Audio Book Review: Tracing Shadows

Tracing Shadows

By:  Alex Lidell

Publish Date:  April 8, 2018, Audiobook Release May 21, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 21 mins
Narrated By:  Hayden Daviau

Genre:  Fantasy, New Adult

Series:  1st in Scout series

Impression:  A female scout living two lives to learn information.

Synopsis:
To protect the throne, seventeen-year-old spy Kali must play a male guardsman trainee by day and royal lady by night.

Orphaned and trained on a spymaster’s remote estate, Kali is a scout who works alone in the shadows. But when a terror group threatens the Dansil throne, the king forces Kali to accept a mission at the palace or forfeit her sister’s life.

Suddenly thrust into the light, Kali must infiltrate high society as the royal Lady Lianna while penetrating the servant ranks as Kal, a male guardsman trainee. It doesn’t help that Trace, the harsh and enigmatic captain of the king’s guard, is soon assigned as both Lady Lianna’s palace escort and Kal’s commanding officer.

As Kali edges closer to the truth behind the violent group’s identity, she uncovers dangerous secrets that could bring her mission to a brutal end. A scout’s job is to observe and report, never to engage . . . but if it means saving her sister and kingdom, Kali may have no choice.

First Sentence:
"Would you like to buy a light crystal, young master?"

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Hayden is a new narrator for me. She speaks with a pacing which I do not need to increase the speed of the book. Which is nice. This pace blended with Alex's writing of constant movement, keeping the story moving forward. There was one section that seemed to be a longer pause, which I'm not sure if it was meant to be there because a break in the section of the book or the audio part. At times, though, it feels as Hayden speaks fast to get through the book in a limited time frame, too fast. She does seem to fit the personality of Kali vocally though.

It's of a female playing a part of a Lady in royal court and as a guard trainee, as a male. It's a common story with two parts focused on one outcome. I listened on, and the more I did I liked the book. I'm curious as to what will happen in the next book with where we're left in a bit of an uproar and things that could happen.

The story is good, but I don't find it as catching as Alex's two other series. In the end we see there is something special going on with Kali but don't know exactly what yet. I think the catch of the story is the magic used with crystals and that Kali is something else in the magic spectrum. Also we have the kingdom the midst of rebellion with how things are going for their lives and the area they lost to another empire decades ago.

We get most of the story from Kali's view as she lives as Lady Lianna and Kal. There are moments added in from other characters. Violet is added in to give a view from her side, though the first section by her feels to introduce the fact that she likes to cut herself to take the emotional pain away. At first meeting, it felt as though Alex had to have something in the story that is emotional and catching. As the story line moves on, we see how Violet falls into a group, where they comfort her in a way she needs emotionally, who are against what the King is trying to do. It's easy to do when there is a void in one's heart, like Violet feels. The first meeting of Violet set this up for us to see.

As the story goes on I started to understand the troubles in the Dansil kingdom. They are struggling with baring children. Many woman are having still born children or dying in birth with the child. This is affecting the kingdom and people in it. They are not thriving as they should to survive as a kingdom. They need help.



****If my thoughts helped you, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!