4.5 stars!

Absolutely LOVED this book.
The plot was amazing.
I fell in love with all the characters especially Kellen.
The idea of sliver magic was different and genius.
The twist at the end was perfect.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book!!

I liked this book, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. I thought it could have been developed more and had a better lead up to it. Besides that I really enjoyed it and would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Red Queen and other similar books.

This was absolutely, excruciatingly divine!

Lovers and fans of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi will live for this.

Go on this journey with Ren and find out for yourself how deadly power can be. With so many political strategies and plot twists, I am literally on the edge of my seat for this sequel!

The writing is easy to follow, and much easier to get swept up in. The world-building is clear and concise and easy to navigate, and boy, what a world it is! I absolutely would love to see the coming fan art for this story, because trust me, it's going to be epic.

I found the characters believable and each one at least a little relatable, adding so much depth to this story. Overall character development is great, especially considering that this is a series. I am excited to see where this is going.

Even though this book had a lot of classic YA tropes, it was still so perfect, and never once felt like the story was cliche. It follows the story of a magic wielder in a land where magic has been outlawed (Throne of Glass, anyone??). Warning: It does get a little bit graphic at times. Nonetheless, the story was thrilling, exciting, and kept me glued to the edge of my seat. If you’re a fan of Serpent and Dove, I would highly recommend this one for you. Catch this book when it releases in May!

5 stars!!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this book.

Wow! This book was so good! I loved the magic system. The King’s Children were a unique twist to warriors. And the twists near the end had me as shocked as Ren. I can’t wait to read about what happens to this group of rebels next.

Well, another book I had conflicted feelings about it so I will summarize my thoughts with pros and cons right now to be fair:

Pros: Story-telling is fast pacing, intriguing and stick to the point, straightforward, not much meandering and stalling, action-packed, keeping your attention intact. Ren is one of the last silver wielders of the country hesitates to be a part of rebellious action against the king as Kellen tries to endure his life, living with his brother and his king father, Darek wants to keep his promise to his mother by fighting against the kingdom and seeing it burned into ashes and Adley wants to get rid of the rebel leader to earn her freedom. So four different characters’ stories intertwine and collapse into each other.

World building is also complex, satisfying, thought provoking, reflecting the class differences, the glamorous life the rich people have with their fancy houses and poor people suffer as they live at their old, dilapidated places.

Ending of the story: Still giving you hope and you want to read more so I’d pleased to read another book sooner.

Cons: Actually I loved the characterization but main characters’ lack of chemistry and their immature fights a little bit disturbed me. Yes, I talk about Ren and douchebag Darek (normally this character is not created as a villain but at the beginning it’s hard to accept his manners and animosity around Ren) and Ren was sarcastic queen but sometimes dosage of her mockery was too much to handle.

I liked Kellen’s story more and of course it’s so easy to empathize this character, has still genuine heart, trying to find his way in the kingdom, sneaking away at night, wandering around the city.

And of course Adley and Lesa’s romance was heartwarming and more realistic than our MCs have.

Overall: There are more ups than downs and I enjoy this installment with its witty and unique writing, great world building and amazing supporting characters so let’s round up 3.5 stars to 4 before getting out of here and waiting for the next one!

Special thanks to NetGalley and North Star Editions/Flux for sharing this interesting ARC in exchange my honest review.

3.25 STARS in the shadow ★★★✩✩
This book is for you if… over the top banter that should be labelled 'cruel battle of words' does not taint the originality of a story for you. There's some heartbreaking truth to many of the narratives that might make this a better read for others than it was for me.

⤐ Overall.
Fine, I admit it. It did get better after a while. All in all, this read is a disappointment nonetheless. My hopes were sky-high. Of Silver and Shadow was not a great book for me, I perceive it to be slow and unchallenging in the beginning, and the rising thrill that follows the dry season couldn't entirely make up for it. This probably caused me some difficulties settling into this universe. It bothers me that I have very little good to say about this book. Expectations shattered, hopes lost. Welcome to my reading reality.

