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abby_breathesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This series is my favorite cozy fantasy comfort read. When I sit down with these books and a cup of coffee/tea, I feel at peace. I laugh. I swoon. I go on an adventure in another realm.
I love all the characters. Especially Lochlan (hence, the swoon). I didn't think I could ever come to like Rosheen, but by the end of this book... She's okay, I guess. đ I love Lucas and his relationship with Cassia - they are true best friends and it's heartwarming. Calla is also adorable; her relationships with all the above are sweet and endearing.
For me, this series is a 5â read. They are simple, yes... But there is so much beauty in that simplicity. This book, as well as it's predecessor, The Last Feather, feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket next to a cozy fire.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC. đ
I love all the characters. Especially Lochlan (hence, the swoon). I didn't think I could ever come to like Rosheen, but by the end of this book... She's okay, I guess. đ I love Lucas and his relationship with Cassia - they are true best friends and it's heartwarming. Calla is also adorable; her relationships with all the above are sweet and endearing.
For me, this series is a 5â read. They are simple, yes... But there is so much beauty in that simplicity. This book, as well as it's predecessor, The Last Feather, feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket next to a cozy fire.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC. đ
natishaj's review
5.0
âIâll defeat death to be with you. Iâll fight fate. But there is no way you result in my end when youâre the only reason I know what it feels like to be alive.â
After that line, do I even need to say anything else to get you to add The Eternal Shadow to your TBR if it does not already feature? It's book 2 in the Selene Trilogy and I was lucky enough to get an ARC from @netgalley, @flametreepress and @shameezwrites before it releases on 11 April. (I'm convinced this is my birthday present as it's one of my most anticipated reads of the year and releases the day before my birthday so thank you again Shameez)
After returning to her realm, Cassia continues to use the magic sheâd discovered in Selene. Little did she know, that wasnât allowed and because of it, sheâs abducted by the king. Luckily, Prince Lochlan is still living in the castle pretending to be under the kingâs command. After Lochlan frees Cassia, they all need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere.
But in this new realm, all the inhabitants are afraid of the dark where a shadow is lurking, feeding upon them.
With nowhere else to go, they have to choose, either they face the king or this eternal shadow.
This story features beautiful world building, emotions and imagery, and the pace rapidly builds to a thrilling end that has you desperately craving book 3. You grow to love the group even more as they face new challenges, and Shameez handles these relationships so well that you often have intense reactions to certain scenes (I certainly did) There was such a delicate balance between the need to save Selene and to face the Shadow yet Shameez introduces light moments at just the right time to make you love them all, just that bit more.
I'm partial to sisters in a story and I love how well Cassia and Calla's bond is explored
And of course.. Lochlan. I didn't think that I could love him more than after The Last Feather, but I was wrong. He is (insert chef's kiss here) just perfect.
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
After that line, do I even need to say anything else to get you to add The Eternal Shadow to your TBR if it does not already feature? It's book 2 in the Selene Trilogy and I was lucky enough to get an ARC from @netgalley, @flametreepress and @shameezwrites before it releases on 11 April. (I'm convinced this is my birthday present as it's one of my most anticipated reads of the year and releases the day before my birthday so thank you again Shameez)
After returning to her realm, Cassia continues to use the magic sheâd discovered in Selene. Little did she know, that wasnât allowed and because of it, sheâs abducted by the king. Luckily, Prince Lochlan is still living in the castle pretending to be under the kingâs command. After Lochlan frees Cassia, they all need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere.
But in this new realm, all the inhabitants are afraid of the dark where a shadow is lurking, feeding upon them.
With nowhere else to go, they have to choose, either they face the king or this eternal shadow.
This story features beautiful world building, emotions and imagery, and the pace rapidly builds to a thrilling end that has you desperately craving book 3. You grow to love the group even more as they face new challenges, and Shameez handles these relationships so well that you often have intense reactions to certain scenes (I certainly did) There was such a delicate balance between the need to save Selene and to face the Shadow yet Shameez introduces light moments at just the right time to make you love them all, just that bit more.
I'm partial to sisters in a story and I love how well Cassia and Calla's bond is explored
And of course.. Lochlan. I didn't think that I could love him more than after The Last Feather, but I was wrong. He is (insert chef's kiss here) just perfect.
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
readingwithjai's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
on_my_bookshelf's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
But there is no way you result in my end when you're the only reason I know what it feels like to be alive."
