Good story building. Loved meeting new characters and seeing how they play into the story. I love the mythology aspects of the book as well. Continues of where book 1 ends.

Because I wasn't able to finish the first book, I decided not to pick this up. I couldn't get into the first book at all.

I really hoped book 2 would be better, but I still feel the same way I did with the first one.

It’s not bad, but it’s not amazing either.

It’s good for fans looking for a cookie-cutter YA fantasy book.

Overall I enjoyed this one. Some moments fell flat for me though and the relationships got lost on the overall plot.

this was such a fun sequel! i love me a good cast of characters and the new additions to the characters in this book were refreshing and made for a really entertaining book. the pacing was massively improved from the first book and i loved the character development that progressed through the book. the budding romance has me hooked!

CAST IN SECRETS AND SHADOW was one of those sequels that goes above and beyond book 1. I love a good quest book, and CSaS was a really great continuation of the request of Ara and her friends in the aftermath of a devastating betrayal. You really get a great sense of our characters and their interactions that can't help but make you feel like a part of Ara's crew. I loved the challenges Ara faces when Teth becomes one of her first Loreknights and how she struggles to balance love and her duty as the Loresmith. I love the fluctuations that this relationship goes through and you can't help but love them as a couple. I love the raw emotions in this book as well as Ara and Nimhea have to deal with the shock and hurt they feel after someone they both love has betrayed them, and the way that the author portrays and allows her characters to process that was something very special. Once again, Robertson's world-building and mythology is really interesting and I loved seeing more of Ara's mission, her world, and her gods. CAST IN SECRETS AND SHADOW was a real gem of a sequel, a story about love, duty and healing from betrayal that I found really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this one, If you like Shadow and Bone or Furyborn, this is another one for you! This is ACTION PACKED, and I mean PACKED, and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, so much so, that I read this in one day, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The characters were amazing, I loved them! I'm so excited for the conclusion to this trilogy, and also so sad to see it end.

Full disclosure, there are definitely spoilers for Forged in Fire and Stars, which is the first book in the Loresmith series by Andrea Robertson, so if you haven’t read that one yet, A) you should get on that, and B) continue reading only if you’re okay with spoilers. As a note to readers, Andrea Robertson might look familiar as she wrote the Nightshade series as Andrea Cremer.

I give that warning because I’ve been waiting to read Cast in Secrets and Shadow since I finished reading my ARC of the first book back in January 2020.

Diving right in, from the minute I saw the word Loresmith as the series name and then saw all the weapons on the first book’s cover, I knew that I’d be obsessed with this new series from one of my favourite authors and I was not wrong… I’m still completely intrigued by this concept!

Let’s do a slight recap of the first book! We met Ara, our fiercely resilient heroine and she’s descended from a long line of blacksmiths (a.k.a. Loresmiths) who served alongside the royalty of Saetlund, keeping them fully equipped to protect the kingdom. That was before the monarchy fell, of course, so when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon straight up Smithnapped (yes, I just made that word up) Ara, her life is turned upside down as she embarks on this epic journey to claim her destiny and help them retake the throne.

Needless to say, nothing ever goes according to plan in any novel ever written, but in her signature style, Robertson kept me guessing. Although I wasn’t teetering on the edge of my seat through the entirety of Cast in Secrets and Shadow like the first book, somehow Robertson amped up the action, and the romance, as well as the secrets and mysteries we still have left to unravel.

One thing I was really hoping for in this book was a list of all the gods and goddesses that were mentioned previously as a sort of glossary to help us remember who’s who, as a lot of the names aren’t super easy to pronounce, or remember with the spelling. With the introduction of even more characters in book two, I’m hoping they pull one together for book three, because by the end of this book, I was starting to forget who was who and what exactly they did, as well as whose side they were on.

That being said, the map is killer and helpful considering the size of the world. But please, for the sake of booklovers everywhere, it would be great to see character names added to the top of each chapter/section so we know whose POV we’re getting. I know this book is written in third person, but sometimes it took me a few paragraphs to realise who it was I was seeing the scene from and it took me out of the story for a few minutes when I had to go back and read it again.