Let's continue with some of the good stuff, shall we? The best of them: the cute and secret but very gay love story that did not get enough on-page time (This doesn't sound like a positive remark, but I luuuuuuved it). I stan Adley and Lesa, who, albeit leading a bloody life, and not by choice, are beautiful and pure in their love for each other. I enjoyed the many POVs, which offered a multidimensional view on the plot and made for a deeper understanding of all the different dynamics that shape the course of the book. They also enable the reader to get a better knowledge of the characters. Very individual in their characteristics and manners they make for an interesting 'squad' if the formation can be labelled that. Some of the dialogues they had are hilarious, I at least smirked at several of them.

Others, however, aimed to pose as exciting banter, are way too cruel to be called that. I'm unsure whether this was intentional or just the result of trying too hard, but it definitely didn't help my enjoyment of the book. And do you know those 'he let out a breath, releasing tension he didn't know was there' phrases? Be ready for plenty of those. Bloody exhausting.

Guys, I just dunno. I want to like this book, but I decided to not go with the flow just because Goodreads seems to love it. Did that once with Aurora Rising and it was an empowering thing to do. Come over to the dark side, we have honest reviews and cookies (I'm reallly good at baking).

⤐ What’s happening.
‘Ren was last to take a seat. She tapped the deck against the table. They made her swear not to cheat, but what would be the fun in that?’

Ren has become so good at this game she can't remember the last time she played with open cards. But when rebels approach her and offer her an awful lot of money in exchange for support for their mission, she sees her dream of being free of this half-life in close reach. If it weren't for the rebel leader Darek, a brooding and dark do-gooder.
Con:
⇢ ferocious soldiers on their heels
⇢ two hot-heads make for icy atmosphere
⇢ enemies around every corner
Pro:
⇢ unlikely allies
⇢ two hot-heads make for lots of looks
⇢ each fight brings new improvements

_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading
= 4*

pace = 3*

plot/story in general = 4*

plot development = 3.5*

characters = 3*

enjoyability = 3*

insightfulness = 3*

DNF 6%
The first thing that drew me in to read Of Silver and Shadow was the cover. Because goodness, it's beautiful! The second thing was the description. I like main characters who are thieves because they always seem to have a certain cocky air about them--and their cockiness is always tested.
I liked the story as I dove in. It really was interesting. I just had one problem with it that didn't alliw me to finish. The torture scene in chapter three. I can't stand reading and/or watching someone get tortured, even though I know it's just fictional. I think that reading it is harder for me because the torture is being described in detail. So I just couldn't get past that.
I'm sure the rest of the book is just as interesting as the first two chapters and I did want to kniw what happened, but I nust can't finish it with the prospect of more scenes like that in the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Ren is a silver wielder and since magic his outlawed for a century in the kingdom of Erdis she need to hide her ability or risk being sentenced to dead. She's trying her best to survive and one day the leader of the rebellion discover her secret.

Really loved the world building and the characters and enjoyed reading this book.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.


“We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. We’ve all made mistakes. Your demons might be louder than mine, but we each have one or two hanging around.”

Long ago the Lyandors were threatened by other Silver(magic) wielders and king Tallis Lyandor created the The Silver Purge, which sent royal armies across Erdis, to destroy all magical families. Leaving the only magic left in the kingdom belonging to the crown, why the only silver wielders in the past 100 years had been Lyandorswielder . A rebellion is stirring to topple Lyandor family from the throne. The only hope resides with girl Ren, an orphaned thief and a pit fighter, who also a hidden Silver wielder.
A wonderful Ya fantasy that is creative and fast paced right from the get go.
The LGBTQ is notable in this riveting storyline was handled properly and without over embellishment. Political tensions and seamless narration with multiple POV’s characters adds depth and drama.

