Editorial Reviews. Review. Praise for Shadow's Son: "The intrigue, action scenes, and ever-more-revealing character insights are masterfully woven together in.
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- Shadow's Lure (Shadow Saga): Jon Sprunk: leondumoulin.nl: Books
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As with the first, I absolutely loved the shadows and how Caim used them. It was just as engaging to me and even more so than the first. We had a few more side plots going on compared to the first, and for most that will be welcomed. We also got a PoV from Kit. That one was interesting. It really boils down to his struggle with his magic and trying to understand what it all really means. I enjoyed his confusion. I also enjoyed his growth in this book. And of course when he did use his magic it was just darn fun.
We got a bigger view of the world in this book and I thought it was done well. It felt big enough. I grew up in central Pennsylvania. Athough I had always been an avid reader of speculative fiction, it was during my college years that I developed a broader passion for literature and began my first awkward forays into fiction writing. When my disastrous first fantasy novel failed to find a publisher, I bent my knee to the Real World and sought gainful employment. Crushed, I thought my dreams were over. Over the next decade I married twice , changed jobs numerous times , and after much soul-searching, returned to writing.
Like most writers, I suspect, I tried to go it alone, seeking to pound my head through the glass ceiling of my innate talent through sheer willpower and effort. Finally, after many more rejections, I joined Pennwriters and attended their annual conference in I am both proud and ashamed to admit that I learned more in those two days about the business of writing than I had in the previous ten years.
Shadow's Lure (Shadow Saga): Jon Sprunk: leondumoulin.nl: Books
I was also getting the first inklings of why my fiction had not yet made me a household name. So, I did what any Serious Writer would do. And I read about the art of writing, a lot. Since then I have seen some success. Best of all, I have the love and support of my wife, and that makes all the difference in the world.
Mar 05, Bookwraiths rated it liked it Shelves: Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. His story quickly becoming a sword and sorcery delight, filled with non-stop action, intense fighting, shadow magic, and thrills galore. And as the fiendish fun of devious plots, personal tragedy, and long denied r Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Immediately upon beginning Lure , however, it becomes clear this book is going to be a different type of story.
Caim, Josey, Kit, and a vile villainess from the shadowlands. His quest leading him into the teeth of a raging civil war in his childhood homeland. New companions and enemies appear in his life, entangling him in an epic battle to determine the fate of the land.
One fight leads to another, Each one amazingly choreographed and depicted by Mr. Sprunk, who seems to have a real knack for writing engaging and sensible combat. Meanwhile, back in Othir, Empress Josephine is dealing with troubles of her own, mainly political machinations. The third member of our evolving love triangle is Kit. Rounding out our main characters is Sybelle. No matter her horrid evilness because she is a nasty thing she is far from one dimensional, and Jon Sprunk shows all her amazing characteristics: Through these four viewpoints, Sprunk weaves a most intoxicating epic fantasy, filled to brimming with plots within plots.
All of them whispering the timeless themes of past and future, despair and hope, love and hate, vengeance and justice, good versus evil. It is blood soaked. It is sword and sorcery to its core. The least of these was the sudden infatuation of Kit for Caim, and our heroes confusion about his feelings for her and Josey. To me, the shift from Kit the mocking friend in book one to the enamored suitor in this story was too abrupt.
A moderate issue for me was our heroes Caim and Josey always having the very best of luck. Josey bumbling from bad situation to worse situation almost constantly, but somehow squeaking by or being saved by the perfectly timed intervention of the absolute correct individual, gradually grew to a distraction and not a relief. And Caim himself — though wounded and unknown in this northern land — managing to attract ally after ally, becoming the leader of a rebellion, and easily learning to use powers it takes other lifetimes to master was a bit hard for me to swallow. However, the Shadow villains were my biggest disappointment.
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While Sybelle was fascinating in many ways, she and the other villains never really grew into anything other than obstacles for Caim to overcome. Sprunk actually developing their story, I expected some attempt to make them empathetic or, at least, explain their cruelty, but it never really materialized, as they remained Bad Guy 1, Bad Guy 2, et cetera.
