About the Book- Circle of Shadows
A thrilling new fantasy series full of magic and betrayal—from Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown’s Game series.
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied around his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.
As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging in the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark.
So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group. Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.
Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever.
I believe it’s because the book believes in “being in the present” than delving into the past that there is no explanation for the past
Read on for our review of the book
Our Review of Circle of Shadows
Technically I did love the book. I loved the setting, I loved the world and the kingdom. I loved the characters. Although despite everything, there felt an absence of something crucial. It felt like a major plot twist was waiting to be unravelled but it never did. While reading the book I felt two distinct natures in the narration. One that showed and told you everything that was going on which basically moved the story forward. But there was this another part to the narration that was quick, brief and very vague and mysterious sounding. Like you usually have in books that come out with major plot twists. So I was expecting some major back story or mystery unravelling that could explain all those mysterious elements. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Now probably after reading this you might think that the book doesn’t make sense. Let me assure you that this is not the case. You do get a wonderful trip into this mysterious luna blessed world and warriors and magic. You also can understand and experience all the events that are happening. But somehow you feel like some major explanation for some of the stuff said in passing is about to come. You expect a bit of back story for certain elements in the book but it never happens.
Imagine in between a conversation your friend suddenly says oh I never knew my parents I raised myself in the jungle. That’s it. No other explanation. No front and back to the statement. You keep expecting your friend to elaborate on that and years pass and the stuff is never mentioned again. How would you feel? The book has those kinds of statements. Out of bloom, it would give some facts and leaves at it. You are left wondering whether it is part of some kind of giant mysterious backstory that will eventually tie together towards the end. I did the same but it never did and it kept mocking me over this fact, by repeating those mysterious, vague statements over and over again and never giving me the front and back of it. Even the ending was almost a major bomb blast but with lots of untied ends leaving more questions than answers… I guess that’s why it has a sequel.
Circle of Shadows is perfect otherwise. The world is unique. The characters are unique. Storytelling is pure art and so is the pace of the book. The only issue is that the book leaves a lot of mysterious elements in the book without any context, making you wonder whether it has a handbook where they have all the backstories that would explain a lot of mysterious elements of the book. While reading the book you will feel, that a lot of things in the book is said and treated as if it has already been discussed and mentioned in detail before and it is just referring to it, to not repeat.
Damn!! I sound so negative about this book. It is not that bad. It’s just that this is something that is happening for the first time with me that a book still remains a mystery even after finishing it. I believe it’s because the book believes in “being in the present” than delving into the past that there is no explanation for the past 😝
Conclusion
In conclusion, I loved the Circle of Shadows, but certain facts in the book were very vague and mysterious that even though there was a whole story to enjoy, my mind was still stuck on curiosity over the mysterious statements that kept popping in the book. I wish that the book had a bit more explanation for these facts. A little more origin story around some of the stuff in the book that still remains vague. In general, though, the book is a good one, with its taiga warriors and magic laden world and Luna blessed empire.
Squirrel Rating
Book Recommendation
1.shadow of Fox Series
2. Shadow and Bone series
3. Wicked Saints