First of all, I’d like to thank Netgalley for approving me to read this ARC! I was completely surprised, and then blown away once I started it!
-Ren is a badass character
-its a multi-perspective book with 4 POVS!
-it’s has one of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn!
-the magic system is so cool!
-it has a very dark atmospheric feel to it. I really felt like I was in Denfell.
-THE BANTER. I LIVE for witty banter guys and this book did not disappoint!

I really can’t recommend it enough. I’m so excited to see what this author comes up with next!

Thanks to North Star Edition and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

We follow multiple people all having their own agendas on how to survive in this world. When following multiple people I tend to have favorites and not everyone is as enjoyable to read from. This was the case in this story as well; I found I was intrigued by two characters that weren’t the focal of the story.

This was a fast paced book but it left a lot to be desired in terms of the world and magic involved. Because of this it didn’t feel like this story stands out from many others of its kind. Nothing memorable and remarkable within the characters or world to get readers invested.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong about this book but it brings nothing new to the genre either.

All I can say is WOW!

This book was everything I dreamed it would be. The amazing cover design is what first drew me to this story and I was immediately sucked into the world that Jennifer Gruenke created.

If you are looking for an irresistibly woven story full of twists and turns with love and loss then Of Silver and Shadow is for you! I constantly found myself trying to steal minutes throughout the day so I could find out what would happen. I'm sure my coworker tired of my *gasps and "oh no's", but when I finished yesterday, she looked at me and said "I have no clue what that book is about, but I will be picking it up once it's out."

This Fantasy novel was chock full of all of the best 'fantasy' things; dark kings, evil princes, forbidden magic, and rebellion! The characters in this book were both complex and beautiful. If you, (like me) are a total sucker for the lost soul with a broken past who finds hope then that is exactly what you will find with the main character, Ren. One of the more unique character arcs in this book were the subsection of soldier referred to as The King's Children, essentially a super solider, trained from childhood to protect the king, and the dynamics of that group were *clap! - cue all the drama, but also love...

The only thing I wished for this book is that there were more! I am still thinking ahead about what could happen, the plot twists that could come, and the adventures still to be had! I'm looking at you Heath... I mean who doesn't love a good redemption arc. I cannot wait to see what Jennifer creates in the future and I can wholeheartedly say that I have become a fan for life.

This book is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Shelby Mahurin.

And in case you aren't sold yet, please enjoy some of my favorite quotes. *Spoiler FREE of course.

"She was reading a new one every few days, so the gods knew she never ran out of fodder, but Lesa listened. She always listened."

"Did you see what I did back there?" "Tricks don't impress me, Ren." She hated to admit it, but she sort of wanted to know what did impress him. "Tricks? I'm not a dog." "No," he agreed. "Dogs are better behaved."

"I like her," Ren said. Of course she did. And that's what Darek had been afraid of. Alone, both girls were their own forces of nature. Together, they might very well be cataclysmic.


A huge thank you to NetGalley and Flux Books for the e-arc of this amazing book! I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on it in May.

One of the strengths of this book was that it didn't waste any time getting right to it. The past few month's I have been struggling with some slower-paced books, so this was exactly what I needed at the time.

In a world where magic is banned, only royalty has the privilege of using Silver. However, when Ren, just a seemingly ordinary girl, discovers she has this ability too, she has to lay low. From petty thievery to pit fighting, Ren does what she needs to survive in the shadows, however, when her secret is discovered, she is thrust into a world of dangerous competition, schemes, and revolution.

You guys, this was exactly what I needed! It had the intrigue of a kingdom in decline and rebellion, it was dark and gritty and funny, and it had my favorite trope ever: Enemies to Lovers. I cannot get enough of this trope right now! I feel like we have seen versions of this type of story many times but I didn't hold it against Of Silver and Shadow because I flipping love this kind of book!

Not to mention Ren!! She is witty, funny, hilarious, determined, strong-willed, but also guarded, broken up a bit, and at times downright annoying, but that was what made her so real and compelling and I would keep reading about her all year if I could.

