A review by leontiy
Shadow's Lure by Jon Sprunk
5.0
FULL REVIEW AVAILABLE HERE: http://bit.ly/opRquf
Excellently written, and brimming with dark imagination, monstrous creativity and a deftness for combat, Shadow’s Lure picks up where Shadow’s Son left off and sweeps the reader away on a dark and gritty adventure, where it’s not just the cold that will test a man’s mettle. Displaying a flair for action and pulse-quickening fight-scenes, Sprunk’s second novel is an excellent sword and sorcery yarn that will have you reading for your rapiers and buckling your swash as you follow Caim into the snow-steeped new lands of Eregoth.
The speed and deftness of Caim’s story is countered by the intrigue of Josey’s story, and both POVs are as exciting as one another—never is the reader left longing to return to one over the other. Both characters are excellently portrayed, and we see both of them grow immensely throughout the novel---Josey hardens, whilst Caim yields to his “better nature”, bringing them both closer to one another despite the yawning distance between them.
Quick-pacing and an intriguing plot drive the story forward, toward an exhilarating epic showdown that sets up the story to lead seamlessly into the final book, Shadow’s Master. A brilliantly presented sword and sorcery yarn, laced with romance, humanity, strength and sacrifice, Shadow’s Lure doesn’t fall into the usual trap of “middle novels” in that the excitement dips after the first novel, before returning in the last. Instead, this middle novel is a sheer pleasure to read, and with adventure, revenge and truth at the heart of the story, it becomes a page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.
A wonderful novel and a pleasure to read.
Excellently written, and brimming with dark imagination, monstrous creativity and a deftness for combat, Shadow’s Lure picks up where Shadow’s Son left off and sweeps the reader away on a dark and gritty adventure, where it’s not just the cold that will test a man’s mettle. Displaying a flair for action and pulse-quickening fight-scenes, Sprunk’s second novel is an excellent sword and sorcery yarn that will have you reading for your rapiers and buckling your swash as you follow Caim into the snow-steeped new lands of Eregoth.
The speed and deftness of Caim’s story is countered by the intrigue of Josey’s story, and both POVs are as exciting as one another—never is the reader left longing to return to one over the other. Both characters are excellently portrayed, and we see both of them grow immensely throughout the novel---Josey hardens, whilst Caim yields to his “better nature”, bringing them both closer to one another despite the yawning distance between them.
Quick-pacing and an intriguing plot drive the story forward, toward an exhilarating epic showdown that sets up the story to lead seamlessly into the final book, Shadow’s Master. A brilliantly presented sword and sorcery yarn, laced with romance, humanity, strength and sacrifice, Shadow’s Lure doesn’t fall into the usual trap of “middle novels” in that the excitement dips after the first novel, before returning in the last. Instead, this middle novel is a sheer pleasure to read, and with adventure, revenge and truth at the heart of the story, it becomes a page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.
A wonderful novel and a pleasure to read.