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Witch-Hunter #3
The Shadow Falls
Hunter Astley has always known that he is different: being a witch-hunter that can use magic has sealed his fate.
He must destroy the Shadow Witch once and for all, with the help of some unlikely allies.
We delve even deeper into the world of the Malleus Maleficarum; into myth, rumour and history that refuses to stay in the past.
He must destroy the Shadow Witch once and for all, with the help of some unlikely allies.
We delve even deeper into the world of the Malleus Maleficarum; into myth, rumour and history that refuses to stay in the past.
- GenresFantasyParanormalWitches
338 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2014
6 people are currently reading
1140 people want to read
About the author
K.S. Marsden
21 books741 followersKelly S. Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life - books and horses.
She went on to author the best-selling Urban Fantasy series - "The Northern Witch" and "Witch-Hunter".
Kelly is currently working in animal nutrition, and she never outgrew her obsession with horses.
Visit her blog for book reviews and inanity:
The Northern Witch's Book Blog
She went on to author the best-selling Urban Fantasy series - "The Northern Witch" and "Witch-Hunter".
Kelly is currently working in animal nutrition, and she never outgrew her obsession with horses.
Visit her blog for book reviews and inanity:
The Northern Witch's Book Blog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 22, 2019
This is a late review, but I need to speak about this book! This book was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal! 5/5 stars for literally all aspects!
I could read this series again and again! It was amazing and I would truly recommend it to anyone who wants a good read!
I wish there was more to this series, but it still ended in the perfect way!
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I could read this series again and again! It was amazing and I would truly recommend it to anyone who wants a good read!
I wish there was more to this series, but it still ended in the perfect way!
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 9, 2020
3.5 stars
But...that may not be for very much longer.
However, there were a few things that kept me from truly sinking in.
This world insists that witches (all witches) are bad because of their magic and the temptation it garners...yet, the witch hunters develop their own powers for combat - with each generation being stronger than the last.
And then, we meet a set of monks. Some of them have mental powers:
I don't know...I'm just having a hard time swallowing this whole magical witches are the evilest creatures to ever walk the earth.
And the other thing that threw me off is the revolving door of characters. SO many people have come and gone (with a new love interest each round to boot) that it became difficult to keep track of who was who and who we cared about.
The characters weren't bad, they were just defined quickly and left behind (relatively) quickly, which ended up causing a disconnect for me from the book.
All in all, this was a satisfying end to my time with the series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
I am a witch-hunter. As was my father, and his father and so on. I am the 7th generation of witch-hunters...Set a few years after the last book, Hunter Astley is one of the few remaining witch hunters left alive.
But...that may not be for very much longer.
Unfortunately, he'd already set off in pursuit of the noise, self preservation at the back of his mind.He's spent the last few years hiding, resting and planning - all so he can come back and lead the world out of the dark ages.
"The witches are more dangerous now than they have ever been."But the road is dangerous and he will have to use every last bit of his strength to save everyone - anyone - he can.
"The Shadow Witch. She'd trapped us, I can't find a way out."Alrighty - third book in and I can honestly say that I'm rather pleased with this one. I think it was a marked improvement upon the second and I was quite addicted to finishing it.
However, there were a few things that kept me from truly sinking in.
This world insists that witches (all witches) are bad because of their magic and the temptation it garners...yet, the witch hunters develop their own powers for combat - with each generation being stronger than the last.
"That's not magic, it's something...different."The claim is that this is anti-magic...but it's still doing wild things like teleportation.
And then, we meet a set of monks. Some of them have mental powers:
Maurizio had delved into their minds and removed every trace and memory...And yet that is not witchcraft either?
I don't know...I'm just having a hard time swallowing this whole magical witches are the evilest creatures to ever walk the earth.
And the other thing that threw me off is the revolving door of characters. SO many people have come and gone (with a new love interest each round to boot) that it became difficult to keep track of who was who and who we cared about.
The characters weren't bad, they were just defined quickly and left behind (relatively) quickly, which ended up causing a disconnect for me from the book.
All in all, this was a satisfying end to my time with the series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
May 7, 2015
why didnt you write my school books.. i could have aced my tests easily
i think at this point a mere thank you would not suffice but yeah i guess i will stick with thank you for now. So A HUGE THANK YOU to the author for providing me with the copy.
Right now what i am feeling is something like this
i am so overwhelmed and speechless that i am not sure what to say about this book.
The whole reason why i love this book is because of its narration. It is exactly the kind that i look for in any book. Simple, elegant and dynamic. Even if the language is simple, the things that it say is far from simple.