Over all, I definitely recommend this and I can't wait for more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I could barely find any fault with this book. Can I just say how glad I am to have picked up a standalone fantasy?

It's of silver wielding, a rebellion, and the outlawing of magic by a tyrant of a ruler. Ren Kolins is the only one other than the royals who possesses the ability to manipulate silver. But magic is against the law, and after the Silver Purge, it is more important than ever that Ren keeps her silver a secret. But one day, rebel leader approaches her with a bargain: join his rebellion, take down the king with her silver (how could she not have been more careful?), and she will own a fortune. Meanwhile, the position of King's Fang is up for grabs. The King's Children are more than determined to land themselves that privilege, and are fired up to capture the rebel leader.

This book is written in the third person, with four characters' viewpoints as the main focus. I enjoyed reading all except for one: the viewpoint of one of the King's Children, Adley. As much as I understand how sad her circumstance is, I cannot bring myself to like her all that much. Yes, she is thrust in a situation that requires her to be someone she is not, and perhaps choosing the other path will bring her death, but I just couldn't bring myself to like reading and learning about her side of the story. But Ren's, Darek's and Kellen's, I like them all. I am happy to say that no character left me pulling my hair because they decide to do extremely stupid things. Character build-up are fantastic, each of them having distinct voices and personalities. My favourite has god to be Ren for being so badass and strong. Plot is planned and written well, too. I really hadn't expected any twists, but there they were.

The fantasy aspect of this is pretty light, I've got to say, but the author makes sure to include all types of scenarios a silver wielder can use their magic on. Silver wielders are not almighty. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I feel that they are as vulnerable as non-magic folks, and somehow, that feels pretty refreshing. Adley, with her fantastic skills as a King's Child, is proof that non-wielders can be as strong as those who can use magic.

Ren's romance with Darek was pretty okay. This pairing is amazing. Although I feel the beginnings of this romance could be improved in the manner of speed, I still enjoyed it. I couldn't get enough of those flutters. Plus, a hate-to-love romance? I'm weak with that. There is also an LGBT romance within, so kudos to the author for including them in.

I was wary of this book at first. Reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson has made me have high hopes for such a storyline as overthrowing a king, but I'm left pleasantly surprised. Extremely glad that I got to read this. The ending leaves room for a possible companion novel, and if Jennifer Gruenke decides to write one, I would most certainly love to immerse myself in her writing again.

This book is going to my favorites pile! I just love everything about it!

Set in a kingdom ruled by a monarchy system, we have a large community living under oppression. This in turn brings about a group of rebels working tirelessly to overthrow the royal family.

We also have a king and his sons who are supposed to be the only ones wielding magic, an elite team of fighters called the King’s Child where one of them still has a heart, a prince who does not outright agree with the way his family rules and has no interest whatsoever in politics, a rebel leader whose mother died because of the revolution and a girl who was supposed to be dead because she wields magic.

I bet you can kinda guess how the story goes just from that. But even from the predictable overall flow of the story, the author was able to make this an exciting journey. I was never, not even once, bored.

The story was written from multiple POVs which I thought was awesome as I was able to see how everything unfolded and the intentions behind the main characters actions. I was rather relief that I did not feel any frustration that often comes with multiple POVs; where characters often make wrong assumptions and make the plot more complex. Not that complicated situations like these are not great. I’m just relieved that I do not have to go through it again. (oops)

The characters were all amazing. I loved them all and hated none. Okay.. maybe just one. Cause he was just too damn cocky. I wanted him dead ASAP! (sorry for the violence). But unfortunately, I think he is still very much alive at the end of the story unless he actually bleed out from a pierced eye. Anyway, that’s good enough for me.

As for the ending, I thought it was one of those kinds that should have a sequel but still ended well. But if it is meant to be a standalone, I would probably like a spin off to see where the success of the revolution goes.

