The anticipated sequel to Wintersong hit shelves today to eager fans waiting to dive back into the world of The Goblin King, Lisel, Josef and Kathe. Jae-Jones paints an absolutely beautiful picture with her words. Her writing is very lyrical and easy to be taken into the scene of the world she is describing. Shadowsong took on a little more darkness compared to the light Wintersong.

Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.

When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?



Not much time has passed but Liesl still thinks of her beloved King everyday and tries to find a way to save her family from their financial woes and of the supernatural problems that Wintersong introduced. In the first book, Liesl wanted more than anything to be back with her family and into the world of the living but this time around we see her longing to be in the Underground. The plot and pacing was a little off and it could have been a lot shorter than it is. But one of the things that I really loved is that on the first page of the book, the author added a trigger warning for suicide. Also the cover is absolutely STUNNING!!!! and would have no trouble being a cover buy for some. I enjoy the way Jae-Jones incorporates music and her writing is beautiful, but the plot and ending felt rushed and left me wondering if this should have been a trilogy instead of a duology.

The author maintains her lyrical, enchanting writing in her sequel Shadowsong, and despite this novel taking a unexpected path following Wintersong, it was still hauntingly beautiful read.

Shadowsong focuses on Liesl/Elisabeth traversing the darkness of her mind and struggling to come into her own as a strong, independent woman. There is also heavy focus on the sibling relationship of Liesl and Josef (and of Liesl and Kathe as well), and I did enjoy delving into each character and their bond with their sibling(s). Although I will say, both Liesl and Josef were maddening at times (as they were meant to be).

I was truly disappointed by the Goblin King's minor role in this story. We do learn more about his past, but he was such an intriguing character in Wintersong that I couldn't help but want more of him in Shadowsong. Alas, this was not the case, and as such, I felt no true development in Elisabeth's relationship with the Goblin King.

My favorite aspect of this book was Snovin Hall. It was dilapidated and haunted, yet lovely and enchanted, and I could picture it perfectly in my mind. The decrepit castle, the monastery, the mirror room, the meadow, the poppies, the lake, all of it. Add in the Count and Countess, the creepy hosts/captors, and it was perfectly eerie and magical.

The ending was heart-breaking and beautiful and exactly as it should be....and I even anticipated parts of it back when I read Wintersong! I do wish it wouldn't have wrapped up so quickly though. After everything that came before, I wanted a bit more build-up before the final resolution.

Was Shadowsong what I expected? No.
Was it worth the read? Absolutely.

The author does mention trigger warnings before the story begins, and her foreward was enlightening and very much appreciated.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

Shadowsong is the sequel to Wintersong and though it was slow throughout the book like the first one it was just as good. It's a bit darker than the first book. We are introduced to new characters in this book and new locations in Vienna and Snovin Manor. This sequel has such a bittersweet ending but I loved it. The Goblin King's name though... just why? I don't see that as his name. But it sort of fits with the backstory they gave him. I don't know I'm just partial to Jareth being the Goblin King's name but the one in this book is a totally different king and I know he can't have that name.

I do recommend this book and the first one, Wintersong if you are a fan of Labyrinth and tales of the Fae.

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to to read this arc. S, Jay-Jones is an awesome writer. She takes you to this fantasy land where only few writers can take you too. This novel is the perfect sequel to Wintersong. The character growth and the new places were incredibly spectacular. I instantly fell in love with the first book and was so very enthralled that the second was just as great. Her novels will forever be an instant buy. Thank you!

3 Wine Glass Dual #Review of Shadowsong (Wintersong #2) by S. Jae-Jones
“Once there was a little girl, who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was an innkeeper’s daughter and he was the Lord of Mischief, but neither were wholly what they seemed, for nothing is as simple as a fairy tale.”