I believe half the battle is won if you are able to convey your thoughts to your readers with perfection which is thoroughly achieved by this book
Why oh why ... why didnt you write my school books... if you had written it i would have at least read it once ;(
The book has kept each characters intact and equally strong as they started out in the first book and if anything you could see a natural progression to all these characters and then there is a whole new bunch of characters, compensating for the lose of all your beloved characters (oops did i just give away a spoiler)
Some may argue that the end was not what they were expecting or that it was abrupt... Trust me i had the same feeling initially but when i pondered over it...i felt it was the perfect way or the only way to close a terrific series
Going by the words of Navessa Allen, the reviewer/author
This is an author who could write a phone book for me ;)
The beauty of this series is its simple and silky narration that manages to tell a beautiful story. The finale of this trilogy was perfect in every sense. Loose ends had been tied up in the best way they could and characters have evolved and got more interesting with new things to look forward. In short everything is perfect about this whole series for me. i think i have fallen in love with the author.. The best part as i keep repeating is its narration power that keeps the story spiced up and entertaining.
i think at this point a mere thank you would not suffice but yeah i guess i will stick with thank you for now. So A HUGE THANK YOU to the author for providing me with the copy.
Right now what i am feeling is something like this
i am so overwhelmed and speechless that i am not sure what to say about this book.
The whole reason why i love this book is because of its narration. It is exactly the kind that i look for in any book. Simple, elegant and dynamic. Even if the language is simple, the things that it say is far from simple.
I believe half the battle is won if you are able to convey your thoughts to your readers with perfection which is thoroughly achieved by this book
Why oh why ... why didnt you write my school books... if you had written it i would have at least read it once ;(
The book has kept each characters intact and equally strong as they started out in the first book and if anything you could see a natural progression to all these characters and then there is a whole new bunch of characters, compensating for the lose of all your beloved characters (oops did i just give away a spoiler)
Some may argue that the end was not what they were expecting or that it was abrupt... Trust me i had the same feeling initially but when i pondered over it...i felt it was the perfect way or the only way to close a terrific series
Going by the words of Navessa Allen, the reviewer/author
This is an author who could write a phone book for me ;)
The beauty of this series is its simple and silky narration that manages to tell a beautiful story. The finale of this trilogy was perfect in every sense. Loose ends had been tied up in the best way they could and characters have evolved and got more interesting with new things to look forward. In short everything is perfect about this whole series for me. i think i have fallen in love with the author.. The best part as i keep repeating is its narration power that keeps the story spiced up and entertaining.
August 13, 2015
The Shadow Falls by K.S. Marsden is the third and final book in the Witch Hunter trilogy. I’ve read the Shadow Rises, The Shadow Reigns, and now we’re finally to the conclusion of this great and fun series.
As always, Marsden seems to improve with each book and now Hunter is finally back into taking matters into his own hands. He goes to find the Benandanti in Italy in order to further his mysterious talent in casting anti magic spells. Considering what Hunter’s been through to get to this point, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Spoilers are coming up so skip em if you’re planning to read.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
The pacing was much improved over the second book. There’s no meandering about Astley manor just waiting for conflict to come to him. Hunter now actively seeks out knowledge in order to end the conflict once and for all. Simply by giving Hunter the agency he needed vastly improved the flow of the story and kept everything moving at a great pace.
Also, I mentioned this before but it really needs to be mentioned again. K.S. Marsden really impressed me with her mastery of character voice. You could remove all the dialogue tags from this book and I’m pretty sure I would be able to identify which character is which by how Marsden masterfully made each voice feel unique. I knew who James was, instantly knew who Kristen was, Hunter’s mother, Mel, every character felt distinct and different and they each had a personality to make them memorable.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m envious on how easy Marsden made it all seem.
However, I did have a bit of a nit picky moment when it came to the motive for the Shadow Witch’s hatred.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
Though I wasn’t a fan of the Shadow Witch’s motive, what left me a little bummed was that Hunter never got back to his normal self. He used to be a cocky ladies man who thought he was God’s gift to women. Instead, due to traumatic events from the 1st two books Hunter becomes a quiet, mopey dude who lost all his attitude. It’s understandable why Marsden wrote him this way, I was just rooting for him to find himself which we only get to see glimpses of.
Thankfully, Kristen Davies comes to the rescue by being loud, obnoxious, and very forward. Can you say new favorite character? Hell yes! I love, love, loved reading about Kristen Davies. Her scenes were amusing and she brought back a life and energy that was sorely missing from Hunter’s world. Oh and a quick aside. I don’t know what Hunter’s mom’s problem is but man she’s a nasty old witch (not the magical kind). Marsden really cut it close with making this character unlikeable but thankfully she never crosses the line. So the old battleaxe actually ends up being kind of funny.
Remember when I was complaining about lack of Sophie in the 2nd book? Well this time I was given a reprieve. Sophie does come back but not quite in the way I was hoping for. Rather than interacting with Hunter in real life, Sophie starts to appear in his dreams. You get glimpses of what life would have been like if Hunter and Sophie had gotten together. The dreams were so detailed that I started to wonder if this was a psychic prediction or if it was reality. It was actually pretty cool to have that kind of doubt.
Okay so, dangit I need to go into spoiler territory again.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
On the nitpicky side of things. I noticed that after Chapter 34 I started seeing a lot of typos. I’m not talking about color vs colour British spellings but rather typos that slipped under the editing radar. It only seemed to happen after 34, otherwise the book up to this chapter is solid and clean.
