Sea of Shadow

Seven Swords #3

by Sarah K.L. Wilson

Though shadow sweeps over the land, light will not relent.
Intense. Delightful. Unrelenting. A no-nonsense heroine, a sword of questionable origin, and a plot that sinks its claws in and does not let go. Grab a reading buddy and buckle in." - Melissa Wright, Bestselling YA Fantasy Author
On the run with the new King of Cragspear and her shadow guardian, Ilsaletta must gather the seven swords and destroy them all or risk her rival destroying not just Cragspear but the world. But something has changed with Ilsaletta's shadow bodyguard and as he slips away, Ilsaletta must choose between the fate of the world and her own heart. Can she follow duty and good, or will she try to keep what was never hers in the first place?
This is book three and the conclusion to the Seven Swords series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult

199 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2022

About the author

Sarah K. L. Wilson is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes fantasy stories featuring practical heroes & heroines in the most impractical circumstances. She loves writing because it is the only way to make a living and give back to the world when your primary skill is an overactive imagination and a tendency toward violent daydreams.
Sarah can be found in the outdoors of Northern Ontario with her young boys and beloved husband, reading a book, or fending off her husband's pet turkeys with a straw broom.
You can find Sarah's books in paperback, hardcover, ebook and audiobook and they have also been translated into Italian, German, and (very soon) Turkish.
Please, do, enjoy the read!

*USA Today bestseller list, November 2, 2017
www.sarahklwilson.com
sarah@sarahklwilson.com
Instagram @sarahklwilson
Facebook @sarahklwilson
TikTok @sarahklwilson

Reviews

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very epic and unexpected conclusion to my One of My Top Favorite Series Of This Year/All Time. It's delicious and bittersweet and SUCH a glorious journey getting here to the end. <33

[Story Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considerably short (sub 200 pages) but nevertheless an amazing conclusion to a great trilogy. One of my favorite trilogies of all time. I just love Wilson’s writing.

[Sara L.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series I've read in years

I teared up quite a few times in this book. I loved the main characters and their interactions. I love how poetic Varguard is, despite being a warrior. I love the twist ending. What a beautiful love story!

I'll definitely be reading it again, and checking out Sarah Wilson's other books, hoping to find some I haven't already read!!

[Elisabeth Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved:
-book girl heroine
-STEKKAN. I can’t think of many other characters who are so perfectly NON-heroic and yet I love him anyhow. Their friendship was wonderful.
-Wilson’s writing style. Lovely and poetic.
-the ending: such a good mix of hope and healing and lasting wounds.

The romance felt very similar to Wilson’s Bluebeard series (ageless non-human falls desperately in love with young girl after very little time) and if I stop to think about it, maybe that’s not the vibe I love the most? But if I DON’T stop to think about it, the romance was swoony.

Content: kissing, a bit of innuendo, quite a bit of violence

[Grace Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come soon! =D

[Constance Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending

This book was a push and pull and tearing of all my emotions, and I loved every minute. The ending was perfection. I will go nurse my book hangover now.

[Tara Grayce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisty, explosive ending to a crazy amazing series!

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that's an ending.

[reader on the moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect ending!
🥺 So good.
Had me enchanted since book one, the world building was amazing and the plot exciting.
Enjoyed every page!
⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about and I wish I could Start it again for the First time.

