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    Sea of Shadows
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    Sea of Shadows
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    Sea of Shadows
    Ebook386 pages5 hours

    Sea of Shadows

    By Kelley Armstrong

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Kelley Armstrong, #1 New York Times bestselling author, takes an exciting new direction with this big, breathtaking blend of fantasy, romance, horror, and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of Graceling and Game of Thrones.

    Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn were marked at birth to become the Keeper and the Seeker of Edgewood, beginning with their sixteenth birthday. Trained in fighting and in the secret rites of the spirits, they lead an annual trip into the Forest of the Dead. There, the veil between the living world and the beyond is thinnest, and the girls pay respect to the spirits who have passed.

    But this year, their trip goes dreadfully wrong.

    With all the heart-stopping romance and action that have made her a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and set in an unforgettably rich and dangerous world, this first epic book in the Age of Legends trilogy will appeal to Kelley Armstrong's legions of fans around the world and win her many new ones.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 8, 2014
    ISBN9780062071262
    Author

    Kelley Armstrong

    When librarians finally granted Kelley Armstrong an adult card, she made straight for the epic fantasy and horror shelves. She spent the rest of her childhood and teen years happily roaming fantastical and terrible worlds, and vowed that someday she'd write a story combining swords, sorcery, and the ravenous undead. That story began with the New York Times bestselling Sea of Shadows and continues with Empire of Night. Armstrong's first works for teens were the New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising trilogies. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband, three children, and far too many pets.

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    Reviews for Sea of Shadows

    3.5/5

    171 ratings22 reviews

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    • 1/5
      In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

      Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

      Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever


      I really wanted to like this book. The idea of a world with soul speakers who perform rituals to quiet the damned and help them on their after life journey was appealing, but for me, this book fell flat. While we got a geographic description of this new world, little of the world's culture or history was revealed.
      To me, the characters seem flat and stereotypical: we have Moria, the impulsive, brave, defiant Keeper and Ashyn the dreamy subservient Seeker. Neither character felt fleshed out enough and ill equipped for the tasks they trained their whole lives for. With regard to the action, I guess I'd say too 'busy.'
      I felt as though this was a recitation of events. There wasn't enough descriptive imagery for me; I didn't feel involved in the story or invested in the outcome. I understand this is a YA book and the first in a planned trilogy. I also understand that the first book in a series lays the foundation for the next but it left me feeling like I don't care whether I return to this word or not. Perhaps I'll pick it up again on another day and give it another try, but for now- it just didn't do it for me.

