"Forgive me, Papa. I was only … only trying to do what is right. I'm sorry it came to this. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt … anyone."
-Excerpt from Where Shadows Lie
I didn't find this book on my own. I picked it up because it was the featured title for a book club that caught my eye. However, I am incredibly happy that I stumbled into it. Putting it mildly-- this novel was a joy to read, and an experience I am eager to share with others.
Without getting into all the details down below, it was a great read. It's not perfect, as no book will ever be, but it was damn near it for my tastes. If you like magic, expansive worldbuilding, and political intrigue- this is for you. The next entry to this series is definitely one I will keep an eye out for.
The World:
Within the pages of Where Shadows Lie, Allegra Pescatore sets about the herculean task of not only establishing an expansive environment, but one that draws the reader into its many landscapes.
The world of Carinn is a vast one, and one that is deftly articulated and depicted in the interactions between the various characters, as well as the sharp descriptions of each scene. Pescatore does an excellent job of juggling the geographic contrasts between different settings, as well as the geopolitical distinctions that reside throughout her various established nations.
This world's political landscape is very central to the plot, and a remarkably satisfying thread to follow from beginning to end. The struggles of the common folk against a callous and shrewd ruling class is a theme that often serves as a bridge between the reader and the all-too-realistic problems the people of this world face.
Pescatore also establishes the beginnings of a rich history that surrounds this world, and will likely carry greater relevance in future installments.
While I wouldn't call this story easy-to-follow, it is not overly complicated or cumbersome. While it requires persistent attention to names and off-hand details, it is not so chock-full of random nonessentials to make that tiring.
The Characters:
This is, at its heart, a character-driven story. That does not mean that the plot is clumsy or uninteresting. It means that the characters and their development make this world and its people seem as natural as ours.
I must admit that, initially, I sometimes found myself frustrated with some characters' motivations, but this was not an issue that persisted throughout the novel.
There are five central/prominent points-of-view in this novel. There are a handful of others, but I won't linger on them for this review. The characters come from very diverse backgrounds, with different drives and ambitions that present very unique aspects of the same world they all inhabit.
I feel that having so many POVs in a single title sometimes tends to leave the storytelling a bit sloppy, but this was not the case at all when it came to Where Shadows Lie. I found myself on the heels of each character throughout the novel, despite when some actions were questionable at best. The fact that I was continually rooting for these characters, even when I was not always aligned with their decisions, proved to me that they were well-written and sympathetic.
Pescatore does not follow a specific pattern when it comes to rotating her POVs, but this serves the story well, as each characters' different journeys have their own pacing. The flow of the story is something that I feel obligated to commend here for its habit of constantly pulling me into each page.
Verdict:
I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone with an adoration for the fantastic, and a desire to jump into a big, new world. This is the first title in years that has had me cackling at 3am, and reluctant to turn the page in fear of what I might read next. There are some moments that I might question (That abrupt reveal, among them), but there was nothing I found that was glaring enough to pull my invested attention away from the text, and the characters that I have become so very attached to.
Five out of Five, without question. No book has made me feel the way this novel did in a long time.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
All 3 for you in this series
See full series
More like Where Shadows Lie (The Last Gift: Arc One Book 1)
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Loading...
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2020
Top reviews from other countries
I bought this and...
This is a book you'll never regret
Reviewed in Canada on August 20, 2021
Dansinger
Nice enough story with clickbaity cover
Reviewed in Germany on September 17, 2023WelshBecci
An ambitious story spun well with characters that feel like your new besties. YES! READ IT!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2022
WelshBecci
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2022
Think, Becky, organise your thoughts.
Characters
For me, a book will always come down to its characters. Are they interesting? Do they seem real? Do they make choices that are sensible for them? Are they ever rail-roaded by plot and do literal "out of character" things, or is there a nice balance?
I am pleased to say that Where Shadows Lie (and, indeed, the whole Last Gift series) falls firmly in the THESE CHARACTERS ARE AMAZING box. Each POV is someone I liked, no, LOVED, and each chapter was in their unique voice.
Plot
A fantastical twisty tale that could lose its readers but manages to keep you on the ride as layer after layer of mystery is revealed.
Each chapter was long enough to move the story along without any info-dumping or leaving the reader scratching their head in confusion.
Setting
When you read fantasy books, you want a fantasy setting. I want to hear, see, smell and ideally taste the places writers take me to, not just read about them. The setting was beautifully described without the prose getting in the way.
All in all, an ambitious story spun well with characters that feel like your new besties. YES! READ IT!
Images in this review
Dave Higgins
Engaging Mix of Classic Tropes and Fresh Ideas
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2022Mr J
Epic, character-driven fantasy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2021