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Effigies #2
Siege of Shadows
There’s nowhere to hide.
Not when you’re an Effigy. No matter where they go, Maia and the other Effigies can’t escape the eyes of the press—especially not after failing to capture Saul, whose power to control the monstrous Phantoms has left the world in a state of panic. It’s been two months since Saul’s disappearance, and there’s still no sign of him, leaving the public to wonder whether the Sect—and the Effigies—are capable of protecting anyone.
When Saul suddenly surfaces in the middle of the Sahara desert, the Sect sends Maia and her friends out after him. But instead of Saul, they discover a dying soldier engineered with Effigy-like abilities. Even worse, there may be more soldiers like him out there, and it looks like the Effigies are their prime targets.
Yet the looming danger of Saul and this mysterious new army doesn’t overshadow Maia’s fear of the Sect, who ordered the death of the previous Fire Effigy, Natalya. With enemies on all sides and the world turning against them, the Effigies have to put their trust in each other—easier said than done when secrets threaten to tear them apart.
Not when you’re an Effigy. No matter where they go, Maia and the other Effigies can’t escape the eyes of the press—especially not after failing to capture Saul, whose power to control the monstrous Phantoms has left the world in a state of panic. It’s been two months since Saul’s disappearance, and there’s still no sign of him, leaving the public to wonder whether the Sect—and the Effigies—are capable of protecting anyone.
When Saul suddenly surfaces in the middle of the Sahara desert, the Sect sends Maia and her friends out after him. But instead of Saul, they discover a dying soldier engineered with Effigy-like abilities. Even worse, there may be more soldiers like him out there, and it looks like the Effigies are their prime targets.
Yet the looming danger of Saul and this mysterious new army doesn’t overshadow Maia’s fear of the Sect, who ordered the death of the previous Fire Effigy, Natalya. With enemies on all sides and the world turning against them, the Effigies have to put their trust in each other—easier said than done when secrets threaten to tear them apart.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2017
About the author
Sarah Raughley
11 books528 followersSarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to SF/F TV to Japanese Role Playing Games, but she will swear up and down that she was inspired by ~Jane Austin~ at book signings. On top of being a YA Writer, she is currently completing a PhD in English, because the sight of blood makes her queasy (which crossed Medical School off the list).
She is represented by The Bradford Literary Agency.
So far, you can also find her on Twitter, where work ethic goes to die.
She is represented by The Bradford Literary Agency.
So far, you can also find her on Twitter, where work ethic goes to die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
October 29, 2017
Siege of Shadows by Sarah Raughley is the second book in the Effigies series. A young adult science fiction fantasy series readers were introduced in the first book to high school student Maia Finley who knew that one of her idols must have died because Maia had been chosen to take her place as the new Fire Effigy. There were always four Effigies at any given time and when one died another young girl is chosen by fate to inherit the magical abilities of one of the four elements.
When the city of New York came under attack from phantoms with the protection system down Maia found herself tossed into the middle of battle without a clue what to do. Luckily Belle, another Effigy showed up and saved the day but it wasn't long until Maia's secret was out and she was pulled into battle with the other girls and the secret government program, the Sect that is in charge of the Effigies.
Now in Siege of Shadows the story of Maia, Belle, Lake and Chae Rin, the four young Effigies continues a couple of months after it left off in the first book. The girls know they need to band together to defeat their enemies and have been training and studying all the while trying to learn the secret behind Saul and his attacks. The girls struggle with the press and the public and balancing their duties to protect with those that think the Sect and Effigies are part of the problem.
Ok, when finishing Siege of Shadows I know that I need to write a review for this one but it was one of those moments of wow, WTH did I just read???? After picking my jaw back up off the floor and dusting it off I took a bit of time to gather my thoughts on this story and decided that this second book deserved nothing less than 5 stars for that shocking ending alone.
Now, don't get me wrong I did have my moments of doubt with this second book of the Effigies series. It seemed like it was going to fall into that middle book syndrome that I often comment on where it just lacks the action from the first and is only setting up the next. But thankfully that feeling went away when the story picked up the action and excitement that I'd come to expect from this series.
This book does a lot of world/story building and letting the readers get closer to the four Effigies that the story revolved around and I thought it was going to really slow down the pace but then there were moments of shock and awe as the story went on. Then on top of it all there was an explosive end to this book that I found that I have no clue in the world where the story could continue onward from here. Great job surprising me with this one and I'll definitely be one of the first in line next year for book three. I'd even begun to think that wow I'd love to see a movie version of this tale so would I recommend it? Heck yes!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When the city of New York came under attack from phantoms with the protection system down Maia found herself tossed into the middle of battle without a clue what to do. Luckily Belle, another Effigy showed up and saved the day but it wasn't long until Maia's secret was out and she was pulled into battle with the other girls and the secret government program, the Sect that is in charge of the Effigies.
Now in Siege of Shadows the story of Maia, Belle, Lake and Chae Rin, the four young Effigies continues a couple of months after it left off in the first book. The girls know they need to band together to defeat their enemies and have been training and studying all the while trying to learn the secret behind Saul and his attacks. The girls struggle with the press and the public and balancing their duties to protect with those that think the Sect and Effigies are part of the problem.
Ok, when finishing Siege of Shadows I know that I need to write a review for this one but it was one of those moments of wow, WTH did I just read???? After picking my jaw back up off the floor and dusting it off I took a bit of time to gather my thoughts on this story and decided that this second book deserved nothing less than 5 stars for that shocking ending alone.
