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World of the Stone Maze #2
Inhumans
Jost, wanderer of the great labyrinth, has found the source of the monsters that run wild in the maze. But finding the source isn’t enough. It needs to be destroyed.
Hopelessly outnumbered, Jost must track down the inhumans—half-monster hybrids that harbor hidden power. He must convince them to turn against their creator…or he must kill them all.
With bolstered magic and a new understanding of his purpose, Jost sets out on his mission. If he fails, the homecoming of these scattered children of evil will bring about humanity’s end.
Hopelessly outnumbered, Jost must track down the inhumans—half-monster hybrids that harbor hidden power. He must convince them to turn against their creator…or he must kill them all.
With bolstered magic and a new understanding of his purpose, Jost sets out on his mission. If he fails, the homecoming of these scattered children of evil will bring about humanity’s end.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2021
20 people want to read
About the author
Shane Lee
5 books22 followersShane Lee is an epic dark fantasy author living in Buffalo, NY with his wife and their two dogs. He reads a lot, but between words he plays the drums, golf, and a fair amount of video games.
Find Shane on Facebook and Threads @ShaneLeeBooks
Find Shane on Facebook and Threads @ShaneLeeBooks
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 27, 2023
This is the second book in the World of the Stone Maze series by Shane Lee.
The book is thicker and I feel when that happens the author has really dived into the story and immersed themselves into the world they are creating. (Also thick books make me happy)
After the twist from the first book I should have anticipated a twisty end in this one… but nope I was following along the journey and then BAM… twist. Ok I felt like something was going to happen… but I was bracing myself for the author to kill someone off…
But enough of the end, can’t make this a all spoilery type review. (Yes it’s a word… no don’t look it up)
In this second installment we get a few different POVs. It interesting to see things from other characters. Each chapter is labeled if it switches from Jost, so you are never confused.
Several new characters are introduced and I feel like we will be seeing more of them in the final book. I love that there is more characters as I was feeling Jost’s pain of isolation in the first book.
The layers in this story is slowly peeling away and I’m here for it! There are magic layers, monster layers, morally gray layers…. The author has you trying to piece this world and it’s history together like a stubborn puzzle.
This world that Shane Lee has created is Intriguing and horrific all at once. The monsters are interesting and nightmare inducing. The magic system is complex and shrouded in distrust and mystery. The characters are lovable and morally gray. The journey feels hopeless and exciting. The twists gut you and also make you realize you should have known.
Shane Lee is easily becoming one of my favorite authors. I can see his writing shaping with each book he writes. I’m here for anything he puts out. Ok I’m off to dive head first into the last book. (Which is even thicker!)
The book is thicker and I feel when that happens the author has really dived into the story and immersed themselves into the world they are creating. (Also thick books make me happy)
After the twist from the first book I should have anticipated a twisty end in this one… but nope I was following along the journey and then BAM… twist. Ok I felt like something was going to happen… but I was bracing myself for the author to kill someone off…
But enough of the end, can’t make this a all spoilery type review. (Yes it’s a word… no don’t look it up)
In this second installment we get a few different POVs. It interesting to see things from other characters. Each chapter is labeled if it switches from Jost, so you are never confused.
Several new characters are introduced and I feel like we will be seeing more of them in the final book. I love that there is more characters as I was feeling Jost’s pain of isolation in the first book.
The layers in this story is slowly peeling away and I’m here for it! There are magic layers, monster layers, morally gray layers…. The author has you trying to piece this world and it’s history together like a stubborn puzzle.
This world that Shane Lee has created is Intriguing and horrific all at once. The monsters are interesting and nightmare inducing. The magic system is complex and shrouded in distrust and mystery. The characters are lovable and morally gray. The journey feels hopeless and exciting. The twists gut you and also make you realize you should have known.
Shane Lee is easily becoming one of my favorite authors. I can see his writing shaping with each book he writes. I’m here for anything he puts out. Ok I’m off to dive head first into the last book. (Which is even thicker!)
