Shadow's Lure (Shadow Saga, #2)

Feb 25, 2012 Seak (Bryce L.) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-review, 2011, fantasy

I love assassins! I'll not go into the same discussion from my review of Shadow's Son, but by golly those guys are cool and Jon Sprunk is an assassin master.

Shadow's Lure is the second volume in the Shadow Saga as I mentioned before, beginning with Shadow's Son. It's full of assassins, magic, and tons of action. Did I mention TONS OF ACTION!

Shadow's Lure takes up the story almost directly after Shadow's Son. Caim, our fearless assassin, is headed north to the dangerous northlands, on a mission n...more I love assassins! I'll not go into the same discussion from my review of Shadow's Son, but by golly those guys are cool and Jon Sprunk is an assassin master.

Shadow's Lure is the second volume in the Shadow Saga as I mentioned before, beginning with Shadow's Son. It's full of assassins, magic, and tons of action. Did I mention TONS OF ACTION!

Shadow's Lure takes up the story almost directly after Shadow's Son. Caim, our fearless assassin, is headed north to the dangerous northlands, on a mission not even he yet knows about. Josey has taken over the throne in Othir as empress amidst protests of the True Church. In Shadow's Lure, there is also an added point of view, also in third-person limited, in the witch Sybelle who is the right hand man woman of the new Duke of the North who is attempting to unite the north through subjugation.

While I enjoyed Josey's part in Shadow's Son, I really had a good time with her sections in Shadow's Lure. It was filled with political intrigue and dastardly characters trying to take advantage of her naivete, not least among them, members of the True Church.

Some of the minor problems I had, and the reason for a 4 instead of a 5 star rating, was the fact that (***Minor spoiler warning***) Kit, Caim's invisible Fae partner, is absent from Caim for much of the book. Hence, the fun, witty banter isn't as prevalent as in Shadow's Son. But then again, her parts in the book end up giving us a glimpse of what all this world Jon Sprunk's created has to offer.

I mentioned in my last review that I was really interested, after reading Shadow's Son, to find out more about the Shadow realm. There are lots of hints, but not a lot of solid facts. In Shadow's Lure, we find out much more about this mysterious place, although it is still mostly a mystery.

The magic system in this series is really impressive drawing from this shadow realm and actually using shadows as the magic. There are lots of fantasy books/series that involve shadows, but I'd never seen one that actually uses the shadows for anything from healing to torture and even fighting. What a great concept that's used in a really unique way.

Why Read Shadow's Lure?

Shadow's Lure is sword and sorcery at its best. Fast-paced, filled with action and realistic characters, and of course...assassins! If you like Brent Weeks or Paul Kearney, you'll really enjoy this series.

4 out of 5 Stars (Loved it!)(less)

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Bastard I think my main trouble was that there was too much time spent travelling, going from one place to another. Once Caim reached the city, I would've lik...more
22 juin 09:29

Seak (Bryce L.) You've put a lot of the points in that I wasn't a huge fan of - hence not getting a 5 star rating. I've never been a fan of heroes losing their "power...more
22 juin 09:36

Oct 23, 2011 Stacey O'Neale rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review was completed by Michael Cummings, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide.

Shadow's Lure is the second book of Sprunk's Shadow Saga, following the debut of "Shadow's Son" last year (2010). In this volume, we return to Othir immediately after the events of "Shadow's Son" as Caim heads north, looking for answers to his past and the murder of his parents. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darke...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The followup to mr Sprunks debut is a great fun read, but if you haven't read the first you'll be depriving yourself of the character development that happened in Shadows Son. Although the characters of Josey and Caim are futher developed, both in plot and personality, it's more a continuation and , particularly in the Cade of Caim, I dont know if a reader starting with this first will enjoy it ad much.
This series is s new twist on several old fantasy tropes, and steals a lot of concepts from m...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

Shadow's Lure is the sequel to the well received and highly praised Shadow's Son, and it takes place a very short time after the first. Caim and Kit are heading north, Josey is struggling to make herself be a good Empress, and the world seems to be falling apart under everyone's feet.

The book is fairly heavy with different plots. Josey has two or so plots, Caim has perhaps another two, Kit has her own and we also see things from the perspectives of a duke's son and finally the antagonist of the...more

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May 20, 2012 Algernon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

[7/10]
This is the same rating I gave to Shadow's Son, the debut novel of author Jon Sprunk, so it is safe to say readers who liked the opening of the series, will enjoy the sequel. I find myself though, subtracting half a star instead of adding it, because this novel ramped up the violence and gore about ten times compared with the Shadow's Son, and this is usually a turnoff in my list of preferences.

Still, this is an easy read - which can be taken both as praise and criticism depending on the...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Justin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, thief-assassin, fantasy, 2011-release

http://staffersmusings.blogspot.com/2...

That link also has a giveaway of the first two books open through Nov 17, 2011.

Earlier this year I reviewed Jon Sprunk's 2010 debut novel, Shadow's Son. While I very much enjoyed it, my review was less than glowing. I felt some things were sacrificed to the novel's breakneck pace and that Caim, Spunk's protagonist, was a little too one-dimensional. In a not so stunning development, Shadow's Lure corrects many of these deficiencies and in so doing demonstra...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Kai Mundwiler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was torn between three and four stars with this one. It was one of the few books that I was really looking forward to coming out this fall and for the better part of the beginning, I had my expectations met.

Characterization and the writing was good. It continued the story well and I didn't feel like there was a huge drop off from the gap between the two publication dates.

What frustrated me had to do with the last quarter of the book. The pacing sped up to a negatively fast pace, where I felt...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Stephen Deighan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok so I went straight from the first volume of Sprunk's Shadow Trilogy, Shadow's Son, into this book. Shadow's Lure picks up the storyline shortly after the events of book one, exploring Josey's initial, danger-ridden days as Empress of Nimea and Caim's jounrey North to discover the fate of his mother. We are treated to a deeper understanding of the "Lord's of Shadow" and Caim's own relationship to the Shadowlands. We also get a number of chapters from Kit's perspective which are very enjoyable,...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

My thoughts:

I know I have been raving over a lot of fantasy books lately but who could blame me, it is the best genre in the whole world, and when I love I love.

This is then book two and Caim has left the city to go and search for clues about his past. Why was his father and everyone else killed? Is his mother alive and who took her? So he goes north, a land troubled by shadows and strife and he will learn more about why he can command shadows. The book is also about Josey who is now empress and...more My thoughts:

I know I have been raving over a lot of fantasy books lately but who could blame me, it is the best genre in the whole world, and when I love I love.

This is then book two and Caim has left the city to go and search for clues about his past. Why was his father and everyone else killed? Is his mother alive and who took her? So he goes north, a land troubled by shadows and strife and he will learn more about why he can command shadows. The book is also about Josey who is now empress and has a lot to deal with, for example the church who calls her a usurper whore. Those bastards. Down with the church! She is also missing Caim. I will take any hint of romance I can.

Caim and his shadows, in this book we get to see him even darker. He is a hero, but he is a dark murderous hero and I love him. Because that goodness in him is the best. In this book he again protects those who need it and join in to fight those who try to damn the north with dark magic and blood. And of course his sidekick, Kit, the strange fairy always brings something to the table. Humour and fun. Josey then, well she struggles with her new power, misses Caim and makes me wonder if these two will have a HEA. After book 1 I let that thought fade, only to pick it up again in this book and then leave it again. An assassin and an empress, sadly very unlikely but I shall not say more because lots will happen.

The book is filled with fights, action, dark magic, plots to take power and an intensity that makes me read fast to get all the information at once. There is darkness, but still the book does not feel dark. People get hurt, people die, that's life.

I liked book 1, I liked book 2 even more. They keep on getting better and I can't wait to read book 3 and see what happens. He has a way of taking you along for the ride and you will forget about other things. There is only this book and you.

Conclusion:

Awesome! Good fantasy makes me smile and become all giddy inside. I want book 3 at once, sadly I must wait. But in the mean time I will recommend this series to you all. It is great fantasy and when you start you will not want to put it down.