World building was also another thing that just never came across as believable. Everything felt rather vacant and abandoned without any hint of life or how life was like without technology. Though there were moments where they’d run into civilians on the street, it still didn’t quite come alive the same way her descriptions of magic did.
However, characters and plot twists and shocker moments, K.S. Marsden really hits the nail on the head with this series. The plot felt very unpredictable for me (which is rare) and I was constantly hoping that everything would work out for the best. I never truly knew if my theories were on point and thankfully they were not. It left me guessing the entire time and played with my emotions in the way a good book should always do.
This is a huge compliment because if you didn’t know, K.S. Marsden is an indie author. This is a great debut series from a new author and I hope that she finds more success in all of her future works.
So in case I didn’t make myself clear. You should absolutely read the Witch Hunter trilogy.
As always, Marsden seems to improve with each book and now Hunter is finally back into taking matters into his own hands. He goes to find the Benandanti in Italy in order to further his mysterious talent in casting anti magic spells. Considering what Hunter’s been through to get to this point, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Spoilers are coming up so skip em if you’re planning to read.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
The pacing was much improved over the second book. There’s no meandering about Astley manor just waiting for conflict to come to him. Hunter now actively seeks out knowledge in order to end the conflict once and for all. Simply by giving Hunter the agency he needed vastly improved the flow of the story and kept everything moving at a great pace.
Also, I mentioned this before but it really needs to be mentioned again. K.S. Marsden really impressed me with her mastery of character voice. You could remove all the dialogue tags from this book and I’m pretty sure I would be able to identify which character is which by how Marsden masterfully made each voice feel unique. I knew who James was, instantly knew who Kristen was, Hunter’s mother, Mel, every character felt distinct and different and they each had a personality to make them memorable.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m envious on how easy Marsden made it all seem.
However, I did have a bit of a nit picky moment when it came to the motive for the Shadow Witch’s hatred.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
Though I wasn’t a fan of the Shadow Witch’s motive, what left me a little bummed was that Hunter never got back to his normal self. He used to be a cocky ladies man who thought he was God’s gift to women. Instead, due to traumatic events from the 1st two books Hunter becomes a quiet, mopey dude who lost all his attitude. It’s understandable why Marsden wrote him this way, I was just rooting for him to find himself which we only get to see glimpses of.
Thankfully, Kristen Davies comes to the rescue by being loud, obnoxious, and very forward. Can you say new favorite character? Hell yes! I love, love, loved reading about Kristen Davies. Her scenes were amusing and she brought back a life and energy that was sorely missing from Hunter’s world. Oh and a quick aside. I don’t know what Hunter’s mom’s problem is but man she’s a nasty old witch (not the magical kind). Marsden really cut it close with making this character unlikeable but thankfully she never crosses the line. So the old battleaxe actually ends up being kind of funny.
Remember when I was complaining about lack of Sophie in the 2nd book? Well this time I was given a reprieve. Sophie does come back but not quite in the way I was hoping for. Rather than interacting with Hunter in real life, Sophie starts to appear in his dreams. You get glimpses of what life would have been like if Hunter and Sophie had gotten together. The dreams were so detailed that I started to wonder if this was a psychic prediction or if it was reality. It was actually pretty cool to have that kind of doubt.
Okay so, dangit I need to go into spoiler territory again.
**SPOILERS**
**SPOILERS**
On the nitpicky side of things. I noticed that after Chapter 34 I started seeing a lot of typos. I’m not talking about color vs colour British spellings but rather typos that slipped under the editing radar. It only seemed to happen after 34, otherwise the book up to this chapter is solid and clean.
World building was also another thing that just never came across as believable. Everything felt rather vacant and abandoned without any hint of life or how life was like without technology. Though there were moments where they’d run into civilians on the street, it still didn’t quite come alive the same way her descriptions of magic did.
However, characters and plot twists and shocker moments, K.S. Marsden really hits the nail on the head with this series. The plot felt very unpredictable for me (which is rare) and I was constantly hoping that everything would work out for the best. I never truly knew if my theories were on point and thankfully they were not. It left me guessing the entire time and played with my emotions in the way a good book should always do.
This is a huge compliment because if you didn’t know, K.S. Marsden is an indie author. This is a great debut series from a new author and I hope that she finds more success in all of her future works.
So in case I didn’t make myself clear. You should absolutely read the Witch Hunter trilogy.
