Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Of Silver and Shadow” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Of Silver and Shadow

Jennifer Gruenke (Goodreads Author)

4.07 · Rating details · 368 ratings · 299 reviews

Ren Kolins is a silver wielder—a dangerous thing to be in the kingdom of Erdis, where magic has been outlawed for a century. Ren is just trying to survive, sticking to a life of petty thievery, card games, and pit fighting to get by. But when a wealthy rebel leader discovers her secret, he offers her a fortune to join his revolution. The caveat: she won’t see a single coin ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 480 pages

Published February 16th 2021 by Flux

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Of Silver and Shadow, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

YA Releases of February, 2021

59 books — 249 voters

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

YA Releases of May, 2020

65 books — 255 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.07 ·

Rating details

· 368 ratings · 299 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Of Silver and Shadow

Mar 03, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it

Well, another book I had conflicted feelings about it so I will summarize my thoughts with pros and cons right now to be fair:

Pros: Story-telling is fast pacing, intriguing and stick to the point, straightforward, not much meandering and stalling, action-packed, keeping your attention intact. Ren is one of the last silver wielders of the country hesitates to be a part of rebellious action against the king as Kellen tries to endure his life, living with his brother and his king father, Darek want Well, another book I had conflicted feelings about it so I will summarize my thoughts with pros and cons right now to be fair:

Pros: Story-telling is fast pacing, intriguing and stick to the point, straightforward, not much meandering and stalling, action-packed, keeping your attention intact. Ren is one of the last silver wielders of the country hesitates to be a part of rebellious action against the king as Kellen tries to endure his life, living with his brother and his king father, Darek wants to keep his promise to his mother by fighting against the kingdom and seeing it burned into ashes and Adley wants to get rid of the rebel leader to earn her freedom. So four different characters’ stories intertwine and collapse into each other.

World building is also complex, satisfying, thought provoking, reflecting the class differences, the glamorous life the rich people have with their fancy houses and poor people suffer as they live at their old, dilapidated places.

Ending of the story: Still giving you hope and you want to read more so I’d pleased to read another book sooner.

Cons: Actually I loved the characterization but main characters’ lack of chemistry and their immature fights a little bit disturbed me. Yes, I talk about Ren and douchebag Darek (normally this character is not created as a villain but at the beginning it’s hard to accept his manners and animosity around Ren) and Ren was sarcastic queen but sometimes dosage of her mockery was too much to handle.

I liked Kellen’s story more and of course it’s so easy to empathize this character, has still genuine heart, trying to find his way in the kingdom, sneaking away at night, wandering around the city.

And of course Adley and Lesa’s romance was heartwarming and more realistic than our MCs have.

Overall: There are more ups than downs and I enjoy this installment with its witty and unique writing, great world building and amazing supporting characters so let’s round up 3.5 stars to 4 before getting out of here and waiting for the next one!

Special thanks to NetGalley and North Star Editions/Flux for sharing this interesting ARC in exchange my honest review. ...more

flag 102 likes · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2019 Brittney ~ Reverie and Ink added it

YOU GUYS YOU GUYS AHHHHHH. Look at the cover!

Trust me! You'll want to add this book!!

Jenn was my very first critique partner. Like, ever. And I've had the unique privilege of seeing this book from its very first drafts - all the way into the beauty it is now. And I can't wait for everyone to read it!

AND LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT I SAW KELLEN FIRST.

That is all. ...more

flag 84 likes · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2019 NAT.orious reads ☾ rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, standalones

3.25 STARS in the shadow ★★★✩✩

This book is for you if… over the top banter that should be labelled 'cruel battle of words' does not taint the originality of a story for you. There's some heartbreaking truth to many of the narratives that might make this a better read for others than it was for me.

⤐ Overall.
Fine, I admit it. It did get better after a while. All in all, this read is a disappointment nonetheless. My hopes were sky-high. Of Silver and Shadow was not a great book for me, I pe ...more

flag 63 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2019 Jennifer Gruenke rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Update: Because of the pandemic, the release of this book has been pushed back to February 16, 2021.

///

Since the cover is finally here (!!) a couple details about OF SILVER AND SHADOW:

- It's a true multi-perspective novel with four different POVs
- It's upper YA that would fit well into a crossover category if that existed in traditional publishing
- The setting is fairly dark and gritty
- Tropes include hate-to-love and forbidden lovers

I can't wait for you to read it in May! ...more

flag 32 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2020 Athena (OneReadingNurse) rated it really liked it

***It was just announced by Flux books that the release date has been pushed back to Feb 16 2021, but you can still preorder it😭***

Thank you so much to North Star Editions: Flux for the digital arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

Magic in the form of Silver has been outlawed in the country of Erdis for years. The Kingdom's bloody history includes a huge genocide of magic wielders and a systematic eradication of trade routes and immigration from areas wher ***It was just announced by Flux books that the release date has been pushed back to Feb 16 2021, but you can still preorder it😭***

Thank you so much to North Star Editions: Flux for the digital arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

Magic in the form of Silver has been outlawed in the country of Erdis for years. The Kingdom's bloody history includes a huge genocide of magic wielders and a systematic eradication of trade routes and immigration from areas where refugees fled. The King is a murderous bastard, the crown prince is even worse, and the youngest prince is the snarky one that wants nothing to do with royalty. He reminded me of Nikolai except he's a pit lord, not a privateer.

The rebellion is seeking to overthrow the crown and has been planting seeds to do so since before Darek (this generation's rebel leader) and Ren were born. The characters are pretty well described in the summary. There is a lot of squabbling (or sexual tension) between a few of them, but the book has a lot of quite well done banter. I just kept being reminded of Nikolai with the whole second prince syndrome.

Silver is just an innate ability like fire wielding or any other mage ability. It seems to be the only magical ability in the kingdom. Silver can be used for anything from lockpicking to torture to making a giant silver lion appear - like an illusion with substance. The king uses it to torture people while Ren picks locks and destroys ships... I felt like we were deprived of a good mage fight. I wanted to see silver vs silver in combat. While it is a simple enough magic system, and a cool ability, it's a bit underdeveloped. Hopefully there will be more explanation in book two.

The world building is really excellent in some places. The descriptions of the city, buildings, river, mood, political structure, and tension in the city were real. We even got to see the festival, some food, and see some music and entertainment. The characters used English slang though, in high quantity. It isn't a bad thing but I forgot this was a YA book while reading. There actually isn't a lot of magic since only the Royalty and Ren wield it now, and seeing as there wasn't other magic described in the world.... This isn't quite low fantasy but the fantastical aspect is limited to silver wielding.

Speaking of age appropriateness: the tortures used in the book aren't for the fainthearted! I enjoyed reading a book with some teeth, but kind of had it in my head that I was reading an adult fantasy. I enjoyed it though. Flaying skin and muscle, blood and arrows stabbed and sliced in unconventional ways, courtesy of Adley and Lesa. I cringed a few times during torture scenes😳 As long as I'm talking about those two, they are a pair of women but the worst that they do is pine and kiss and pine some more. Otherwise for romance, two characters hook up off page. I kind of feel like if we get to read about Adley flaying off a guy's skin, we could have read about Darek in bed, but to each their own.

The pacing of the entire book was good, fast, and then the last maybe 100 pages were BREAKNECK!! I could not put it down!

All in all I think older teens and young adults are a good audience for the book. I actually enjoyed it as an adult. The most eye-rolling thing that happened was how often the two coupled pairs eyed each other before getting it over with, but some scenes definitely require a slightly more mature audience.

My original instinct was 5 stars for the last part of the book being so amazing, but overall I will go with a strong, strong four. Thank you again to the publisher for the advanced read! ...more

flag 31 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2020 Kenzie The Dragon Queen rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-advanced-readers-copies, arcs-i-have-read, fantasy, poc-characters, fiction, romance, young-adult, books-i-have-reviewed, 3-star

Update: May 19th 2020
This book's release date seems to have officially been changed. Instead of being released later this month, it will be released on February 16th 2021, as far as I know.