Rating:

Recommended(less)

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Aug 16, 2011 Terry Simpson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Death, despair, political intrigue, sword and sorcery, plots intertwined within plots. Sinister characters who will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals, those who believe in the greater good and suffer for it, clans on the edge of eradication unless they succumb to the will of evil. In the middle again is our man Caim, now in the North, seeking out his past and his future, drawn by the very darkness and shadows that are his birthright. Kit, in love and torn away from her beloved Caim and c...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Kati rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ebooks, fantasy, het, in-english, work-translations

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked the first book, I liked the development the characters, Caim and Josey, went through. But this one? What happened?! Since this books has two separate storylines, Caim's and Josey's, let's take first one, then the other.

So, Caim. Good grief! Caim has never been a bundle of joy but in this book, he's all doom and gloom and coldness and annoyance. And stupidity. God, for an assassin, the guy is as dumb as a bundle of sticks. He kills a deer and leaves the carcass lying right next to his cam...more I liked the first book, I liked the development the characters, Caim and Josey, went through. But this one? What happened?! Since this books has two separate storylines, Caim's and Josey's, let's take first one, then the other.

So, Caim. Good grief! Caim has never been a bundle of joy but in this book, he's all doom and gloom and coldness and annoyance. And stupidity. God, for an assassin, the guy is as dumb as a bundle of sticks. He kills a deer and leaves the carcass lying right next to his camp - of course he's attacked by a bear, what did he expect? And the rebellion! He lead two - 2! - attacks and both of them went awry! Why exactly did the outlaws think he was a good leader? And his relationship with Kit - the whole first book he talked about how they were just friends, that he didn't understand why she wanted more - and suddenly, he's in love with her? Out of the blue? Just like that? Seriously, buddy, a month or two ago you were smitten with Josey - and now you tell me that suddenly you've fallen in love with a woman whom you considered just a friend your whole life? Try something else! Also, Kit? What an annoying character! Never there when you actually need her.

And Josey. A crowned queen, yet she still thinks more about Caim and where he is and why he left her than about solving her country's problems! No wonder the Church almost managed to wrestle the throne from her! And her pregnancy. She has unprotected sex with a guy and then is surprised when she ends up pregnant? And how exactly does she plan to explain it to her subjects? Immaculate conception? Is she really that naive that she thinks her ministers will allow her to marry and ex-assassin? An ex-assassin who ran for the hills and haven't been heard of since, to boot? For an unwed queen to end up pregnant, that's more than a little problematic. But does she actually bother to try and find a solution? Of course not!

God! It feels like the whole character development that was actually headed somewhere in book 1 went completely out of the window and the author just twisted the characters to fit the plot as it suited him. Josey's story didn't annoy me as much as Caim's, still... I expected much, much more!(less)

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Jan 30, 2012 Goran Zidar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very enjoyable book to read. In some ways you could say that I would be biased in favour of it given my own fondness for having an assassin as the main character. That may be the reason I first picked up the series, it is certainly not the reason I kept reading it. Caim – the main protaganist – might have been an assassin in book one, but in this novel he is a young man who is in search for answers about his past. And it is a difficult search where he becomes an often unwilling partic...more This was a very enjoyable book to read. In some ways you could say that I would be biased in favour of it given my own fondness for having an assassin as the main character. That may be the reason I first picked up the series, it is certainly not the reason I kept reading it. Caim – the main protaganist – might have been an assassin in book one, but in this novel he is a young man who is in search for answers about his past. And it is a difficult search where he becomes an often unwilling participant in a poorly resourced rebellion.

There were a few times in the book where I question his reasons for getting involved but I nothing he did felt completely out of character and I think the Caim in book two did the things he did because he’s grown since the Caim in book one. Such personal growth has made him less self centred which makes him more willing to get involved.

My other criticism, which is minor, is that Caim spends the bulk of this book carrying one injury or another. He gets mauled by a bear in the opening pages and his opponents (and wounds) get worse from there. While there is a lot of reference to the cuts, gouges and bruises they don’t seem to hinder him to any serious extent during any of his numerous combats. There were a couple of times where I found myself thinking that his body should be a mass gore by now and yet he just kept on going.

Perhaps the shadow magic sustains and heals him without him (or us) being aware of it. I know we can’t have a hero that needs a lie down and a cup of tea after every fight after, but I would have like to see more consideration given to the vast array of injuries he’d received throughout the storyline.