April 29, 2019
As Hunter searches for answers to destroy the Shadow Witch, his travels take him around the world. New friends become allies in the fight; however some new allies come from rather unexpected sources. When Hunter gains some surprising truths about his famous grandfather ‘Old’ George, will they have any impact on how he proceeds? As both sides prepare for what is expected to be the final confrontation, just how far is Hunter willing to go to bring an end to the war? I enjoyed seeing the view of the new world that emerges in the aftermath of the war and how the survivors are faring. While I found the ending to be a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, I confess I hadn’t expected it to end quite the way it did. Overall, it’s a well written, heartfelt and often emotional story with some surprises, along with plenty of drama, action, intrigue, and suspense.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 22, 2019
The Shadow Falls (Witch-Hunter #3) by K.S. Marsden is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number three in this wonderful series that I have read and really enjoyed very much. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about witches and magic in their stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2020
The final book in this thrilling trilogy begins with a letter from Hunter Astley ~ a seventh generation witch hunter who reveals how Sophie, the Shadow Witch tricked him into revealing too much about the hidden talents of others like him. She’s used this knowledge against all of humankind and has brought the world to their knees.
Hunter’s world is in shreds. The Shadow witch has destroyed the MMC, forcing him into hiding. He dreams of what life with Sophie could have been like if this terrible war hadn’t happened. And there’s his son, Adam, who Hunter knows he must protect from his mother and other dark forces.
He searches for the Bernandanti in Italy, hoping to further his talent in casting anti-magic spells, eventually coming into contact with the Donili monks. The monks take him in and begin teaching him about their magical abilities. Yet, Hunter struggles. His magic is different and linked to the powers of the Shadow Witch. Once again, he faces a dilemma of belonging.
When the last remnants of the MMC reform, Hunter finds his way back into the fold. Many are not aware of his association with the Shadow Witch and how she tricked him. As word spreads, Hunter’s higher-ups grow distrustful of his motives. Will he finally destroy the Shadow Witch?
There are plenty of twists in this third novel: demons, familiars, and more magic! The plot is solid and unpredictable. Hunter embarked on a true hero’s journey when he connected with the monks. It is their values and discipline that teach him the lessons he needs to fulfill his true life purpose.
This was a most unusual series. There is something here for everyone: love, relationships, betrayal, magic, battles, and the hunt for the truth. After the first book, I couldn’t put the other two books down until I finished the series. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author.
Hunter’s world is in shreds. The Shadow witch has destroyed the MMC, forcing him into hiding. He dreams of what life with Sophie could have been like if this terrible war hadn’t happened. And there’s his son, Adam, who Hunter knows he must protect from his mother and other dark forces.
He searches for the Bernandanti in Italy, hoping to further his talent in casting anti-magic spells, eventually coming into contact with the Donili monks. The monks take him in and begin teaching him about their magical abilities. Yet, Hunter struggles. His magic is different and linked to the powers of the Shadow Witch. Once again, he faces a dilemma of belonging.
When the last remnants of the MMC reform, Hunter finds his way back into the fold. Many are not aware of his association with the Shadow Witch and how she tricked him. As word spreads, Hunter’s higher-ups grow distrustful of his motives. Will he finally destroy the Shadow Witch?
There are plenty of twists in this third novel: demons, familiars, and more magic! The plot is solid and unpredictable. Hunter embarked on a true hero’s journey when he connected with the monks. It is their values and discipline that teach him the lessons he needs to fulfill his true life purpose.
This was a most unusual series. There is something here for everyone: love, relationships, betrayal, magic, battles, and the hunt for the truth. After the first book, I couldn’t put the other two books down until I finished the series. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author.
May 11, 2019
After the decimation of the witch hunters at the end of the last book, Hunter is on his own and trying to learn more about his unique skills. He has vivid, detailed dreams of what his life with Sophie might have been or could possibly be. Hunter isn't as alone as he thinks.
I read the three books in this trilogy in rapid succession. I found this book to be better paced than the last one. Hunter was much more active as opposed to being in waiting mode as he was in much of the previous book. I like the addition of the dream sequences; not only were they so different from what was actually going on, but it made you wonder if they were what could have been or what may yet come. I'm not sure if I'm 100% satisfied with the end. I do like some new characters that were added to this book; they had to be added after so many were lost in the last one. This book had some issues with grammar and punctuation, especially in the later part of the book. I also thought the text was strangely formatted, making it hard to read. Most fiction books are formatted with the first line of a paragraph indented while non-fiction books often have block paragraphs with visual space between them. Unfortunately, this book had block paragraphs with no spaces between them, making them appear to run all together, which was hard to read.
If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you would most likely appreciate the culmination of it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews on https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I read the three books in this trilogy in rapid succession. I found this book to be better paced than the last one. Hunter was much more active as opposed to being in waiting mode as he was in much of the previous book. I like the addition of the dream sequences; not only were they so different from what was actually going on, but it made you wonder if they were what could have been or what may yet come. I'm not sure if I'm 100% satisfied with the end. I do like some new characters that were added to this book; they had to be added after so many were lost in the last one. This book had some issues with grammar and punctuation, especially in the later part of the book. I also thought the text was strangely formatted, making it hard to read. Most fiction books are formatted with the first line of a paragraph indented while non-fiction books often have block paragraphs with visual space between them. Unfortunately, this book had block paragraphs with no spaces between them, making them appear to run all together, which was hard to read.