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley, Jennifer Gruenke, and Flux, for the amazing opportunity I've been given to read this book so many months before its release. I received a free digital advanced reading copy (ARC) by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Original Release Date: May 26th 2020
U ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2020 Mariah rated it it was ok

Shelves: net-galley, read-in-2020, tbr-2021-releases

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I must admit I walked into this world expecting a little more.
"Of Silver and Shadow" unfortunately got lost for me in the endless pile of revolution/motley crew of misfits seeking to do X, Y or Z.

The book delves straight away into the main story arc, and while that could've resulted in a fast paced adventure, I kept waiting to feel that connection to the characters but it never happened. The writing seemed specially abrupt in the beggining as well. The ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I must admit I walked into this world expecting a little more.
"Of Silver and Shadow" unfortunately got lost for me in the endless pile of revolution/motley crew of misfits seeking to do X, Y or Z.

The book delves straight away into the main story arc, and while that could've resulted in a fast paced adventure, I kept waiting to feel that connection to the characters but it never happened. The writing seemed specially abrupt in the beggining as well. The negotiation of Ren's pay out was very rushed, and wasn't very convincing, even for YA.

I never got a full grasp on what "silver wielding" actually means. I understand that given the circumstances of magic being outlawed, Ren never had access to any form of education when it comes to her abilities - but I expected at least some explanation. Some times it seems to have actual metallic characteristics but most of the time it seems to just be the name for the telekineses she displays. Some times the silver is also referred to as almost sentient? I feel like I read an almost 500 page book about a silver wielder but somehow still don't really understand what it is.

The enemies to lovers trope is one I usually thoroughly enjoy, but the dialogue and exchanges didn't really convince me. I also wondered just how many times there had to be mentions of Ren's corset.

Weirdly enough, there was some dialogue that seemed very derivative of other works. Especially some exchanges between Ren and Darek - the "displeasure of meeting" and "barely tolerable" scenes instantly placed me in dialogue had by Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice (2005 film), to name a couple.

Things really fell apart for me towards the end. Some concepts where introduced so late in the story that they lacked credibility. While the story didn't have a satisfactory enough conclusion to establish it as a stand alone, I don't really see a point in a sequel.

The world and characters have a lot of potential and I wish the story in this book had been split into two, giving us more time to get to know the characters and forge stronger connections to them. World building is such a delicate process and I kept wanting to know more about Erdis, about the place, the culture and the people. ...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2019 AJ rated it it was amazing

“But Markus was their mother’s son. Rebellion swam in his blood”

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! That’s all I can say for a moment... Ok
I’m back haha. I actually stayed up late to keep reading this! This book was amazing. I love how the story dives into action from the very beginning and the world descriptions were beautiful! I thought the concept of “The King’s Children” was creative and very interesting. The magic was amazing, the characters were phe ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2020 Kelly rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-arcs, lgbtq-read

Wow. I loved this book so much! I actually enjoyed reading every chapter and every point of view, which feels like it hadn't happened to me in so long. I didn't even want it to end because then I would have to wait for the next book (with that ending, I don't think it could stay a standalone). I'm a bit surprised to be honest to have enjoyed it so much compared to some other readers who gave lower ratings. Usually, I'm the one with the lower rating but I'm glad it's not the case here ahah.

This ...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2021 Darce rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, kick-ass-heroines, arcs, buddy-reads, romance, fantasy-adventure, lgbtq-etc

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.

4 kickass stars! Buddy read with the wonderful Azraa!

This book was a wonderful start to what is sure to be a thrilling series. The writing was easy to read and the storyline was simple enough to follow, yet also complex enough to be interesting. The characters were realistic and reasonable unique, and the romance was fun and sweet.

The novel swapped between four main characters: Ren – the secret silve ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.

4 kickass stars! Buddy read with the wonderful Azraa!

This book was a wonderful start to what is sure to be a thrilling series. The writing was easy to read and the storyline was simple enough to follow, yet also complex enough to be interesting. The characters were realistic and reasonable unique, and the romance was fun and sweet.

The novel swapped between four main characters: Ren – the secret silver wielder, Darek – the leader of the rebellion, Kellen – the younger prince, and Adley – one of the king’s trusted soldiers. I really liked the character of Ren, as I found her take-no-prisoners attitude refreshing and invigorating, and I also found her snark quite amusing.