      I received an ARC from the publisher which did not affect this review.
    • 1/5
      I did not finish this book. I read until about 60 pages and gave up. I had no connection to the characters or to the world. I got very little description of the world. It seemed to be influenced by Asian culture, but the only indication was the use of the word "kitsune." The book was hard for me to get into. I really wanted to put down the book sooner, but I wanted to to give it a chance. I was confused by the existence of Seekers and Keepers. I was also confused on why that society would send out people to be exiled only to have to lay their souls to rest later on a dangerous trek. It just doesn't really make sense to me. Besides the confusion, nothing was really memorable. I hope others will enjoy the book, but it just wasn't for me.
    • 4/5
      Urban Fantasy? Nope. Set in the same world as her other series? No again. This is a new Fantasy series aimed at young adults set in a much older world with emperors and warlords - and mythical creatures. It sounds like it will be a trilogy like her other YA series.Seventeen year-old twin sisters Ashyn and Moira are (respectively) the Seeker and Keeper of Edgewood. They both talk to spirits and live on the edge of the Forest of the Dead; a place where exiles are sent to die. Their jobs are to keep the spirits of the dead happy and contained to that forest which can't support life. On the night where the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, Ashyn must do a ritual to make the spirits happy, which includes finding their bodies so they can be buried. But things go very wrong that night and the problem extends quite far; also making this a horror story.When I finished reading the book I found myself eagerly looking foward to reading the next one. There's a lot going on and things really started to get exciting the last third of the book. But halfway thru the book I could have easily set it aside if I hadn't been committed to reading it.There is a portion that dragged for me--the twins get separated and each must travel the same long road separately; each ends up battling different horrific creatures they'd thought were only myths. I'm not a fan of Fantasy (without the Urban), nor horror, so it was during these chapters that I was having a problem. This area does provide a great deal of character building, though, and it was the character building that finally sucked me in to enjoy the situations and challenges they encounter.By the end of the story I was already ready to read more.
    • 4/5
      Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are the Keeper and the Seeker of the Forest of the Dead, the place where the worst criminals are exiled. It is their job to lay the souls left wandering the forest to rest. Something evil is lurking and the girls need to leave their home to warn the emperor. Although twins, Moria and Ashym, have two very different personalities, making the story all the more interesting. The main and support characters are well done with behaviors very appropriate to the story.There are many paranormal and fantasy elements that are an integral part of the story. They were seamlessly entwined into the novel.Sea of Shadows is a fresh story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Kelley Armstrong created a unique and interesting world in the Age of Legends Series. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. The ending left me awestruck and wanting more.Complimentary copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      SEA OF SHADOWS is an action-packed beginning to a new fantasy trilogy. Twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are Keeper and Searcher of Edgewood. They have been fated for the job since birth and each has a companion animal. Moria has a hunting cat she has named Daigo. Ashyn's Tova is a giant yellow hound. Now, having turned sixteen, Ashyn has to go into the Forest of the Dead to find the bodies of the criminals and exiles that were sent there and lay their restless spirits. Ashyn doesn't feel confident in her task. The task is made harder when those who accompany her begin disappearing. However, she does find one exile from the previous year named Ronan who is still alive. Ronan had one of Moria's daggers and thought that Ashyn was Moria at first.Ashyn and Moria do manage to escape the forest of the dead despite being hunted by shadow stalkers. But when they get to Edgewood, they find the village has also been attacked. There are few survivors. Ashyn is particularly concerned for Moria who has gone into the Forest of the Dead to try to rescue her. She meets up with Gavril Kitsune who is one of the village guards exiled there when his father was declared a traitor and sent to the forest to die. Moria and Gavril have a very contentious relationship but do manage to work together to survive. Ashyn is determined to get word to the Emperor of the events in Edgewood and takes off with the few survivors across the waste to the nearest town. Ronan has been following along watching over her. As her companions fall victim to the hazards of the Wastes, Ronan joins up with the group just in time for them to be attacked by sand worms spitting acid. Meanwhile, Moria and Gavril are also doing battle on the Wastes. This time the creature is the Thunder Hawk. Both sand worms and thunder hawks are supposed to be mythological creatures. Evidence is pointing to someone using sorcery.The two groups do finally meet when they are both captured by the mercenaries who have overtaken the town they were fleeing to for help. The four of them are being sent to the Emperor with a sealed letter stating that conqueror's demands. Again the group has adventures along the way. Relationships grow between the boys and the girls as they get to know each other. But I would describe them as friendships rather than romances. Secrets are shared but lots more secrets remain.This is the first book in a trilogy. It also ends on a cliffhanger. I loved the characters and the worldbuilding in this story. I admired the way Armstrong let us know about the world without resorting to long-winded "info-dumps." I look forward to reading the next book and just wish that it was coming out sooner.
    • 5/5
      The Good Stuff•Once again Kelley delivers a fast paced (midway through), exciting story filled with unique characters and fabulous world building. The women is a born storyteller•Honestly people just might pick it up for the positively stunning cover - will be proud to have this one in my collection•Kelley has created an exceptionally unique world, that while fantastical, still has a feel of something real•Well developed characters•Snappy and snarky dialogue that made me laugh•Enjoyed the relationship between the sisters - very realistic (well they are nicer to each other than my two kids) and they have such a wonderful bond - even when they are snapping at each other•Excellent cliff-hanger - now um - when does the next book come out (damn this book isn't even for sale yet)•I'm intrigued by the emperor's bastard son, me thinks he will become more involved as the story develops•Totally creepy - reminded me at times of the white walkers from the Game of Thrones mixed with a little Japanese mythology - fascinating•Strong kick ass female characters and the male love interests are different (a little angsty like in most YA fiction, but not overly so) and you can see the attraction the girls have for themThe Not So Good Stuff•I struggled a little bit near the beginning of the story and was a tad confused but I kept going because I knew Kelley wouldn't disappoint•Remember I am a 43 yr old women who never had two boys like her so take the next comment with that in mind. I have a bad feeling there may be a love triangle involved (Not yet, jest have a nagging suspicion) And Kelley if you don't do that I will love you forever ; )Favorite Quotes/Passages"Curiosity is what lets a young mind grow and keeps an old mind young.""It was an old joke that emperors bred like rabbits because, like the rodents, so few of their offspring survived. It would not be nearly as amusing an analogy if you were one of those young rabbits.""People made up those stories because it's what they wanted from their world. A place where goodness, kindness, and honor were rewarded."4.25 Dewey'sI received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
    • 4/5
      I got this book to review as an eGalley through Edelweiss. I had previously read some of Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld (which I wasn’t a huge fan of) and her Darkest Powers YA series (which was okay). I was curious to read a fantasy novel by her. I ended up liking this book more than all of the other books I have read by her. It is an interesting world, with solid characters and it was a good read. The second book in the Age of Legends series will be titled Empire of Night and is scheduled for a 2015 release.Moria and Ashyn are twins which is very rare in the Empire, even rarer they end up being Keeper and Seeker for Edgewood. Edgewood is a small village that is the only thing that stand between the Forest of the Dead and the rest of the Empire. As Keeper Moria’s job is to protect Edgewood and protect the Seeker, as Seeker Ashyn’s job is to lay the souls of the dead to rest and make sure the town stays spiritually healthy. The Forest of the Dead is where the worst criminals are exiled to and this year it is Ashyn’s first time entering the Forest of the Dead on her own to quiet the souls of these violent exiles.When Ashyn goes to the Forest of the Dead to quiet the souls, things go horribly wrong and the whole town ends up under attack by creatures that were previously thought to be only legend. Moria and Ashyn’s world falls to pieces and they end up on a journey far from home.Ashyn and Moria are very different people, although they are identical in appearance. Ashyn is very quiet and proper, she is maybe a bit too passive. As the story continues she grows as a character and starts to learn the value of being more fierce and standing up for herself better. Ashyn was a bit weak as a character and initially I really didn’t engage with her all that well...but as the story continued she started to grow on me. Both sisters have bond-beasts. Ashyn has an Immortal Hound name Tora for her companion, I wished he had been given a bit more personality.Moria is fiery and combative. She challenges everyone and goes through life taking huge risks, she is a bit prickly and easily offended. I enjoyed reading about her a lot, she just has so much heart and lives life on her terms. However, she also changes some throughout the book and begins to realize that sometimes it is better to have a bit more finesse rather than attack everything head on. Her bound beast is a Wildcat named Diego, he had a lot more personality than Tora and I really enjoyed having him in the story.On their journey Moria and Ashyn are accompanied by two men. Moria runs into Gavril, one of the town’s warriors, on her way out of town. Gavril and Moria develop a very strong relationship that is founded on trust. I enjoyed Gavril as a character, he is a bit distant at first and has a lot of secrets. But I loved watching as Gavril and Moria gained respect for each other and learned to trust one another.Ashyn is accompanied by the ex-convict Ranon on her journey. These two characters didn’t have as much chemistry as Moria and Gavril. Ranon obviously