December 20, 2021
[Spoiler-free]
Jost's adventure continues in Inhumans, which picks up right where Labyrinth left off. Jost thought he knew what his goal was in the first book, but by the end it had taken a turn and totally thrown him off course. Now, in the second book, Jost must group up with some unexpected characters to chase his new mission.
The inhumans are people that were created to serve a greater power, though not all of them are still serving their master. Jost has to go through the maze to find the inhumans and discover their individual ambitions: do they still want to pursue their original purpose, or will they join Jost to overthrow a great evil?
In book 2, we see new settings and meet new characters. It's refreshing to get away from the stone walls (though it seems we never will, not entirely). Still, the adventure continues at a good pace, with the crew moving forward and encountering all kinds of things.
Practical magic seems to take a bit of a backseat in this book, with weaponry being more of the focus during battles. New monsters are creepy. Magic itself seems personified, and it doesn't give me a good feeling at all.
Overall, Inhumans was an exciting continuation of the series. I sort of predicted the ending, but didn't expect it to go down the way that it did. It wasn't quite as out-of-the-blue as Labyrinth's ending...but it was still just as shocking.
Jost's adventure continues in Inhumans, which picks up right where Labyrinth left off. Jost thought he knew what his goal was in the first book, but by the end it had taken a turn and totally thrown him off course. Now, in the second book, Jost must group up with some unexpected characters to chase his new mission.
The inhumans are people that were created to serve a greater power, though not all of them are still serving their master. Jost has to go through the maze to find the inhumans and discover their individual ambitions: do they still want to pursue their original purpose, or will they join Jost to overthrow a great evil?
In book 2, we see new settings and meet new characters. It's refreshing to get away from the stone walls (though it seems we never will, not entirely). Still, the adventure continues at a good pace, with the crew moving forward and encountering all kinds of things.
Practical magic seems to take a bit of a backseat in this book, with weaponry being more of the focus during battles. New monsters are creepy. Magic itself seems personified, and it doesn't give me a good feeling at all.
Overall, Inhumans was an exciting continuation of the series. I sort of predicted the ending, but didn't expect it to go down the way that it did. It wasn't quite as out-of-the-blue as Labyrinth's ending...but it was still just as shocking.
January 15, 2023
It took me a few extra days, but Book 2 was so much more of a ride than book 1 and I am living for it! The world building continued and the gut wrenching, anxiety inducing, strangely immersive story had me screaming and crying and freaking out the whole time!
After the twist in Labyrinth, I shouldn’t be surprised that Shane kept us on our toes throughout Inhumans, but my dumbass kept getting comfortable with the journey and the characters—just in time for some major turn or revelation (thanks for the heads up Amy lol)
I can’t get over these characters! Jost and Atell are still my favorites. I have a love/hate relationship with Orrin still. I’m still unsure about Vera and the people of Umbroke. Hider is [REDACTED]…..and I’ve been on this emotional rollercoaster for over a week now! This is me, running to KU for the third and final book! (Please be nice to me in this one Shane😭)
After the twist in Labyrinth, I shouldn’t be surprised that Shane kept us on our toes throughout Inhumans, but my dumbass kept getting comfortable with the journey and the characters—just in time for some major turn or revelation (thanks for the heads up Amy lol)
I can’t get over these characters! Jost and Atell are still my favorites. I have a love/hate relationship with Orrin still. I’m still unsure about Vera and the people of Umbroke. Hider is [REDACTED]…..and I’ve been on this emotional rollercoaster for over a week now! This is me, running to KU for the third and final book! (Please be nice to me in this one Shane😭)
March 2, 2023
Loved this second book just as much as the first, learning more about the world, magic, new characters and unexpected plot twists.
I liked that there were multiple points of view in this second book, it gave more insight into what the other characters were experiencing.
Exited to see how this will end in book 3
I liked that there were multiple points of view in this second book, it gave more insight into what the other characters were experiencing.
Exited to see how this will end in book 3
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews