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Shadowcaster
(Shattered Realms #2)
by
A lifelong war.
Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn ...more
Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn ...more
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Hardcover, 551 pages
Published
April 4th 2017
by HarperTeen
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Start your review of Shadowcaster (Shattered Realms, #2)

Update: Kindle US for $1.99 11-27-17
Noooooooo, cliffy! I need that next book now!

This book is so bad @assed! I'm loving all of these strong women fighters!

Lyss is the princess and heir to the Gray Wolf throne. (Hell's Yes!) But she likes fighting with her peeps which are men and women. They are all awesome fighters. And Lyss moves up to Captain, she's not a dress wearing society girl, she is in there fighting with her people.
Noooooooo, cliffy! I need that next book now!

This book is so bad @assed! I'm loving all of these strong women fighters!

Lyss is the princess and heir to the Gray Wolf throne. (Hell's Yes!) But she likes fighting with her peeps which are men and women. They are all awesome fighters. And Lyss moves up to Captain, she's not a dress wearing society girl, she is in there fighting with her people.
The mages hadn't seemed to notice her yet. In fact, they seemed d...more

3.5 -4.0 Stars
Something I wish I would have known before going into this book is that there is really no Ash in it….*gasp* He is there in a few flashbacks and he is mentioned but he doesn’t get a PoV and we never see him after the timeline events of the last book.

I tell you this because I think that my frustration with the first half of the book was partly because I was waiting to get to a part with him in it. Had I known going in this was the case I wouldn’t have been so distracted by it.
The f ...more
Something I wish I would have known before going into this book is that there is really no Ash in it….*gasp* He is there in a few flashbacks and he is mentioned but he doesn’t get a PoV and we never see him after the timeline events of the last book.

I tell you this because I think that my frustration with the first half of the book was partly because I was waiting to get to a part with him in it. Had I known going in this was the case I wouldn’t have been so distracted by it.
The f ...more

Shadowcaster is the sequel to Flamecaster.
Gotta be honest... I didn't love it. I think it suffered from middle book syndrome.
Firstly, the things that disappointed me:
* the two main characters (and my other fave), Ash, Lila and Jenna were barely in this book. Jenna had a few chapters but not much. I didn't even read the synopsis so I wasn't aware of that going in. It was a disappointment.
* The pacing: this book felt soooo much slower then the first book until closer to the end.
* Insta-love... a ...more
Gotta be honest... I didn't love it. I think it suffered from middle book syndrome.
Firstly, the things that disappointed me:
* the two main characters (and my other fave), Ash, Lila and Jenna were barely in this book. Jenna had a few chapters but not much. I didn't even read the synopsis so I wasn't aware of that going in. It was a disappointment.
* The pacing: this book felt soooo much slower then the first book until closer to the end.
* Insta-love... a ...more

Jun 20, 2016
Cindy ✩☽♔
marked it as to-read
IT seems the publishers are sticking with their egregious mistake of changing the cover for the U.S. Hardcover. So fingers crossed the U.K. publishers maintain the original design for their paperback.
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OMFG, they did not just go and change the cover on me. They did not just add a cover model to this book for no reason! The original cover was beautiful. Why publishers, why!?
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Got an email from Cinda Williams Chima's newsletter with the official book description! Love it!
Me after seeing th ...more
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OMFG, they did not just go and change the cover on me. They did not just add a cover model to this book for no reason! The original cover was beautiful. Why publishers, why!?

---
Got an email from Cinda Williams Chima's newsletter with the official book description! Love it!
Me after seeing th ...more

WHY would you step on your original wonderful series, flush your original characters down the toilet, and plunge readers into a long-standing conflict with long-suffering characters we don't care about?
WHY is the novel so transparently managed, with so many points of view just missing each other even as they overlap entirely too cleverly?
WHY would you turn Raisa into her mother, with no explanation of the transformation and no logic behind her actions in this novel, beyond them serving the plot? ...more
WHY is the novel so transparently managed, with so many points of view just missing each other even as they overlap entirely too cleverly?
WHY would you turn Raisa into her mother, with no explanation of the transformation and no logic behind her actions in this novel, beyond them serving the plot? ...more

Shadowcaster was even better than Flamecaster in my humble opinion. In this installment the reader is introduced to an almost entirely new cast of characters. Some characters from the first book slowly creep their way into the storyline eventually. Also, the timeline at the beginning of the book coincides with book 1 until about the halfway point. Then it catches up and carries the storyline forward from there. I am hoping for a mass convergence in book 3 with all the characters from the first t
...more