has issues of his own and he kind of flits in and out of the story. He tries to help Ashyn at times, but you are never entirely certain of his intentions. All of the characters are solid characters and were engaging. The world in this book has heavy Asian influences, it is a well done world and it is well developed throughout this book. I hope it is expanded on and explained more in the next book in this series. There are some excellent action scenes in here and some wonderful encounters with fantastical mythological creatures.The plot was well done as well. There are some excellent twists and turns towards the end of the book that I wasn’t expecting. My only complaint with this book is that the pacing was a bit off at points. There were parts of the book that kind of drug on and were a bit boring. Then there were other parts of the book that had absolutely action packed fighting scenes in them. Overall I enjoyed reading this. I liked the world and found the characters to be very engaging. There are some excellent action scenes in here as well as a lot of intrigue and mystery. There were parts where the pacing was a bit off, so sections that were boring and could have been shortened. Recommended to those who enjoy YA adventure fantasy. I will definitely be reading the second book in the series, Empire of Night.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: It’s easy to immerse yourself in this action-packed, exciting novel.Opening Sentence: After three days of tramping across endless lava fields, Ronan quickened his steps at the sight of the forest.The Review:Sea of Shadows tells the story of Moria and Ashyn, twins, trained since they were young to be seeker and keeper of Edgewood. In this tiny village, the keeper and seeker keep the angry spirits at bay and keep a connection to their ancestors. But this year, during the annual trip into the Forest of the Dead, the spirits rebel — ancient monsters awaken and people are slaughtered. It’s up to Moria and Ashyn to discover why and how to save the sole survivors of Edgewood!Moria and Ashyn are very different, beside physical appearance. Moria is fierce and impatient, with a quick tongue and talent in weaponry. Ashyn is quieter and more proper, regarded as the weaker of the sisters. I enjoyed the conflicting personalities, and it’s obvious that although they are far from the same they share a deep bond. Their spiritual animals, a Hound of the Immortals and a Wildcat, made me like the characters even more. Through the journey they both change a little, in subtle ways — Moria learns a little patience and Ashyn lets her more fiery side show once or twice.Now let’s talk about the love interests. I can appreciate the relationship between Moria and Gavril, but I didn’t like it very much. Gavril doesn’t show enough expression towards Moria: the only way I realized they were supposed to be falling in love was through Ashyn’s point of view. On the other hand, Ashyn’s love interest Ranon was more fun. He added humor to an otherwise very tensely toned novel, loosening the suspense a bit.With the two sister’s points of views so different, it was hard to get confused, but a few times I did. Sometimes it was just that Moria had narrated four chapters before this one and I expected Moria’s story, and same with Ashyn. Other than that, though, I didn’t get mixed up, and all was well in my reading. (Just be careful if you read it to not get too comfortable in one character — as soon as something exciting happens to one it will often flash to the other!)I enjoyed how the setting was always changing. The adventure spanned over quite a distance, so you aren’t hearing about the dreary Waste’s barren sand too long.To sum it up, Sea of Shadows was ripe with betrayals, cliffhangers, and action, although the romance was lacking a little. There were two or three kisses the whole novel, so if you’re a huge fan of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer you might want to avoid this title. Otherwise, you will really love it. You’ll want to pre-order it on your eReader or pick it up at Barnes and Noble. I’d recommend the latter, the cover is awesome. Definitely something you want to display on a bookshelf, that’s for sure! Happy reading!Notable Scene: It looks like… It cannot be…She lifted her gaze slowly, almost not daring to look back at the door, certain that she would not see what she-Moria walked through.There were others with her. Ashyn didn’t see them. Her mind stopped there: Moria walked through.She saw her sisters face, sweat-stained and hard, her blue eyes blazing fury. Moria spotted her and her rage evaporated a flicker of shock. Then she raced across the stone floor.FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Sea of Shadows. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      This was excellent. I did think that there was a bit too much action and not enough plot (it was one actions scene after another back to back to back), but overall it was very very good. Ashyn and Moria were well defined twins, something that is not always done with finesse.
    • 3/5
      Moria and Ashyn live at the edges of the Forest of the Dead. Each year the worst criminals are exiled into the forest to perish. Their souls never rest quietly so as “the Seeker” and “the Keeper” for their village Moria and Ashyn are tasked to find those souls and quiet their unrest by bringing them peace. Usually it’s done successfully, but this year something sinister cannot be quieted. Things of stories and legends are being brought to life and their entire village is destroyed. Separated in their quest to find out what really happened to their home, they discover that one of the exiled may not have perished in exile and could be seeking revenge.