A decent fantasy read with a lot of action. The pacing I felt was better than in the first book and I ended up enjoying this one more, but the writing still didn't quite wow me. Some of the dialogue is a bit off, and I can't say that I ever fully invested in the story. Shadow's Lure follows two main characters, Josey and Caim, and while I didn't exactly love either of them I didn't hate them either. My favorite character by far was Kit, and we saw way too little of her in my opinion. This ended on A decent fantasy read with a lot of action.
This ended on a cliffhanger, so I'll see if the last book in the series can keep the steady pace or bump it up a notch.
Shadow’s Lure by Jon Sprunk
May 15, Algernon rated it liked it Shelves: I find myself though, subtracting half a star instead of adding it, because this novel ramped up the violence and gore about ten times compared with the Shadow's Son, and this is usually a turnoff in my list of preferences. Still, this is an easy read - which can be taken both as praise and criticism depending on the mood and expectations of the reader. Praise because the author is a natural storyteller, there's planty of swashbuckling action, a fast pace and interesting plot.
Criticism, because the ambitious ramp up in scope and in number of POV's serves to accentuate the limitations of an author whose technical means are bellow his enthusiasm and vision. The characterization and dialogue feels shallow and stilted, especially when it comes to rousing heroic discourses.
I'm one of the readers who can switch off critical mode when I enjoy the ride, but I can understand the issues raised by other reviewers who were less enchanted by the offering. The strongpoint of the story is in the action sequences, where the high bodycount with detailed descriptions of torn limbs and spilled entrails seems to be the most popular choice of genre readers in recent years. A second bonus of Shadow's Lure is the expansion in the worldbuilding, with a convincing rendering of a frozen realm north of Othir and a promising further development in the third and final book in the series.
One that I plan to read soon. Jul 29, Terry Simpson rated it it was amazing. Death, despair, political intrigue, sword and sorcery, plots intertwined within plots. Sinister characters who will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals, those who believe in the greater good and suffer for it, clans on the edge of eradication unless they succumb to the will of evil.
In the middle again is our man Caim, now in the North, seeking out his past and his future, drawn by the very darkness and shadows that are his birthright. Kit, in love and torn away from her beloved Caim and c Death, despair, political intrigue, sword and sorcery, plots intertwined within plots. Kit, in love and torn away from her beloved Caim and caught in her own perils. Josey, struggling to become what she feels it takes to be a good ruler as the remnants of the Church and the True Faith pit the people themselves and a dark, near unstoppable assassin against her. The above is a small portion of what Shadow's Lure brings to the table.
Weaved in a dark, gritty tale of intense action scenes, intrigue, deception, and men and women calling into account the things that drive us: Whether you side with evil, good, or the grey, it's there for you in gobs and gobs of excellently written prose. In Shadow's Son, I thought Jon Sprunk outdid himself with his ability to weave action and description together. Well, this is even better. Last time, I was so caught up in the action, I didn't harp on the plot and characters. Well this book pulls me in so many different directions, I cannot begin to say which part of it is better.
What I can tell you is if you haven't read this series, go get it. Dive into the world. Feel Caim and Josey's pain and loss, relish in their victory and cringe in their despair. You won't regret it. I didn't and look forward to Book 3 of Shadow Saga. Aug 22, Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson rated it liked it Recommends it for: High Fantasy and Sci-fi fans. Recommended to Samantha wickedshizuku by: What happened to the plot? There was a major drop in the action. What in the world is going on with the magic system now? It seems that alot of it got muddled, and the main character seems to dependant on his guardian sprite.
Also what in the world is going on with his love interest?
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Dec 30, N. The second book in Mr. After opening with the massacre of the Northmen clan leaders body count is high in this book , the story pretty much picks up right after the events in the first book. Josey is Queen, reigning from the palace in Othir, struggling to ward off an unearthly assassin, the church of the True Faith, and keep her realm from falling apart with c The second book in Mr. Josey is Queen, reigning from the palace in Othir, struggling to ward off an unearthly assassin, the church of the True Faith, and keep her realm from falling apart with civil and foreign wars.
