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Shadow's End (2013)

by Moira Katson(Favorite Author)

4.18 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1484095618 (ISBN13: 9781484095614)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Createspace

series

Light & Shadow

review 1: This was the first book I have read in a long while that was not written by a big name writer in either fantasy or historical fiction that I found readable on the level of pure personal enjoyment. I was able to turn off my editor and just relax and enjoy it. The book is well-written and the characters are interesting. I liked that the style is not at all minimalist, but neither is it lush to the degree that it caused me second-hand embarrassment.If I could have changed the book in any way, or if I had read it before publication, I would have suggested that she deepen the world with more details. The basic framework is there, but it is both shallow and revealed too slowly.The secondary characters could use a bit more grounding that world. Making the world deeper and stronge... morer would give the author more and better motivations for her characters and/or stronger characters might demand more from their world. One could approach it from either side, but more is needed.The sensory side of the story could use some enrichment also. I did not carry away with me many strong visual images, scents, sounds, or enough of an ambiance to feel strongly grounded in the physical world. The north is cold and mountainous; the south is warmer and greener. Clothes were described in detail, but at a distance. Specific food is mentioned, but without filtering through the point of view character in such a way as to leave the reader with a strong visual much less a sensory component. To show more and deeper peripheral details could have raised this book from a workmanlike exercise of great promise to a fully satisfying fantasy novel which could compete with any of the best writers in the genre. I wanted to care more about all of the secondary characters, but largely they feel distant. The main narrator's feelings could be manifested better in more dialog and less internal monolog. There is too much telling me how she feels instead of manifesting her doubts and pain. At times she feels like a fantastic first draft.I think the author should slow down and give her story time and a chance to grow and deepen before rushing into print. I feel like she has good instincts, but not the patience yet to write the book she could and should write.
review 2: Just finished reading Moira Katson's Light & Shadow trilogy and must say I haven't enjoyed myself as much since reading Stephen King's "The Stand" many years ago. The characters are well drawn and have a depth that is hard to find these days. The plot is as rich as the characters and draws you on, page after page. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good read. It is that rare form of book that has only one major flaw - it comes to an end. less

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