“I don’t trust you, but I like you.”
“Most people neither trust nor like me, so I suspect we’re well on our way to becoming dear friends.”

It’s true that Ren is fairly unlikeable, but she’s kind in her own way, and she didn’t take anyone’s crap, which I loved.
I also really liked Kellen and a few of the side characters, they added fun and humour to the intense story, and I found Kellen to be incredibly entertaining.

“Oh yes, I’m the undisputed victor of the yearly dance competition. All the other pit lords are positively green with envy.”

It’s definitely true that if the pit lords DID have a yearly dance competition, Kellen would be the winner.
One character I didn’t like was Adley, as I honestly don’t believe she deserves a redemption storyline, I just hate her too much! Her torture scenes were quite intense, so be prepared.

As well as the characters, I also found the world-building with silver-wielding and a strong monarchy quite fascinating. The storyline may not have been incredibly original, but it was very captivating and unique enough for the ending to shock me.

All in all, I’m glad I read this! I found the characters refreshing and the storyline entertaining, and I thank the publisher, author and TBR & Beyond Tours for the free ARC :)). ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2019 Kalyn Josephson rated it it was amazing

I love absolutely everything about this dark, gritty fantasy!

First off, the magic. Cool magic systems are always the first thing to snag me and the silver wielding in OSAS is SO. COOL. It reminds me of ATLA style element manipulation and I am here for it.

The world is so vivid and detailed. Jenn's writing is incredibly cinematic and I felt like I lived in Denfell. A lot of that was also due to the lifelike characters. Ren is fierce, Darek is dreamy, Kellen is so adorable I just want to hug him, ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2020 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-bk-netgalley, ebk-kindle, z-2020

I love anti-heroines and Ren is an AMAZING one. In her world, magic is forbidden. In fact, everyone who had magic had been murdered by the king, assuring him that only his family has magic... Except that Ren has magic, and when the king found out, he set her house on fire. Her parents were killed, and she was supposed to die, but no one knew she survived. She made her own rules to survive on the streets, playing cards, stealing and fighting in the pits. But only one friend knew she had silver... ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2020 Amanda rated it really liked it

I would like to thank Jennifer Gruenke & Flux for my copy of the ARC. Due to this kind gesture, I have decided to leave a review.

WOW WOW WOW WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! What in the hell bells was that?!

In a kingdom where magic has been purged, only the Royals have the pleasure of using silver. But a normal girl, generations down the line can wield her own silver? Hunted down, thought to be murdered by the king's children... what's a girl to do?! Lay low? Become nothing? Or swindle card games and hit ...more

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2019 Alexia | Right Writing Words rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, netgalley, fantasy, stand-alone, enjoyed-it, liked-it, female-male-pov, gorgeous-cover, arc

Title: Of Silver and Shadow

Author: Jennifer Gruenke

Release Date:26 May 2020

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

*I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so surprised when Netgalley approved this arc for me, and even more surprised when I found out that the author is one of my favorite reviewer’s friends!

Of Silver and Shadow follows the journey of Ren Kollins as she joins a rebellion against the tyrant king of Erdis. It’s by no means an easy road, since the king and his son d ...more

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2020 Finitha Jose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, review-copy, fantasy, lgbt-fiction

When almost everything in the fantasy genre tends to be a part of the series, I am really glad to find this rare gem where the story actually ends. Some of us have fragile hearts you know and cannot handle prolonged state of tension which may even last years. So thank you Jennifer Gruenke for keeping us in mind.

What are the things I loved then? First there is the plot. Kingdom of Erdis is governed by a cruel king (practically a devil incarnate) and the country is at the brink of war. A revoluti ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2020 Jessie Sedai of the Black Ajah🥀🐍 rated it it was amazing

4.5 Star Rating

A transformative journey of survival and politics, a band of unlikely but lovable heroes, a world brimming with the echoes of magic lost and whispers of revolution rising. Fantasy lovers, rejoice! Jennifer Gruenke delivers a captivating tale where the blood spills red, the morality runs grey, and the magic always has a silver lining.

