Scan barcode
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book for a Read It & Reap in exchange for an honest review.
Dolor and Shadow is the first book in the Tales of the Drui series. It is such a great opener that I can't wait to dive into the second book.
A lot happens in this book and you get to meet so many amazing characters that your head might be spinning. Kallan is the new elf queen and the MC of this book. She's a badass with super awesome magical powers. Then there's Rune who is the cunning king that has a ton of dark secrets and tricks up his sleeve. They are't perfect in any way, shape, or form.. but they aren't evil either.. so that's a good start right? Yes, yes it is.
These two need to work around their different point of views on this world, land, and people. They need to start working together and figure out how to save their people and kingdoms. There's a war going on and that's how they end up meeting each other. Of course they have a crush on each other.. which I was totally for. Their feelings blossom into something beautiful has they learn the truth about their past and present.
Overall, I loved this book. Their teamwork and growing relationship gave me life. I wanted more from them and this book. I never wanted it to end and now that it has.. well, I need the second book STAT. I loved the mythology that was in this book. I loved the mystery and drama of it all. The action was amazing. The two main characters were easy to fall in love with. I want more! I need more.
Dolor and Shadow is the first book in the Tales of the Drui series. It is such a great opener that I can't wait to dive into the second book.
A lot happens in this book and you get to meet so many amazing characters that your head might be spinning. Kallan is the new elf queen and the MC of this book. She's a badass with super awesome magical powers. Then there's Rune who is the cunning king that has a ton of dark secrets and tricks up his sleeve. They are't perfect in any way, shape, or form.. but they aren't evil either.. so that's a good start right? Yes, yes it is.
These two need to work around their different point of views on this world, land, and people. They need to start working together and figure out how to save their people and kingdoms. There's a war going on and that's how they end up meeting each other. Of course they have a crush on each other.. which I was totally for. Their feelings blossom into something beautiful has they learn the truth about their past and present.
Overall, I loved this book. Their teamwork and growing relationship gave me life. I wanted more from them and this book. I never wanted it to end and now that it has.. well, I need the second book STAT. I loved the mythology that was in this book. I loved the mystery and drama of it all. The action was amazing. The two main characters were easy to fall in love with. I want more! I need more.
bookishchas's review against another edition
5.0
A masterpiece of storytelling! I couldn't put this book down. Being the huge fan of ancient myth that I am, this book captivated me. The story is based around classic Norse mythology, but with a strong fantasy element weaved into it involving a war between elven factions that spills over into the realms of human races. The twist is brilliantly done, and should not be missed. I give this book six stars!!
david_wiley's review against another edition
4.0
I was immediately entranced with the premise of the book, since it envisions Viking/Norse mythology from the perspective of the elves. I knew, going in, that there would be a lot to love about the world being built and, in that aspect, I was not disappointed in the least. The worldbuilding here is magnificent and, once you get used to the onslaught of names and places, you can really begin to feel immersed in the world. Things are just so well-developed in this book that it feels reminiscent of the wholeness that Tolkien brought together with Middle-Earth in his books. This is one of the greatest strengths a book can have, that synergy with the wholeness of the world that allows for complete immersion, and is one of the things I love the most about reading fantasy novels.
This book has moments of darkness in there, with some pretty brutal scenes happening to one of the main characters. They prove to be quite essential to the development of both the plot and that main character, and the amount of detail given during said scenes are rather minimal in comparison to some other dark fantasy novels I have read this year. Just be aware, if you are a sensitive reader, that there will be some chapters in the middle that may make you a bit uncomfortable.
One of the biggest issues I had came in the first hundred pages or so. There are so many characters and balls juggling in the air and shifts in POV that it was confusing trying to decipher who was central to the story and what is going on and how much time has elapsed. By the time the POV settled down upon the two central characters, the struggle went away and some of the events became clearer, although I probably would need to revisit those first hundred pages now to really grasp all that happened and the implications of those things.
The other big detraction came about from the ending which, ultimately, felt like a forced ending point. The main characters still have not reached their intended destination, and the only resolution came from meeting up with a character while driving off, at least temporarily, the threat that was pursuing them. The consolation is that there is a new book in the series coming next month (which I am very excited about and plan to read as soon as I can cross a few other books off my list) which should progress things beyond where the first one left off.
As a whole this book was very good and certainly is one I would recommend to anyone who loves grand worldbuilding in fantasy, dark fantasy stories, interesting magic systems, Norse mythology, and complex female protagonists. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books by Angela.
This book has moments of darkness in there, with some pretty brutal scenes happening to one of the main characters. They prove to be quite essential to the development of both the plot and that main character, and the amount of detail given during said scenes are rather minimal in comparison to some other dark fantasy novels I have read this year. Just be aware, if you are a sensitive reader, that there will be some chapters in the middle that may make you a bit uncomfortable.
One of the biggest issues I had came in the first hundred pages or so. There are so many characters and balls juggling in the air and shifts in POV that it was confusing trying to decipher who was central to the story and what is going on and how much time has elapsed. By the time the POV settled down upon the two central characters, the struggle went away and some of the events became clearer, although I probably would need to revisit those first hundred pages now to really grasp all that happened and the implications of those things.