      This is the first book in Ms. Armstrong’s latest YA trilogy. Ms. Armstrong never ceases to amaze me with her imagination for settings, characters and other-wordly creations. I feel because of some of the subject matter this book would definitely fall into the higher-end of the YA bracket, but was still a quick read. I enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      This is an amazing book...for the first 2/3, anyway. I couldn't put it down, but somewhere in the last act, it runs out of steam.
    • 5/5
      I'm a Kelly Armstrong fan and her lastest offering doesn't disappoint. I love the story line and the dual female protaganists who are twins help make this book a page turner. All these things mesh and is one of the reason that I love to read. I like the mythological angle and hope she expands on that.

      The romantic tension hinted at by the girls with their prospective love interests is very interesting and I hope Kelly Armstrong continues to explore that. It makes me root for the guys who are obviously in love with the girls.

      If you like to read fantasy with mythological elements,a dash of romance, and fights with otherworldly creatures pick up a copy of this book.


    • 5/5
      Sea of Shadows: Age of Legends by Kelley Armstrong is the first of a new trilogy. This time it's a high fantasy set in the land that seems inspired by Ainu and Japanese legends. Moria and Ashyn as twins have been destined to serve their village as keeper and seeker. The keeper maintains the stories and traditions; the seeker finds the dead and the spirits. Both are paired with an animal guide and the guides are the ones who ultimately decide if twins are worthy of the task.Over the winter, those who have broken the laws of the village are cast out, sent to the forest to fend for themselves. It's basically a death sentence. If they do survive, they are invited back into the fold. This time though, when Ashyn goes out to retrieve the bodies and put the souls to rest, something happens.Thus Armstrong sets up a small scale apocalypse, driving the survivors towards the capital. Both sisters are forced to make uncomfortable decisions while trying to stay true to their calling. After so many of her urban YA fantasies where teens suddenly have powers and suddenly the adults around them are EVIL and they have to escape and they can't trust anyone. And oh the sexual tension!Sea of Shadows is thankfully different. Yes, there are evil adults but it's not quite the conspiracy. Also, the sisters have been training all their lives so even if they aren't much different in age from their urban cohorts, they act older and with more confidence. Thus the focus of the story is on the world building, rather than angsty teens being angsty teens — with powers.
    • 4/5
      Ordinarily I don’t like fantasy, unless the author is Maggie Stiefvater, Melina Marchetta, or Kelley Armstrong. They know how to make stories so good, you forget you decided not to like fantasy.Moria and Ashyn are 16-year-old twins in the village of Edgewood, which abuts The Forest of the Dead, a place thick with spiritual energy from the dead criminals who have been exiled there. Moria and Ashyn have been born with the ability to communicate with spirits, and thus Moria has become a "Keeper" and Ashyn is a "Seeker," one of four such pairs of specially endowed twins in the Empire. Ancestral Spirits guide and direct them. The main role of the Keeper and Seeker is to contact the angry spirits of the exiles each year on the night where the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, in order to help bring them rest and peace. Each of the girls is aided by a special beast. Moria has a Daigo, a wildcat, and Ashyn has Tova, a hound. It is thought that the spirits of former warriors reside in the beasts.Moira and Ashyn were not allowed to perform their duties until they turned sixteen, but now it is time. Ashyn is nervous, but Moria assures her it will be fine:"Nothing ever goes wrong, Ash. If it did, we’d hear the stories. The only thing people love more than a good story is a bad one. Tales of tragedy and woe and bloody entrails, strung like ribbons, decorating the battlefields.”But this time, something does go very wrong, and the consequences are catastrophic for the village. The girls must travel to the Capital to seek help.Moria, unable to find Ashyn, heads out to appeal to the Emperor, accompanied by the warrior Gavril Kitsune. Ashyn also travels to the Capital, along with Ronan, an exiled criminal who miraculously has survived The Forest of the Dead. The dangers for the four of them are severe, and it is not clear who among them will survive their mission.Discussion: Kelley Armstrong creates great characters. They are multi-dimensional and - I know this sounds trite, but the females are brave yet vulnerable, and the males strong yet tender. (You’d think this would presage a lot of ear tucks, but there was nary a one. There was, however, a great scene in which one of the boys braids the hair of one of the girls.)The twins are devoted to each other and connected to one another in many ways, and yet they are quite distinct personalities. Each is appealing in her own way, and each has very distinctive insecurities and defenses. The underlying conceit - that the scary stories told by Moria to entertain the kids of her village come true through sorcery, is cleverly done, and inspires some entertaining conversation among the characters on what is real, what is superstition, and what can never be known.Kelley adopts some standard YA tropes, but she manages to make them fresh and entertaining. More importantly, she also invokes the eternally entertaining themes of great epic sagas - characters both heroic and tragic, a battle of huge proportions, and a difficult quest with life-threatening struggles requiring extraordinary feats of bravery and prowess.Evaluation: I think I may be biased in favor of works by Kelley Armstrong because it seems we share the same notions about what characters should be like; what constitutes dialogue that is both entertaining and realistic; and what makes a story memorable. (Too bad only one of us can write, and it isn’t I.) I enjoyed this a great deal, but be aware, it is only the first of a series.
    • 2/5
      Ashyn is more of the quiet one. Moira is the outspoken one. This fact combined with Moira's beauty is why all of the guys fall for her. Just once, Ashyn would love to have a guy for herself. Oh there have been a few but then when they see Moira, it is like "Ashyn, who". Either way it does not really matter (well it does kind of, but that is later) as Ashyn and Moira are twins and tasked with special gifts. Moira is the Keeper and Ashyn is the Seeker. Each year the sisters travel to the Forest of the Dead. They help the departed spirits who reside there. I was excited to read this book. The concept sounded different. However when I picked up this book and started reading it, I found that it was pain stakingly slow reading. In fact, I can't quite remember what happened in the first thirteen chapters. In fact, I put this book down and read about 4 other books before I picked it up again. Luckily, the story started gaining speed at chapter fourteen. However I still was only half interested. Moira's voice was stronger and I liked reading about her. Ashyn was fine. Although again the story dropped steam and it was slow again. There was just a lot of back and forth between the girls and not a lot of action. It was them wandering and wandering to find each other again. I finally skipped to the end and was not satisfied.
    • 4/5
      loved the characters and the romantic twist looking forward to the next book
    • 3/5
      Interesting world, complex relationships. I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. My average rating is based on her previous work as this seems to be building up towards some awesome story telling, but if you are a Kelley Armstrong fan you may be slightly disappointed in the abrupt ending.
    • 4/5
      I found Sea of Shadows (and the trilogy as a whole) entertaining but flawed. I liked the two main characters, Moira and Ashyn, but found myself wishing that there was some more character development throughout the novel. Moira (the “fiery” twin) didn’t seem to really let her guard down throughout Sea of Shadows. Also, if you are not a fan of having an unclear/mysterious enemy/antagonist then I might recommend you pass this book.
    • 3/5
      My actual rating is 3.5 stars.

