Lady of Light and Shadows by C.L. Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This entire series features “breathtaking scenery, which seemed at once familiar yet new, like a forgotten memory, freshly renewed.”
The writing is honestly magical in how the world is built around us through the dual perspective of a new to the world human character and king of all things magical badass. I seriously cannot recommend it enough.
Our sequel picks up right after with Ellie the woodcarvers daughter reflecting why she was always an outcast and minimal retelling to catch the reader up if it has been a while aince you’ve been in the Tairen Soul’s world. Where the first book worked to introduce the power players and hint at the battle ahead, this book really deep dived into the EVIL of the world.
“Ellie took a half step backwards before stopping herself. “What problem did the Eye say I would solve, Rain?”
There it was again, that quiet courage. She wanted to flee. He could feel the urge fluttering within her like a trapped bird.
Yet she stood”
I was screaming, crying, throwing up for these characters to the point where I needed to take breaks because I was finding out information that was deemed too sensitive for our main heroine so she was in denial/passiveness but the audience is on the EdGE OF OUR SEATS wondering how she could be so freaking chill.
“No,” she croaked.
When Rain looked at her with such intensity, she had no desire to speak of the horrifying visions that had haunted her sleep all her life. She cleared her throat and whispered. “It was just a dream.” ITS NeVER jUsT a DrEam
Ellie, our main girl, is both more and less annoying in this book. Its like the issues of the first book are less prevelant to make room for new character flaws. Meant to make her relatable? Or to move the plot along? Hmmmm
This sequel also worked to establish how the rest of the world has been affected by allll the problems. Like the book keeps hinting at major issues that are all invisible/ removed from Ellie’s daily experiences. So suddenly i needed to keep track of how the issues were happening around her
Selianne
Greatfather Tivrest
Den Brodson
the Sorrelian merchant
Bel
I enjoyed each of these characters for the strong motiviation and backstory each one had to justify their reactions. I wished there had been ?fun? Casual? Quiet moments of interactions between Ellie’s little sisters to feel the love mroe than be shown. The history of the brave Fey warriors who have had so many adventures and experiences and reasons for being chosen with trust and we get… none of it!
Looking back, I understand that several plays were put into motion for a larger scheme at hand that came into affect by the end so the pacing of the sequel went from too chill (in my opinion) to fucking insane. I wish book 1 and book 2 couldve been combined because i wish Ellie wasn’t still in denial
The cons… I’m also not a personal fan of religious overtones and i kinda lost it at childhood exorcisms, pathetic attempts at denial which lead to not sharing information for no other reason than uncomfy with being vulnerable….
Yeah not good enough for me.
Overall I loved the first book and greatly enjoy this series for the writing style, but the plot choices pigeonholed our main characters to have unnecessary conflict which became both annoying and very apparent to me.The evil bad guys are now sooo overwhelming in this book with our main herorine soooo removed from acknowledging it let alone trying to.. help? You are losing my interest and desire to root for our characters.
“She stared at him, aghast. “I can’t even get through a state dinner without mucking it up. Instead of saving the tairen, it’s more likely I’d doom them to a speedier extinction!””
You just need to learn control, shei’tani. I can help teach you that”
Bright Lord, save her. “I really don’t think that sounds like a good idea. Isn’t there some other way? Maybe you could go back to this Eye of Truth and tell it you want another answer.”
People are dying dude
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