Now, don't get me wrong I did have my moments of doubt with this second book of the Effigies series. It seemed like it was going to fall into that middle book syndrome that I often comment on where it just lacks the action from the first and is only setting up the next. But thankfully that feeling went away when the story picked up the action and excitement that I'd come to expect from this series.
This book does a lot of world/story building and letting the readers get closer to the four Effigies that the story revolved around and I thought it was going to really slow down the pace but then there were moments of shock and awe as the story went on. Then on top of it all there was an explosive end to this book that I found that I have no clue in the world where the story could continue onward from here. Great job surprising me with this one and I'll definitely be one of the first in line next year for book three. I'd even begun to think that wow I'd love to see a movie version of this tale so would I recommend it? Heck yes!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 3, 2018
Sailor Moon meets Pacific Rim, YES PLEASE!! The concept and the world with all its dangerous monsters was super fascinating. I enjoyed the scifi and superhero vibe. Not to mention how the mysterious plot drove me to keep reading so I could uncover where the deadly phantoms come from and what the antagonists ultimate goals were. I thought Saul made an intriguing antagonist and I loved how I never knew who to trust. I thought the action was fantastic and made for a gripping pace. I also really liked the diversity and how the story takes us all over the world.
Sadly, I didnt connect with the main character Maia as much as I would have liked. Her personality and flaws might be more appealing to other readers, but I tend to enjoy characters who are more confident and cunning. The characters in this series are either one extreme or the other. Some of the other girls are really headstrong while Maia is quiet and naive. Her relationship with Rhys is proof that she cant speak up. Lake, the more balanced of the bunch, was my favorite. She cares about the other girls, but she also stands up for herself.
Belle on the other hand was cold and bossy. She doesnt seem to care about anyone and she expects everything to go her way. I felt like Chae Rin was abrasive and a bit of a bully. I didnt like how she was always picking on the other girls, but at least she seemed a bit more supportive than Belle. Despite not loving all the characters, I still felt like they were well developped with distinct personalities. I was hoping the friendship would have gotten stronger in this sequel, but the girls are still not that nice to each other. Not that the actual Sailor Moon group got along all the time.
I feel like the writing still needs a bit of work. I found a lot more typos than usual, but those will probably be fixed in the finished copy. Some of the lines were so cheesy they were funny. Right from the beginning, the first line had me chuckling. Overall, I really enjoyed the world and the plot. With all the action I was entertained from start to finish. I plan on picking up the next book in the series as soon as I can. Id recommend this if you ever liked Sailor Moon or if you like the idea of a girls with superhero powers fighting monsters. I love supporting Canadian writers and diverse authors.
*received for review consideration*
To see a breakdown of my rating check out my blog in my profile.
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For some reason my netgalley ARC is missing pages at the beginning of each new chapter when reading it on my phone. I tried deleting and reuploading, but it didnt work. Thankfully the pages show up on my tablet. I really dont like reading PDFs. Id prefer any other format so I can enlarge the font.
Sadly, I didnt connect with the main character Maia as much as I would have liked. Her personality and flaws might be more appealing to other readers, but I tend to enjoy characters who are more confident and cunning. The characters in this series are either one extreme or the other. Some of the other girls are really headstrong while Maia is quiet and naive. Her relationship with Rhys is proof that she cant speak up. Lake, the more balanced of the bunch, was my favorite. She cares about the other girls, but she also stands up for herself.
Belle on the other hand was cold and bossy. She doesnt seem to care about anyone and she expects everything to go her way. I felt like Chae Rin was abrasive and a bit of a bully. I didnt like how she was always picking on the other girls, but at least she seemed a bit more supportive than Belle. Despite not loving all the characters, I still felt like they were well developped with distinct personalities. I was hoping the friendship would have gotten stronger in this sequel, but the girls are still not that nice to each other. Not that the actual Sailor Moon group got along all the time.
I feel like the writing still needs a bit of work. I found a lot more typos than usual, but those will probably be fixed in the finished copy. Some of the lines were so cheesy they were funny. Right from the beginning, the first line had me chuckling. Overall, I really enjoyed the world and the plot. With all the action I was entertained from start to finish. I plan on picking up the next book in the series as soon as I can. Id recommend this if you ever liked Sailor Moon or if you like the idea of a girls with superhero powers fighting monsters. I love supporting Canadian writers and diverse authors.
*received for review consideration*
To see a breakdown of my rating check out my blog in my profile.
___________________________________
For some reason my netgalley ARC is missing pages at the beginning of each new chapter when reading it on my phone. I tried deleting and reuploading, but it didnt work. Thankfully the pages show up on my tablet. I really dont like reading PDFs. Id prefer any other format so I can enlarge the font.
November 13, 2017
Warning: This book contains a huge cliffhanger ending!
Saul has escaped, and its up to Maya and the other Effigies to find him and capture him. The only problem is that he has gone off the grid for over two months, with no leads. The other problem is, that Sect employees let Saul out, meaning that the Sect can no longer be trusted. So when a mysterious dying man in the desert tells the Effigies that there are Effigie-like soldiers coming for them, the Effigies don't know who to trust, or how to get out of this mess.
I absolutely loved the first book, so I was really excited to get my hands on this book and start reading it. Everything lived up to my expectations, except I was absolutely devastated at the cliffhanger ending. It was so good, but now I really want to read the next book! Why must the wait be so long.
Maya had fantastic character development in the first book, and even more character development in this one. While in the first book it was more physical development, this book contained a lot of emotional and mental development from Maya as she tries to control Natalya in her head, and deals with everything that Natalya has shown her in the past. She really needs to trust her own judgement in this book, and she does a wonderful job doing it.
The other Effigies are basically all the same. Chae Rin is as funny as ever, you can always count on her to lighten the mood by saying something witty. Lake is just gaining more confidence and growing as an Effigie right beside Maya, and it was so lovely to watch her development as well. And Belle, well she's just Belle. She is mysterious, brooding and sometimes even scary. All of these girls are so different from one another, but they make a wonderful team.
The world building in this story was fantastic as well, the places the girls went to were described so well that I could picture myself in the scene. Although I would have enjoyed the book more if the girls got to travel to other parts of the world.
Overall, this book is absolutely wonderful and if you loved the first one definitely pick up a copy of this book. If you like cliffhanger endings then read it right away, but if you're not a huge fan (like me) then wait till the next book is closer to publication before starting this one.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Saul has escaped, and its up to Maya and the other Effigies to find him and capture him. The only problem is that he has gone off the grid for over two months, with no leads. The other problem is, that Sect employees let Saul out, meaning that the Sect can no longer be trusted. So when a mysterious dying man in the desert tells the Effigies that there are Effigie-like soldiers coming for them, the Effigies don't know who to trust, or how to get out of this mess.
I absolutely loved the first book, so I was really excited to get my hands on this book and start reading it. Everything lived up to my expectations, except I was absolutely devastated at the cliffhanger ending. It was so good, but now I really want to read the next book! Why must the wait be so long.
Maya had fantastic character development in the first book, and even more character development in this one. While in the first book it was more physical development, this book contained a lot of emotional and mental development from Maya as she tries to control Natalya in her head, and deals with everything that Natalya has shown her in the past. She really needs to trust her own judgement in this book, and she does a wonderful job doing it.
The other Effigies are basically all the same. Chae Rin is as funny as ever, you can always count on her to lighten the mood by saying something witty. Lake is just gaining more confidence and growing as an Effigie right beside Maya, and it was so lovely to watch her development as well. And Belle, well she's just Belle. She is mysterious, brooding and sometimes even scary. All of these girls are so different from one another, but they make a wonderful team.
The world building in this story was fantastic as well, the places the girls went to were described so well that I could picture myself in the scene. Although I would have enjoyed the book more if the girls got to travel to other parts of the world.
Overall, this book is absolutely wonderful and if you loved the first one definitely pick up a copy of this book. If you like cliffhanger endings then read it right away, but if you're not a huge fan (like me) then wait till the next book is closer to publication before starting this one.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
November 24, 2017
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*Disclaimer: A copy of Siege Of Shadows by Sarah Raughley was provided to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
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It feels like I just read Fate Of Flames yesterday...but it also doesn't?! On one hand, I still remember everything that happened in the first novel. On the other, it feels like I have ben waiting for this sequel for a while now! I've been eager to find out what happens next with the Effigies and I was so happy when Simon & Schuster Canada provided me with an ARC of Siege of Shadows!
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What I Liked
The Effigies. I love so many things about the Effigies. I love that they each have their own distinct individual personalities. I love that they're diverse. I love that they have their own unique powers and abilities. Whenever a novel contains multiple characters, it's always nice to see them be so different from one another. This really helps you to remember who each of them are without getting confused. These girls came back stronger and more badass since the first book in the series and I'm so glad that they are as awesome as they were when we first met them!
The antagonists. Yes. Plural. I love a good bad guy. Especially within a story that contains 4 girls that can kick some serious ass! The bad guys are always the characters are always the characters that I am drawn to as they have this sense of mystery to them. I consistently want to know what made them the way they are and what they are truly after! While Fate of Flames had a really great antagonist, Siege of Shadows upped the antagonist game and I absolutely loved that about it!
The Toronto references. We all know that award show was inspired by the MMVAs ;)
That ending though. Um, what?! Excuse me?! How are you just going to end a book like that?! Are you kidding me?! I need to know what happens next NOW please.
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What I Didn’t Like
A little slow-paced at times. It felt as though the middle section of the novel dragged a little. The beginning of the novel kicked off with an action sequence right off the bat and the end...well, see above for my comments on that ending...but the middle kind of got lost in my opinion. There was a lot mentioned about the Effigies and their stardom and what I was really craving was the action sequences and more villainous drama!
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Overall, that ending is going to make my mind spin until book three is released! I mean, holy cow? What the heck?! I have no coherent thoughts, I just know I'll be reading book three as soon as it's released!
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To see my full blog tour post, including a Q&A with Sarah Raughley, click here!
August 16, 2017
This is Raughley’s follow up to Fate of Flames so if you enjoyed that then your anxious waiting to find out the Fate of her intrepid characters will feel like it had been well worth it.
You definitely need to make sure you have already read the first because all the world building, rules, foundation and so forth is all encased there and you won’t have the full picture otherwise. Especially as the first chapter drops you right in the thick of things. She does provide a small kind of wrap up to help you remember how the characters found themselves in their current predicament but it’s not enough to help a novice reader become invested.
I love how even in the most serious of situations she manages to evoke humor from her characters. Told from Maia’s point of view you get a real sense for the edginess and fear that they live with on a daily basis. The familial camaraderie between the Effigies is still as poignant even with danger and secrets closing in ready to rip them apart.
The way she describes her scenes you feel like you are actually there whether it’s in the desert or walking the streets of Canada to attend an awards ceremony. I just love Maia’s personality whether she’s trying to be stronger than she feels or making fun of “self-absorbed celebrities” her humanity comes shining through despite the super-hero position she holds in this world.