Of Silver and Shadow is a knockout of a read and a standout for the 2020 lineup. It does the unthinkable from the get go - it takes a fairly recogniz 4.5 Star Rating

A transformative journey of survival and politics, a band of unlikely but lovable heroes, a world brimming with the echoes of magic lost and whispers of revolution rising. Fantasy lovers, rejoice! Jennifer Gruenke delivers a captivating tale where the blood spills red, the morality runs grey, and the magic always has a silver lining.

Of Silver and Shadow is a knockout of a read and a standout for the 2020 lineup. It does the unthinkable from the get go - it takes a fairly recognizable YA trope, a girl with magic powers gets involved with a rebel cause to overtake a throne to a country that ostracizes and persecutes magic users and along the way is entangled with the plot of a prince who just wants to do his own thing (a la, Onyx and Ivory, Ruined, etc) but here's the kicker - the execution is done REALLY WELL. This story is GROUNDED. It has roots in a world that is wholly immersive and unique enough to stand apart from the rest. Let's face it, if a story is fun to read and enjoyable, who cares if it's a tad tropey?

Ren is a petty thief and a pit fighter, living in poverty with an attitude that's just as abrasive as her right hook. She is also a secret silver-wielder, capable of manipulating silver at will with the flick of her wrist. The only problem is that she isn't supposed to be alive - the king in years past had all silver wielders killed except themselves to keep the power of magic monopolized by royalty. His radical regime is enforced by the Kings Children, elite warriors enslaved to root out magic users and heretics alike. When Ren is approached by two brothers looking to overthrow the tyrant king, Ren must figure out what she values most and what she's willing to sacrifice to attain it. Along the way, there are alliances tested, unexpected friendships, secrets unearthed from long ago, and a sloooooowwwwww burn hate-to-love romance that will make you wonder if this is really for young adults.....

There is a darkness coiled up in the tone of this book that I simply adored. The author did not pull any punches when it came to depicting the brutality of this world and the torturous depravity of its king. I appreciated the grit and the honesty of the setting and the tense atmosphere it created. There are no apologies for the characters maiming or murdering. There is no path to redemption or introspection. Ren does what she has to in order to survive and that's it. And when we switch gears to the other of the 4 main point of views (which sounds intimidating but transitioned seamlessly), we find that the solidarity of resolve to survive in an unfairly oppressive world is what drives these characters forward. Towards what end, whether it be good or evil or somewhere in-between, who's to say what the right answer is. All I know is I was intrigued the whole way through. And the last 10% of the book probably had some of the most well-articulated, enjoyable, believable action sequences I've ever read.

Overall, great read. Can't wait for the next installment!

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

May 17, 2020 Abookishchick rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed of silver and shadow and was presently surprised on how much I enjoyed this book, at first I didn’t think I was going to be a book for me but I kept reading and got sucked into the story.

I really enjoyed Ren and the rebels characters, and quickly got caught up in the story where I didn’t want to put it down.

My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2019 Candace Robinson added it

ARC received via publisher!

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2020 Christi M rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley

Rebellion, outlawed magic, potential romance, witty banter all make up this new fantasy book by Jennifer Gruenke.

Thoughts:
Rebellion is at the forefront of this young adult/new adult book. The kingdom is being run by those who don’t deserve to be in power and it is long past time to remove them.

Ren is a pit fighting, sarcastic, street-wise girl who gets noticed by the rebellion leaders. Why? Because she can do magic in a kingdom where magic is outlawed by death. They need her, but she’s not reall Rebellion, outlawed magic, potential romance, witty banter all make up this new fantasy book by Jennifer Gruenke.

Thoughts:
Rebellion is at the forefront of this young adult/new adult book. The kingdom is being run by those who don’t deserve to be in power and it is long past time to remove them.

Ren is a pit fighting, sarcastic, street-wise girl who gets noticed by the rebellion leaders. Why? Because she can do magic in a kingdom where magic is outlawed by death. They need her, but she’s not really all that into the rebellion until there is promise of money. Then, of course, she’s definitely in.

