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willrefuge's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first, but hey, whatevs.
Semi-violent to pretty, full-on-violent, with sex and some fairly heavy feminism thrown in. Full review to come.
4 / 5 stars
Semi-violent to pretty, full-on-violent, with sex and some fairly heavy feminism thrown in. Full review to come.
4 / 5 stars
kurostar88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been a year since Bleak Hope took up the moniker of Dire Bane and began sailing the seas terrorizing Imperial ships, never forgetting that her end goal is to free Red from the biomancers. When she and her newfound friends/family stumble upon an island being used as the testing grounds by the biomancers for a new weapon, Hope knows she must put an end to it no matter what. As she prepares herself for the battle, will the result end up costing Hope too much?
Meanwhile, it’s been a year that Red has been living in the capital city of Stonepeak being trained by the biomancers. He doesn’t regret his decision to stay, as it allowed him to save Hope, but Red’s biding his time until he can use their training against them. When a new threat emerges from the shadows of the city and begins killing any who may be in opposition to the biomancers, Red needs to find out where this new threat is coming from and put an end to it. But will the things he learns along the way be too much for him to come back from?
For me, Bane and Shadow definitely put more focus on the characters. We already know the biomancers are up to no good. That they’ve corrupted the Empire. We’re given more details and further information on how far this corruption goes, but reading it, I was more invested in the characters; their actions and reactions, sometimes surprising, but always satisfying.
ALL of the characters are put through their paces in Bane and Shadow. I capitalize the “all” because this is not just Hope and Red, although they are the focal point, but I’m talking about all the important characters we were introduced to in Hope and Red. Everyone is faced with new dilemmas or finally coming to terms with new understandings. I appreciated that no one is spared when it comes to the difficult emotional stuff, but it’s the way each character deals with it that proved most interesting.
Hope, who was used to being alone, now has people surrounding her. People that have helped her grow and become a no-holds-barred pirate captain. I loved where she is at the beginning of Bane and Shadow. But with all this newness and growth, of course, comes questions. She begins to question the initial path she started, which was one of vengeance. I think in the next book we’ll see her make some definite moves toward her own future and not one that has been pressed upon her via trying to uphold traditions.
On Red’s side, he’s living in the palace, posing as a Lord, and besides a very limited number of persons he’d call himself friendly with, he’s alone. He has no idea what is going on with Hope and the rest of his true friends. Plus, he’s working, albeit begrudgingly, with the biomancers. Wondering everyday what they’re really doing to him. He’s in a completely new element, and not quite sure of his footing which is definitely strange for Red. It’s safe to say he finds his way by the end, and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.
I’m anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy. Of course, Job Skovron threw in some very surprising turn of events at certain points and I can’t wait to see how it all concludes. So far, this series has not disappointed.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been a year since Bleak Hope took up the moniker of Dire Bane and began sailing the seas terrorizing Imperial ships, never forgetting that her end goal is to free Red from the biomancers. When she and her newfound friends/family stumble upon an island being used as the testing grounds by the biomancers for a new weapon, Hope knows she must put an end to it no matter what. As she prepares herself for the battle, will the result end up costing Hope too much?
Meanwhile, it’s been a year that Red has been living in the capital city of Stonepeak being trained by the biomancers. He doesn’t regret his decision to stay, as it allowed him to save Hope, but Red’s biding his time until he can use their training against them. When a new threat emerges from the shadows of the city and begins killing any who may be in opposition to the biomancers, Red needs to find out where this new threat is coming from and put an end to it. But will the things he learns along the way be too much for him to come back from?
For me, Bane and Shadow definitely put more focus on the characters. We already know the biomancers are up to no good. That they’ve corrupted the Empire. We’re given more details and further information on how far this corruption goes, but reading it, I was more invested in the characters; their actions and reactions, sometimes surprising, but always satisfying.
ALL of the characters are put through their paces in Bane and Shadow. I capitalize the “all” because this is not just Hope and Red, although they are the focal point, but I’m talking about all the important characters we were introduced to in Hope and Red. Everyone is faced with new dilemmas or finally coming to terms with new understandings. I appreciated that no one is spared when it comes to the difficult emotional stuff, but it’s the way each character deals with it that proved most interesting.
Hope, who was used to being alone, now has people surrounding her. People that have helped her grow and become a no-holds-barred pirate captain. I loved where she is at the beginning of Bane and Shadow. But with all this newness and growth, of course, comes questions. She begins to question the initial path she started, which was one of vengeance. I think in the next book we’ll see her make some definite moves toward her own future and not one that has been pressed upon her via trying to uphold traditions.
On Red’s side, he’s living in the palace, posing as a Lord, and besides a very limited number of persons he’d call himself friendly with, he’s alone. He has no idea what is going on with Hope and the rest of his true friends. Plus, he’s working, albeit begrudgingly, with the biomancers. Wondering everyday what they’re really doing to him. He’s in a completely new element, and not quite sure of his footing which is definitely strange for Red. It’s safe to say he finds his way by the end, and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.
I’m anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy. Of course, Job Skovron threw in some very surprising turn of events at certain points and I can’t wait to see how it all concludes. So far, this series has not disappointed.
_camk_'s review against another edition
3.0
I liked Bane and Shadow but not as much as Hope and Red. This was a little more of a struggle to read - mainly due it's pacing.
The book is building towards the third installment but because it is essentially a filler book, it does drag a little bit.
I am however excited to see where Skovron goes with the third novel.
The book is building towards the third installment but because it is essentially a filler
Spoiler
RIP sweet princeI am however excited to see where Skovron goes with the third novel.
elizpeace's review against another edition
5.0
So rarely does a second book in a trilogy (or more) leave me happy. At most, I am usually "that was good, but it will be better with the entire series." At worst, I stop the series.
Bane and Shadow, oh wow. I seriously was blown away. These characters were amazing. I loved watching Hope's personality grow and change.
And despite Hope and Red, I still loved it. And typically that really messes with my love of a book, when the main characters . But, lo and behold, I was actually mostly () good with it. They each had their own adventures and growth, and new characters were introduced to us. So many of were totally rad--Merivale, Leston, Captain Vaderton, Jilly, Old Yammy (well, those 2 were back).
Beyond excited for the next book.
Bane and Shadow, oh wow. I seriously was blown away. These characters were amazing. I loved watching Hope's personality grow and change.
And despite Hope and Red
Spoiler
never getting to interactSpoiler
are forced apart and not even brought back together in the endSpoiler
I was really routing for those final couple of chapters to pull them back togetherBeyond excited for the next book.
satwood01's review against another edition
5.0
As much as I loved the first book in this trilogy, Bane and Shadow is even slightly better, mainly because the story and characters are a little more fleshed out this time. The pace is slowed down a touch, allowing the reader to fully absorb the developments, rather than be simply swept away by them. The character development in particular, is amazing. This is some of the best Fantasy out there, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't wait to read the finale.
rogue_runner's review against another edition
4.5
This was fab! Awesome pirate fantasy, with a heavy dose of gore and other dark content. The characters are deep and complex.
amywriterrose's review against another edition
4.0
The main characters felt ever so real and I was on the edge of my seat constantly while reading this book. You can read more of my thoughts here: https://amy-rosenfeldt.com/?p=779