And Caim and Kit his fey side-kick are moving north in search of his past. On his way, he gets embroiled with an evil sorceress and a new revolutionary uprising. With all that they got going on, Mr. Sprunk manages to put Caim in at least a dozen fights per chapter a bit of an exaggeration here, but not much! We get to meet a few new characters up north, as well as a new mage down south. And one of my favorite characters from the first book manages to win my heart again: Just who was his mother and why is she imprisoned in the Shadowlands? Who is the witch that has enthralled the north and what exactly is her son, the creature they call, The Beast?
Caim reluctantly becomes involved in a resurrection that will impact him and the Southlands more than he can predict, and he comes face to face with the sorceress who killed his father. The further he travels north, he increasingly fights the lure of the shadows. The more he uses his power, the more he is able to fight off these new Shadowland invaders, but the less human he becomes, and the more the bloodlust calls him to sate that bloody, sensual almost sexual thirst.
But it also has a great story about a man trying to do what is right in the face of increasing odds and a woman trying to wrest a realm from the control of religious zealots with inexperience and determination.
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Both will have you rooting for them. Sprunk also throws in a lot of mystery into the relationship between Caim, Kit and Josey. Which of these two women will win his heart? Is he a true son of the Shadow or will he ultimately fight for the south? If some of you have read my review of Mr. I found some bits boring and in other spots the action was so obscure I was confused.
Is he dead or not? Yes, indeed, it did. However, the amount of bloodshed involved in this installment did have me reeling. It was a bit much. Maybe the author spent a little too much time describing how well someone enjoyed hurting someone else. Of course, this is all personal taste. What I might find offense or squirmy, you might take with aplomb. Just be aware this is not for the faint of heart. A recommended read if you like bloody sword play and wicked sorcery. That link also has a giveaway of the first two books open through Nov 17, While I very much enjoyed it, my review was less than glowing.
I felt some things were sacrificed to the novel's breakneck pace and that Caim, Spunk's protagonist, was a little too one-dimensional. In a not so stunning development, Shadow's Lure corrects many of these deficiencies and in so doing demonst http: In a not so stunning development, Shadow's Lure corrects many of these deficiencies and in so doing demonstrates tremendous growth in Sprunk's craft.
Without spoiling too much of what went on in the first novel, Lure picks up right where Son left off. He leaves Josey behind, now Empress of the Nimean Empire, to consolidate her power. The nature of the two stories, which could be read completely separate from one another, blunt the pace that was such a hallmark of Sprunk's debut.
Much of the slowdown never slowness is affected by much more extensive character development and world building, an almost always welcome and, in this case, necessary inclusion. That lack of frenetic energy shouldn't be taken to mean it's inferior. Lure is divided primarily into three points of view - Josey, Caim, and Kit. While Sprunk occasionally dips into other characters, it's these three who comprise the bulk of the narrative. He separates them from one another in the novel's early stages, providing him the opportunity to drill down to a level that the structure of the first novel never allowed him to.
Josey's point of view is very political in nature, subject to plots and machinations of factions within the Empire. Through her, the world is capably fleshed out without resorting to information dumps or poorly concealed exposition. Similarly, Kit becomes the defacto spelunker who delves into the Shadow, revealing the world behind the world that is only tangentially touched on prior for fans of Kit she gets significant page time. In contrast, Caim's sections remain highly kinetic, often going from fight to fight. Moments of rest in between allow him to develop into a textured character and not a simple archetype.
Of course, it should be no surprise that Sprunk continues to shine in his depiction of action sequences. There are some hiccups though. Things are on occasion too neat and black and white. At one point there's an attack on Josey where a single bite would kill or seriously incapacitate her. Despite the creature being wrapped around her, she somehow manages to avoid such a fate.