The rebellion has been long coming and they have planned out exactly how to use her talents. Not in the “she does everything while we stand back” kind of way except when they obviously have to since she is the only one who can do magic, but more of “let’s use her to rally others to our cause” way.

What I Liked:

- Character interactions and banter were fun, especially whenever Prince Kellen was around, but Darek and Ren have some fun interactive encounters too. Speaking of Prince Kellen, he was quite the scene stealer. It’s as if the book came alive when he wandered into a scene.
- World is pretty easy to grasp and follow. The kingdom and how it operates along with the magic system can be quickly understood at a high level.
- Couple of unexpected moments in the plot that surprise you and keep the story progressing.

What Was Ok or Didn’t Like:
- Plot isn’t terribly unique to the fantasy genre, which was my main struggle with it. Rebels plotting against the king, enemies to romance. We’ve seen it before. Overall, it has potential for being more complex, although I did appreciate the portions of how King Mattheus manipulated other kingdoms, especially with the proposed treaties.
- Wish there was just a little bit more explanation on how the story ends. It gives the impression that this is a stand-alone story, so I wish there were an Epilogue to provide more information on what happened next and how the ending plays out.

Overall, it was an enjoyable novel and quick read, but isn’t necessarily original. I know there are many who really love enemies-to-lover books along with rebellion and so if this is you, then definitely consider trying this one out. However, if you are looking for something with a complex, dark plot that is unique, then this may not be book for you. Due to some mature content, it feels more like it is on the edge of young adult and new adult genre.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review. ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2020 Sheena ☆ Oh, the Sheenanigans! rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs-ebook, marriage-or-marriage-arrangement, power-couple, young-adult, standalone, death, fantasy, everlasting-friends, royalty, pleasantly-surprised

'Of Silver and Shadow' is about Ren, who is a self-taught silver wielder that nearly escaped death as a child before she went into hiding in the Kingdom of Eris, where magic is outlawed and being outed could be the death of her. While attempting to survive by succumbing to thievery, card games, and dangerous pit fighting to pay an overdue debt, along the way she encounters a Rebel, King's Children, and Prince that pulls her towards a rebellion she wants no part of in which case f ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 29, 2020 Bright Star rated it really liked it

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

4.25 stars

Of Silver and Shadow was such a hilarious and enjoyable reading! I laughed multiple times, which is rare in fantasy books nowadays. I loved all the characters, especially Ren who reminded me of Lila ❤️ She was such a sassy character that it wasn't impossible to not like her! Plus, her banters with Darek and their enemies to lovers relationship were SO FREAKING GOOD! I can't help myself, I LOVE this trope! I also enjoye ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2019 Red Ink Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

I was given an advanced copy of this book to provide a review by Flux – North Star Editions.
A captivating story that had me from the very beginning and until the very end. I was left feeling bereft and hopelessly wondering what was left in store for all the colourful and vivid characters in this mesmerising tale.
Ren Kolins is strong and feisty young woman whose bark is definitely not worse than her bite. She is rude and abrupt but life has forced her to be this way. Ever since her parent’s death I was given an advanced copy of this book to provide a review by Flux – North Star Editions.
A captivating story that had me from the very beginning and until the very end. I was left feeling bereft and hopelessly wondering what was left in store for all the colourful and vivid characters in this mesmerising tale.
Ren Kolins is strong and feisty young woman whose bark is definitely not worse than her bite. She is rude and abrupt but life has forced her to be this way. Ever since her parent’s death where they were burnt alive in their own home. Ren had barely escaped with her life and has the scars to show for it both inside and out.
But that’s not all there is to Ren, she has her own secrets. Secrets she keeps hidden like layers wrapped tightly around herself for warmth in the winter. With walls forever up, rarely letting anyone to see through the cracks of her armour.
Ren developed and perfected her skills as a thief and an accomplished fighter. Of course, the fact that she was a silver wielder certainly helped, though that is one secret she keeps closer than all the rest.
But to be a silver wielder in Erdis is a dangerous thing indeed. If the King were to discover her secret, she would join her parents. As only those with royal blood were meant to be silver wielders, and Ren was not of royal blood.
So, when Darek and his brother Markus tracked her down and revealed they knew her secret she was none too pleased.
Asking her to join their rebellion, she thought she would be better off signing her own death warrant. However, there was something about this Darek that she just couldn’t quite explain or put her finger on. He was dark and moody, almost as much as Ren was herself. And he had an uncanny knack to get under her skin like no one else could. Against her better judgment she joiner their rebellion, for a price.
The fight for the kingdom quickly turned into a fight for their lives. As the King’s loyal soldiers, the King’s Children circled Ren closer and closer, slowly tightening the noose. Can ren allow herself to depend on someone else or will she let it all burn around her, as long as she is safe…

