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A review by beckythebibliophile
The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Ember Blade was my favourite read of 2022 so I had fairly high expectations going into its sequel: The Shadow Casket.
I can say for certain; this book didn't dissapoint!
The Shadow Casket takes place 3 years after the conclusion of The Ember Blade and continues the journey of Aren and the companions that he has picked up along the way.
This book was was equal parts inspiring and heart renching and I have now lost my ability to trust anyone!
Chris Wooding has clearly been inspired by other fantasy authors but he is able to put his own spin and style onto tried and true ideas and tropes - his work doesn't come across as at all derivative.
His prose is well crafted but also super accessible and he seamlessly builds the world and cultures of Embria into the pages.
Now let's talk characters. How did Grub go from someone who I found really irritating when we met him to my favourite character? All of the characters are well developed, changing and growing through their struggles but Grub, Aren and Fen in particular.
I now have to start the long wait for book 3 to be written... 😅
I can say for certain; this book didn't dissapoint!
The Shadow Casket takes place 3 years after the conclusion of The Ember Blade and continues the journey of Aren and the companions that he has picked up along the way.
This book was was equal parts inspiring and heart renching and I have now lost my ability to trust anyone!
Chris Wooding has clearly been inspired by other fantasy authors but he is able to put his own spin and style onto tried and true ideas and tropes - his work doesn't come across as at all derivative.
His prose is well crafted but also super accessible and he seamlessly builds the world and cultures of Embria into the pages.
Now let's talk characters. How did Grub go from someone who I found really irritating when we met him to my favourite character? All of the characters are well developed, changing and growing through their struggles but Grub, Aren and Fen in particular.
I now have to start the long wait for book 3 to be written... 😅