If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you would most likely appreciate the culmination of it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews on https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
December 30, 2017
Book 74 of my Goodreads Challenge
This book I have read in eBook formatt and now paperback which I purchased from the lovely author herself at a special book signing event.
I LOVE this book series and had to re-read this trilogy when I bought the prequel James Witch-Hunter
This book is a particular favourite as it takes us back into some of the history behind the Witches and Witch-Hunters we find out more about the protectors from Italy The Benandanti the Donili Monks I love all this.
There is some even more powerful magic around than in the first books it simply draws you deep within the story. Real page turners for me.
A VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK SERIES
This book I have read in eBook formatt and now paperback which I purchased from the lovely author herself at a special book signing event.
I LOVE this book series and had to re-read this trilogy when I bought the prequel James Witch-Hunter
This book is a particular favourite as it takes us back into some of the history behind the Witches and Witch-Hunters we find out more about the protectors from Italy The Benandanti the Donili Monks I love all this.
There is some even more powerful magic around than in the first books it simply draws you deep within the story. Real page turners for me.
A VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK SERIES
May 16, 2019
Hunter Astley has always known that he is different: being a witch-hunter that can use magic has sealed his fate.
He must destroy the Shadow Witch once and for all, with the help of some unlikely allies.
We delve even deeper into the world of the Malleus Maleficarum; into myth, rumour and history that refuses to stay in the past.
The Shadow Falls by K.S. Marsden is the third and final book in the Witch Hunter trilogy.
I don't know how but each book has just gotten better each time.
The characters have all remained just as strong and you can see the natural progression with each one where they have grown.
I think that this one had more twists and turns than the last one. This one picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off. Hunter is alone and on the run from the witches, searching for the Benandanti.
The plot, throughout all three books, was unpredictable and kept me guessing the entire time.
This is such a magnificent finale and surprise ending!
So sad to see this ending but loved getting the answers.
Highly recommend reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He must destroy the Shadow Witch once and for all, with the help of some unlikely allies.
We delve even deeper into the world of the Malleus Maleficarum; into myth, rumour and history that refuses to stay in the past.
The Shadow Falls by K.S. Marsden is the third and final book in the Witch Hunter trilogy.
I don't know how but each book has just gotten better each time.
The characters have all remained just as strong and you can see the natural progression with each one where they have grown.
I think that this one had more twists and turns than the last one. This one picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off. Hunter is alone and on the run from the witches, searching for the Benandanti.
The plot, throughout all three books, was unpredictable and kept me guessing the entire time.
This is such a magnificent finale and surprise ending!
So sad to see this ending but loved getting the answers.
Highly recommend reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2019
The third volume of a five star trilogy, this merits the stars, but reviewing it without spoilers is tough to do.
The pace picks up exactly where it left off in volume 2, though with our hero in an interesting and new location, learning, well, I'm not actually sure what it is that he learned. Whatever it was created the ending.
Our author chose, wisely, not to tie up all the loose ends, but to leave real life carrying on, with a future for the protagonists still living.
Characterisation through all three volumes is solid. We learn of the strengths and frailties of all the mainstream characters. We can smell what they smell, feel what they feel, taste what they taste.
Seriously, just read it.
The pace picks up exactly where it left off in volume 2, though with our hero in an interesting and new location, learning, well, I'm not actually sure what it is that he learned. Whatever it was created the ending.
Our author chose, wisely, not to tie up all the loose ends, but to leave real life carrying on, with a future for the protagonists still living.
Characterisation through all three volumes is solid. We learn of the strengths and frailties of all the mainstream characters. We can smell what they smell, feel what they feel, taste what they taste.
Seriously, just read it.
September 3, 2018
Wow what a great ending to this trilogy! this book was a most satisfying read which i thoroughly enjoyed even though i was scared that the witches were going to be eradicated by the witch hunters, turns out that Ms. Marsden gave the book the needed twist to give us this fantastic ending. I loved the fact that Hunter went to Italy in search of the Benandanti to learn more about his powers! The description of Friuli and the Abbazio Di Donili are so picturesque and the monks and their values and discipline taught Hunter some lessons he really needed to learn at that point in his life. When he returns to England he returns as a changed man through his learning experience. He still intends killing the shadow witch and the route he takes to accomplish this is turbulent, but he has many on his side! Including the lovely character Mel the demon, who I really loved! I cannot praise this series highly enough for the way the story evolved, taking such unexpected turns to leave us the readers contented at the end!!
May 2, 2018
I ended up enjoying this more than the second in the series! It has more twists and turns than I could have imagined and it makes for a very fast and exciting story. I love that we are learning more and more about this world as the story continues. Marsden has a wonderful world filled with crazy cool characters!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 24, 2020
Funny at times, unexpected ending
August 16, 2017
Pretty darn good!
This was a pretty darn good series! I really liked the take on witches, and their foes. Toward the end, I was a little bummed out, but smiled as I read on. Just maybe (fingers crossed) there will be a spin-off????