Jennifer Gruenke is a talented author pulling the reader in and holding them in her power as she weaves her tales.
If you like the stories and works of Sarah J Maas you will definitely enjoy this thrilling story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more of Ren and her adventures.
...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2020 JenacideByBibliophile rated it liked it

Shelves: badass-female-leads, ball-gowns-and-royals, romance, rebellion-books, fantasy-ya, assassins-and-spies, magic

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Flux – North Star Editions, via Netgalley for an honest review.

Of Silver and Shadow had a lot going right for it.

A story of rebellion with unique and diverse characters, a plot with twists and surprises lurking in shadowed alleyways, a rugged world built on oppression and fear, and a female lead with a liking towards thievery and pit fights.

But with all the good that this story was – enthralling, exciting, fresh – there were too many ho ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2019 Sam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, multiple-pov

THIS. BOOK.

It's like if Lila Bard teamed up (and had a steamy romance) with Enjolras. Pit fighter Ren is all knives; Darek is a broody rebel who talks of revolution. Put them together, and bam! You have a sizzling, banter-filled fantasy that will keep you turning pages. Pick this one up. Display it proudly on your shelf. It's FABULOUS. ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2020 julia ☆ [owls reads] rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-fantasy, arc

2 stars.

*

Of Silver and Shadow really wasn’t the book for me. From the very beginning, I felt like I was dropped in the middle of an ongoing story without any sort of explanation on who the characters were or what was going on. Because of this, I couldn't connect to the characters and the plot felt a bit wishy washy to me. Everything happened too fast and without pause.

The two positive things were the action scenes and the queer romance. There were quite a few cool action sequences throughout t ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2020 Lia Carstairs rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, e-arcs, young-adult, fantasy

Update:
So I just noticed that the release date for this book was pushed back to next year - Feb. 16

Thank you so much Netgalley and North Star Editions/Flux for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: Feb. 16, 2021

Okay, so we can we all just give a moment to LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!😍

I admit that when I was looking for books, this cover stood out so much, that I just had to read the synopsis. Yes, I know, don't judge a book by its cover, but c'mon. You can't look at that ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2019 Jessica rated it it was amazing

I had the absolute privilege of reading an early version of this and it blew my mind. Ren is the snarky, spirited MC we deserve and I loved her from the first page, and the other POVs are just as vivid and intriguing. The setting is so real and gritty and ties into a super cool magic system—like Scarlet Witch, but make it fantasy. This book is full of rebellion and romance and magic and it’ll sweep you away. OF SILVER AND SHADOW is a refreshing new YA fantasy that you won’t be able to put down.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2020 Antonella rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This is an action packed YA fantasy book that has complex world building and a lot of interesting characters. Side characters are the ones that stole the show. The book ends in a way that suggests that there will be more books.
Even though there is a lot of things that should make this book a winner, but I was still felt that I missed something. Maybe the deciding factor was that I never really connected with Ren.
It is an okay read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2021 Dee Arr rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This story has all the expected characters and plot lines one would expect in a recipe for a magical fantasy. Take one despot king who thinks nothing of subjugating his subjects and killing them at will. Add in the heir-apparent, as ruthless as his father. Toss in a brother who has a far softer side than his brother or father. Mix in other characters such as Adley and Lesa, members of the King’s Children (an elite army) and partners in an illicit love; Darek and Markus, brothers and a major part This story has all the expected characters and plot lines one would expect in a recipe for a magical fantasy. Take one despot king who thinks nothing of subjugating his subjects and killing them at will. Add in the heir-apparent, as ruthless as his father. Toss in a brother who has a far softer side than his brother or father. Mix in other characters such as Adley and Lesa, members of the King’s Children (an elite army) and partners in an illicit love; Darek and Markus, brothers and a major part of the revolutionaries. Last, but not least, there is Ren Kolins, a magic wielder who never should have been born but has found a way to survive and keep everyone at bay. One can guess the plot from the above characters and the parts they are sure to play.

