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I know that this newsletter is once again off schedule, but that's because Withered by Shadows debuts TODAY! I can't believe this is Marlowe's first book, so I wanted to do everything I could to help it be a successful one!
Introduction:
Title: Withered by Shadows
Author: Ada Marlowe
Genre(s): Romantic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Series Number: 1 of 3
Purchase Link: Buy Here on Amazon
KindleUnlimited Available: Yes
Triggers: Poverty, Death of a Parent (mentioned), Kidnapping, Violence
Analysis:
Characters: The main character Kiera deserves all the compliments. She goes from growing up in a boring little fishing town to being thrown into a dangerous situation with dragons and fae. She starts out like "why am I here?" but she gets invested in the people and thus her role in the prophecy as the story goes on. She says it herself: defiance is her only defense. Even that strength is enough to give people pause, so I really enjoy watching her slowly become a bad ass as the story goes on. I also like that even when she becomes physically stronger, she still has a certain level of ignorance about the fae world and secrets, so she never approaches Mary Sue territory. I'm most jealous of Kiera's intelligence. I mean, when dragons (DRAGONS!) say they're weighing her worth, she tells them that they don't get to decide that. Anyone who's read my ARC of Belladonna Moon also know from Kit that I love characters who make their own moments, and Kiera definitely fits the bill! She's a straightforward woman stuck in a realm of riddles, which just makes that mindset even more obvious.
I also love Soren, the love interest. He's a shadow wielder and a perfect gentleman. And I have to admit... when his tragic backstory came up, I wanted to hug him and smack the author for making him go through it! My favorite line of his is a simple one: it's up to Kiera. It was so lovely seeing him give her autonomy, especially since this is Chosen One story with much of her life scripted in prophecy. I also love the "hurt her and you die" trope, so you can imagine how I felt when he told her he'd burn the whole forest down if anyone harmed her! Also, he validates her rage. Even when it makes her doubt if she can trust him, he makes sure she knows to trust herself. I mentioned he was a dark wielder, right? Well, people often think of darkness and cold as a package deal, but Soren proves them wrong. He's dark and mysterious, sure, but he's also so warm. That might be a side that he only lets Kiera see, but it's still there with the other characters, too!
I definitely found myself rooting for Kiera and Soren to get together pretty early on. I also love the sexual tension between the two, with one moment in a library that reminded me of Kate and Anthony's moment in The Viscount Who Loved Me.
As for the other characters, I'll simply promise them to be quality. They all have diverse personalities, and I felt myself getting invested in their happiness right alongside Kiera. There are so many, so all I'll say is that I know you'll love them, too. To really drive that point home, I told the author my favorite, who will remain nameless to avoid spoilers. She mentioned I could look forward to a lot more of them in the second book. Later, when they in danger, I was worried about them even after the author herself told me they were safe!
Plot: I like the way that Marlowe makes Kiera's investment into the fae world feel so natural. She grew up under cloudy skies, and that makes her feel more at home in Soren's world of darkness. Yes, I can admit fae + keeping important secrets = one annoyed reader. (Annoyed as in I wanted to yell at them; putting the book down was still impossible.) Although I find it ironic that the expanse of dark wielders keeps Kiera in the dark... with that said, Kiera also keeps secrets from Soren, so the mutuality of it makes me less annoyed at either of them.
If you're curious about the pacing, I present you this quote: "The lack of doom is quite disturbing". But don't worry. The story still includes quieter moments between the couple as well as other side characters. Nothing seems drawn out, and although there were some good places to stop, I was immediately to jump back in. There is also no unnecessary complications complications just for the sake of it. Using our couple as an example, she only really gets mad at him once, and he definitely deserves it! Though I can also see why he did what he did. Luckily, Kiera also understood why he did what he did, so she doesn't string it out and punish him just for the sake of it.
Worldbuilding: Right from the beginning, Marlowe's descriptions reeled me into this world... which I find ironic since the story starts in a fishing town. But I can't stress how much this got me invested right away. They invoke the senses in a way that make you feel like you're right there. In that way, it reminds me of my all-time favorite standalone novel, Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
As for the world itself, there is the human territory, four dominions for each of the main elements, the Umbral Expanse with the dark wielders, and... somewhere I can't say because spoilers. I love the way that the elements are describes by their wielders. There's narrator bias, but there's also a deep understanding that makes their descriptions so poetic. They destroy Kiera's prenotions and reveal that all elements have a good and evil side, with the line between perilously thin.
All in all, this world is clearly well thought out and wonderfully imaginative. But it's also not overly complicated. I was able to keep track of names and locations pretty quickly, and I enjoyed learning more about the fae's world and laws through Kiera. Granted, her life is at stake, and mine wasn't, so I also understand her wanting to know more about it faster!
Conclusion:
In conclusion, you should definitely buy this book! I rarely like Chosen One books because it feels completely out of their hands, but this book is a rare exception. I love seeing Kiera's defiance (without becoming bratty) in the face of judgement or "destiny", while at the same time accepting her larger duty as the prophesied one. Normally, in romantasy, I have a crush on ONE of the leads, but one annoys me, so it was nice rooting for them both individually and as a couple. And finally, this is only book 1. Not only will buying this book be a good read, but you're guaranteed to have another two books with these amazing characters! All in all, it's well worth the investment!
My Final Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy Here on Amazon!
Book Recommendations?
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