Wintersong was a story that resonated with me. Over a year later and the romantic, whimsical writing is still at the forefront of my mind. I'm not ashamed to say that I practically begged for the chance to review Shadowsong when I saw that it was available. I was desperate for the continuation of Liesl and the Goblin King's story. Frantic for all that they did not have at the end of Wintesong. All that I hoped for them to have in Shadowsong. And therein lay my problem... I imprudently assumed that Shadowsong would be the extension of their, the Goblin King and Liesl's, story when rather, it is wholly Liesl's.

“How I could make myself understand. The restlessness, the anxiety within me. The feeling of incompleteness and dissatisfaction, my frustration with my inability to execute my ideas on the page, either in words or in song. I could not catch my own mind, my thoughts racing past in a blur, like fingers rushing through sixteenth notes without regard to tempo.”

Shadwosong was an all together manic, chaotic, enigmatic, and peculiar story that while I fought with it for not going into the whole I thought it should fit in, I could not put it down. The story begins six months after the end of Wintersong with Liesl trying to find her normal after her time spent Underground. Returning to her family and the inn though is not what she imagined, and without her precious Sepp or her austere young man besides her, she is left adrift. With the maniacal musings of Liesl, the pacing of the story oft times became tangled and sluggish. The majority of the story line is spent in her head, and while that gives readers a nice link to the character's inner workings, at times it was a bit much. That being said though, Shadowsong is a journey of self. Leisl struggles to understand her place in the world, the legacy she will leave behind, and the reasoning of decisions made.

“All that remained of a person once they were gone was a legacy, which would linger only as long as you were loved or hated. Immortality was memory.”

She also broke her vows with the Goblin King and the Underground though, and there are consequences for that. The Hunt rides, seeking retribution while on the other side of the country her brother Josef must also come to terms with his choices and desires, and the abandonment he feels when he is no longer the center of Leisl's world. This facet of the story was frustrating at times. Jealousy, guilt, and resentment overwhelms the relationship that these two previously shared, and what's left is a mess of secrets and betrayals.

“You always called me the gardener of your heart,” he said softly. “But you have gone and grown your flowers without me.”

The plot twists kept me guessing up until the very end, and the recurring elements of the sound of hooves in the distance and the trail of poppies never failed to raise goose-flesh on my skin. As I mentioned though, my biggest complaint with this story was the lack continuity with the Goblin King and the Underground. For the majority of the book, they are only seen in frenzied visions and putative delusions.

"Be thou, with me."

I was fully invested in Liesl and the Goblin King's relationship in Wintersong. Fully. Invested. I craved more of their poignant tale, and S. Jae-Jones sadly did not deliver that aspect until the very end. I will say this though, what little we saw of the Goblin King had me falling for him even more. Despite his monstrous attributes from the Hunt, or maybe because of them, his heart still shined through those black eyes, taloned hands, and twisted horns. The Finale is what I had been waiting over 300 pages for. This is where the author's signature prose truly shined. With heart-wrenching emotion, the duology reaches it's summit. The Hunt requires a sacrifice to balance the two worlds and Liesl must choose between the two pieces of her heart.

"But I had realized I had not known how it ended because I had not resolved my own emotions- about my music, about my Goblin King, but about myself most of all."

All in all, though Shadowsong may not be all that I hoped it to be, it unquestionably enraptured. Dark and weighted, but provocative and gripping. You'll reach unfamiliar highs and exceptional lows with this story. The author's lyrical writing is to be commended. I also applaud S. Jae-Jones for the Author's note giving a warning of triggers for addiction, suicidal tendencies, and self-harm. I think readers of Wintersong should definitely read this sequel, with a warning to open your mind to new possibilities and throw out all of your expectations. Please do not try to jump into Shadowsong first, you'll be missing out on a truly enchanting experience if you do and become more lost then ever Liesl was.

Footnote;
Beethoven is known for his stirring compositions, but did you know that he was an impassioned writer as well?