Sprunk uses the annoying trick of handicapping his protagonist with wound after festering wound. The series's villain is inherently evil and I never felt that her actions were righteous even from her perspective - something that modern fantasy has become very adept at doing. Mostly these are small quibbles and Sprunk tells such a capable story that none of them remotely imperiled my enjoyment of the novel. While elements remain decidedly couched in a common, and arguably overused, motif, the Shadow Saga remains a worthy addition to the fantasy Rolodex. Once completed, Sprunk's trilogy will go on the shelf right next to the Night Angel Trilogy where it will compete for the hearts of assassin lovers for years to come.
Shadow's Master , the third and final volume in the series, is already one of my most looked forward to titles of early I can say without hesitation that I enjoyed this book more so than the first. Maybe this is because Sprunk took more time to detail the world or because my two favorite characters Josey and Kit proved themselves more than Caim's match in dealing with the unknown. I was relieved that Sprunk didn't spend too much time on Josey becoming acclimated to I can say without hesitation that I enjoyed this book more so than the first.
I was relieved that Sprunk didn't spend too much time on Josey becoming acclimated to being Empress; having been raised in a noble house she fell into the role of Empress easily enough as far as manners and customs. Caim for his part didn't spend a lot of time moping that he had to leave Josey despite their feelings and the beginnings of a relationship. At odd moments he will regret not being with her and accepting the easier road as her husband , but he's doing what he knows to be right and that sustains him.
By contrast Josey spent more time silently cursing Caim for leaving her, but she had a slightly better reason to do so. Caim's family history is deeply discomforting. It would be better to say that the culture of his people makes it hard to be comfortable around them. Kit relays news to him that could be construed as good news, but straight on the heels of that revelation she reports about a family member that puts everyone else's Crazy Aunt Judy to shame. Sprunk spends time going from character to character to round out the worldview--we follow Caim, Sybelle, Josey, Kit and a small host of minor characters when they're viewpoint adds something different to the proceedings.
This was frustrating at times because not everyone is given equal time--Caim will sometimes have entire chapters to himself while Josey is given only a small portion of one, or Sybelle will repeatedly show within a few chapters. I think what pleased me the most was in between Caim and his new Merry Band of Miscreants fighting their way further North to purge the menace threatening everyone, we had the time with Josey and the Court machinations. Reading about Josey handling the precarious balance of power and unrest in Nimea, while being hunted by a creature of murderous intent, was more entertaining than the constant battles Caim found himself in.
Sprunk definitely upped the body count for this book. The various plot threads all end with the same purpose in mind--to get North and resolve things one way or another. I look forward to a reunion between Josey and Caim, as well as the nature of Kit and Caim's past being fully revealed. There's a showdown a-brewing and I'm rubbing my hands in glee for it.
Oct 23, Stacey O'Neale rated it really liked it. In this volume, we return to Othir immediately after the events of "Shadow's Son" as Caim heads north, looking for answers to his past and the murder of his parents. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darke This review was completed by Michael Cummings, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darken the land.
Meanwhile, Josey, as Empress, is struggling with the politics of a land that seems beset with chaos, not to mention assassins out to remove her. And then there's the fae Kit, who early in the book is whisked away from Caim as she has to deal with her own troubles. Sprunk gives the new reader nothing to identify with with the characters, plunging the reader into a world where the three main characters have very little direct interaction with one another.
Sprunk keeps the secrets of his world at bay, giving us only hints and suggestions. For now, this is enough, though the third book, "Shadow's Master," has a lot of promises to deliver on. Sprunk's books will appeal to the sword and sorcery fans - assassins, magic, and action litter the novel, leaving very little room for the doldrums to creep in. Oct 11, Charlie Holmberg rated it really liked it. I admit I hadn't initially intended to read the second book in this series, but I'm glad I did.
A lot of series have the problem of diminishing quality with each additional book ie The Hunger Games , but this one gets better. I liked this book more than the first hence the extra star. I enjoyed the characters more Josey especially has grown since book 1 , and Sprunk does a good job of raising the stakes.