The Eternal Shadow by Shameez Patel Papathanasio
The Eternal Shadow by Shameez Patel Papathanasio
daniellepieterse's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
raquelreadsalot's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was such a wonderful sequel! Itâs definitely its own story while still being part of the greater plot. At first, I didnât really know where it was going, because Cassia was in a dangerous situation that didnât seem to have a solution, but after that, the main plot for the book became clear.
I loved how we saw more of Calla in this book! Her youth and innocence brought a lightness to this book that the first one didnât have. She also seems to be a great judge of character, and I like that she has this quality even though sheâs so young.
The world building was really fun, and the introduction of more characters was a great addition. I love the âragtag bunch on a questâ trope, and this book did it really well!
I wonât spoil anything, but letâs just say there was a lot of, ahem, tension between Cassia and Lochlan. Very delicious tension. It was enjoyed.
I canât wait for book three to see how everything pans out! There are loads of loose ends where this book ends, and Iâm very curious to see how the author ties them up.
A solid 4.75 stars from me!
I loved how we saw more of Calla in this book! Her youth and innocence brought a lightness to this book that the first one didnât have. She also seems to be a great judge of character, and I like that she has this quality even though sheâs so young.
The world building was really fun, and the introduction of more characters was a great addition. I love the âragtag bunch on a questâ trope, and this book did it really well!
I wonât spoil anything, but letâs just say there was a lot of, ahem, tension between Cassia and Lochlan. Very delicious tension. It was enjoyed.
I canât wait for book three to see how everything pans out! There are loads of loose ends where this book ends, and Iâm very curious to see how the author ties them up.
A solid 4.75 stars from me!
jamyreadsalot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Iâm going to start this review by saying what I always say before reviewing a fantasy book- I generally struggle to read fantasy books. That being said, I (once again) felt that if you are a fantasy or non-fantasy reader, it does not matter- you will LOVE this book. The Eternal Shadow is as well-written as The Last Feather, and is so easy to read and follow that anyone can enjoy it. Say âHelloâ to my first 5-star read for 2023.
As described in the synopsis, after returning to her own realm , Cassia continues to use the magic she discovered in Selene. She doesnât know that this isnât allowed, and, as a result, is kidnapped and brought back to Selene. Thankfully, Prince Lochlan manages to rescue Cassia, reuniting her with Lucas, Rosheen and the rest of the gang. They know that they need to fight the king eventually, but in order to do so, they need allies from other realms, and thus, flee to another realm to find them. However, the new realm that they have entered has problems of its own in the form of a shadow that lurks in the dark and feeds on their magic.
The Eternal Shadow is totally action-packed. The pacing is so well-done that, even with everything that happens in the book (trust me, thereâs a lot), I sat on the edge of my seat and could not wait to grab extra minutes to read. The storyline is told in the third person, from the perspective of Cassia, Lucas and Lochlan. While I am not used to reading a three-person POV, Shameez does this so well. The switches are done at the best points to increase suspense or answer burning questions, and the storyline flows perfectly- in fact, much better than some dual-POV books I have read.
Naturally, the main focus of the book is Cassia, and how she comes to terms with returning to realms that are so unlike our world, and coming to terms with her powers. In addition to finding her place and understanding herself, we see how her relationship with those around her (especially Lucas and Lochlan) evolves as she tries to figure out what her role is in their lives and Selene. We also get to see how she feels post THAT KISS
If you have not read Book 1: The Last Feather, this will classify as a spoiler: After we got a glimpse into Lochlanâs thinking by the end of TLF, I was a total die-hard Lochlan stan. So best-believe that when I discovered that weâd get to read from his POV, I was absolutely DELIGHTED. I feel that that this is why the character development for Lochlan is probably the richest in this book. We do still get to see and experience more of Cassia and Lucas, but personally (and maybe I am bias) I feel that Lochlan stole the show. There are moments that had me feeling incredibly emotional and that was largely owing to Shameezâs ability to convey the biggest emotions with the smallest details (something I am a big fan of in books, in general). Also I donât think I can ever look at a birthday cake the same way (IYKYK)
In addition to building on the characters, the world-building in TES is so well done. We get to discover new realms and creatures, and the imagery is absolutely incredible. I had multiple moments where I couldnât help but think to myself âWOW! This would look AMAZING on TV/Cinemaâ. Adding to the richness is that Shameez took the time to outline customs, traditions and curses- and yes, there is a WEDDING (whaaaaat) but trust me, probably the best part of the wedding is the post-wedding âcurseâ. I literally laughed so much I had to gasp for air.