      Read my full review here.

      What’s this? The first installment in a new Kelley Armstrong book series? It’s a high fantasy novel with paranormal aspects and is written during a historical period? Yes, please.

      Ashyn is a very wise character in some ways. She has a good intuition and insight. While she isn’t trained in battle like Moria, she is a strong female character too. To put it simply: I respect her. At times, though, Ashyn frustrated me with her intense focus on romance and jealousy of Moria.

      Moria is my favourite of the two sisters. She has a tendency to have strong emotions and reactions and she's sarcastic and witty which makes for entertaining dialogue. Still, at times Moria seemed to contradict herself; is she more devoted to her sister or to her village? Sometimes she would choose one over the other in action but not in word.

      The thread of stories and storytelling – and the utter importance of them – is woven throughout the story very well. The metafictive nature of Sea of Shadows is an aspect which is very enjoyable to read. Armstrong uses it in a powerful way: mere stories are necessary for survival.

      The pacing of the story may seem a bit slow for some but keep in mind that it’s a novel written in the style of an epic fantasy or adventure – think of the genre of The Lord of the Rings – and so the pacing can be slower in order to include many details and to build up suspense.

      As for the supernatural…well, it’s exactly what you’d expect from Armstrong. It’s very detailed and horrific which translates into a thrilling read. Armstrong’s trademark is definitely her imaginative supernatural creatures and it’s no different in this book.

      Overall, Sea of Shadows is a good book that has engaging narratives, well-written descriptions, and a typically wonderful Armstrong dose of the supernatural. For me, the high points outweigh the not-so-high points.
    • 4/5
      Good read. Touch of romantic suspense. Liked the characters.
    • 4/5
      Fun read. I finished reading the last chapter without realising.
      l'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
    • 2/5
      Hmmm. Tricky, thats what this is. Keeping this a review and not a rant may be harder than it usually is.

      This book was almost a chore to get through. For one, it was probably 150 pages too long. It was slow and repetitive and I really had to force my way through a ton of it.

      On the other hand, I liked Ronan a lot. Other than that the characters were annoying,stupid, and predictable. Why I liked Ronan? Because he's the only one that has a handful of braincells. He's a criminal that was thrown into the Forest of the Dead. When it all hit the fan, he didn't stick around. He understood that he was still a convicted criminal and wasn't going to be greeted with open arms by the other villagers. He's smart enough to play the angles when necessary. But overall, he just thought circles around his brainless companions. It was refreshing.

      So the girls had like "bond beasts" or something. One sister had a huge tame wildcat while the other had a equally large doggy. They are given to the children at birth and have been inseparable ever since. This could have been a redeeming quality of this book. But no, it fell really flat and pretty pointless. All they did was "chuff" and warn the girls of possible danger. But the whole "bond" thing didn't pull through enough. The girls obviously cared about their beasts, but they easily could have been just pets.

      All in all this book just didn't click with me. The characters were very empty headed, the plot was ridiculously slow, and just plain boring. While it was a very original plot and Ronan was pretty enjoyable, it just really didn't go anywhere. It was a long(ish) book with almost no plot development in it. It's just overall a skippable book. And what the heck is on the cover?

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