The Josey storyline was more difficult for me to wrap my head around. I wasn’t really clear why the people were turning against the very same empress that just a few short months ago they were bleeding to put on the throne. I can understand that the depose rulers – the True Church – were upset at being ousted and that any established religion is going to have a lot of backing and clout among the people but it still didn’t feel quite right to me. Motivation issues aside I was very pleased by how it was handled and never found myself wishing the storyline would focus more on Caim and skip Josey entirely.

The other thing I enjoyed was that the character of Kit was better fleshed out – excuse the pun. She still remains something of an enigma. Why is she there? How did she end up with Caim? What is her purpose? These questions remain largely unanswered but perhaps that’s what book three will tell us.

In all Shadow’s Lure was good. I thought it was better than the first one and I liked that one a lot. My expectations are high and I am really looking forward to book three.(less)

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Dec 03, 2011 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So far it is brilliant, the action is fast paced and there isn't to much hanging about. However it seems to keep splitting the narrative between 4 or 5 characters so can get a little confusing. I hope it all ties up neatly at the end.

Finished now, great read, can't wait for the third book. The characters can be a little bit thin but there is still enough there to make you want to get in behind them and see them succeed. I still feel that a lot of the narratives could have been left out. Keegan a...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Brandon Zarzyczny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this sequel, the author did a great job advancing the story and skills of Caim. This story was maybe a little more epic and less contained than Sprunk's debut, and it really was a page turner. In truth I may have liked the first one more, but I loved both of the books. I really only had two problems with this book, the sections with the new queen didn't really grab my attention as much as Caim's story, and near the end Caim's powers were becoming a bit too superheroish. In my fa...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Georgia rated it 4 of 5 stars

How can you not enjoy a good assassin story? I have to say, I was surprised by this second book which led the main character in another direction that lead him further from his 'love-interest' of the first book. In fact, Caim's search for the answers to his past makes a more involved and richer story.

On top of that, the new empress has new challenges and it was a nice change to see the repercussions of a governmental over haul - That things weren't all cut and dry with the changes that happened...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 18, 2012 Becky Hoffman rated it 4 of 5 stars

So I finally brought myself to finish this series, and the second book was very entertaining as it was constantly moving with all the different plots and what not.

*May contain spoilers* (but very very small spoilers that you will figure out on your own anyway and none of them are giving away the ending)

First we follow Caim as he's just wandering around the country-side, still talking about how everyone doesn't like him or trust him and he continues to pine after Josey.

Josey on the other hand, is...more So I finally brought myself to finish this series, and the second book was very entertaining as it was constantly moving with all the different plots and what not.

*May contain spoilers* (but very very small spoilers that you will figure out on your own anyway and none of them are giving away the ending)

First we follow Caim as he's just wandering around the country-side, still talking about how everyone doesn't like him or trust him and he continues to pine after Josey.

Josey on the other hand, is back at Othir and trying to rule as Empress and failing miserably. Most of her court hates her and riots break out all over the city and to top it all off, she has morning sickness (*wink wink nudge nudge*). It's pretty apparent from the beginning that she's pregnant, so when she finally finds out she is, you as the reader is kind of sitting there going "Duh!".

So now back to Caim, he gets attacked by a bear and almost loses his arm in the process, but starts to work with his shadows more (a huge relief from the first book) and he really uses them in a very cool and imaginative way, but like always, it lands him into trouble with the locals.

Now back to Josey, still struggling as Empress and now someone is trying to kill her.

Now back to Caim (this happens a lot in the books)...
Scratch that, now back to the Duke's son! I can't forget about him. He, I have to say in my own opinion, was the coolest part of the entire book! He was an amazing character as he's this kind of cool, but very passionate soldier who is desperately trying to find his Father (the Father isn't lost, he's just being controlled by magic) and he has an awesome team of soldiers that follow him. Yes they were considered bad guys, but they were great at it and I started wanting to see more of them than I did of Josey.

All in all, the book was still very well written and kept me entertained with the building plots (and there are a bunch of them) so I am definitely moving on to the third book. Expect a review soon.(less)

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Mar 05, 2013 J.W. Parente rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: high-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Shadow's Lure is the follow-up to Jon Sprunk's debut novel, Shadow's Son. We continue to follow the events of Caim, the penchant assassin and master of the Shadows. His decisions of helping young Josey rise to the throne as the Empress of Nimea continues to unfold in Shadow's Lure, as the story is told from three major varying viewpoints: Caim, Josey, and Kit. Two other viewpoints include Sybelle, the sorcerous witch of the north and a young man named Keegan.