I would most certainly recommend this book to fantasy lovers out there. This book is pretty intense and violent though, so just keep that in mind.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Flux through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this immensely with a few small exceptions. A great start to my 2020 books! Thanks to Netgalley for introducing me to Ren, Darek, and Kellen. There were some risky choices towards the end that made for a very exciting story!

Of Silver and Shadow is author Jennifer Gruenke’s debut novel. Focusing on the kingdom of Erdis, Gruenke’s novel is a politically driven young adult fantasy novel. Before we get into the details, I loved this book. The plot and characters kept me engaged, and I found it hard to put the book down when I needed to sleep. Overall, I read the whole thing in a couple of days (which is pretty good considering how sick I was at the time).

Of Silver and Shadow follows Ren, a young silver wielder in the kingdom of Erdis. She’s spent most of her life trying to avoid being noticed, occupying her time running an orphanage and fighting in the kingdom’s illegal fighting pits. The only person who knows about Ren’s silver is her best friend Freya. After all, most silver wielders were exterminated long ago, and magic is forbidden for everyone expect the royal family to use. When the Rebel group discovers her secret, Ren is offered a small fortune in return for her help. The only catch is that she won’t see a penny until the Rebel uprising has succeeded. The novel follows Ren as she navigates working with a rebel group she never wanted to get involved with and becomes the face of a revolution.

Meanwhile, Adley Farre is a King’s Child: a brutal warrior brought up in the palace and trained to do nothing but obey the King’s orders. When the esteemed position of the King’s Fang become available, Adley will do anything she can to win the position and inevitable freedom that comes along with it, even if that means capturing the rebels and torturing her way to their leaders and Ren.

While the plot of a novel like this could easily have become trite, I was pleasantly surprised by the way it was handled. I definitely did not see the plot twist coming, and I thought it was an interesting approach to the genre. The setting was incredibly well done. It was clear we were only getting a glimpse into Gruenke’s world. This story takes place in Erdis but leaves open the possibility of learning more about other kingdoms in the future installments.

What made the novel for me were the characters. The novel utilizes multiple points of view to follow four main characters: Ren, Adlet, Darek, and Kellen. Each character was well fleshed out, and I loved the way I was attached to all of them. Ren is fierce and independent, but her character develops in ways that allow the audience to gain insight into her. Darek has a tough shell and a quick wit, but he grows on you through the novel. Kind of like mold. Markus is Darek’s younger brother, and the cinnamon roll to his kale juice. Freya is kind but firm, and helps Ren remember her humanity. Kellen is a reluctant prince, well aware of how his father truly feels about him, and he prefers to spend his time away from politics. Adley and Lesa have both been forged in blood, growing up as King’s children and learning how to torture and kill. Adley’s determination and Lesa’s sharp tongue make them a force to be reckoned with. King Mattheus and Prince Heath are vile in every sense of the word, leaving the reader with no choice but to dislike them. And last but not least, Holland, the baker’s daughter, is completely done with everyone else. (She’s great, definitely one of my favorite characters, even though she’s a relatively minor character).

One of the things I absolutely adored was Gruenke’s use of diversity in the book. Freya is a person of color, and the relationship between Adley and Lesa is adorable and sweet. You can’t help but root for them.

My only complaint about this book is the pacing of the relationship between Ren and another character. It seemed a bit sudden, but I understand that the author dove headfirst into the hate to love trope and I can’t be angry at that.

Overall, Of Silver and Shadows is one of my favorite reads so far this year, and I cannot wait for the next one to be released. If you enjoyed novels such as Six of Crows, Shadow and Bone, Throne of Glass, and Serpent & Dove I would definitely check this one out!!!

What a new take on young adult fantasy! Jennifer does an amazing job of creating a new and interesting world and fully fleshed-out characters. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Loved this novel, it kept me engaged. I also think the cover is so clever! Thank you for Netgalley for providing me with a copy! I am in the mist of writing a full review on my blog and will link it/replace this one when done!! I just didn’t want to forget to upload here !