The way the gods and some of the characters are forced to work together was another interesting twist here, even though some of it I wasn’t super sure about because it seemed in book one that most of the gods didn’t tend to converse with humans as though they’re equals. And here, they not only were setting up trials for Ara, but they were visiting those who knew her and demanding to see her, or have them get a message to her, as though they weren’t all powerful gods who could just find her and deliver their message themselves?

I will say that this book had a bit more of an RPG novel kinda feel where the character is stuck inside a video game and has to fight their way out versus the full blown high fantasy feel of book one. Due to this, I felt that some scenes really dragged on when they could have been wrapped up in one or two pages versus the seven or eight they took.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the way Robertson has a way of piecing words together that is both impactful and whimsical but I felt like this book had a good deal of fluff and filler in it, which I don’t think the story needed as the concept is fantastic, plus learning more about the new characters as well as the world’s lore as a whole would have been more interesting.

All in all, Cast in Secrets and Shadow was a solid second novel in the series, but it definitely had that middle of the series book feel to me, so I’m hopeful that book three will round it off with a strong kick to the feels as book one did. Knowing Robertson’s other works though, I have all the confidence in the world that she won’t leave her fans wanting when it comes to revealing all the answers.

BOOK REPORT for Cast in Secrets and Shadow (Loresmith #2) by Andrea Robertson

Cover Story: Knives (and Swords and Axes) Out
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Bridge Book
Bonus Factors: Found Families, Quests, Gods
Anti-Bonus Factor: Child Abuse
Relationship Status: I'm Still Here

Red alert! Cast in Secrets and Shadow is the second book in the Loresmith series. If you have not read the previous book in this series (Forged in Fire and Stars), man your battle stations turn away now, as there might be spoilers in this review. If you’re caught up, however, feel free to continue below.
https://foreveryoungadult.com/2020/05/13/forged-in-fire-and-stars/

Cover Story: Knives (and Swords and Axes) Out
In keeping with the first cover of this series, here we've got a flatlay of a bunch of blacksmithy things, but this time the theme seems to be ice rather than fire. (I would have gone with shadows, but that's just me.) Still not loving the little silhouettes at the bottom, however. The lack of detail is so obvious when compared with the rest of the items on this cover, particularly those axes.

The Deal:
After the perilous events of the first leg of their quest—and an unexpected betrayal—Ara, Nimhea, Lahvja, and Teth are reeling. They know what they need to do, i.e., rebuild the Loreknights of old, and properly this time, but they don't know exactly how to do it. The Vokkans are hot on their trail, however, so they need to pick up the pace and hope the gods are on their side.

BFF Charm: Yay
Although we're still good friends, I struggled with some of Ara's decisions in this second book, especially those around her feelings for Teth. She's the Chosen One, yes, but that doesn't mean that she has to forego all personal interests and comforts, but she doesn't quite get that until a bunch of angst has transpired. I get it—it's very fitting for a teenager blessed/cursed with a gift from the gods to have to work through a lot of conflicting feelings. But had she just asked for my, her BFF's, opinion, we all would have saved ourselves some heartbreak.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Although Ara struggles, the chemistry between Teth and her continues to be smoking. Sadly, because of said struggles, we don't get nearly as much of said smoke as I would have liked.

Talky Talk: Bridge Book
With Forged in Fire and Stars, Robertson did a great job of creating a new fantasy world that felt fresh while retaining a lot of the features of the YA fantasy worlds that I love. The mythology of the world, too, was fascinating, and the characters themselves (although they skewed a little younger than some) quickly became people I wanted to spend more time with. Cast in Secrets and Shadow continued to include—and introduce—great characters, but the plot suffered from the dreaded Bridge Book Blues. It has to be hard, when writing a series that involves an epic quest that spans multiple books, to find a good balance between action and plot advancement, but I wanted more of the worldbuilding I so enjoyed in book one. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the story, but I don't feel like I finished it knowing much more than I did when I started.