Author Jennifer Gruenke stretches this tale out over 480 pages, taking us down the expected paths. While others have taken this same plot and made something out of it, there is nothing that jumps out and makes the story special…which is a shame, as the author has a talent for imagery. One never knew when an image would jump off at the pages. “A long, scarred table sat in the middle of the crowded room, rickety and mismatched chairs jutting out around it” describes the scene as well as hints at the owners of the furniture, while “…it did little to ease the worry eating at his gut like a carnivorous moth” inspires a number of visions. Descriptions like these helped to keep me reading and are the author’s 5-star part of the story.

At the same time, the pages are littered with unnecessary vulgarities, so many in the first few chapters that I struggled to continue reading. Thankfully, the number abated yet returned in force at the very end, raising the stakes to include what could be considered as oaths with a pair of f-bombs thrown in. Ms. Gruenke is certainly talented enough with her descriptive choices and could have found a better way to present the moods of the characters. When coupled with the desired audience (9th through 12th grade) I debated why we would teach 13- and 14-year-olds that this is the only way to illustrate a point.

Bottom line – “Of Silver and Shadow” is not a bad tale, just one that holds nothing new. It could have been stronger with dropping the vulgarities and increasing visual descriptions of the characters’ moods while dropping the info dumps that always seemed to appear whenever an action scene began to pick up speed. Other readers may like the story, and though I could consider checking out Ms. Gruenke’s next novel, this one receives only three stars from me.

My thanks to NetGalley and publishers North Star Editions and Flux for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2019 Petra rated it it was amazing

*THANK YOU to North Star Editions and Flux for graciously providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Full 5 stars for the amazing journey that book is! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No fillers no runaround, pure action from chapter one,right until the last one!
The story is told from several points of view and the timing to switch between them is so perfect and fluid, that is pure pleasure to read and complements the story, instead of distracting you and make you say "I wish i saw that momemt from that cha ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Challenge Corner: Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke -> Starting on March 10th, 2020	10	7	Mar 27, 2020 01:45AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

135 users

Young Adult

60 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

23 users

LGBT

22 users

Romance

19 users

Fiction

14 users

Fantasy > High Fantasy

11 users

Fantasy > Magic

10 users

GLBT > Queer

5 users

Politics

2 users

See top shelves…

About Jennifer Gruenke

Jennifer Gruenke

104 followers

Jennifer Gruenke is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, where she studied communication and writing. She grew up among the redwoods of Northern California, and now lives in Charlotte with her books and the houseplants she hasn't killed yet. If she's not writing or reading, you're most likely to find her in a cafe, music venue, or the aisles of Trader Joe's. OF SILVER AND SHADOW is her debut novel. ...more

The Most Anticipated YA Books of March

As dedicated readers already know, some of the best and most innovative stories on the shelves come from the constantly evolving realm of...

Trivia About Of Silver and Shadow

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Of Silver and Shadow

“Books were a reminder that the whole world wasn't a bleak tapestry of violence, and while she might never see anything beautiful again, at least she could read about kinder things. It was easier to breathe between the pages of a book.” — 2 likes

“You're smart, Kell, but you don't think with your head. You think with your heart. And hearts are dreadfully weak things."
Yet without them, we'd all be dead, Kellen thought.” — 0 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke

Of Silver and Shadow

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Jennifer Gruenke

Related Articles

Trivia About Of Silver and Shadow

Quotes from Of Silver and Shadow

See a Problem?

Preview — Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke

Of Silver and Shadow

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Jennifer Gruenke

Related Articles

Trivia About Of Silver and Shadow

Quotes from Of Silver and Shadow

new topic
Discuss This Book