her adventures onces she realises that the Banished are returning. Also significant is her daughter, Calene, a mage who discovers a Banished far from home, and learns further secrets about the world they thought they knew.
This book is the perfect mix of lore and action, spreading the events of the book out over a well-paced plot, which makes it really easy to get absorbed. As far as epic fantasies are concerned, this book was not overly action or event oriented; in fact, I have a feeling that the next books in the series are going to be exponentially more dramatic than this one. (Okay, minus the ending, that was pretty dramatic.) Still, I enjoyed it, was engrossed, and want to know more.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As far as characters go, Zanna is a pretty fantastic one. I appreciate her slightly subdued nature, given all the things that have happened to her. She could easily be cynical, but I feel like she’s more…cautious. And Calene, a feisty sort who is capable of thinking, despite being able to rush into a situation with magic blazing.
There are more characters that I would like to know more about, but as a first book in a series, I feel like the appropriate amount of information was presented so that we knew the characters but weren’t inundated with information that wouldn’t be necessary until later.
3. Favourite part
The dramatic bit at the end. I mean, my goodness!
4. Critique
I haven’t really got a critique for this book, to be honest. It was entertaining, rich in world lore, and with characters to root for.
Overall, I would say that In Solitude’s Shadow is an excellent first book in an epic fantasy series that looks to be a truly awesome adventure.
jksteach's review
4.0
Wow… That was intense!
Normally I avoid books described as dark or grimdark, but this was really good. Although it’s a fairly short book, the world building was terrific and deep and the characters were fully realized. I thought the magic was interesting and although there are power hungry villains, slavery, and genocide, the main characters are trying to avert a devastating war and work towards peace. The prologue and epilogue are fascinating, too, and create some interesting uncertainty about what’s really going on.
It’s unusual that the idea of parental love plays such a big part in the story, but I liked that it did. I really came to care about the characters, so now I’ll need to read the next book to make sure they'll be okay.
Normally I avoid books described as dark or grimdark, but this was really good. Although it’s a fairly short book, the world building was terrific and deep and the characters were fully realized. I thought the magic was interesting and although there are power hungry villains, slavery, and genocide, the main characters are trying to avert a devastating war and work towards peace. The prologue and epilogue are fascinating, too, and create some interesting uncertainty about what’s really going on.
It’s unusual that the idea of parental love plays such a big part in the story, but I liked that it did. I really came to care about the characters, so now I’ll need to read the next book to make sure they'll be okay.
inked_up_bookshelf's review
5.0
DO NOT SKIP THE PROLOGUE: it’s set the scene for this very fast paced novel beautifully. (I know some ebooks just fly on by them so double check!
There is war amidst the world call Haltveldt.
Zanna exiled to Solitude; a place where the misfits go because where else do they belong?
The Banished is outside the wall of Solitude.
Calene daughter of Zanna has her own journey in this novel.
This book pulls at all the heart strings. The fight for your beliefs on a religion level and what will keep you alive. Zanna and Calenes torn relationship was heart breaking to watch unfurl but it made the story so much more complex.
If you love audiobooks where the narrator just dives deep into the character and does a novel justice from start to end go to audible today. Well worth it!
There is war amidst the world call Haltveldt.
Zanna exiled to Solitude; a place where the misfits go because where else do they belong?
The Banished is outside the wall of Solitude.
Calene daughter of Zanna has her own journey in this novel.
This book pulls at all the heart strings. The fight for your beliefs on a religion level and what will keep you alive. Zanna and Calenes torn relationship was heart breaking to watch unfurl but it made the story so much more complex.
If you love audiobooks where the narrator just dives deep into the character and does a novel justice from start to end go to audible today. Well worth it!
booknookbella's review
5.0
In Solitude's Shadow
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
World: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: N/A
What a ride! Start from finish, this book is a thrilling story featuring fantastic, fleshed-out characters, a brilliant magic system, and a great and EPIC ending. All in a relatively short page count too, so I can see why this has received plenty of good reviews already. This is a book that really showcases the author's brilliant writing style as much as it does his storytelling. I devoured this, and I'll definitely continue the series.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
World: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: N/A
What a ride! Start from finish, this book is a thrilling story featuring fantastic, fleshed-out characters, a brilliant magic system, and a great and EPIC ending. All in a relatively short page count too, so I can see why this has received plenty of good reviews already. This is a book that really showcases the author's brilliant writing style as much as it does his storytelling. I devoured this, and I'll definitely continue the series.
secre's review
5.0
In Solitude's Shadow is a fascinating little book with a complex world, wonderful characters and very fast pace. It's on one hand an epic, sweeping fantasy and yet also a deeply personal, character driven series of stories. It's dark and yet it's hopeful. It's a tale of resentment and yet love, prejudice yet never loses sight of just how much some people care, exclusion and inclusion, isolation and family ties, light and dark, power and the responsibility that power should come with.
The plot is clean, yet intricate and multi-threaded; many individual stories drawing together into a stunningly woven whole. There's magic and yet there's also the mundane, average human who can become something more when what they truly care about is at stake. There are horrors committed, for reasons of politics, evil or just straight forward betrayal and yet there are friendships, a mother's love, those fighting against slavery and seeing something more than animals despite all the propaganda.
It's epic fantasy and it draws on the rich history that fantasy authors have at their fingertips, yet it twists and turns into something individual and different. It's dark fantasy and yet even though it can linger on the darkness, the darkness never overtakes the whole even when it seems inevitable. There's always something there shining a light, however out of place. The characters are wholly human; full of flaws, frailties, hopes and dreams. It's a full and rich tapestry and one I wholly recommend to anyone looking for a new fantasy series.
The plot is clean, yet intricate and multi-threaded; many individual stories drawing together into a stunningly woven whole. There's magic and yet there's also the mundane, average human who can become something more when what they truly care about is at stake. There are horrors committed, for reasons of politics, evil or just straight forward betrayal and yet there are friendships, a mother's love, those fighting against slavery and seeing something more than animals despite all the propaganda.
It's epic fantasy and it draws on the rich history that fantasy authors have at their fingertips, yet it twists and turns into something individual and different. It's dark fantasy and yet even though it can linger on the darkness, the darkness never overtakes the whole even when it seems inevitable. There's always something there shining a light, however out of place. The characters are wholly human; full of flaws, frailties, hopes and dreams. It's a full and rich tapestry and one I wholly recommend to anyone looking for a new fantasy series.
emmar's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.5