Without a Shadow

I went into this book with no expectations. I thought the blurb sounded intriguing, but it didn;t really give me much of an idea of what the book would be. I really enjoyed this book. A fast-paced, thrilling read, with a couple of twists and turns that I didn't expect.

Adlai is a wonderful character - she feels very well-rounded, and well fleshed out, and her struggles feel real, and not overblown. Her relationships with the other characters, and her emotions when these shift are a shining part of the book, especially when they shift suddenly and dramatically, like with Pen.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction, fantasy, and a book that will keep you on your toes throughout.

What a lovely story, the pacing was great, Adlai as a character was well realised and believable. The world building was alright but could have been stronger, some aspects were muddy but not in a deliberate way, if felt like the author was a bit lost - Is this a middle eastern type world and are we as the reader supposed to be picturing Aladdin? Is so, why is Adlai golden haired? Not that she cant be, but we need an explanation or it stands out as an error. Also - We have a ceiling fan? But torches? Is there electricity or is it magic? Or is there a water wheel outside turning the fan? Small aspects like this can really take a reader out of the story. It also felt like we raced to the ending at breakneck speed, but got a bit off track and the pace slowed down but the plot end felt rushed.

I would be happy to read more by this author