Michael Webb (6)

This felt like an intersection between the Goonies and Harry Potter. I loved the characters so much. Their relationships with each other and their families were so strong and so wholesome. And then, the adventure. It was high stakes for those involved but not quite world-ending, world-dominating...at least, not yet. Maybe that happens in book two.

Peter was an amazing character. He was also such a relatable character. Around the midpoint of the book, when he bemoaned his fate--being stuck show more working his parents' farm when he knew he was destined for a life of adventure, but only after his parents' debts were taken care of and he knew they would be okay--his longing resonated so strongly with my teenage self. He's a good boy, cares about the things he should, feels deeply, and still makes good choices most of the time. It's nice to see characters like that.

The friends also got a taste of what it would be like to have special powers and the necessary restraint that comes with those powers. I thought that was a great message. Just because you can't do something, that doesn't mean you're should; sometimes it even means you shouldn't. They still made mistakes and had to face consequences, but more frequently, bad things happened because other people meant them harm, not through any fault of theirs.

This was a fantastic story. I eagerly anticipate my library getting book two on audio. And I'm really thankful to the IFA Facebook group for picking this as one of their monthly reads. This is my first time reading Michael Webb, but it won't be my last. show less

One Sentence Summary: Veron is a thief, until he tries to steal from a reclusive man and ends up training to possibly be the one person who can stop an invading king.

I am so glad I read this one! When the author contacted me for a review, I really wanted to read it because the description sounded like it was right up my alley, but I had my reservations concerning the way it was categorized. Fortunately, the categorizations were errors (they've been fixed), so I was more than happy to review show more it. And, like I said, I'm so glad I did! It turned out to be quite different from what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. It focused on what I thought it would, but it also really reminded me of the slice of life book The Dragon's Banker by Scott Warren, which was about an ordinary man being charged with keeping a dragon's wealth. In The Last Shadow Knight, there's not a big focus on banking but on commerce.

The Plot: Where Knights and Businessmen Collide

Placed in an orphanage by his father after his mother died, Veron ran away after his father stopped visiting. Now a street thief just trying to get by with his friend Fend, they run from the law and dream big. Until Veron's life changes in a matter of minutes and he's on his own again. But an encounter with an old man changes his life, and his destiny.

The daughter of Felting's High Lord of Commerce, Chelci squirms under the tough thumb of her mother. With an adventurous spirit and the desire to learn to use a sword, she runs away, straight into trouble. But also into a life where she can be who she wants to be, as long as she keeps her secrets carefully tied up.

Brixton only has one wish: to please his difficult father, Karad's Lord of Commerce. Brixton works hard, but it's never enough. After receiving a top education from boarding school, he returns home, only to be under the scornful eye of his father as his dreams of working in finance go down the drain. Until a chance meeting and surprise friendship with a man he grows to hate delivers the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Last Shadow Knight really packed it in, and never once made it easy for the characters. There's a lot going on for each of the characters over the several years this story spans, but it was also a surprisingly fast read. Or maybe I just enjoyed it so much that I couldn't help gobbling it down.

I loved that this book focuses on three characters who are around the same age and who cross paths in surprising ways. Initially, they seem like disparate stories, especially since each of them is focused on attaining a different end. But I loved the ways in which their stories eventually intertwined. The only thing that bothered me a bit was how much younger Veron is than all the other characters who end up relying on him and how they instantly just trusted him. It felt like a typical YA thing, where a teenager is somehow better and brighter than an adult, but Veron carried himself so well that even I forgot how young he was.

The one thing that I didn't like much was the pacing, especially in terms of how the book is split into parts. It felt a little uneven, especially as I came to the middle. The beginning takes a more day-by-day approach and then subtly shifts so time moves a little quicker. But, by the middle, years have been skipped over before the first part even ends. The second part has a much more even pacing as it doesn't have any awkward time shifts. Of course, it did make sense why the time passed the way it did; I just wish the parts had been divided up a little differently to reflect the varied pacing. The end, though, was fantastic and made me really want to read the next book. Fates start to collide and enemies are made, and I just really want to know what happens next.

The Last Shadow Knight feels more like a character-driven story. They operate under the overarching story, but I felt they were written so well that I couldn't absolutely see how they ended up turning out the way they did. Their stories, personalities, and goals all made sense and tie in well and I can't wait to see how their individual stories work with the overarching story. I especially liked Brixton's story arc as it was quite unexpected, and surprisingly thrilling to read.

What surprised me the most is that this is not a typical fantasy story. Certainly, there's plenty of knight training and a looming destined battle, but it really focused on day-to-day life, especially for Veron. I was so surprised by how commerce-oriented this book was, but really ended up loving it because that's one side of fantasy worlds that is never really explored. This one certainly explored it, and now I'm hoping for more fantasy like it!

