Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Book Review: Shadow's Son

Shadow's Son

By:  Jon Sprunk

Publisher:  Pyr

Publish Date:  June 2010

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Paperback, 278 pgs 6"x9"

Series:  1st book in Shadow Saga Novel

Recommendation:  Yes, A fantasy with dark magic and assassins, who is on who's side?

Book Synopsis:
In the holy city of Othir, trechery and corruption lurk at the end of every street, just the place for a freelance assassin with no loyalties and few scruples.  Caim makes his living on the edge of a blade, but when a routine job goes south, he is thrust into the middle of an insidious plot.  Pitted against crooked lawmen, rival killers, and sorcery from the Other Side, his only allies are Josephine, the socialite daughter of his last target, and Kit, a guardian spirit no one else can see.  In this fight for his life, Caim only trusts his knives and his instincts, but they won't be enough when his quest for justice lands him from Othir's hazardous back alleys to its shining corridors of power.  To unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the empire, he must claim his birthright as the Shadow's Son...

First Sentence:
A killer stalked in the shadows.

My Review and Summary:
Caim is an assassin.  Kit is his beautiful guardian, no one else can hear or see.  Kit has been with Caim for most of his life.  She has helped him and warned him of numerous dangers - before they happen.  For Caim fear is the key to the Shadows, and he can hide in the Shadows, unlike any other.

Against Caim's better judgement, he takes a job as a favor to his one friend in Othir, Mathis.  The job was started by Ral, another assassin, who quit the job for another.  This job goes arry in so many different angles.  Caim finds himself protecting his targets daughter, Josey - a gorgeous young lady.

Yes, this is a read of and with assassins.  But even though there are assassins in the story, I enjoyed the additions to the story; dark magic, the empire and government, and the characters.  It is not just about killing the bad guys, but about the story that is built here and what happens with the creations of the shadows.

The first chapter starts off with a bang; the action and mystery of who Kit is along with what Caim can do with the shadows.  After chapter one the action slows just a little as you meet the main players of the story.  You get to know them by way of flashbacks that highlight important pasts of their lives.  Ones that lead them to who they are.  This was a great way to get to know the characters along with some information for the storyline and conflicts.  Don't fret as the action does pick back up.  As I read I came up with questions, and got answers to the questions which then lead to bigger questions.  The story and questions were all mixed with conspiracy, corruption, and mistrusts.

I was amazed at how this book reads as a whole story, or a stand-alone, with so much happening in this novel to complete the story.  At a few transition spots got the feel that they where rushed, but these are small parts in a wonderful story.  There is an end to the main story here, but there seems to be an underlining which you start to learn of Caim and his family history, the Shadows.  I liked the use of Shadows as the ability Caim has. I am very curious to learn more about Caim as he learns more of who he is and what he can do.

Would you like to read the first chapter?  Click here to do so.

Jon Sprunk's official web site, click here.



This book was a purchase of my own for reading.
This book qualifies for my Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

CymLowell

12 comments:

  1. Ohhhh!! This looks SO good! Definitely got to check that out when I get back from camp. =)Love the cover.

    I'd also love it if you could check out my giveaway! =) http://seaofpages.blogspot.com/2010/06/guest-post-got-books.html I mean, what's the harm, right??

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  2. Hi Arya! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you get to look into the book and enjoy it. :) I will have to stop by and get into your giveaway. :) Thank you!

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  3. Great review, glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did. Can't wait for the sequel.

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  4. Tyson - Thanks for stopping by! I really did enjoy this book. I just asked Jon on Twitter to be sure this was a trilogy and yes it is, the next one should be out next year he said. :) So I am now following his blog to get updates on it. :)

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  5. This sounds very interesting. Love the cover art as well. I love a book that is part of a series, but not a cliffhanger. Thank goodness! Great review!

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  6. Melissa - Thank you! :) The cover is great. And I was so glad it wasn't a cliffhanger ending. I am curious to see where the next book goes when it comes out next year... What we have to learn with and of Caim.

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  7. Great review. This sounds like an awesome book. I've just started to read fantasy again, and it looks like I'll have to check thi one out.

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  8. Hi Spav! Glad you stopped by. :) Glad to hear your reading Fantasy again. I hope you do check this one out and do enjoy it. :) If you do read it, I look forward to reading what you thought.

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  9. Great review! This book really sound awesome!
    Have you heard of "Spider´s Bite"? It´s an Urban Fantasy series about a female assasin and stone elemental. It´s a great read!
    By the way, I´m your latest follower! :)

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  10. Hi Christine! Thanks for stopping by. As a matter of fact I have Spider's Bite and the second book of the series here on my shelf to read. They sound like amazing reads. :) Thanks! I have a few books here I have to read for reviews and discussions first but I really want to get into them. Thank you for following too! :)

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  11. I came from Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday.

    Your review reads like this book is a 3 out of 5, if this is rated in a scale of 1 to 5 (where 5 is the greatest score). But that is from me, as a review reader. How would you rate this book as a reviewer?

    And no, I do not like cliffhanger endings. Which is what your review seems to hint at.

    I'm not a new follower, I'm an old one... so old I could almost qualify to be an "old batty" ;)

    Cherry Mischievous
    www.cherrymischievous.com

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  12. Cherry - :D I wouldn't even think of you being an "old Batty." It is great to have you stopping by. :) I think I would grade this one a 3 1/2 out of 5. I did enjoy it and it is a great start for a new author. The story of the book is complete, so not really much of a cliffhanger as much as curious to just get to know Caim more and his history. Thanks for stopping by! Enjoyed the post! I have been thinking of coming up with a grading scale for a little while here. I think I'm going to put one in, if I could find the right pics to do it with. :) Thanks!

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