Raughley has this way of describing scenes with such vivid emotion that when you come upon something horrific like a fictional character getting murdered there’s this part of you that wants to close your eyes and turn your head as if you could look away from the horror unfolding only to remind yourself this is a book and not happening before you visually. Just as she can dish out the horror one minute the next you’ll find her describing nightfall with such beautiful prose it hardly seems possible to have all come from the same writer’s hand.
I have to admit at times this was hard to read because of what is going on in the world with the States ripping itself apart in a modern day civil war, you don’t know who to trust not even within your own government and Raughley plays these themes to the hilt. Supernatural elements aside it’s easy to see how a society could become this fearful, this ready to act without question, to turn one friend against another, even murder your own family if you were told they were a violently dangerous threat to society.
That ending!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath and tears were sliding down my face until I couldn’t see the pages anymore.
You definitely need to make sure you have already read the first because all the world building, rules, foundation and so forth is all encased there and you won’t have the full picture otherwise. Especially as the first chapter drops you right in the thick of things. She does provide a small kind of wrap up to help you remember how the characters found themselves in their current predicament but it’s not enough to help a novice reader become invested.
I love how even in the most serious of situations she manages to evoke humor from her characters. Told from Maia’s point of view you get a real sense for the edginess and fear that they live with on a daily basis. The familial camaraderie between the Effigies is still as poignant even with danger and secrets closing in ready to rip them apart.
The way she describes her scenes you feel like you are actually there whether it’s in the desert or walking the streets of Canada to attend an awards ceremony. I just love Maia’s personality whether she’s trying to be stronger than she feels or making fun of “self-absorbed celebrities” her humanity comes shining through despite the super-hero position she holds in this world.
Raughley has this way of describing scenes with such vivid emotion that when you come upon something horrific like a fictional character getting murdered there’s this part of you that wants to close your eyes and turn your head as if you could look away from the horror unfolding only to remind yourself this is a book and not happening before you visually. Just as she can dish out the horror one minute the next you’ll find her describing nightfall with such beautiful prose it hardly seems possible to have all come from the same writer’s hand.
I have to admit at times this was hard to read because of what is going on in the world with the States ripping itself apart in a modern day civil war, you don’t know who to trust not even within your own government and Raughley plays these themes to the hilt. Supernatural elements aside it’s easy to see how a society could become this fearful, this ready to act without question, to turn one friend against another, even murder your own family if you were told they were a violently dangerous threat to society.
That ending!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath and tears were sliding down my face until I couldn’t see the pages anymore.
April 7, 2020
This one was much better than the first one. There was a lot more detail and character development. Though it seemed to be a lot about Maia. The girls all finally grew up and grew backbones. The ending was heartbreaking and such a crazy cliffhanger. The plot really took a great turn and it wasn't confusing to follow. I'm looking forward to reading the third book!
March 1, 2022
Dit boek voelde redelijk als second book syndrome. Voor mijn gevoel veel minder actie en meer plot. Grotendeels van het boek was dat niet helemaal waar ik naar op zoek was in deze serie. Maar aan het eind werd het plot weer zo interessant en zat er weer zo veel actie en twists in dat ik weer enthousiast ben.
February 9, 2018
????!!!!!?????!!!!
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!
May 11, 2020
Good installment. I liked it better than the first. Ending felt rushed . Also saw part of it coming.
April 28, 2018
Les choix de l'auteure m'ont déçu. Avec une bonne matière première, le produit fini qu'elle présente n'aura tout simplement pas été à mon goût. Avec sa trop grande simplicité, ce tome 2 ne m'aura pas donné envie d'en savoir plus, je m'arrête là pour cette série.
Mon avis complet : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2018/...
Mon avis complet : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2018/...
November 6, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title.
This is the second book in the Effigies series which is based on a girl name Maia. Maia is a fire Effigie, meaning she can control the fire element. She is part of a group of badass girls; think Powerpuff Girls or Sailor Moon. Each one can control an element which helps them fight off these monsters called Phantoms. Maia has finally become one of the group, and feels like she is starting to know who she is, when she discovers news that Rhys, the boy she has feelings for, may have killed the Fire Effigy before her. She is suddenly finding all these things out that she never knew before; such as the government agency she is working for may be corrupted, and doesn't know how to deal with them. It is a great book about how keeping secrets and lies can ultimately lead no where pleasant.
This is also one of those rare moments when a sequel ends up being better than its predecessor. Siege of Shadows went well over my expectations and the cliff-hanger at the end had me yelling at the book because I have to wait until next year for the third instalment. WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME SARAH? I felt like the girls had grown up so much more in this story line. Maia FINALLY seemed to grow a backbone; standing up for herself and for the girls. She also kept by her ways, denying Rhys when she didn't know whether he had committed the murder or not. She also fought off Natalya extremely well when she was trying to possess her mind/body. Maia is one of those protags that you eventually learn to love. If you read my other post, Fate of Flames, you will see how much I disliked Maia. Siege of Shadows made me like her a little more and then by the end, I was heartbroken with and for her.
The only criticism I will give is that it seemed like it was always about Maia. Maia did all the important things, Maia got to go on all the missions, Maia this etc. I felt like the other Effigies were placed on a back burner, whereas in the first novel, they were show-cased just the same as Maia. I kind of missed Belle's sassiness, which lacked in this novel, and I missed how we heard little things about each girl. I felt like we barely heard about Lake, which is fine because I'm not a huge fan, but maybe Sarah could add in more about the other Effigies in the third book. Maybe even put it from multiple points of view, each of the girls, would be fantastic.
This book went through so many roller coasters, so many ups and downs. Did Rhys kill Natalya? Did he not kill Natalya? Will Maia be taken over by the other Effigies before her? Will Belle ever stop being a bitch? AND THEN THE ENDING. I didn't see that coming at all, which is what I love so much about this book. (I cannot get over the ending, as you saw that I posted about it twice!!)