"I can only live, either altogether with you or not at all."
-Ludwig Van Beethoven, The Immortal Beloved Letters

The formatting of my e-arc is jumbled and full sentences are displaced and the chapter headings didn’t make sense. It made it difficult to follow along at times.
The author's note at the beginning was so wonderful -- she talks about how both she and the main character live with bipolar disorder and that the book "contains characters who deal with self-harm, addiction, reckless behavior, and suicidal ideation." There's a trigger warning and it's made clear this is not a story where things are healthy and whole. I think this was an incredibly brave project for the author to dive into and it's clear she really put a lot of herself onto the page.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wintersong and was very intrigued when a sequel was announced. I found the overall themes and atmosphere of the first book continued into the second book in a seamless manner. I love S. Jae-Jones’ writing style and am very impressed by her character development. Overall, I would say that Shadowsong was the perfect completion to the stories and world created in Wintersong. I could not put it down once I started. I loved that we got to once again experience the world of Liesel and the Goblin King, as well as Kathe and Josef. I loved the melodic and German gothic atmosphere throughout the series as well as the mythology created and expanded on. To anyone who enjoyed Wintersong, I would most definitely recommend this book! I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. I was planning to read this book regardless so was delighted when I was selected for an ARC.

One thing that surprised me about Shadowsong was that it was focused more on Liesel and her life/ family and the Goblin King was mostly in the background aka a shadow until the end. Before I read the book, I would have found this annoying but honestly it was exactly what was needed for the story. I refuse to spoil the end of this book but I will say that readers will be satisfied. I understand S Jae-Jones rationale for including a trigger warning for this novel but I did find that influenced how I viewed the overall story and a fear that something bad was going to happen to a beloved characters. The themes of love, music and family really spoke to me as a reader. Overall, this book would be loved by anyone who is interested in goblin mythology, as well as good quality young adult fiction.

For anyone who has read (and loved...or disliked) Wintersong, be prepared, because this sequel is probably not what you are expecting. But trust me, if you allow yourself the opportunity, this book can sweep you away in a storm of folklore, complexity, and utter lyrical beauty all on its own.

Just as I had written in my review for Wintersong, the writing in Shadowsong has a way of making me feel raw. These characters, Liesl, Josef, Kathe, the Goblin King, are utterly stripped of their complexity and bared for the entire world to see their soul. The writing quality has surpassed my expectations in this series and made me appreciate Jae-Jones as an author immensely. What I appreciate most is the risk she took to also bare her own soul within these characters.

"Madness is a strange word. It encompasses any sort of behavior or thought pattern that deviates from the norm, not just mental illness. I, like Liesl, am a functioning member of society, but our mental illnesses make us mad. They make us arrogant, moody, selfish, and reckless, They make us destructive, to both ourselves and to those we love. We are not easy to love, Liesl and I, and I did not want to face that ugly truth."

In the author note, she also noted that there is content such as: self-harm, addiction, reckless behavior, and suicide ideation. These traits are shared among several members of the cast.

"How can I go on when I am haunted by ghosts? I feel him, Sepp. I feel the Goblin King when I play, when I work on the Wedding Night Sonata. The touch of his hand upon my hair. The press of his lips against my cheek. The sound of his voice, whispering my name. There is madness in our bloodline."

Despite this fact, I think this was a wonderful read. I was utterly surprised by the complexity of this duology. From what I gathered in Wintersong, I did not foresee the path in which this plot would traverse. Shadowsong is a mix of retellings between Goblin Market, the story of Hades and Persephone, and the Wild Hunt. Majority of the time, the plot walks a narrow path, dipping toes in both the fantastical and reality, obscuring which is which. I believe the way in which this book is written is figurative to Liesl's experience as a character. Her constant battle between living in the "real world," yet, being enticed by the underground and back to her beloved is palpable.

"I who had grown up with my grandmother's stories, I who had been the Goblin King's bride and walked away knew better than anyone the consequences of crossing the old laws that governed life and death. What was real and what was false was as unreliable as memory, and I lived in the in-between spaces, between the pretty lie and the ugly truth. But I did not speak of it. Could not speak of it."