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Cool things about this book included the blood-hungry sword, Caim's growing knowledge o I admit I hadn't initially intended to read the second book in this series, but I'm glad I did. Fitting of his character. There's some good angst in there, too. The not so cool things are rather small: On a side note, one character's hair color changes depending on what chapter you're in. I'm eager to read book 3, which should say enough regarding the story. Nov 05, Todd rated it really liked it Shelves: I always enjoy any viking inspired cultures.
The separate plots were interestingly well done, providing two conflicts one in the north and one in the south. Then POV chapters following an antagonist is always an interesting way to make the reader omnipresent. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed this every bit as much as Shadow's Son, and am looking forward to the next adventure in this series. Feb 11, Anton Morris rated it liked it. This series of a half human assassin deals with Caim, the protagonist, and his intense effort to discover the truth regarding himself and his parents.
He learned long ago, as a child, that he had a connection to the shadows that come from a parallel universe of sorcery to his aide in times of extreme danger. In the second part of the story, he calls to these shadows frequently to assist him in battles where the odds are drastically favored against him. If you are an action fan and appreciates well written battle scenes, you will enjoy the journey as we follow Caim in his journey through the bitter cold of the Northlands where he barely survives the trials of nature presented to him through starvation, freezing temperatures and an attacking bear.
In this, he finds himself in the middle of a rebellion as the clans in the North have determined to fight for their freedom against the tyranny of the Duke.
The mix of sixteen century swordplay and sorcery is more overt in the second book of the series and at times, the reader may question the appropriateness of the battles. This is not to say that Sprunk does a poor job of telling a story; on the back drop of the fight scenes is a genuine struggle that Caim has in accepting himself, his relationship with Kit, the death of his parents, and his desire to go at his journey alone. It would be nice if Sprunk was able to make the battle scenes more symbolic of Caims struggles.
If he had done so, the confrontation between Caim and the witch, who we learn is his aunt, would have been as compelling as the dramatic and unforgettable confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. This is why I give three stars. Despite that missed opportunity, Sprunk does a good job at throwing curve balls at the reader. There are characters who I did not expect to die and there is a good development of Josi coming to her own. She is brave and genuine in her desire to gain the trust of her subjects. I will read the third part of the series, as the second part makes it clear that a third part is coming.
Feb 21, J. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. We continue to follow the events of Caim, the penchant assassin and master of the Shadows. His decisions of helping young Josey rise to the throne as the Empress of Nimea continues to unfold in Shadow's Lure, as the story is told from three major varying viewpoints: Caim, Josey, and Kit.
Two other viewpoints include Sybelle, the sorcerous witch of the north and a young man named Keegan. So, Shadow's Lure was a great story. The events pick up slightly after the conclusion of Shadow's Son. Caim is on the move to learn more about his family's deaths, Josey is learning how to become an Empress, and Kit is being herself: Caim's profile in Shadow's Lure is expanded so much more as we continue to learn more about the new powers he has gained over the Shadows.
His history is opened up and the connections he has to the Sybelle drawn out in a very nicely written backstory. No heavy info dump there, either. Caim's control over the Shadows is interesting to read through most of the story, as he describes them as being a nuisance and won't leave him alone.
They chitter and crawl, bite and slink over his body. They drip from the ceilings as he walks around places, invisible to all others. They follow in his true shadow, passing by like a wave. They're given a personality and purpose. While Caim is one this journey and he continues to learn more about his powers, he is also continuously plagued about using a black-steel sword that belonged to his father.
The sword also seems to have a personality of sorts, as it "tugs" him in certain directions, or when he finally does decide to use it in battle against enemies, it draws his strikes in certain directions. I wasn't a fan of that at all, and it actually detracted to Caim's assassin side. Don't get me wrong: And damn, is there a lot more blood, killing, gore and overall carnage in Shadow's Lure when compared to its predecessor. In the final confrontation with the witch, however, another thing begins to bug me with Caim.