The Characters: Three Very Different Peers

The Last Shadow Knight is, undeniably, mostly Veron's story. After all, he's the one who trains to become a knight. But it also includes two others, Chelcie and Brixton. I love that they are major parts of the story, but I also can't help wondering how, exactly, they're tied into Veron's story and the overarching plot. I love them, but I'm hoping for more clarity about their particular roles in future books.

Most of the story is told from Veron's perspective. We meet him as a child thief who makes desperate choices that leads him to his fate. I really felt sympathy for him and wanted so much for him to be able to protect and care for himself. He's smart and strong-willed, but also just an overall good guy. He cares about others, especially those who need help the most. Most of all, I loved how hard he tried to be good and noble, but the world forced him to lie and do unsavory things just to survive.

I loved Chelcie. She's definitely a spunky young lady who is intent on doing what she wants, even if it means running away. What I loved most was how it took time for her to slough off who she was in order to fit in as someone she isn't. As the daughter of a High Lord, she was expected to act a certain way and was used to certain comforts, but, when all that is no longer hers, she didn't automatically adjust. It took time and I loved how natural it was, and just how well she grew up and matured. Chelcie is hardworking and determined, and I just know she'll be quite a force in the story.

Then there's Brixton. He was such a surprising character to me. I did not expect him to turn out the way he did, but I'm also kind of glad he did. Everything about his life was pointing him in that direction, and he really had little choice but to follow it. Manipulative and sneaky, he's the perfect foil to Veron.

The Setting: Traditional Medieval with a Twist

The Last Shadow Knight is set in the world of Terrenor and is mostly in the city of Karad. This is a medieval European-inspired world, but delves so much more into the inner workings of it than most other fantasies I've read.

As I mentioned, there's quite a bit of focus on the business end. Instead of kings and queens maneuvering (though there is a bit of that as an invading king is trying to take over), it's the high lords overseeing money and commerce. I loved every bit of it and especially loved how this book really went into how commerce, trade, and money operate. Somehow, it made the world more interesting and more alive. Or maybe I just loved that it didn't involve court politics and intrigue.

Most of the story is set in the city of Karad, where Veron and Brixton are based. It's a harsh city, especially for the poor. It's easy for the nobility to screw over the people who cross them, even if they don't realize it. But there are still some bright, friendly souls that help soften the edges. Veron evolves a lot over the course of the story, so it was wonderful to see all the sides of the city from his eyes as it helped paint a rather 3D sort of world. I could almost believe I was walking the streets and jumping from rooftops alongside him.

Overall: A Fantastic Spin on Traditional Fantasy

The Last Shadow Knight is, in many ways, a typicaly Eurocentric fantasy. There are kings, there are destinies, there's even a sort of Chosen One. There's knight training and dangerous creatures and an invading army. But there's also a refreshing look at how a fantasy city actually might function. I adored how it focused on commerce. I also loved how strong and complex the characters were. It was wonderful to see how their pasts tied into their presents and futures in a way that made complete sense despite ow jarring it made the pacing. This was a surprisingly quick and easy read and now I can't wait for the next installment.

Thank you to Michael Webb for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own. show less

One Sentence Summary: After losing everything and becoming enslaved, Veron works only to protect the people he cares about, but his master’s daughter catches his attention and his enemies loom on the horizon

Warning: May contain spoilers for Book 1: The Last Shadow Knight.

Overall
Rise of the Shadow is the second book in The Shadow Knight Trilogy and continues to follow Veron (the shadow knight), Chelcie (a lord’s daughter), and Brixton (the son of newly risen Baron of Karad with thanks to show more Veron’s mortal enemy King Bale). While it doesn’t completely evade the middle book syndrome, the second half of this book made it all worth it. The characters all shone just as brightly and the bit of romance was sweet and natural. There’s still the same excellent world building done through the focus on business, commerce, and economics instead of court politics and soaring castles. Overall, Rise of the Shadow was a delightful second book, an excellent link between the beginning and ending of the trilogy. It wraps up the ending events of the first book and sets the main characters on their different paths for the third book.

Extended Thoughts
Rise of the Shadow picks up where The Last Shadow Knight ends: with Verson basically enslaved, Chelcie newly returned home, and Brixton established as the son of the new Baron of Karad. Veron only wants to do his work in Chelcie’s family’s household to protect the lives of the people he listed as collateral, but his sense of duty tangles his life with Chelcie’s. Thanks to a jealous servant, their blooming romance is nipped in the bud, and Brixton unexpectedly becomes tangled with Chelcie’s family. But Brixton has his own secrets, ones that could both destroy Felting and bring Veron in arm’s reach of his destiny.

The Last Shadow Knight was such a pleasant surprise that I couldn’t wait for the second book. I love that, instead of sweeping battles and stories of destiny alongside traveling around the world, this story focuses in on the city level especially in terms of business. It’s refreshing and offers a new take on fantasy.