Liesl's fears and deliberations are not without merit. She knows, along with those that still hold to the Old Laws, that there are consequences for each and every action. The Old Laws must be appeased. By thwarting them, the Wild Hunt occurs, seeking souls to balance the scales. As the threat draws nearer, Liesl grows more erratic in her deliberations, trying to protect her sister Kathe, repair her relationship with her brother Josef, and learn to live with herself and accept who she is. Acceptance proves to be a main theme throughout this story. Each character struggles with acceptance of a certain truth in their life, but instead, try to ignore it by

"I was so focused on being Elisabeth, alone, I had not thought about what it meant to be Elisabeth, entire. And that meant embracing my past as well as uncertain future. I was so determined to not wallow in my misery that I made myself lonely; I pushed away memories and feelings and connections not only to the Goblin King, but myself. I had mourned, but I had not let myself grieve. I had not let myself feel. Don't think. Feel."

While I wish there had been more appearances from the Goblin King himself, I'm glad there wasn't. I think that after Liesl's experience in the underground required this sort of backlash in her character. Her transformation from the Goblin Queen back to Liesl required addressing. No matter how "romantic" her experience in the underground may have been, (although, it was definitely twisted) Liesl experienced much that required more attention. It is in Shadowsong where Liesl truly becomes a woman and owns each part of herself--whole and broken. That is the beauty of this story--learning to accept that we all have attributes, experiences, memories, and influences that make and break our character. It's how we deal with those points that define who we are. I couldn't help but feel forced to look inward and evaluate parts of myself I wished to ignore while traversing these pages. It also forced me to consider others and observing these same qualities that makeup people around me.

"Who are you?" I whisper. He nods at me. You know who I am, Elisabeth. "You are the man with music in his soul," I tell him. "You are the one who showed me a way to myself when I was lost in the woods. My teacher, my playmate, my friend." I choke a little on the sobs rising from my throat. "You allowed me to forgive myself for being imperfect. For being a sinner. For being me." If my brother is my grace, then the Goblin King is my mercy.

As I said in my review of Wintersong, this book may not resonate with everyone. In fact, I'm certain it won't. It's not the typical YA/NA fantasy for today's era, and I'm so glad that it's not. It has potential to truly challenge its reader and forces them to evaluate more than just a fun, light-hearted plot with a shallow romance. No, Shadowsong has a lot to offer.

Vulgarity: Minimal! I only counted 3 words!
Sexual Content: Unlike Wintersong, there is very little regarding this area in this book. While Liesl does think about her times with the Goblin King, she doesn't go into explicit detail.
Violence: Moderate. Due to the nature and tone of this book, there are definitely some points (including the content warning listed by the author) that are not light topics for discussion. I still believe this is a New Adult Fantasy, and not quite appropriate for Young Adult readers.

My Rating: ★★★★★

I did get an advance copy from Netgallery for leaving some feed back, but I would have anyway...I just really enjoyed both of the books. And of course with any book that I couldn't put down I always want there to be more.

It has been six months since Liesl walked out of the Underground and away from the Goblin King. Life feels so much darker for her and what is left of her family as they struggle to keep the inn running.

Josef has grown into a young man and become a completely different person. The new changes shock and sadden the sisters when they meet up with him.

And something magical is going on. There is death all around. Things are not as they should be.

The fact is I loved how many elements there are in this story. Love is right there front and center on so many levels. From family and friendship to the love that is bad for you. Or in this story bad for the whole world as things head south when the barrier between weakens.

How life is what you make of it. Putting yourself out there and finding who you are and what you stand for. How hard it can be either way: the sweet lie or the ugly truth. And the darkness that lives in each of us.