So, Shadow's Lure was a great story....more Shadow's Lure is the follow-up to Jon Sprunk's debut novel, Shadow's Son. We continue to follow the events of Caim, the penchant assassin and master of the Shadows. His decisions of helping young Josey rise to the throne as the Empress of Nimea continues to unfold in Shadow's Lure, as the story is told from three major varying viewpoints: Caim, Josey, and Kit. Two other viewpoints include Sybelle, the sorcerous witch of the north and a young man named Keegan.

So, Shadow's Lure was a great story. The events pick up slightly after the conclusion of Shadow's Son. Caim is on the move to learn more about his family's deaths, Josey is learning how to become an Empress, and Kit is being herself: a sexy spirit that bugs Caim with her endless wit and humor.

Caim's profile in Shadow's Lure is expanded so much more as we continue to learn more about the new powers he has gained over the Shadows. His history is opened up and the connections he has to the Sybelle drawn out in a very nicely written backstory. No heavy info dump there, either. Caim's control over the Shadows is interesting to read through most of the story, as he describes them as being a nuisance and won't leave him alone. They chitter and crawl, bite and slink over his body. They drip from the ceilings as he walks around places, invisible to all others. They follow in his true shadow, passing by like a wave. They're given a personality and purpose. While Caim is one this journey and he continues to learn more about his powers, he is also continuously plagued about using a black-steel sword that belonged to his father. The sword also seems to have a personality of sorts, as it "tugs" him in certain directions, or when he finally does decide to use it in battle against enemies, it draws his strikes in certain directions. I wasn't a fan of that at all, and it actually detracted to Caim's assassin side. Don't get me wrong: his affinity for those seute knives are still strong throughout the story.

And damn, is there a lot more blood, killing, gore and overall carnage in Shadow's Lure when compared to its predecessor. Like way more. A good thing. In the final confrontation with the witch, however, another thing begins to bug me with Caim. He just happens to learn how to use shadow portals (self-explanatory) and, if I read it correct, a type of magic. The shadow portals was an okay addition, but again, not a fan of the magic. Caim's control over the Shadows was enough for me. It's unique and his a blood killer. That's all I really needed. The introduction of him potentially being able to use magic along side the power of the Shadows is overkill for me. Now, the only way I would have accept this is if it came gradually, as if he started to realize he could do more drastic things with his Shadow powers that reach out into the realm of using magic. Somewhere in the story, the witch Sybelle uses a term to describe him as a shadowwalker. That's all to it though. There's nothing expanded on this term and ultimately nothing gained for me as a reader who is trying to see Caim develop.

Onto to Josey: the Empress of Nimea. Josey's side of the story remains interesting through most of the book. I wasn't too fond of her in Shadow's Son primarily because she was very whiny and clingy. Although that can be expected considering what she went through. However, all of that suddenly changes when she puts on the crown. Okay, I can sort of see this making sense now. The obligations of the crown change her, but we see it happening slowly and with a very noticeable struggle. That's also makes sense. She is debating all of this, how she can accomplish great things as the Empress, wondering where Caim is, and trying to fight off the enemy of her the city Othir, the True Church. Lastly comes this weird, paranormal and alien like creature that is revealed to be an assassin. The assassin constantly going after Josey as she struggles with these issues kept me engaged most the time. However, what I had a great issue with was the end of her story in Shadow's Lure. So, this whole time she's contemplating all of what she needs to to do. She's still weak at times, very vulnerable, and seeking help from friends to steer her in the right direction. Then, at the end, she gains this MASSIVE OVERWHELMING boost of confidence to finally take on the True Church because it is revealed this assassin was sent after her by them. Now, I can understand anger and rage, but the confidence matter when she is addressing the subjects of the Church at the end really jarred me.