If you were hesitant about picking up the second because the first really didn't do it for ya, I suggest you think again. Wonderfully written and cannot wait for the third novel.
This is the second book in the Effigies series which is based on a girl name Maia. Maia is a fire Effigie, meaning she can control the fire element. She is part of a group of badass girls; think Powerpuff Girls or Sailor Moon. Each one can control an element which helps them fight off these monsters called Phantoms. Maia has finally become one of the group, and feels like she is starting to know who she is, when she discovers news that Rhys, the boy she has feelings for, may have killed the Fire Effigy before her. She is suddenly finding all these things out that she never knew before; such as the government agency she is working for may be corrupted, and doesn't know how to deal with them. It is a great book about how keeping secrets and lies can ultimately lead no where pleasant.
This is also one of those rare moments when a sequel ends up being better than its predecessor. Siege of Shadows went well over my expectations and the cliff-hanger at the end had me yelling at the book because I have to wait until next year for the third instalment. WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME SARAH? I felt like the girls had grown up so much more in this story line. Maia FINALLY seemed to grow a backbone; standing up for herself and for the girls. She also kept by her ways, denying Rhys when she didn't know whether he had committed the murder or not. She also fought off Natalya extremely well when she was trying to possess her mind/body. Maia is one of those protags that you eventually learn to love. If you read my other post, Fate of Flames, you will see how much I disliked Maia. Siege of Shadows made me like her a little more and then by the end, I was heartbroken with and for her.
The only criticism I will give is that it seemed like it was always about Maia. Maia did all the important things, Maia got to go on all the missions, Maia this etc. I felt like the other Effigies were placed on a back burner, whereas in the first novel, they were show-cased just the same as Maia. I kind of missed Belle's sassiness, which lacked in this novel, and I missed how we heard little things about each girl. I felt like we barely heard about Lake, which is fine because I'm not a huge fan, but maybe Sarah could add in more about the other Effigies in the third book. Maybe even put it from multiple points of view, each of the girls, would be fantastic.
This book went through so many roller coasters, so many ups and downs. Did Rhys kill Natalya? Did he not kill Natalya? Will Maia be taken over by the other Effigies before her? Will Belle ever stop being a bitch? AND THEN THE ENDING. I didn't see that coming at all, which is what I love so much about this book. (I cannot get over the ending, as you saw that I posted about it twice!!)
If you were hesitant about picking up the second because the first really didn't do it for ya, I suggest you think again. Wonderfully written and cannot wait for the third novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
I don't think I can even form a coherent sentence right now.
THAT ENDING.
WHAT.
THE.
HELL.
This book isn't even out yet and I'm already dying for the next one. I know I say all the time for every book that I need the next book right now, but that need has never been so desperate.
If you liked Fate of Flames, this sequel will have you hooked from page one, and the ending will leave you with such a mix of emotions that you won't even know how to feel.
Also as an aside, there's a scene of an awards show that's based on the MMVAs and as a Torontionian who has attended them many times, I appreciated the reference and how accurate it's described, down to the exact address of the Much Music building on Queen Street.
THAT ENDING.
WHAT.
THE.
HELL.
This book isn't even out yet and I'm already dying for the next one. I know I say all the time for every book that I need the next book right now, but that need has never been so desperate.
If you liked Fate of Flames, this sequel will have you hooked from page one, and the ending will leave you with such a mix of emotions that you won't even know how to feel.
Also as an aside, there's a scene of an awards show that's based on the MMVAs and as a Torontionian who has attended them many times, I appreciated the reference and how accurate it's described, down to the exact address of the Much Music building on Queen Street.
November 17, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
Siege of Shadows is the second installment in author Sarah Raughley's The Effigies series. 16-year old Maia Finley has taken her place as the fire Effigy alongside Lake, Chae Rin, and Belle, who has been an Effigy for 6 years. Each of the Effigies have the power of different elements like fire, earth, water, and air. Each one of the Effigies can also summon weaponry unique to each of their elements. There are four Effigies at any time. When one dies, one replaces them almost immediately. For Maia, her time came after an encounter with the villain, Saul, in NYC.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
Siege of Shadows is the second installment in author Sarah Raughley's The Effigies series. 16-year old Maia Finley has taken her place as the fire Effigy alongside Lake, Chae Rin, and Belle, who has been an Effigy for 6 years. Each of the Effigies have the power of different elements like fire, earth, water, and air. Each one of the Effigies can also summon weaponry unique to each of their elements. There are four Effigies at any time. When one dies, one replaces them almost immediately. For Maia, her time came after an encounter with the villain, Saul, in NYC.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
October 20, 2017
Wow, this book was just so fantastic! So enjoyable, and so much happened, and then that ending! That hurt, and then was such a cliffhanger! I need the final book in this trilogy!
March 2, 2018
I couldn't do this book. The first one was barely decent, but this tale has taken some turns that are far too silly. Really, THE TWIN SISTER IS RESURRECTED AND IS NOW EVIL? No, no, no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2017
I'm not even sure where to start on this review...SIEGE OF SHADOWS left me reeling! If you're unfamiliar with this book, SIEGE OF SHADOWS is the sequel to FATE OF FLAMES, the first book in Sarah Raughley's Effigies series. Set in an alternate version of our world where spirit-like monsters called phantoms exist and plague the world, the series follows one main character named Maia. Maia is an Effigy, one of four girls with elemental powers able to fight the phantoms. These books have serious Sailor Moon, Pacific Rim, and Buffy vibes, and it's pretty much perfect for readers who love sci-fi or fantasy, action, and fandom of any kind!