This was a pretty darn good series! I really liked the take on witches, and their foes. Toward the end, I was a little bummed out, but smiled as I read on. Just maybe (fingers crossed) there will be a spin-off????
August 2, 2017
Sad to see it end!
This was a great series! I hope Ms Marsden will continue the story with Adam, Molly and Kristin. I definitely recommend this series!
This was a great series! I hope Ms Marsden will continue the story with Adam, Molly and Kristin. I definitely recommend this series!
June 12, 2016
I received a copy from the author, but would have bought the book anyway.
Shadow Falls is the Grand Finale of the Shadow Witch trilogy. The long struggle of the war against the witches reaches the end and as the title suggests, the Shadow Witch will fall.
After he spent time with the Donili monks in the second book, Hunter composes himself and decides to start acting. Little is left of the original MMC and even that is mainly made up of first gens and soldiers. With Hunter disappearing for a long time, the reception is mixed. He is both a hero returning from the dead and the coward who left the MMC in the greatest need.
Additional characters gradually appear and make the situation even more complex. A girl with strange speech and unknown origins, Hunter's son and a surprise 6th gen witch-hunter from the US.
Hunter dives again into a research about the previous Shadow Witch and also tries to rally together anyone who can help in the fight against the current one. Sophie.
I liked the fact that the ending was a believable story. It was not about pure luck or other deus ex machina solution. Cooperation was a integral part of it. While Hunter had a crucial role in it, the story was not a single hero one. The third book is back to five stars for me.
A few notes that will contain spoilers follow!
February 19, 2016
I would like to thank the author for offering me this book.
What a splendid conclusion. I was really hoping that Hunter and Sophie would reunite but not the way they did, but seeing as it was the only way they could be together I am happy for them. It's amazing how Adam ends up happy and carefree. Mel is a very odd demon, as she wants friends, while most demons in other stories I have read, have been power hungry. The Donili are an interesting group, and a very valuable ally. And I like how Hunter's feisty and outspoken mother is still around. But what happens with Bev? Is she released ? Does she get to see her grandson? In chapter 36 it sounds like she is dead, but I thought Theresa had moved her to another facility.
I wonder who puts these books into the e book versions, with all the typos and mixed up wording, like ' she through her head back,' instead of threw, or her instead of his when Toby was watching Mel and Kristen walking back without his friend Hunter. It can be a bit of a nuisance having to autocorrect in my head,while trying to enjoy the story.
I found the plot interesting and easy to become engrossed in. The writing was good. Hunter's character more fleshed out, and mature. The dream sequences were a portrayal of how connected Sophie, Hunter, and Adam were. Now that the muggles know about the witches and the MMC, it truly is a new world.
What a splendid conclusion. I was really hoping that Hunter and Sophie would reunite but not the way they did, but seeing as it was the only way they could be together I am happy for them. It's amazing how Adam ends up happy and carefree. Mel is a very odd demon, as she wants friends, while most demons in other stories I have read, have been power hungry. The Donili are an interesting group, and a very valuable ally. And I like how Hunter's feisty and outspoken mother is still around. But what happens with Bev? Is she released ? Does she get to see her grandson? In chapter 36 it sounds like she is dead, but I thought Theresa had moved her to another facility.
I wonder who puts these books into the e book versions, with all the typos and mixed up wording, like ' she through her head back,' instead of threw, or her instead of his when Toby was watching Mel and Kristen walking back without his friend Hunter. It can be a bit of a nuisance having to autocorrect in my head,while trying to enjoy the story.
I found the plot interesting and easy to become engrossed in. The writing was good. Hunter's character more fleshed out, and mature. The dream sequences were a portrayal of how connected Sophie, Hunter, and Adam were. Now that the muggles know about the witches and the MMC, it truly is a new world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2016
I read the three books in the Witch-Hunter series back to back.
The Shadow Rises drew me in after the first few pages and wouldn't let go so I moved straight onto The Shadow Reigns, quickly followed by The Shadow Falls.
These books now make up one of my favourite trilogies!
Book three picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off, with Hunter hiding from the witches and searching for the Benandanti.
The fast-paced action from book one was back in this book, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me on my toes.
Hunter's personality evolves and becomes more complex as the story continues. A number of new, well-developed, characters are introduced in this book including Hunters son, his new love interest, a demon and the monks.
This book and the last few chapters were the perfect finale to the trilogy!
The plot, throughout all three books, was unpredictable and kept me guessing the entire time!
The Shadow Rises drew me in after the first few pages and wouldn't let go so I moved straight onto The Shadow Reigns, quickly followed by The Shadow Falls.
These books now make up one of my favourite trilogies!
Book three picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off, with Hunter hiding from the witches and searching for the Benandanti.
The fast-paced action from book one was back in this book, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me on my toes.
Hunter's personality evolves and becomes more complex as the story continues. A number of new, well-developed, characters are introduced in this book including Hunters son, his new love interest, a demon and the monks.
This book and the last few chapters were the perfect finale to the trilogy!
The plot, throughout all three books, was unpredictable and kept me guessing the entire time!