Last comes Kit. She didn't have a point of view story in Shadow's Son, which begs the question why Sprunk decided it was best served to try it here. I wasn't a fan of her point of view. There are about five or six scenes in which Kit is seen by herself because of some strange, unexplained occurrence that separates her from Caim indefinitely. Kit becomes trapped in a place called the Between, the realm in middle of the Shadowlands and the Brightlands. My only guess as to how this happens is the closer Caim is coming to the witch, or perhaps the more attuned he is becoming with his Shadow powers, it is weakening the bond between them. This remains unexplained. And all the sudden, near the end, Kit finds a way to return to Caim and rejoin him. That was a rather large fail for me as a reader. Her point of view didn't serve me a purpose. The only other thing that I can see it benefited was that we got to see Caim alone. In Shadow's Son, she was always around him. Thinking. Speaking. Watching out for him. If there was anything that benefited from Kit's point of view, it is that Caim became more developed because we were able to see him think his way through things without Kit.

Overall, I really liked Shadow's Lure. I will go on to read the final installment, Shadow's Master, as I am again kept engaged by Caim's story. And of course, there is the cliffhanger at the end that makes me want to know what is next for Caim and Kit.(less)

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Mar 20, 2012 N E White rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The second book in Mr. Sprunk’s Shadow Saga, Shadow’s Lure delivers the same action-packed story as did the first in this series: Shadow’s Son (my review here).

After opening with the massacre of the Northmen clan leaders (body count is high in this book), the story pretty much picks up right after the events in the first book. Josey is Queen, reigning from the palace in Othir, struggling to ward off an unearthly assassin, the church of the True Faith, and keep her realm from falling apart with c...more The second book in Mr. Sprunk’s Shadow Saga, Shadow’s Lure delivers the same action-packed story as did the first in this series: Shadow’s Son (my review here).

After opening with the massacre of the Northmen clan leaders (body count is high in this book), the story pretty much picks up right after the events in the first book. Josey is Queen, reigning from the palace in Othir, struggling to ward off an unearthly assassin, the church of the True Faith, and keep her realm from falling apart with civil and foreign wars. And Caim and Kit (his fey side-kick) are moving north in search of his past. On his way, he gets embroiled with an evil sorceress and a new revolutionary uprising.

With all that they got going on, Mr. Sprunk manages to put Caim in at least a dozen fights per chapter (a bit of an exaggeration here, but not much!), and each one is deliciously as wicked and heart-pounding as the next. We get to meet a few new characters up north, as well as a new mage down south. And one of my favorite characters from the first book manages to win my heart again: Hubert stands by Josey’s side to ensure she doesn’t get herself killed while trying to turn around an entire country.

In this installment of Caim’s story, we are also given a few more clues about his past. Just who was his mother and why is she imprisoned in the Shadowlands? Will avenging his father’s death bring him peace? Who is the witch that has enthralled the north and what exactly is her son, the creature they call, The Beast?

Caim reluctantly becomes involved in a resurrection that will impact him and the Southlands more than he can predict, and he comes face to face with the sorceress who killed his father. The further he travels north, he increasingly fights the lure of the shadows. The more he uses his power, the more he is able to fight off these new Shadowland invaders, but the less human he becomes, and the more the bloodlust calls him to sate that bloody, sensual (almost sexual) thirst.

If you are squeamish about blood, torture, cannibalism, hedonism, or blades ripping through flesh and piercing lungs, kidneys and hearts, then don’t read this book. Shadow’s Lure has a lot of that sort of stuff in it. But it also has a great story about a man trying to do what is right in the face of increasing odds and a woman trying to wrest a realm from the control of religious zealots with inexperience and determination. Both will have you rooting for them.

Mr. Sprunk also throws in a lot of mystery into the relationship between Caim, Kit and Josey. Which of these two women will win his heart? And just where does Caim’s loyalty stand? Is he a true son of the Shadow or will he ultimately fight for the south? I’m sure all will be answered in the next book: Shadow’s Master.

If some of you have read my review of Mr. Sprunk’s first book, Shadow’s Son, you will note that I wasn’t too much of a fan of the writing. I found some bits boring and in other spots the action was so obscure I was confused. Who stabbed whom? Is he dead or not? And let’s not talk about the really bad rape scene…

Did the writing improve in the second book? Yes, indeed, it did. However, the amount of bloodshed involved in this installment did have me reeling. It was a bit much. Maybe the author spent a little too much time describing how well someone enjoyed hurting someone else. Of course, this is all personal taste. What I might find offense or squirmy, you might take with aplomb. Just be aware this is not for the faint of heart.