Bonus Factor: Found Families
One of my favorite—if not the favorite—tropes is the idea of found families, or families of choice. It pops up frequently in YA (thankfully), but Robertson really gets at the heart of it in this series, and becomes even more of A Thing in Cast in Secrets and Shadow. Fantastical quests are always made better when you pick up complete strangers who end up becoming integral and important parts of your group, especially if you can't fathom how they'll fit in at the start.

Bonus Factor: Quests
If there's one thing in fantasy novels that I'd love to be able to take part in—other than, you know, using magic—it would be an epic quest. Filled with puzzles and danger and interesting folk. I'd just miss showers and my bed, I'm sure.

Bonus Factor: Gods
The gods in the Loresmith series are quirky, unpredictable, fabulous, and fearsome. They never do what the characters expect they will, and they ask the impossible of the characters (who, of course, are able to overcome their self-doubt and rise to the occasion). They're the exact kinds of gods it's fun to read about, particularly because they often seem so human and fallible.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Child Abuse
This doesn't become a plot point until almost the very end of the book, but the Vokkans definitely do not have the best interests of children in mind, and their torture of kids is utterly disturbing. (Spoiler: They're being used for some sort of ritual. It's not of a sexual nature.)

Relationship Status: I'm Still Here
We trekked a lot on this date, Book, and I admit that my mind wandered from time to time. (I'm not a great outdoorsperson, as much as I'd like to think I would be in such a situation.) But I'm not going anywhere; you have a lot left to do on your quest, and I have a lot left to learn about how it's all going to shake out.

I want to rate this higher but on the other hand I feel like this series just keeps getting better and better, so the next few will just continue this trend. It is honestly so great. While only focusing on the main character this book is also able to give such insight and importance to the other characters, I am wayyy too attached to all of them. AND THE LOVE STORIES AH they’re amazing and so cute! And then this storyline is so amazing. The world building continues to be great and I absolutely love learning about all of the gods and hidden plots occurring behind enemy lines. I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next.

✨“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.”—Andrea Robertson

Graced with a video game feel, the second Loresmith book is packed with tons of action and filled with quests. In fact, I loved it more than the first. It felt a bit more mature and it offered more POVs, which I appreciated. Each of Ara’s perilous pursuits of the gods was a trial. Each success unlocked the Loresmith forge, allowing Ara to craft new weapons and recruit new members into the band of Loreknights. I loved the way each achievement along Ara’s path taught her something new and valuable. But even that might not be enough to overthrow the Vokkans.

I love the queer representation. I love the characters. My favorites are, of course, Ara and Teth. But all the characters are each unique and offer something to the collective whole group. If you enjoy found family, this delivers. Also, this book introduced a couple of new POVs which added layers to the plot. I especially liked the addition of a wolf!! And I’m eager to see more of Dagger’s story because I love assassins.

The plot was really fun. This the first book I’ve read that really felt like I was playing a video game. Each quest for the gods felt like an opportunity to level up. Not only did these quests teach Ara and her companions valuable lessons, they made her stronger, and she always came out with something new for her Loreknights. I mean, how cool is that?! And on that note, the world building is filling out nicely. As Ara attends each quest, a bit more world is fleshed out.

The ending had a small cliff hanger and the epilogue was a bit sinister. I was soooo thrilled by the darker turn. The darkness foreshadowed for the next book has me waiting on the edge of my seat. This little hidden gem of a series has grown on me BIG TIME. I’m not sure how many books there will be, but I’m HERE for all of them! 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟒.𝟓/𝟓⭐️

Andrea Robertston comes back with "Cast in Secret in Shadow," a spicy, middle-of-the-road sequel that delivered on its original promise: pure entertainment.