Please remember Reading is subjective

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkness invades the land, Queen Jendaya holds the green gem, also known as the scourge of the stolen heights, and has raised an army of corricles and other monsters as she searches for more swords. Meantime King Stekkan, travels with Ilsaletta and her shadow, Vargaard as they too try to get hold of as many swords holding Nakuraki as possible. She thinks that if they can get hold of all seven swords they can defeat Jandaya. They also need to gather allies but the only one left is her father Admiral Redtide who is supposedly returning to the port, but when they finally find him he is turned as well. Ilsaletta is in despair, her Vargaard is becoming ever more human but in doing so he is losing his old memories and some of his fighting strength. They travel through the sea of souls, a nightmare of a place, to locate the swords and destroy their nakuraki. The final battle is heart stopping and the pace is relentless. I love our feisty heroine who never once gives up on her love for her shadow guardian but cannot say I am at all impressed by Stekkan who is a real wimp when not possessed by the courage sword. I love the twist at the end of the story which gave us the ending we were all routing for and redeemed Stekkan in my eyes at least!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, the pacing was just really weird. I feel like the plot points got very repetitive between all three books, because they often followed some pattern of "find Jendaya, attack, lose something, retreat for at least ten chapters while trying to figure out the next step, repeat." Stekkan, Isaletta, and Vargaard spend so little time near her this entire book that I kinda forgot she exists. Honestly, the amount of conflict and tension she contributes to this book is so little that I could've cared less what happens to her. The only reason I did finish the book was because I wanted to see what happened with Vargaard.
I will admit, my mouth dropped open at the ending. It did feel a little Deus ex machina with the father suddenly switching sides, but it worked out I suppose. I actually liked the "Stekkan and Vargaard switch bodies" thing. If I had to rank ways that I thought this series would end, that would've been like Plan Z, but here we are. I still don't really like Isaletta and Vargaard's relationship because it seems based entirely off of proximity and necessity, but if they're happy then whatever. But really, I'm just glad this series is finally over because I'm sick of my boi Stekkan getting kicked aside.

[bookishpadawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥺🥺😭

I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling toward this book or this whole series. It's a wish-I-could-read-again-for-the-first-time kinda books. this book was so magical, romantic and alluring in the most beautiful way possible. it still has the fast paced but with a lot unexpecting twists inside, and this series end so beautifully, it's just fit perfectly. I never thought the ending would be like that, it's still HEA but maybe not the HEA that I am expecting. maybe it's the most make sense conclusion for this series. but still, it's hard for me to get over it. it's on my head for dayssss after I finished this book.
overall, this series is a really worth binge-reading. the series that kindly touch your heart and leaves you in book hangover for days :") I will never forget the emotional reading experience that this story provided.

[Beth Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isaletta must gather all seven swords and destroy them into order to stop the evil plaguing the land. But Vargaard, her shadow bodyguard, is changing and Isaletta must choose between saving the world with Stekkan, now King of Cragspear, and her own heart.

The conclusion of this trilogy was intense, full of interesting roadblocks, shifting strategies, and perseverance.

Isaletta and Vargaard’s romance was heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns—lovely and impossible, passionate and doomed. I caught hints of a potential happy outcome but with bittersweet alternatives in the mix, I eagerly turned pages, desperate to discover their ultimate fate.

Stekkan grew so much over the three books that I ended the series adoring him.

Overall, this was a very fun fantasy adventure, with good world-building, relatable characters and a beautiful slow-burn romance.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m frankly amazed how Sarah K.L. Wilson manages to write so quickly and so well, apparently with little proofreading required. I can only assume she doesn’t proofread, ‘cause there were a lot of easy-to-catch proofreading errors, like Isaletta versus Ilsaletta, the wrong word used, or the end of sentences missing altogether. It’s like she writes and sends it out the door without another look - because if she looked at all, she would have noticed. But if she’s writing this well on her first pass, then color me impressed.
The opening to this series was fantastic, and while things got a little convoluted (and violent) throughout, it was an entertaining and romantic read. But how in the heck does she do it?

[Aubrey Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the book and liked how the story unfolded, but it took me a while to get through it. The pacing is very similar to the previous books in the series, with lots of dramatic action that is described thoroughly, but for some reason it just seemed a little slower to me.
The ending was satisfying, and not what I expected it to be, but it felt a little rushed and slightly chaotic. Granted, there was a lot that happened. I just found myself having to reread a page several times to fully understand what was happening.
I think this is overall a fantastic and unique fantasy series, and definitely worth reading if you want something different from the popular romantasy books.

[Chelsea Nielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so sad it’s over!

What a great conclusion to a really unique trilogy! It was short and sweet and not nearly long enough for me, but it didn’t *need* to be longer I will just miss Vaargard and Ilsaletta. 😭 They will forever be one of my favorite fictional couples. I loved the twist at the end and the lingering reminder that we all have a choice, and that those choices can be used for good.