I've been eagerly waiting for SIEGE OF SHADOWS ever since I finished FATE OF FLAMES last year because I've been desperate to know what happens next for Maia and the other Effigies! The first book sucked me in with the epic world-building, and that continued with this one. SIEGE OF SHADOWS has a bit of a time jump, but as the description reveals, it does jump right back into the Sect and Effigies search efforts for Saul. While I wouldn't say that the book is non-stop action, this does effectively pull you in right away and everything looming around the characters keeps you riveted to the page!
Just like the first book, some of my favourite parts of SIEGE OF SHADOWS had to do with the girls' abilities, and I also loved seeing how the dynamics of the characters have shifted since the first book. Maia and the other Effigies: Belle, Chae Rin, and Lake, are all finding their rhythm, they're starting to work better as a team, and it was great to see how their relationships have evolved. I especially loved seeing Maia and Lake together! They had a really sweet friendship going on that I absolutely adored! I also loved seeing them all use their powers! I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll keep it vague, but seeing Maia using more of her powers in this book was definitely something that I loved! It was something I wanted to see more of in the first book, so it was definitely great to see in this one.
While I was pulled in quickly, I did feel like the middle part of SIEGE OF SHADOWS dragged a little bit. It felt like the Effigies were often in transit and there was surprisingly a lot more detail on their celebrity and public personas than I was expecting. I did enjoy seeing it, but it also left me wanting a bit more of the main plot, so I felt like I kind of rushed through reading the middle a bit. That being said, there were quite of few other things I did enjoy. I loved seeing more of the Sect and the various people involved in it. I loved seeing more of Rhys...I'm a total Rhys fangirl! I do wish that there had a few more solid answers in SIEGE OF SHADOWS, but as it's the middle book I wasn't expecting to have too many questions answered. :P I believe there's only one more book left now, so I CANNOT wait to see the epic conclusion to this series!
Overall, I really enjoyed SIEGE OF SHADOWS! It definitely left me with more questions than answers (as most middle books in a series do), but I couldn't put it down and I absolutely loved the characters and the world-building! I can't wait to see what happens next in the Effigies series!
I've been eagerly waiting for SIEGE OF SHADOWS ever since I finished FATE OF FLAMES last year because I've been desperate to know what happens next for Maia and the other Effigies! The first book sucked me in with the epic world-building, and that continued with this one. SIEGE OF SHADOWS has a bit of a time jump, but as the description reveals, it does jump right back into the Sect and Effigies search efforts for Saul. While I wouldn't say that the book is non-stop action, this does effectively pull you in right away and everything looming around the characters keeps you riveted to the page!
Just like the first book, some of my favourite parts of SIEGE OF SHADOWS had to do with the girls' abilities, and I also loved seeing how the dynamics of the characters have shifted since the first book. Maia and the other Effigies: Belle, Chae Rin, and Lake, are all finding their rhythm, they're starting to work better as a team, and it was great to see how their relationships have evolved. I especially loved seeing Maia and Lake together! They had a really sweet friendship going on that I absolutely adored! I also loved seeing them all use their powers! I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll keep it vague, but seeing Maia using more of her powers in this book was definitely something that I loved! It was something I wanted to see more of in the first book, so it was definitely great to see in this one.
While I was pulled in quickly, I did feel like the middle part of SIEGE OF SHADOWS dragged a little bit. It felt like the Effigies were often in transit and there was surprisingly a lot more detail on their celebrity and public personas than I was expecting. I did enjoy seeing it, but it also left me wanting a bit more of the main plot, so I felt like I kind of rushed through reading the middle a bit. That being said, there were quite of few other things I did enjoy. I loved seeing more of the Sect and the various people involved in it. I loved seeing more of Rhys...I'm a total Rhys fangirl! I do wish that there had a few more solid answers in SIEGE OF SHADOWS, but as it's the middle book I wasn't expecting to have too many questions answered. :P I believe there's only one more book left now, so I CANNOT wait to see the epic conclusion to this series!
Overall, I really enjoyed SIEGE OF SHADOWS! It definitely left me with more questions than answers (as most middle books in a series do), but I couldn't put it down and I absolutely loved the characters and the world-building! I can't wait to see what happens next in the Effigies series!
January 30, 2020
So! Siege of Shadows!
I have not reacted this strongly to an urban fantasy/sci-fi YA novel since The Revenge of Seven came out in 2014 where I physically threw the book across the room. I almost did that here - instead, I just set the book down and mouthed what the fuck and let the twists sink in. Even knowing some of the plot twists from accidentally spoiling myself, I could not believe the reveal. That's the sign of an excellent writer.
This book follows the events of Fate of Flames, as Maia and the other Effigies track down Saul and deal with internal corruption within the Sect. Through this storyline, you learn more about Rhys's history, the fellow Effigies, and the unmatched worldbuilding Sarah Raughley has done.
I fell in love even harder with Rhys throughout this novel. Without spoiling, he and his family are absolutely vital to the events and the world. Raughley answers all the questions you've had. You meet Chae Rin's sister in this book, as well. You learn more about Belle's connection to Natalya and the dynamic the two shared.
What stood out was the world-building, careful reveals, and storytelling that is present throughout this entire novel. I have not seen such care and attention to detail in a long time, if ever. You know how sometimes you read something and go, "Oh, that's foreshadowing?" That doesn't happen here - it's so subtle, you don't realize it until after. The history of the Shadows is fleshed out and the character development is so subtle it's like growing up with friends. I absolutely loved the religious aspect of the world - it is something that would, without a doubt, happen but not many people would have thought of it.
I could ramble on this book forever. Every aspect is perfect. This is one of my new favorite series, and I haven't even finished it.
I have not reacted this strongly to an urban fantasy/sci-fi YA novel since The Revenge of Seven came out in 2014 where I physically threw the book across the room. I almost did that here - instead, I just set the book down and mouthed what the fuck and let the twists sink in. Even knowing some of the plot twists from accidentally spoiling myself, I could not believe the reveal. That's the sign of an excellent writer.
This book follows the events of Fate of Flames, as Maia and the other Effigies track down Saul and deal with internal corruption within the Sect. Through this storyline, you learn more about Rhys's history, the fellow Effigies, and the unmatched worldbuilding Sarah Raughley has done.
I fell in love even harder with Rhys throughout this novel. Without spoiling, he and his family are absolutely vital to the events and the world. Raughley answers all the questions you've had. You meet Chae Rin's sister in this book, as well. You learn more about Belle's connection to Natalya and the dynamic the two shared.
What stood out was the world-building, careful reveals, and storytelling that is present throughout this entire novel. I have not seen such care and attention to detail in a long time, if ever. You know how sometimes you read something and go, "Oh, that's foreshadowing?" That doesn't happen here - it's so subtle, you don't realize it until after. The history of the Shadows is fleshed out and the character development is so subtle it's like growing up with friends. I absolutely loved the religious aspect of the world - it is something that would, without a doubt, happen but not many people would have thought of it.
I could ramble on this book forever. Every aspect is perfect. This is one of my new favorite series, and I haven't even finished it.
November 21, 2017
SIEGE OF SHADOWS by Sarah Raughley is the sequel to last year's fantastic debut, Fate of Flames. For centuries, four girls are bestowed elemental powers to fight off the monster like phantoms and protect the world from destruction. They are called the Effigies. In the present day, new Effigy Maia and her oddball team of girls must face a new threat, Saul and his plans to destroy or save (however you look at it) world. They must learn to work together to get to the bottom of this global disaster and save the world from possible annihilation.
Picking up a couple weeks or months after the end of Fate of Flames, the girls are starting to work better together. I thought SIEGE OF SHADOWS was an amazing sequel. It has more action, more girls kicking ass with their cool powers, more character developments, and a closer look at the world and mythology.
Raughley steps up her writing game and produced a well-written story. Her world building became more extensive, her character writing became more refined and the story just grips you from beginning to end. There are so many secrets, lies, and other conspiracies that get brought to light! Let's not forget that ending. I want to talk about it so much but it's a major spoiler. It takes guts as a writer to take it as far as Raughley did, and I think it was well worth it! I'm so interested to see what happens next.
Although I am still not feeling the main character Maia, the other three girls still remain a highlight for me. Belle is going through some dark times in the sequel, Chae Rin is dealing with problems at home, and Lake is still trying to find some semblance of a normal life in this crazy world they live in. With the events that happen at the end of the book, I'm interested to see how this is going to affect the characters and the group as a whole.
Saul/Alice/Nick, on the other hand, are so devilishly captivating. Definitely one of the biggest highlights of SIEGE OF SHADOWS for me. I love how dark and evil they are, even if they see what they're doing as good. We need more interactions with them with the other characters though.
Overall, SIEGE OF SHADOWS is an explosive sequel and I highly recommend getting into this series. You will love the Sailor Moon, Buffy, Pacific Rim influences!!
Picking up a couple weeks or months after the end of Fate of Flames, the girls are starting to work better together. I thought SIEGE OF SHADOWS was an amazing sequel. It has more action, more girls kicking ass with their cool powers, more character developments, and a closer look at the world and mythology.
Raughley steps up her writing game and produced a well-written story. Her world building became more extensive, her character writing became more refined and the story just grips you from beginning to end. There are so many secrets, lies, and other conspiracies that get brought to light! Let's not forget that ending. I want to talk about it so much but it's a major spoiler. It takes guts as a writer to take it as far as Raughley did, and I think it was well worth it! I'm so interested to see what happens next.
Although I am still not feeling the main character Maia, the other three girls still remain a highlight for me. Belle is going through some dark times in the sequel, Chae Rin is dealing with problems at home, and Lake is still trying to find some semblance of a normal life in this crazy world they live in. With the events that happen at the end of the book, I'm interested to see how this is going to affect the characters and the group as a whole.
Saul/Alice/Nick, on the other hand, are so devilishly captivating. Definitely one of the biggest highlights of SIEGE OF SHADOWS for me. I love how dark and evil they are, even if they see what they're doing as good. We need more interactions with them with the other characters though.
Overall, SIEGE OF SHADOWS is an explosive sequel and I highly recommend getting into this series. You will love the Sailor Moon, Buffy, Pacific Rim influences!!
December 6, 2017
High-stakes, non-stop action, and a level of dark mystery we haven’t seen yet in this story. We often talk about second book syndrome in a series but it’s not often I find a sequel to far surpass its predecessor in quality. Siege of Shadowsgives us everything I was hoping for in Fate of Flames. We get answers to some of the too many questions we were left with and much needed backstory, but we also get tension and character development and riveting drama and a whole new level of ruthless. I enjoyed getting a closer look at the inner workings of the Effigies and experiencing their growth as a team. And, of course, the Buffy-channeling vibes. At times the tone struck me as juvenile for the content or turns of phrase would stand out as awkward, but this didn’t detract from the overall quality of the story. I have to say, though, that the cliffhanger is the LITERAL WORST.
