mells_bells's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Child death, Kidnapping, Drug use, Mental illness, and Colonisation
lgilbert44's review against another edition
3.0
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First and foremost, this book felt disjointed. It may be the content or the will of the author or perhaps it was because my e-book had jumbled letters and misplaced sentences. Either way for this reason alone, I will be rereading the physical copy of this book to see if that changes my opinion at all.
I can tell this was a very personal project for the author. Not only because of the author’s note in the beginning but also because the characters felt so real. They were complex and complicated and dealt with real life emotional issues. Nothing was black and white for the characters. Everything was deep and complex.
I must admit, I did not like this book as much as the first. I felt as though many of the chapters could have been left out and much of the action didn’t happen until the last 5 percent of the book and happened all too quickly for my liking.
That said the things I did like about the book was of course the ending. I felt, as the reader, the story came full circle and had a satisfying resolution. Notice I didn’t say happy but rather satisfying. This does not imply that the ending was happy but rather I felt resolution. I highly enjoyed the characters, and I loved getting more backstory on the Goblin King. His story was both intriguing and heartbreaking.
Now for the things I did not like. Again this may be because of the jumbled ebook or because it was the story itself, but some of the plot points felt muddy, unexplained, and often times confusing and conflicting. But (and I am not speaking for experience as I do not have bipolar disorder) I imagine that’s how the mind of someone with bipolar disorder feels. So if that was the author’s intention, then job well done.
Again like the first one, this book is not for everyone. There are trigger warnings of self harm, mental disorders, and suicidal thoughts so please heed caution if these things effect you. I gave this book three stars not because I didn’t like it but at times felt it was difficult to read (again may be the formatting) and confusing. I think once my hard copy comes in I will give it a reread to see if my mind is changed.
First and foremost, this book felt disjointed. It may be the content or the will of the author or perhaps it was because my e-book had jumbled letters and misplaced sentences. Either way for this reason alone, I will be rereading the physical copy of this book to see if that changes my opinion at all.
I can tell this was a very personal project for the author. Not only because of the author’s note in the beginning but also because the characters felt so real. They were complex and complicated and dealt with real life emotional issues. Nothing was black and white for the characters. Everything was deep and complex.
I must admit, I did not like this book as much as the first. I felt as though many of the chapters could have been left out and much of the action didn’t happen until the last 5 percent of the book and happened all too quickly for my liking.
That said the things I did like about the book was of course the ending. I felt, as the reader, the story came full circle and had a satisfying resolution. Notice I didn’t say happy but rather satisfying. This does not imply that the ending was happy but rather I felt resolution. I highly enjoyed the characters, and I loved getting more backstory on the Goblin King. His story was both intriguing and heartbreaking.
Now for the things I did not like. Again this may be because of the jumbled ebook or because it was the story itself, but some of the plot points felt muddy, unexplained, and often times confusing and conflicting. But (and I am not speaking for experience as I do not have bipolar disorder) I imagine that’s how the mind of someone with bipolar disorder feels. So if that was the author’s intention, then job well done.
Again like the first one, this book is not for everyone. There are trigger warnings of self harm, mental disorders, and suicidal thoughts so please heed caution if these things effect you. I gave this book three stars not because I didn’t like it but at times felt it was difficult to read (again may be the formatting) and confusing. I think once my hard copy comes in I will give it a reread to see if my mind is changed.
crazface's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.0
faex's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful. I don't think I'll ever be able to put my feelings and thoughts about this book into words.
niennamarie_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.25
shancat's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly? If Wintersong was a sonata, Shadowsong, it’s final installment, fell flat.
I think you will enjoy this book if you are one of three types of people: a) you just really love Wintersong/Jae-Jones and you’ll be happy for any scraps that fall from her fingertips b) you’re very interested in any representation of mental disorders/bipolar characters in YA fantasy, c) you heed my advice and seriously drop your expectations.
I’m just going to be real and tell you that this is a pretty negative review but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a well-written and entertaining read. It is. It’s just that it could have been better in a lot of ways that won’t matter to you if you’re just here for the ride.
Having said that, I honestly feel this is one of those sequels where the potential is so obviously and enormously unrealized that it would almost have been better if the duology had been a stand-alone and left a cliffhanger ending. I usually feel with a sequel that, at the very least, it’s better it exists for the simple fact that it ties up the loose ends. This story failed to do that and I think I would have been just as happy without it.
I think you will enjoy this book if you are one of three types of people: a) you just really love Wintersong/Jae-Jones and you’ll be happy for any scraps that fall from her fingertips b) you’re very interested in any representation of mental disorders/bipolar characters in YA fantasy, c) you heed my advice and seriously drop your expectations.
I’m just going to be real and tell you that this is a pretty negative review but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a well-written and entertaining read. It is. It’s just that it could have been better in a lot of ways that won’t matter to you if you’re just here for the ride.
Having said that, I honestly feel this is one of those sequels where the potential is so obviously and enormously unrealized that it would almost have been better if the duology had been a stand-alone and left a cliffhanger ending. I usually feel with a sequel that, at the very least, it’s better it exists for the simple fact that it ties up the loose ends. This story failed to do that and I think I would have been just as happy without it.
bexwalsh's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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...