November 9, 2014
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Wow, I have loved this series – I’m still reeling from that finish!
This one picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off. Hunter is alone and on the run from the witches, searching for the Benandanti.
I know this book was longer than the others, but I found the time with the monks was over far too soon, almost a review of what Hunter did there.
The story then follows Hunter as he is drawn closer to having to fight Sophie again. I missed Sophie in book two, she was very much in the background. Just getting a few snippets from her was quite nice, and the more I learn about her, the more I wish the book was from her point of view!
I’m definitely missing James in this book. He was my fave character from the first one. Mel and Kristen help to fill the gap. Oh my god – Mel! She is brilliant. Not a lot about her is explained, and I’m still left with a lot of questions.
I know that this is a trilogy, and how final the ending is, but I felt there was so many new questions, I hope Adam’s story gets told.
Wow, I have loved this series – I’m still reeling from that finish!
This one picks up where the Shadow reigns leaves off. Hunter is alone and on the run from the witches, searching for the Benandanti.
I know this book was longer than the others, but I found the time with the monks was over far too soon, almost a review of what Hunter did there.
The story then follows Hunter as he is drawn closer to having to fight Sophie again. I missed Sophie in book two, she was very much in the background. Just getting a few snippets from her was quite nice, and the more I learn about her, the more I wish the book was from her point of view!
I’m definitely missing James in this book. He was my fave character from the first one. Mel and Kristen help to fill the gap. Oh my god – Mel! She is brilliant. Not a lot about her is explained, and I’m still left with a lot of questions.
I know that this is a trilogy, and how final the ending is, but I felt there was so many new questions, I hope Adam’s story gets told.
May 2, 2018
he is a hunter and different as he is a witch hunter. he needs to destroy the shadow witch. he will need help. will his friends be able to help? will he succeed? see if he does
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 7, 2015
The finale of the Witch Hunter series. I can only say- Wow! What a book! This is the best book in the series. The Shadow Falls contains every good aspect of storytelling I admire, exploring people and mysteries and being fun overall. It's the longest in the series but it took me the least amount of time for reading. The writing is as slick as ever and the characters are even more fleshed out. Most loose ends are tied although there is enough room for a sequel. This is a delicious book in every sense of the word. You are missing a lot if you don't read this book. Just go and read it already!
July 7, 2016
Exciting conclusion to the trilogy.
K.S Marsden completes her Witch Hunter/ Shadow Witch trilogy in a suitably exciting and satisfying manner. The powerful Shadow Witch has already turned the tables on humans and it’s the Witches who run the world, albeit with pockets of resistance. “Hunter” Astley works with allies old and new in order to restore balance and resolve the conflict once and for all.
If you love a great story, well told, then you won’t go far wrong with this trilogy. The final book has new intriguing characters and settings that keep the story moving.
K.S Marsden completes her Witch Hunter/ Shadow Witch trilogy in a suitably exciting and satisfying manner. The powerful Shadow Witch has already turned the tables on humans and it’s the Witches who run the world, albeit with pockets of resistance. “Hunter” Astley works with allies old and new in order to restore balance and resolve the conflict once and for all.
If you love a great story, well told, then you won’t go far wrong with this trilogy. The final book has new intriguing characters and settings that keep the story moving.
May 13, 2019
Okay, so I am so torn here. I have absolutely loved this series, and though I wanted to know how everything would end, I didn't want it to end.^^ This was a fantastic end to the trilogy. I won't say anything about what happens because I think anyone reading this series deserves to have the pleasures, drama, and shock for themselves. I'll just say this trilogy was an absolutely terrific, creative, unique story with great characters. I loved it, and I can't wait to see what K.S. Marsden writes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2020
After losing the war against the witches and all his allies, Hunter decides to search for the Benandanti. Being on the witches' radar, he spends a lot of time traveling the world to avoid capture, until he manages to reach Italy and finds the Donili temple.
The Benandanti were a branch of the Donili. Since Hunter's "powers" were similar to theirs, they agree to train him. This implies that Hunter spends more than a year learning with them with his 13-year-old companions who take advantage of teasing him 🤣.
When Hunter is finally ready to return, he encounters a new moderately organized resistance and meets Mel among them. Quite an interesting girl who seems to be as crazy as the hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
Now they must find a way to permanently end Sophie, carefully selecting their allies and setting aside all their previous prejudices.
The first thing I have to say is that Adam is 4 years old when Hunter finally meets him officially ... I really can't believe it was so long without looking for him, but well.
This book pleasantly surprised me. When I felt that the story had nothing new to deliver, an enormity of new mysteries appeared. Among them Hunter's dreams, Mel's real identity, and characters like Kristen.
Mel is a very cute character who just wants to make friends. But a genuine chill ran down my spine when Hunter finds out who she really is.
Knowing that this story was about a forbidden love, I expected another type of relationship. Normally I like stories in which forbidden love is achieved at all costs, while in this story love only served to complicate things, however they never really intended to have a relationship. Honeslty this was not bad, it was just different from what I expected.