My favorite part of this book is the characters. They were exactly as I remembered from the first book and, while there wasn’t a ton of growth, I loved how they became to entangled in each others’ stories. I am disappointed the characters didn’t mature as much as I had hoped they would and the romance came on a little strong during the first half. But I did like that the romance felt more natural and it was really fun to watch them dance around each other. Bale, though, was excellent. As the king terrified of Veron being the one to kill him, I loved how he was wrapped up in his need to find and eliminate him to the point of obsession. It was brutal, but I really enjoyed how it depicted a powerful king seemingly teetering on madness.

Veron, as always, is incredible. Despite his beginnings as an orphan and street thief, he has a strong moral compass and an equally strong sense of duty. He always strives to do what’s right and works hard without seeming to expect or want anything in return, though he’s often quite lucky. While Chelcie may have blinded him a little, he really has a great head on his shoulders. He’s a huge pleasure to read, especially as the reader really gets to know his struggles and the fact that his destiny is still hanging over him. He’s overall such a good person it might come off as annoying, but I felt his good heart really overcame that. I really enjoyed his story in Rise of the Shadow since he was enslaved, and I couldn’t wait to see how he would manage that and somehow get out to fulfill his destiny.

Chelcie was quite a fun character, going toe to toe with her dominating mother as she tried to find her purpose in life. I really liked that she wasn’t a typical female looking to marry well. After her years of living in the words and becoming part of the village’s watch, she’s quite capable. It did make some of the things she went through a little less believable because I was expecting her to be a bit stronger, but I really enjoyed that she’s still stubborn and determined to do what she deems best instead of what someone else wants her to do. It does get her tangled in a bit of a web, but her heart of gold helps shine her way and now I’m dying to see what the third book has in store for her.

Brixton, as manipulative as he is, has weirdly become my favorite of the trio. Whenever I thought I understood him, he flipped things around so I wasn’t sure if I could trust him or not. At his core, he’s just trying to gain his father’s favor, but he’s such an excellent actor that I never really know what’s going on with him. I was sorely missing him during the first half as it was more about Veron and Chelcie, but, during the second half, he was quite a force! I loved everything about him, how he made the story twisty and kept me guessing. I don’t know if I’ll ever pin him down, but I really love that about him.

Not only does Rise of the Shadow present wonderful characters, but the story is just as much fun to read. While I didn’t feel the first half evaded the middle book syndrome, I thought the second half more than made up for it. The first half seemed mostly centered about Veron finding his way in Chelcie’s family’s household and his romance with Chelcie herself. I enjoyed how the other servants looked down on him as he’s basically enslaved and how many just tried to destroy him. At the same time, knowing what he’s destined to be and do, I felt a little frustrated because there seemed to be no out for him and he just kept getting himself tangled further in the household. There’s definitely glimmers of what might happen next, but I couldn’t shake the feeling Veron felt a little too comfortable with his new lot in life. Then the second half hit, and never really stopped hitting. It really made up for a weaker first half and had me flying through the pages, desperate to know who to trust and what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns and new revelations. While the first half made me wonder how the characters were possibly going to get to the conclusion of the trilogy, I had no such questions by the end of the book. Instead, I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. I do wish there had been more of a clash between Bale and Veron, but I’m also glad it was minimal because I think the finale will be that much more epic.

What really separates this trilogy from most other fantasy stories is how it focuses on the world building. This series, by far, has my favorite way of exploring a new world: through business, commerce, and economics. Instead of a confusing mass of court politics, though this book did have some great gems of it, it’s really focused on how cities are run, how business is done. Even though I couldn’t really say what these cities looked like, I still felt like the book transported me there. It’s different and unique and really kept my attention. Even though I don’t care for numbers, Rise of the Shadow made me appreciate it and how it impacts world building that much more

Rise of the Shadow is an excellent sequel to The Last Shadow Knight. It’s a great way to get from Book One to what I hope Book Three will bring even if it didn’t completely manage to evade the middle book syndrome. The second half really packs it in and the first half perfectly set up that second half. Not quite as full of business and adventure, it does have me dying to know how all the threads tie up together and how the Dream given in the first book will actually play out. Overall, I found this to be just as enjoyable as the first book and have no doubt this trilogy will be one of the standouts in fantasy for me for a long time.


Thank you to Michael Webb for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own. show less

I enjoy puzzles and quests (even though I doubt I’d be good at them) and I found myself caught up in the world of Author Webb’s devising. Set in the same world as his previous series, this one follows some YA protagonists and they struggle to overcome difficulties on their adventure to find the legendary amulet before others can.

The family and friendship ties are lovely to read and I appreciated the character interactions. While there were moments each shone, they really worked together show more as a team and learn more.

Kira with her planning and fiscal management skills has won a place in my heart, and Rylan’s endless appetite, and… okay, each of the friends has a spot. There’s another book – another action/adventure/puzzle out book in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading it. show less