A recommended read if you like bloody sword play and wicked sorcery.(less)

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Nov 12, 2011 Aleksander Cristea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shadow’s Lure was a book I had been waiting for since I sunk my teeth into the excellent Shadow’s Son. Much like Caim, I couldn’t wait to travel North in search of answers to all the questions present in the first book. As Shadow’s Lure is the second book in Jon Sprunk’s trilogy, I didn’t, however, expect to get all answers and I was ready for a long and bloody journey, with a path littered with bloody fights and ever increasing danger.

I wasn’t disappointed.

Caim has left for the North, with Kit...more Shadow’s Lure was a book I had been waiting for since I sunk my teeth into the excellent Shadow’s Son. Much like Caim, I couldn’t wait to travel North in search of answers to all the questions present in the first book. As Shadow’s Lure is the second book in Jon Sprunk’s trilogy, I didn’t, however, expect to get all answers and I was ready for a long and bloody journey, with a path littered with bloody fights and ever increasing danger.

I wasn’t disappointed.

Caim has left for the North, with Kit in tow, and he is about to walk into more trouble than he ever bargained for. Not only does he find himself involved in a rebellion he is tied to by his origins, but he is about to learn more than he ever wanted to about his family—and himself. [...]

But Caim isn’t the only point-of-view in this story and when the narrative turns back to Othir, we’re reunited with Josey, now Empress, and Hubert, now Lord Chancellor. Josey’s part of the story is all about politics, intrigue, and attempted murder as she battles the True Church in an attempt to put the country she loves and wants to serve back on the right track. As she tries to gain the support of the nobles, Josey receives news that both frightens and strengthens her (I will avoid mentioning here so I don’t spoil the surprise!). On top of it all, she has to survive assassination attempts.

[...]

Overall, the book was exactly what I expected: Sprunk writes classic sword and sorcery, which at times reads like an extract out of a Dragon Age game, with its eerie dungeons and hordes of enemies. Caim goes from one fight to another and the book mostly keeps a breakneck speed. The middle of the book seemed to lose a bit of its own pace, slowing down unnecessarily in the middle of what would have otherwise been a really eerie and action filled part. But it finds its pace again towards the end when Sprunk offers a final confrontation reminiscent of a tough boss fight.

Sprunk’s style has improved since book one and flows even more, making the book a pleasure to read. And with secrets being unveiled here, there, and everywhere, Shadow’s Lure is sure to keep you reading late in the night (unless you do like me and stall at that bit in the middle…).

Overall it was a great, fun, and definitely boyish book that should appeal to all the sword and sorcery fans out there.

FIND FULL REVIEW HERE http://alekcristea.wordpress.com/2011...(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 Leo Elijah Cristea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 buc...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Michael Cummings rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shadow's Lure is the second book of Sprunk's Shadow Saga, following the debut of "Shadow's Son" last year (2010). In this volume, we return to Othir immediately after the events of "Shadow's Son" as Caim heads north, looking for answers to his past and the murder of his parents. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darken the land. Meanwhile, Josey, as Empress, is struggling with the politics of a land that...more

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May 08, 2011 Lexie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, book-type-arc, review-romance-reader-at-heart

Prelim Review: I can say without hesitation that I enjoyed this book moreso then the first. Maybe because Sprunk took more time to detail the world or because my two favorite characters (Josey and Kit) proved themselves more than Caim's match in dealing with the the unknown.

Our Merry Band of Miscreants have gone in different ways after Caim's decision to head North (to help his people) and Josey became Empress of Nimea. I was relieved that Sprunk didn't spend too much time on Josey becoming accl...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Melissa Hayden rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Caim's traveling to the snow covered rebellious North to see if he can find "her" or more about "her" as Levictus mentioned at the end of Shadow's Son she was up North somewhere. The land he left when he was eight after that horrid night that haunts Caim's dreams still. Caim travels light, with his usual weapons, the dark sword that was waiting for him at Kas's cabin, and the personal journal of Arch-priest Vassili. Caim finds himself fighting with untrained men at his back, yet still alone as K...more Caim's traveling to the snow covered rebellious North to see if he can find "her" or more about "her" as Levictus mentioned at the end of Shadow's Son she was up North somewhere. The land he left when he was eight after that horrid night that haunts Caim's dreams still. Caim travels light, with his usual weapons, the dark sword that was waiting for him at Kas's cabin, and the personal journal of Arch-priest Vassili. Caim finds himself fighting with untrained men at his back, yet still alone as Kit disappears. Yet what Kit has to learn could come in handy as well.