This book deserves 4/5 stars for me. It is a good story and I find it to be recommendable and entertaining. However, many questions remained without satisfactory explanation, such as the origin of the dreams and the connection between Hunter and Sophie, the powers of Adam, Mel ... complete 😅. Also, I find it difficult to believe that a character like Lucy was a mere spectator in the story, I hoped that would influence much more.
Honorary mention to a character that I did not mention in my previous reviews and who is probably the best character in this saga. Mrs. Astley 👏
The Benandanti were a branch of the Donili. Since Hunter's "powers" were similar to theirs, they agree to train him. This implies that Hunter spends more than a year learning with them with his 13-year-old companions who take advantage of teasing him 🤣.
"If you want my opinion, and I know you won't like it." The Abate stated. "Anti-witches and Donili have a lot more in common with witches than normal humans."
When Hunter is finally ready to return, he encounters a new moderately organized resistance and meets Mel among them. Quite an interesting girl who seems to be as crazy as the hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
Mel danced around the table, making ure her two guests were seated before skipping to the door and yanking it open.
"Hello Dave." She trilled to the with-hunter on sentry.
"We're having a tea party. Can you bring the tea?
Now they must find a way to permanently end Sophie, carefully selecting their allies and setting aside all their previous prejudices.
The first thing I have to say is that Adam is 4 years old when Hunter finally meets him officially ... I really can't believe it was so long without looking for him, but well.
This book pleasantly surprised me. When I felt that the story had nothing new to deliver, an enormity of new mysteries appeared. Among them Hunter's dreams, Mel's real identity, and characters like Kristen.
Demons, and the prophecies, and greatness. It all seemed far-reaching. But then again, if someone had told him five years ago that the world would fall to ruin, and witch-hunters would use magic, he would have thought it equally unlikely.
Mel is a very cute character who just wants to make friends. But a genuine chill ran down my spine when Hunter finds out who she really is.
After taking a moment to work out who Hunter was, Mel turned and went back to the house with all the appearance of a kicked puppy.
Knowing that this story was about a forbidden love, I expected another type of relationship. Normally I like stories in which forbidden love is achieved at all costs, while in this story love only served to complicate things, however they never really intended to have a relationship. Honeslty this was not bad, it was just different from what I expected.
This book deserves 4/5 stars for me. It is a good story and I find it to be recommendable and entertaining. However, many questions remained without satisfactory explanation, such as the origin of the dreams and the connection between Hunter and Sophie, the powers of Adam, Mel ... complete 😅. Also, I find it difficult to believe that a character like Lucy was a mere spectator in the story, I hoped that would influence much more.
Honorary mention to a character that I did not mention in my previous reviews and who is probably the best character in this saga. Mrs. Astley 👏
May 14, 2019
I went into this one expecting an intense, fiery showdown, with the Shadow Witch being taken out in some dramatic way…but it kind of didn’t turn out like I expected it to. It starts off a little slow as Astley is still hiding from the witches and searching for help, and the witches have taken control of the world. Things start to pick up in pace as plans are put into motion to take care of the witch problem, and then some issues seem to be resolved rather quickly, too quickly to really make sense. Some things happen that frankly confused me, and I still honestly don’t quite understand how the Shadow Witch was taken down. I kind of do, but kind of don’t. It kind of left me at the end going “huh…” and I can see how some are saying they’re not sure how they feel about the ending. The whole series is great though, and I’m glad I read it. It’s an original story, and it ends in a way the series can be expanded later with other characters in the story, such as the kids. I see there are already a couple of prequel books written/in progress.
April 5, 2021
In The Shadow Falls, the final installment of K.S. Marsden’s Witch-Hunter series, Hunter is lost in the aftermath of the events of book 2 and runs off to seek out any information he can find on the Benandanti. If he can learn more about them, and himself, maybe he can stop the Shadow Witch and save the world. But things are never that easy, and the more he learns, the more complicated things get for him, for Sophie, and for their son. A war is coming and there’s only one way it can end.
Overall, I enjoyed this series. There was just the right amount of twists, turns, and revelations. And the ending was perfect, even if it was a little bittersweet.
Overall, I enjoyed this series. There was just the right amount of twists, turns, and revelations. And the ending was perfect, even if it was a little bittersweet.
June 14, 2018
After the army loses to the witches, Hunter has to go on the run to avoid capture. He believes all other witch-hunters are dead. He decides to try to find help exploring his abilities, by finding the Benandantior, or at least their modern group. He finds the Donili and learns more about what he can do. Returning to England, he finds that all the army had not been destroyed. Then kidnaps his son from Sophie, the Shadow witch. Then things really get ugly! Full of action, with a great plot and characters. I received a complimentary copy and freely give my honest review.
May 8, 2019
I have been hooked on this series since book one. Hunter us an amazing character and I thoroughly his story. This was a great conclusion to Witch-Hunter series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 23, 2019
Im sorry this was not my type of book at all.
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