If you were a fan of The Last Feather, you will absolutely LOVE The Eternal Shadow. It adds so much more to the trilogy and is probably my favourite book of the two (although ranking them would be like picking a favourite child). Honestly, I canât wait for Book 3 to be released so that we can know what happens after the last page of TES (I am positive you will feel the same). I would like to thank Netgalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this ARC.
As described in the synopsis, after returning to her own realm , Cassia continues to use the magic she discovered in Selene. She doesnât know that this isnât allowed, and, as a result, is kidnapped and brought back to Selene. Thankfully, Prince Lochlan manages to rescue Cassia, reuniting her with Lucas, Rosheen and the rest of the gang. They know that they need to fight the king eventually, but in order to do so, they need allies from other realms, and thus, flee to another realm to find them. However, the new realm that they have entered has problems of its own in the form of a shadow that lurks in the dark and feeds on their magic.
The Eternal Shadow is totally action-packed. The pacing is so well-done that, even with everything that happens in the book (trust me, thereâs a lot), I sat on the edge of my seat and could not wait to grab extra minutes to read. The storyline is told in the third person, from the perspective of Cassia, Lucas and Lochlan. While I am not used to reading a three-person POV, Shameez does this so well. The switches are done at the best points to increase suspense or answer burning questions, and the storyline flows perfectly- in fact, much better than some dual-POV books I have read.
Naturally, the main focus of the book is Cassia, and how she comes to terms with returning to realms that are so unlike our world, and coming to terms with her powers. In addition to finding her place and understanding herself, we see how her relationship with those around her (especially Lucas and Lochlan) evolves as she tries to figure out what her role is in their lives and Selene. We also get to see how she feels post THAT KISS
If you have not read Book 1: The Last Feather, this will classify as a spoiler: After we got a glimpse into Lochlanâs thinking by the end of TLF, I was a total die-hard Lochlan stan. So best-believe that when I discovered that weâd get to read from his POV, I was absolutely DELIGHTED. I feel that that this is why the character development for Lochlan is probably the richest in this book. We do still get to see and experience more of Cassia and Lucas, but personally (and maybe I am bias) I feel that Lochlan stole the show. There are moments that had me feeling incredibly emotional and that was largely owing to Shameezâs ability to convey the biggest emotions with the smallest details (something I am a big fan of in books, in general). Also I donât think I can ever look at a birthday cake the same way (IYKYK)
In addition to building on the characters, the world-building in TES is so well done. We get to discover new realms and creatures, and the imagery is absolutely incredible. I had multiple moments where I couldnât help but think to myself âWOW! This would look AMAZING on TV/Cinemaâ. Adding to the richness is that Shameez took the time to outline customs, traditions and curses- and yes, there is a WEDDING (whaaaaat) but trust me, probably the best part of the wedding is the post-wedding âcurseâ. I literally laughed so much I had to gasp for air.
If you were a fan of The Last Feather, you will absolutely LOVE The Eternal Shadow. It adds so much more to the trilogy and is probably my favourite book of the two (although ranking them would be like picking a favourite child). Honestly, I canât wait for Book 3 to be released so that we can know what happens after the last page of TES (I am positive you will feel the same). I would like to thank Netgalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this ARC.
casseyt's review
5.0
I'm a lucky fish who got to read a beta of this and just ALL THE FEELINGS. I'll update my review closer to the book going live :D
naxy_nax's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Firstly, thank you so so much to Shameez for sending me an eARC of TES. I'm so grateful to have received an early copy.
This book follows on from Cassia, who left the Selene Realm with a cure for her sister, Calla. With her powers growing, she feels even more connected to the realm where her best friend, Lucas, is a part of.
Cassia continues to use her magic, but what she didn't know was that this wasnât allowed - this soon leads to an abduction by the king.
Lochlan escapes with Cassia, but they need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere.
In another realm... But something dark and terrifying is waiting for them. Waiting for Cassia. A dark, consuming shadow.
This was so brilliant! The characters have matured (in many ways đ) and the story is so endearing and captivating. Perfect for those that love a little spice and danger in their fantasy world.
This book follows on from Cassia, who left the Selene Realm with a cure for her sister, Calla. With her powers growing, she feels even more connected to the realm where her best friend, Lucas, is a part of.
Cassia continues to use her magic, but what she didn't know was that this wasnât allowed - this soon leads to an abduction by the king.
Lochlan escapes with Cassia, but they need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere.
In another realm... But something dark and terrifying is waiting for them. Waiting for Cassia. A dark, consuming shadow.
This was so brilliant! The characters have matured (in many ways đ) and the story is so endearing and captivating. Perfect for those that love a little spice and danger in their fantasy world.
katereadsgreat's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75