Josey has come into the seat of Empress as her blood right is, but is still learning and tending with the reminder of how she got here. With the Church over thrown and the new order short on funds some Nobles have started to take advantage of a weakened moment and harass each other along with banditry increasing. Josey seems to be sitting as a figure head, but she speaks up with a solution to problems and starts to take control for her subjects. There is a creature sent to assassinate Josey and has her running around to stay alive and find the assassin along with who sent it.

Quickly in the first Chapter we are reminded of the character strength in Caim. Although we get a small feeling he is tired and a little run down. In these moments we get the reminder of things and people important in his life. Wonderful start off the bat here. I remember where things left off as this refreshes easily and opens doors to more possibilities simultaneously. Makes me want to know more.

We follow two basic story lines in this book. One of Caim in the north fighting with the rebels against the duke and his witch, then with Josey as she fights for her life and tries to find her would be assassin. I enjoy both lines greatly! Josey's story line shows to me how greatly in strength her character grows. There is a great amount going on in both story lines and in the end start to tie together. In doing this we do follow a few different point of views. This is well done with Caim and Josey. Even Kit has her own view point in this book as well.

Then we meet our new characters in the series. We do follow a view point from the witch Sybelle as well. Which really starts to give us a view into the Shadows side of things. There is many interesting things to learn here. And many North clan men make the roaster as well. A few seem to become bigger players in the end. And I look forward to see where all the characters, new and old, go with Caim in the next book.

The world created here expands in this book. We get to see more from the broken Northern side, the crumbling of Othir, and new worlds that seem to be of a fey type origin. We have Kit's world and the Shadow world. I like these glimpses and still want more.

Oh, I'll be watching for the third installment of this series to come along. I WANT to read more of what is hidden in the shadows for Caim, Kit, Josey, and many others.(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Vince rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fantasy

I was researching assassin fantasy for my next read and came across a nice review of Shadow's Master over at Elitist Book Review. I knew I had read Shadow's Son years ago and loved it, so I better get on the stick and read Shadow's Lure! Wow, I'd forgotten how much I liked Jon Sprunk's clear writting and his ability to put you "in the head" of his protagonists. Lot's of fighting, lot's of gore...a pure delight for this genre! Thanks Jon...Shadow's Master comes out on Kindle tomorrow and I am the...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I admit I hadn't initially intended to read the second book in this series, but I'm glad I did. A lot of series have the problem of diminishing quality with each additional book (ie The Hunger Games), but this one gets better. I liked this book more than the first (hence the extra star). I enjoyed the characters more (Josey especially has grown since book 1), and Sprunk does a good job of raising the stakes.

Cool things about this book included the blood-hungry sword, Caim's growing knowledge o...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Robert rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It had its moments, but it definitely feels like a placeholder in between the first and third acts. This was most evident in Josey's chapters which seemed to accomplish little other than getting her into position for the third book and adding a bit of drama to Caim's upcoming choice.

That being said, I still like the series thus far. It is one of the most consistently cheerful "dark" fantasy novels in recent years.

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Sep 24, 2012 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a solid second book, and a solid 4 stars. I enjoyed the building of the main character and his relationships. I suspect there are a number of threads in the story that will come back together in the final book.

If you've not started this series - go and get the first one and get started! You'll need the first one as this could stand alone, but probably shouldn't. Once you get the first one you'll go right into this and straight on to the end.

I'm looking forward to the next one!

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Jun 08, 2012 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maybe this is petty, but I really hated that the drop caps were broken and pushed the rest of the first word to the second line. I read this in the Kindle app on an iPad. Every chapter -- forty times -- I was reminded that the publisher didn't care enough to test the book in all formats.

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Oct 24, 2012 Brenda Wolfenbarger rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I will probably read the other books in the series, but it was fairly formulaic. It never quite achieved what it was reaching for, although it was enjoyable enough. The plot was not compelling, so much so that I put it down and completely forgot that I hadn't finished it.

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Shadow's Lure (Shadow Saga #2)

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