While this story won't be breaking any barriers or bringing anything new to the genre, the story was a perfect continuation of the first book and kept its "kids go on a magical quest" plot at its heart. Ara is just as loveable and naive as in the first book, Teth is just as roguishly mischievous, and Nimhea and Lahvja are still a great couple. The introduction of the new characters in this book, as well as the extra narration, feel as though they help beef up the story, and leaves me anxious to see the rest of their character arcs. While the majority of these characters feel flat, including the introduction of another companion for the original group, they add to the banter — with Roberston is a master at writing.

"Cast in Secret in Shadow" did a decent job of setting up for the last book, but I still felt it dragged; I'm worried now, without too much plot development (and a weird amount of focus on food descriptions), Robertson will be forced to either create a massive third book, extend the series, or cut important pieces to fit this into a trilogy. I'm also worried that, with adding all the narration and different characters and points of view, Robertson may have too much to juggle in terms of keeping things in suspense. This is especially true in the plot twist at the end (which, to anyone who has read young adult fiction before, was less of a "twist" and more of an overly-used trope). At times, Robertston falls into the predictability trap – but it doesn't necessarily take away from the story if you're willing to take it for what it is: entertainment for teens.

Taken at a surface level, "Cast in Secret in Shadow" is just, simply, a fun read. It doesn't take much brainpower, the story is interesting, and the setting is fun, if oversimplified. And while not genre-breaking by any means, it's a solid sequel to an equally fun YA fantasy.

This was such a great sequel to Forged in Fire and Stars! The story picks up right were the first book ends and its action packed from there. I love when a sequel makes you even more excited about a series and I cannot wait for the next book.

This book was a well paced fantasy book, and it was really enjoyable. Usually I dont like it when books are compared to others but this one was compared well to others.
4/5 stars

I don't know how or when I can get my hands on the next book but I want it now. If you enjoyed Forged in Fire and Stars, then prepare for this one! I swear somehow the plot, romance, and adventure are amped up even more than the first novel.

I probably shouldn't be typing out this review right after I finished because all my mind can think is that I want the next one. All I can really say is that if you enjoyed the first book, get ready for more amazing adventures. If you still haven't read the first novel and you're looking for a magical adventure, then definitely check out Forged in Fire and Stars!

Calling all Furyborn/Shadow and Bone fans! If you're a fan of those two books than this one is definitely for you. Cast in secrets and shadows action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. So much that i read it in 2 sittings (could have been one but i did have to sleep 😭) The thrilling sequel to "Forged in Fire and Stars" follows the same cast of characters that we know and love, plus tons more! In fact i really liked the new editions to the squad. But as i was saying, After a devastating betrayal, and the title of the Lorsemith being claimed, Ara must venture off to complete the tasks to prove her worth to the gods. All while having a vicious empire at her heals. If you thought the cliff hanger was agonizing in book one, just you wait for book two. What i loved about this book is not only the lovable and relatable characters, but seeing their development. Especially between Teth and Ara. I loved the Enemies to Lovers (i'm a sucker for that trope.) The chemistry here was just unmatched. The pacing in this book is not to fast or slow, and really compliments the plot and timeline of the tasks. I also really enjoyed the fact that we got more of Liran and Zenar. On top of that, i hope we get more of Dagger (yes, there is an assassin :) I will say, i wasn't a big fan of book one, but loved book 2. So, i highly recommend to stick with the series. Can't wait to find out what happens in book 3!

Whew!

First off, thank you to penguin teen for this e-arc. I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was so happy when I received this one!

We pick up EXACTLY where book one leaves off. I loved how the author kept that continuation and there wasn’t any random time jumps. Our characters are coming to terms with the betrayal from the cliffhanger of book one and the addition of a new loreknight. They continue their quest and trials from the gods and along the way, they meet new companions. I love Huntress and Jora SO MUCH. Also, I felt that in book one, we don’t see as much of Liran and Zenar and we definitely see more dialogue from them in this book. Book one definitely was a good foundation for this series because book 2 pumped the action up a lot.

And don’t even get me started on the cliffhanger at the end of this book!

I’ll be counting down the days until I get my hands on book 3.