The other big detraction came about from the ending which, ultimately, felt like a forced ending point. The main characters still have not reached their intended destination, and the only resolution came from meeting up with a character while driving off, at least temporarily, the threat that was pursuing them. The consolation is that there is a new book in the series coming next month (which I am very excited about and plan to read as soon as I can cross a few other books off my list) which should progress things beyond where the first one left off.
As a whole this book was very good and certainly is one I would recommend to anyone who loves grand worldbuilding in fantasy, dark fantasy stories, interesting magic systems, Norse mythology, and complex female protagonists. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books by Angela.
ksmarsden's review against another edition
3.0
Kallan is one of the long-living fair folk, and the Queen of Lorlenalin. But there is an encroaching darkness, and secrets about her own life that even she is unaware of. Only her enemy, King Rune, can help her.
This was a hard one to rate.
I was just reading another reviewer's post on a completely different book, and a phrase she used caught my attention: "a dense wordiness that is reminiscent of high fantasy novels".
Which struck very true for Dolor and Shadow. Which can be taken as a positive or negative. This book is wordy - the author states this in the synopsis (more on this later). It is written in a style to echo back to the Norse Gods and myths of the tenth century. So this should have been perfect for me.
I love mythology, although most of my own reading and research has been centered around the history of the British Isles and Ireland. I've read plenty of stories from this sort of genre and era: I know that you have to be in the right mood and frame of mind to concentrate and lock into this descriptive world.
Which was why I kept putting the book down, and coming back to it later, hoping that this would be the time that I click with it. I've got to say that I'm still hoping that I can come back to this book later and enjoy it more.
The level of descriptiveness was fine. I think what I struggled with was the repetitiveness.
Whether it was musing over killing someone, hating someone, going out a door...
It felt like a phrase would be repeated several times in a page - a technique that can add a certain poetry or rhythm to a section. But this was overdone. Wordiness. Lots of wordiness. I wanted to scream at them to kill him already! Break the curse/spell already!
It didn't feel like a smooth ride along the waves of adventure; it made it stutter and jump back a step.
I can tell how much work Chrysler has put in. Everything rings very true, there is a startling authenticity to it.
Overall, I liked the plot: Rune and Kallan are sitting at the head of opposing armies. They are matched in skill and intellect; and it is only circumstance that makes them enemies.
Both are keen to end the war; but they are blinded by years of fighting, and the need to revenge just one more death.
Finally, external circumstances force them to work together, and they dance along the balance of being a prisoner in the other's hold; to being equals.
But looking in more detail at the plot, or the machinations that moved things along - it can be summed up by people making bad choices.
I wish the section where they gear up for war in the first place, was left out. From what I understand, the people of Gunir and Lorlenalin were going to be united by marriage between Princess Kallan and Prince Rune. This is halted when Rune's sister is murdered, supposedly by a Lorlenalin agent.
Next step: war.
Seriously? With two highly intelligent races, nobody thought to investigate?
Straight to war for the two Kingdoms that up to this point have lived in peace?
There's a time skip of... I don't know how long. It could be a few years, or as they are immortal, it could be centuries.
Our main character Kallan was a tricky one. She is raised to be strong and independent, but she takes it too far and can be sullen and spoiled, and refuses help when it is offered. She refuses to see that anything is wrong, and can be very stubborn on this point.
I do like the character, and how she is portrayed. She is not perfect, and despite the many years that she will live, she still makes mistakes.
Rune is perfect for the task set. He's strong enough to protect Kallan - even from herself. He's smart, and kind, and can see there's something dark that threatens Kallan, and he's willing to go to any length to free her.
I felt that he was a little too perfect in places. For such a kind man, he sure kept the war going for a while. And when he's suddenly there for Kallan and seeing deep within her soul, and knowing exactly what was best for her, it all felt too much, too fast.
The other characters... I struggled with. There are too many players and, until about 70% through this rather large book, there isn't enough focus for the rest of the cast. They sit in the background while Kallan and Rune get the spotlight, they have their own plots and scheming; and when they eventually get some screentime, the characters are racing at a hundred miles an hour with Point X, and I struggle with trying to recall their brief glimpse before - who they are conspiring with, who they're lying to; who they're hiding from...
It is multi-layered. Yes, there are wars and other realms and races that are working in the shadows, but I felt they didn't get enough time to make sense. They are going in a dozen different directions (even the same character). It is only in the latter part of the book, when they all turn their aims in the same direction, that any of them become memorable.
((edit: I love it when authors take on your comments! Chrysler has updated her synopsis, and I definitely like this new version!))
Going back to the synopsis, just because I might as well mention it - I'm not a fan of when writers post interviews or forewords in the Goodreads synopsis. Especially if there's already a section where you have compared the book and author to other contemporaries.
It seems a touch too try hard. As a potential reader, I am being told how to read this book.