He just happens to learn how to use shadow portals self-explanatory and, if I read it correct, a type of magic. The shadow portals was an okay addition, but again, not a fan of the magic. Caim's control over the Shadows was enough for me. It's unique and his a blood killer. That's all I really needed.
The introduction of him potentially being able to use magic along side the power of the Shadows is overkill for me. Now, the only way I would have accept this is if it came gradually, as if he started to realize he could do more drastic things with his Shadow powers that reach out into the realm of using magic. Somewhere in the story, the witch Sybelle uses a term to describe him as a shadowwalker. That's all to it though. There's nothing expanded on this term and ultimately nothing gained for me as a reader who is trying to see Caim develop.
Josey's side of the story remains interesting through most of the book. I wasn't too fond of her in Shadow's Son primarily because she was very whiny and clingy. Although that can be expected considering what she went through. However, all of that suddenly changes when she puts on the crown. Okay, I can sort of see this making sense now.
The obligations of the crown change her, but we see it happening slowly and with a very noticeable struggle. That's also makes sense. She is debating all of this, how she can accomplish great things as the Empress, wondering where Caim is, and trying to fight off the enemy of her the city Othir, the True Church. Lastly comes this weird, paranormal and alien like creature that is revealed to be an assassin. The assassin constantly going after Josey as she struggles with these issues kept me engaged most the time. However, what I had a great issue with was the end of her story in Shadow's Lure.
So, this whole time she's contemplating all of what she needs to to do. She's still weak at times, very vulnerable, and seeking help from friends to steer her in the right direction. Now, I can understand anger and rage, but the confidence matter when she is addressing the subjects of the Church at the end really jarred me. She didn't have a point of view story in Shadow's Son, which begs the question why Sprunk decided it was best served to try it here.
I wasn't a fan of her point of view. There are about five or six scenes in which Kit is seen by herself because of some strange, unexplained occurrence that separates her from Caim indefinitely. Kit becomes trapped in a place called the Between, the realm in middle of the Shadowlands and the Brightlands. My only guess as to how this happens is the closer Caim is coming to the witch, or perhaps the more attuned he is becoming with his Shadow powers, it is weakening the bond between them. And all the sudden, near the end, Kit finds a way to return to Caim and rejoin him.
That was a rather large fail for me as a reader. Her point of view didn't serve me a purpose. The only other thing that I can see it benefited was that we got to see Caim alone. In Shadow's Son, she was always around him. Watching out for him. If there was anything that benefited from Kit's point of view, it is that Caim became more developed because we were able to see him think his way through things without Kit. Overall, I really liked Shadow's Lure. I will go on to read the final installment, Shadow's Master, as I am again kept engaged by Caim's story.
And of course, there is the cliffhanger at the end that makes me want to know what is next for Caim and Kit. This book was like the first one, I wish it was written better, and the dialogues made more sense. The plot at the end started to get exciting, although the rest was the usual: Caim was killing people despite bleeding from sixteen mortal wounds while Zefi was having a bunch of problems until after pages she figured out she can deal with them even if she couldn't for the entire book.
It was a nice and light reading tho, onwards to the third book. Jon Sprunk is a fabulous writer. The writing is clean and compelling, just as it was in the first book. This is the kind of book where you keep flipping the pages without even noticing it. This is a story about an assassin, so obviously there are a lot of detailed fighting scenes in this book and they are a real treat.
Jon Sprunk definitely has that talent. I could vividly image every move Caim made, how the bodies fell, where he struck or how he got injured. It made for some exhilarating action that got my blood pumping. Sprunk also knows exactly how to bring his main character alive. That may sound weird, but Caim is really a character that pulled me in completely. Josey is someone is mostly felt compassion for throughout the book, I feel for her for the ordeal she has to go through, but she lacked some strength for the most part of the book.
She made up for it in the end though. The story itself was more of a build-up towards the final book, but nonetheless very entertaining to read. Meanwhile, Josey has to struggle through her first weeks as the new Empress of Nimea.