Also Stekkan’s character arc redeemed my hope in humanity. 10/10 would read again!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an ending

This was a long awaited conclusion for me and I was thrilled with the ending. I loved the world building and the sword magic. The romance between Isla and Vargaard blooms even more and tension builds around how will they save the world and each other. Stekkan is almost unrecognisable in his new role as King and his wayward wife is still hell bent on world domination. The story is fast paced and full of revelations. Absolutely amazed by this unusual story and would highly recommend it.

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in Seven Swords series

Hope. Redemption. Sacrifice. Love.

Wow! This series has kept me on the edge of my seat with its heart-pounding suspense and action. It's packed full of sheer heart-wrenching emotion, humor, intrigue, danger, and love. I'm continually enthralled with the characters and their many trials. With the inevitable battle to come, they are faced with impossible choices. This may be my favorite Wilson series.

Well-developed characters who show strength and growth. Detailed world building. Gripping storyline.

[Carrie O · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 stars - outstanding finish to the Seven Swords series - audiobook version.

Gloriously heartbreaking. I may have cried thru the entirety of Sea of Shadow. Wonderful main characters. A twist or three. Inevitable loss, as the entire story is bathed in such. Mercy and sacrifice are the heart of it. Ilsa and Vargaard, her shadow protector from the Mercy Sword... does it get any better than these two?

I find myself grieving the loss of having no more to come, as this series ends. What a great story.

[Auburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. From the very first book to this final book I have been immersed in this story. The plot, characters, and overall feel are spectacular. I can honestly say I did not see half of the things that happened and it makes it so much better. I just wish there was more at the end because I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters.
A great read for anyone who loves fantasy where bad stuff happens and it isn't all rainbows but the MC and her crew have each other.

[Kathy Brenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series from the first page to the last one. Oh what a ride! Ilsaletta, Vargaard and King Stekken try to gather the seven swords and were hoping to have an ally, but sadly that come to pass. The battles with the evil Queen Jendaya were fierce and deadly, but they were all willing to do what was necessary to bring about the end to her plans. The characters were all so marvellous, as was the storyline, but the twist at the end was unexpected - good - but unexpected.

[Michael Coulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah has again managed to write a masterful conclusion to the Seven Swords series that basically kept me reading until completion. Ilsaletta and her shadow guardian have some difficult choices to make if they are going to work together to save the world. Will they be able to succeed and what of matters of the heart? Read on for the epic conclusion!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was not ready for this series to end <3

I loved this series. Such a unique and different story, beautifully written, easy to get caught up in and terribly sad to finish the last page from want of more. Thank Ms. Wilson for your brilliantly wonderful characters. May we all become a bit more like them.

[Mulva? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay.... I really like this story and I think the characters are good. The MC is a little tiring trying to save the world and all. And it does get a little confusing at the end with all the "pulling" and "slashing" and whatnot. But the ending is lovely and happy and a bit sad all rolled into one yummy cookie.
I was not disappointed....

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book of the Seven Swords trilogy begins immediately after the last book. After everything that has gone so terribly wrong, Ilsaletta and Stekkan are on the run trying to figure out how to defeat their enemy with almost no resources except Vargaard.

These books are listed as YA, but they’re pretty dark and intense. The ending is absolutely beautiful, though.

[emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING! Oh my goodness I had to read it twice to make sure I wasn't hallucinating lol. But seriously Wilson does a phenomenal job with her writing. This is the second series that I read and I absolutely adored it! Her writing is more than just plot, the continued portrayal of the theme makes this series so rich. I just loved it so much 😭🩷

[Jean Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy!

I just finished book 3 of this amazing epic. Not many books stir me to my core. I hate that it’s over. I feel like Sam Wise watching Frodo board the ship taking him to forever. I’m left behind and must move on but I’m spurred forward because Sarah Wilson is a prolific writer. Hollywood listen up! What a movie this would make.

[T.E. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is brutal to read, but there are also deep themes of sacrifice, love, and growth. I got the same feeling from this as I did watching the Hunger Games movies (no, I haven’t read them 🫣). So, if you’re in the mood for a battering, soul wrenching, but ultimately victorious (though painful) experience, this series is for you.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I fell in love with this series from the first book! The characters, the romance, it all spoke to my soul. This is a perfect ending to a perfect story. Thank you Sarah for finishing the series, it is 100% my favorite and it will be read and shared for years to come!