I liked this even better than the first book!
This time, the story follows Lyss - Ash's sister, and Raisa and Han's youngest - heir to the throne and also known as the fierce Captain Gray to her soldiers, and the ghost story "The Gray Wolf" to the Ardenine enemy.
The setting: is mostly centered on the Fells (nortern part of the map) and the events run almost parallel in time to the previous book - so Ash doesn't make an appearance (although Jenna and her dragon do!).
Plot: I really loved ho ...more
This time, the story follows Lyss - Ash's sister, and Raisa and Han's youngest - heir to the throne and also known as the fierce Captain Gray to her soldiers, and the ghost story "The Gray Wolf" to the Ardenine enemy.
The setting: is mostly centered on the Fells (nortern part of the map) and the events run almost parallel in time to the previous book - so Ash doesn't make an appearance (although Jenna and her dragon do!).
Plot: I really loved ho ...more

4 Mage Mark ★'s
“Sometimes you have to get away to remember who you are. Believe in yourself, Lyss. You’re strong and smart enough to do this job. Never let anyone tell you different.”
This books is the best Cinda Williams Chima book I have read so far. I'm glad it took me sooo long to get started on Seven Realms and Shattered Realms because I only have to wait 2 more months until I can read Stormcaster :) Thank goodness after how it ended, I don't think I could wait any longer!! In any case, I ha ...more
“Sometimes you have to get away to remember who you are. Believe in yourself, Lyss. You’re strong and smart enough to do this job. Never let anyone tell you different.”
This books is the best Cinda Williams Chima book I have read so far. I'm glad it took me sooo long to get started on Seven Realms and Shattered Realms because I only have to wait 2 more months until I can read Stormcaster :) Thank goodness after how it ended, I don't think I could wait any longer!! In any case, I ha ...more

I have been putting off this book for so long since the first one was average and as the months went on, I slowly forgot what happened in it. Which obviously made me want to read this book less. However, this book was everything the seven realms series was! It was just as amazing as all the books I loved in that series and I’m so glad I continued on with this book. The characters are just so much better in this book. The only reason why it’s a 4 star and not a 5 is because I was a little confuse
...more

This reread was fabulous; I’m really glad I decided to get back into this world. Reading Stormcaster is going to be all the better for it, 100%
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Original thoughts:
Fantastic, as expected. Going into this book I had no idea that it would be somewhat of a parallel to the events of Flamecaster. I really enjoyed this, but I definitely felt the absence of Ash and the original group really strongly as a result. That being said, I absolutely adore all the new characters. Especially Lyss. I obviou ...more
______
Original thoughts:
Fantastic, as expected. Going into this book I had no idea that it would be somewhat of a parallel to the events of Flamecaster. I really enjoyed this, but I definitely felt the absence of Ash and the original group really strongly as a result. That being said, I absolutely adore all the new characters. Especially Lyss. I obviou ...more

Jul 21, 2016
Gunjan (NerdyBirdie)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-a-day,
read-in-2017
This book reminded me of why I loved the Seven Realms series. :D Alyssa ana’Raisa is all set to be queen to the throne. Except she doesn’t want to be. But even so, Alyssa is great at following her responsibilities and believes in doing things right for her kingdom and for those who come after it.
This book was definitely better than Flamecaster. Mostly because (1) the romance made sense instead of the insta-love in the previous book and (2) Haleston and Alyss had more established, independent pe ...more
This book was definitely better than Flamecaster. Mostly because (1) the romance made sense instead of the insta-love in the previous book and (2) Haleston and Alyss had more established, independent pe ...more

No spoilers in this review. This is a hard one to rate because it started off slow for me, but then I enjoyed the second half. Ultimately, I decided on 4 stars. This rating is partially influenced by my love for this world Chima has created as well as what I anticipate in the rest of the series based on what she presented here.
This installment focuses on Lyss, Ash’s sister and heir to the Grey Wolf throne. Their mother Raisa still reigns, and Lyss has taken up life as a Fellsian soldier. She is ...more
This installment focuses on Lyss, Ash’s sister and heir to the Grey Wolf throne. Their mother Raisa still reigns, and Lyss has taken up life as a Fellsian soldier. She is ...more

Mar 07, 2017
Cody
added it
This book was badass. Seriously everything is coming together nicely, the action is heating up and I cannot wait to see what happens next. *Review to come*

In order to continue with the Shattered Realms series you need to read the Seven Realm series first.
Flamecaster left us with a cliff-hanger and unfortunately, Shadowcaster doesn’t follow the timeline, until half of the book, so be aware of that. Still, this was an entertaining reading because in this we get to know Lyss, the princess heir to the throne.
She’s a complicated person and my new favorite character because she never intended to be queen, and yet, she tries her best to save her Queendo ...more
Flamecaster left us with a cliff-hanger and unfortunately, Shadowcaster doesn’t follow the timeline, until half of the book, so be aware of that. Still, this was an entertaining reading because in this we get to know Lyss, the princess heir to the throne.
She’s a complicated person and my new favorite character because she never intended to be queen, and yet, she tries her best to save her Queendo ...more

Sorry to say I didn't like this book as much as book 1. I found myself bored at Lyss parts of the story and I got very happy when I seen Jenna was also apart of this story. Then the boy Breon was interesting too.
It was just okay. They say 2nd books in series tends to be the weakest. This one I'll agree. It was recaps of book one such as what was going on in the Fells at the same time what was going on in Arden. Then the timeline fast forward to what happened at the present time. So I think that' ...more
It was just okay. They say 2nd books in series tends to be the weakest. This one I'll agree. It was recaps of book one such as what was going on in the Fells at the same time what was going on in Arden. Then the timeline fast forward to what happened at the present time. So I think that' ...more

Minor spoilers below.
Chima has done it again. She manages to weave three separate stories into one, cohesive plot. We follow Lyss, Breon, and Hal. Three very different people from different backgrounds that become connected after a series of events.
I love Lyss. She's strong, determined, and honest. She knows her strengths, but acknowledges her weaknesses. The youngest of three children, she is now the crown princess of the throne and will become queen once she turns 16. More comfortable in com ...more
Chima has done it again. She manages to weave three separate stories into one, cohesive plot. We follow Lyss, Breon, and Hal. Three very different people from different backgrounds that become connected after a series of events.
I love Lyss. She's strong, determined, and honest. She knows her strengths, but acknowledges her weaknesses. The youngest of three children, she is now the crown princess of the throne and will become queen once she turns 16. More comfortable in com ...more

DNF
2 hours into this audiobook and I'm bored to tears with 11 hours more to go - no thanks. This is upsetting because I loved the original Seven Realms series, and I really liked Flamecaster. But this? Why is the author introducing all new main characters? Why is this book's timeline the same as the previous book, making the whole war/battle stuff even more unexciting than it already is because we already know what's going to happen based on the ending of the previous book? The author really sho ...more
2 hours into this audiobook and I'm bored to tears with 11 hours more to go - no thanks. This is upsetting because I loved the original Seven Realms series, and I really liked Flamecaster. But this? Why is the author introducing all new main characters? Why is this book's timeline the same as the previous book, making the whole war/battle stuff even more unexciting than it already is because we already know what's going to happen based on the ending of the previous book? The author really sho ...more

Cinda Williams Chima I love your writing! Yes I'm throwing out that coveted 5th star. I Love this book. This book reminded me why I originally fell in love with the seven realms series, and why on your blog I begged for more. I'm so happy you gave us more. This book was everything I was hoping it would be. THANK YOU! ♡
...more

Also posted at Library of Colors.
I’ve waited a little over a week to write this review, and I think it’s finally time for me to try to put my thoughts into words. If you’ve followed my reading and reviews at all or just happen to follow me on bookstagram (@libraryofcolors), you know how much I love Cinda Chima and the Seven Realms world. The Demon King was one of the books (along with Twilight and Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce) that got me really into reading again. The world building, the charact ...more
I’ve waited a little over a week to write this review, and I think it’s finally time for me to try to put my thoughts into words. If you’ve followed my reading and reviews at all or just happen to follow me on bookstagram (@libraryofcolors), you know how much I love Cinda Chima and the Seven Realms world. The Demon King was one of the books (along with Twilight and Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce) that got me really into reading again. The world building, the charact ...more

Over the years, Cinda’s world of the Seven Realms has become one of my favorite places to read about. So I was chomping at the bit to read more about it, and I loved being back there. Shadowcaster was an interesting proposition, because it’s not actually a sequel to Flamecaster, it’s more of a midquel. Most of the action takes place at the same time as Flamecaster, and follows different characters. It’s only toward the end that the timeline catches up to the last book, and goes slightly farther,
...more

4.5
“A battle is like a deadly sort of dance, Lyss thought. We learn the steps by sparring in the practice yards, by marching up and down the field in the hope that we’ll remember the moves when we’re distracted by the smell of blood and the shrieks of the wounded and death howling toward us from all sides. We go into battle to the cadence of drums and guns, but our dance cards are blank. We have no idea who we’ll dance with that day, when death might cut in, and who’ll leave the floor alive.”
... ...more
“A battle is like a deadly sort of dance, Lyss thought. We learn the steps by sparring in the practice yards, by marching up and down the field in the hope that we’ll remember the moves when we’re distracted by the smell of blood and the shrieks of the wounded and death howling toward us from all sides. We go into battle to the cadence of drums and guns, but our dance cards are blank. We have no idea who we’ll dance with that day, when death might cut in, and who’ll leave the floor alive.”
... ...more

This was a pretty disappointing continuation of the series, considering I pretty much devoured everything that came before. I was hanging out for a continuation of the first book's adventures but instead it's all about Adrian's sister, Lyss, who has to be one of the most boring characters of the series. There's a ton of boring war talk and lots of marching, and most of the time I didn't really get what was happening. Probably didn't help that I'd mostly forgotten the first book, so there were a
...more

Another out-of-the ballpark...
So, this is the second installment in a 4 book series, which is a 2nd generation series.
The first half of this book parallels the first book time wise for two characters mentioned in the first book, but it is not simply a different POV, so you can easily read this book and not have hardly any spoilers from the first book.
Also, if you did not the first series (The Seven Realms)...shame on you...but it is not necessary to still understand and enjoy this series.
If you ...more
So, this is the second installment in a 4 book series, which is a 2nd generation series.
The first half of this book parallels the first book time wise for two characters mentioned in the first book, but it is not simply a different POV, so you can easily read this book and not have hardly any spoilers from the first book.
Also, if you did not the first series (The Seven Realms)...shame on you...but it is not necessary to still understand and enjoy this series.
If you ...more

An improvement on Flamecaster by far, though it features far too many POVs -- some of which seem exceedingly random and unnecessary. Still, 3.5 because this has better plotting and the badass that is Lyss was enough to reel me back just when I thought I was out.

"We are the children of the north. This time we fight as one. Wizard, clan, and valefolk, our daughters and our sons. We are not made of flesh and blood, we're honed of steel and stone. We will raise another mountain and we'll build it with your bones."
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed Shadowcaster, the second book in the Seven Realms series. Taking place at the same time and after Flamecaster, we are introduced to a new cast of characters that will no doubt meet the first cast in the third and fourt ...more
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed Shadowcaster, the second book in the Seven Realms series. Taking place at the same time and after Flamecaster, we are introduced to a new cast of characters that will no doubt meet the first cast in the third and fourt ...more

After I read Shadowcaster
Hmm, it was okay. Review to come
Before I read Shadowcaster
Update #1: THERES A DESCRIPTION
Totally not what I was expecting but, somehow even better than I could have hoped forit's still too early to tell but, I'm getting good vibes. The more I think about it the more excited I am to read a story about Lyssa (this is totally premature but, from those few brief sentences I have this feeling I'm going to love her
who I'm I trying to fool? Obviously, I'm going to love
...more
Hmm, it was okay. Review to come
Before I read Shadowcaster
Update #1: THERES A DESCRIPTION
Totally not what I was expecting but, somehow even better than I could have hoped for

So much tension, and so many threads to follow. I love the way Chima writes! This book was much more political than her previous books, I thought, so it may not be as exciting for some. But I absolutely loved it. I loved seeing things from an entirely different side (Alyssa and others), and seeing so many familiar names.
I love the way that she has so many different things happening at the same time, and I really have no clue where this is going. I love that she has the long game in mind when she ...more
I love the way that she has so many different things happening at the same time, and I really have no clue where this is going. I love that she has the long game in mind when she ...more
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New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's ...more
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's ...more
Other books in the series
Shattered Realms
(4 books)
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“Why is it always easier to be optimistic about somebody else’s worries?” Adrian said with a bitter laugh.”
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“Sometimes you have to get away to remember who you are. Believe in yourself, Lyss. You’re strong and smart enough to do this job. Never let anyone tell you different.”
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