March 3, 2022
The idea of this story is great. I also like the complexity of the plot and the fact that the four girls aren't besties from the get go.
The writing, however, is too messy for my liking. Sarah Raughley assumes too often that her readers understand what she is on about, while I could've done with a little elaboration.
The writing, however, is too messy for my liking. Sarah Raughley assumes too often that her readers understand what she is on about, while I could've done with a little elaboration.
December 15, 2017
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
17/20 - Un second tome palpitant qui nous apporte autant de réponses que de questions et une fin pour le moins stressante...
17/20 - Un second tome palpitant qui nous apporte autant de réponses que de questions et une fin pour le moins stressante...
May 11, 2020
the beginning and middle of this book was a little hard to get through, some chapters really slow. but towards the end it did pick up pace, some cool plot twists and a very big cliffhanger :(. but i liked it better then the first book.
October 1, 2020
I just don't buy the interactions between characters in the emotional range. Is like every page you turn the characters have less subtlelties and are going for the shock value. Also, this book was the biggest teaser and little resolution. The concept of the series is good though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 9, 2018DNF, it put me in a slump and the format was not the best to read on my phone. Can’t get into this series.
January 14, 2018
This is probably more of a 3.5, but I ended up enjoying this a lot more than I expected, so I'm willing to round up to a 4.
November 28, 2020
Great second book in the series with lots of action and drama.
December 28, 2020
SIEGE OF SHADOWS is a stronger instalment in the EFFIGIES series.
Terrorist Saul's influence is growing. Maia and the other Effigies must work together to discover his motives, uncover the past, hide from those that would betray them, and stop him before it's too late.
This book was a lot stronger than the first. Raughley weaves the events of the first book back into the second as a refresher, allowing me to catch up relatively easily. Ironically it was easier to parse Saul and his multiple personas in this one than it was in FATE OF FLAMES.
The only pitfall that remains from the first is the depthless characters. Some attempts are made to round them out, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Especially in regards to Lake and Chae Rin, who get shafted when it comes to development and dimension. Chae Rin continues to mindlessly loathe Belle, but nothing comes to head between them. Belle just sort of accepts it, without repercussion.
That said, there's plenty of twists to keep you occupied. SIEGE OF SHADOWS portrays well the grittier side of celebrity soldier.
WILL I READ ON? Yes.
EDIT 28th DECEMBER 2020: Bumped rating down. I don't think I enjoyed this as much as I thought I did.
LAST REVIEW || 1: FATE OF FLAMES || 3: LEGACY OF LIGHT
Terrorist Saul's influence is growing. Maia and the other Effigies must work together to discover his motives, uncover the past, hide from those that would betray them, and stop him before it's too late.
This book was a lot stronger than the first. Raughley weaves the events of the first book back into the second as a refresher, allowing me to catch up relatively easily. Ironically it was easier to parse Saul and his multiple personas in this one than it was in FATE OF FLAMES.
The only pitfall that remains from the first is the depthless characters. Some attempts are made to round them out, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Especially in regards to Lake and Chae Rin, who get shafted when it comes to development and dimension. Chae Rin continues to mindlessly loathe Belle, but nothing comes to head between them. Belle just sort of accepts it, without repercussion.
That said, there's plenty of twists to keep you occupied. SIEGE OF SHADOWS portrays well the grittier side of celebrity soldier.
WILL I READ ON? Yes.
EDIT 28th DECEMBER 2020: Bumped rating down. I don't think I enjoyed this as much as I thought I did.
LAST REVIEW || 1: FATE OF FLAMES || 3: LEGACY OF LIGHT
November 15, 2017
**I received an ARC for this book
Actual rating: 2.5-3 stars.
There were so many things about this book that was disappointing. I enjoyed the last book because of the author's world building, and the premise. However, so many things just fell through the cracks, and I wound up disappointed - despite the cliffhanger (which I hate).
The four girls were just meh, there was nothing gripping to me about them. There was no character growth at all, and they were very all one dimensional. Not only that, but I really felt that they were just incredibly childish in their reactions. I mean, it's the middle of the second book and Lake is still incredibly scared about going out to fight? She had minor character growth in the last book and I feel like she just took a huge step back.
It was also all tell and very little show. Raughley let the conversation between the characters dictate the pace of the book, and the majority of the time the characters info-dumped everything in the conversations.
Despite all of that,, I'll still be reading the next book to find out what happens. I enjoyed most of it, it wasn't a challenging read and enjoyable enough for me to pass the time. I absolutely loathe the cliffhanger at the end. I just can't ... ugh, so upset that it ended there.
Actual rating: 2.5-3 stars.
There were so many things about this book that was disappointing. I enjoyed the last book because of the author's world building, and the premise. However, so many things just fell through the cracks, and I wound up disappointed - despite the cliffhanger (which I hate).
The four girls were just meh, there was nothing gripping to me about them. There was no character growth at all, and they were very all one dimensional. Not only that, but I really felt that they were just incredibly childish in their reactions. I mean, it's the middle of the second book and Lake is still incredibly scared about going out to fight? She had minor character growth in the last book and I feel like she just took a huge step back.
It was also all tell and very little show. Raughley let the conversation between the characters dictate the pace of the book, and the majority of the time the characters info-dumped everything in the conversations.
Despite all of that,, I'll still be reading the next book to find out what happens. I enjoyed most of it, it wasn't a challenging read and enjoyable enough for me to pass the time. I absolutely loathe the cliffhanger at the end. I just can't ... ugh, so upset that it ended there.
July 10, 2017
Action-packed, emotional, and OMG that ending! When is book 3 coming out?!
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