If it is likened to Tolkein, I can already guess. But then I am warned that the author has put a lot of work and research into this book. She has studied everything and put her heart and soul into it.
This can come across as a) too intellectual for us to truly enjoy, or b) we're not allowed to not enjoy it, because this is personal and emotional.
You can tell that Chrysler has put work into it, the text speaks for itself, as I mentioned earlier I really liked the authenticity of it. But I'd think about removing this section from the synopsis - it's already set as a foreword in the actual ebook, so this is overkill.
This was a hard one to rate.
I was just reading another reviewer's post on a completely different book, and a phrase she used caught my attention: "a dense wordiness that is reminiscent of high fantasy novels".
Which struck very true for Dolor and Shadow. Which can be taken as a positive or negative. This book is wordy - the author states this in the synopsis (more on this later). It is written in a style to echo back to the Norse Gods and myths of the tenth century. So this should have been perfect for me.
I love mythology, although most of my own reading and research has been centered around the history of the British Isles and Ireland. I've read plenty of stories from this sort of genre and era: I know that you have to be in the right mood and frame of mind to concentrate and lock into this descriptive world.
Which was why I kept putting the book down, and coming back to it later, hoping that this would be the time that I click with it. I've got to say that I'm still hoping that I can come back to this book later and enjoy it more.
The level of descriptiveness was fine. I think what I struggled with was the repetitiveness.
Whether it was musing over killing someone, hating someone, going out a door...
It felt like a phrase would be repeated several times in a page - a technique that can add a certain poetry or rhythm to a section. But this was overdone. Wordiness. Lots of wordiness. I wanted to scream at them to kill him already! Break the curse/spell already!
It didn't feel like a smooth ride along the waves of adventure; it made it stutter and jump back a step.
I can tell how much work Chrysler has put in. Everything rings very true, there is a startling authenticity to it.
Overall, I liked the plot: Rune and Kallan are sitting at the head of opposing armies. They are matched in skill and intellect; and it is only circumstance that makes them enemies.
Both are keen to end the war; but they are blinded by years of fighting, and the need to revenge just one more death.
Finally, external circumstances force them to work together, and they dance along the balance of being a prisoner in the other's hold; to being equals.
But looking in more detail at the plot, or the machinations that moved things along - it can be summed up by people making bad choices.
I wish the section where they gear up for war in the first place, was left out. From what I understand, the people of Gunir and Lorlenalin were going to be united by marriage between Princess Kallan and Prince Rune. This is halted when Rune's sister is murdered, supposedly by a Lorlenalin agent.
Next step: war.
Seriously? With two highly intelligent races, nobody thought to investigate?
Straight to war for the two Kingdoms that up to this point have lived in peace?
There's a time skip of... I don't know how long. It could be a few years, or as they are immortal, it could be centuries.
Our main character Kallan was a tricky one. She is raised to be strong and independent, but she takes it too far and can be sullen and spoiled, and refuses help when it is offered. She refuses to see that anything is wrong, and can be very stubborn on this point.
I do like the character, and how she is portrayed. She is not perfect, and despite the many years that she will live, she still makes mistakes.
Rune is perfect for the task set. He's strong enough to protect Kallan - even from herself. He's smart, and kind, and can see there's something dark that threatens Kallan, and he's willing to go to any length to free her.
I felt that he was a little too perfect in places. For such a kind man, he sure kept the war going for a while. And when he's suddenly there for Kallan and seeing deep within her soul, and knowing exactly what was best for her, it all felt too much, too fast.
The other characters... I struggled with. There are too many players and, until about 70% through this rather large book, there isn't enough focus for the rest of the cast. They sit in the background while Kallan and Rune get the spotlight, they have their own plots and scheming; and when they eventually get some screentime, the characters are racing at a hundred miles an hour with Point X, and I struggle with trying to recall their brief glimpse before - who they are conspiring with, who they're lying to; who they're hiding from...
It is multi-layered. Yes, there are wars and other realms and races that are working in the shadows, but I felt they didn't get enough time to make sense. They are going in a dozen different directions (even the same character). It is only in the latter part of the book, when they all turn their aims in the same direction, that any of them become memorable.
((edit: I love it when authors take on your comments! Chrysler has updated her synopsis, and I definitely like this new version!))
Going back to the synopsis, just because I might as well mention it - I'm not a fan of when writers post interviews or forewords in the Goodreads synopsis. Especially if there's already a section where you have compared the book and author to other contemporaries.
It seems a touch too try hard. As a potential reader, I am being told how to read this book.
If it is likened to Tolkein, I can already guess. But then I am warned that the author has put a lot of work and research into this book. She has studied everything and put her heart and soul into it.
This can come across as a) too intellectual for us to truly enjoy, or b) we're not allowed to not enjoy it, because this is personal and emotional.
You can tell that Chrysler has put work into it, the text speaks for itself, as I mentioned earlier I really liked the authenticity of it. But I'd think about removing this section from the synopsis - it's already set as a foreword in the actual ebook, so this is overkill.
More...