I gave this book a 3/5. After reading the first book I was so very excited about getting my hands on this one. Like in the first book, the writing style in this one is to die for. It's written so beautifully! The story, for me, however, was lacking. It took over 100 pages for me to actually get into the story but I stuck with it because I've been waiting for it for so long and I wanted to give it a good chance. I was still pretty disappointed in the story, but I'll still likely buy a hard copy to put on my shelf.

4 stars

It’s six months after Liesel returned to the world above and Liesel is trying to help her family’s inn and keep them afloat while furthering her & her brother’s musical careers.

Yet everything’s different.

Her brother has become cold and distant and Liesel has lost the music the Goblin King inspired in her–and she cannot forget the memory of that young, austere man whose name she does not hold.

And troubling signs of the barrier between worlds weakening are present across Europe, and Liesel must return to the Underground and unravel the mystery once again, as well as solve it once and for all.

This was a good book, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did Wintersong.

The first book had me captured–it took me in its spell and I wasn’t spit out until later that night when I just had to finish it before going to bed. It was magical and spell-binding and romantic and stirred all sorts of emotions inside me.

Shadowsong is very unlike Wintersong. It threw me very much off guard as I didn’t expect this–I was thinking there was going to be tons of Der Erlkönig angst and magic and romance and everything I loved in the first book.

But this is a very different book. It’s darker and heavier and I feel like a lot of the reason why I enjoyed it less was because I was just so thrown off. I ended up taking a lot longer to read it, and it went much deeper into the characters and their struggles. No more could I just revel in the magic of the Underground, but I, as well as Jae-Jones, had to confront my own demons and the demons of the characters.

On a technical level, this book is equally fantastic. It’s written well and has all the attributes of great writing. Jae-Jones’ style is a little more flowery than usually, but nothing that made me sigh with discontentment.

Yet the actual story was not like a continuation of Wintersong, but a supplemental companion that detailed different themes and different topics and different growths.

If you were expecting Der Erlkönig to have substantial page time, you will be sorely disappointed. Please prepare yourself accordingly (I, myself, will be searching up fanfiction to sustain all the angst still present inside me). If you were expecting magic, it’s still there to an extent, but not the same lilting sort of superficial enchantments you may have enjoyed in the first book.

It’s just different. There’s a huge focus on Liesel and Josef’s relationship which is a central part of this novel and a more minor part of the last. It dives deeper into the true souls of the characters and their own sufferings and madness.

I learned that Liesel has a form of bipolar disorder, following suit with the author, which is something I didn’t know originally and hadn’t really seen in the first book. Looking at the series as a whole, this is something I would have liked to see more present in the first novel because it kind of came out of nowhere to me in the author’s note where Jae-Jones explains some of her own experience and how she wasn’t ready to face this when writing the first novel.

It was definitely a more symbolic and less tangible representation of this and more of a “madness” that was present in the novel. I can’t comment on the representation and the #OwnVoices aspect of this which reflects Jae-Jones’ own experience, but I do think that I would have liked more foreshadowing for this part of book 2 in book 1.

We also learn a lot more about Josef (such a sweet smol bean) who’s all grown up and struggles with a ton of his own issues. We get chapters from his point of view, which is very exciting, and it’s slightly mentioned how he self-harms (TW) and his own lack of passion.

The characters embark on a journey in the aftermath, but I felt like not a lot happened despite the number of pages. They went to another country and then dawdled in a few places for what seemed like a good chunk of the novel and then all the climatic things (the traveling to the Underground mentioned in the summary) happened in the last hundred pages.

The ending felt a little short and anticlimatic in the aspect that it was very open and I was unsure of how everything wrapped up. It was much less literal than you might expect.

The entire novel is paced very well–it’s not like things are dull–but it felt like the pages weren’t contributing to the story and buildup as much as they did in the first novel. I still enjoyed what was happening, but in a different manner that was less excitement and more marvel.

Although the two novels feel pretty disconnected from each other, I would still definitely recommend lovers & readers of Wintersong to check this out. It’s different, but I think it’s worth it (and might even be better if you weren’t as much of a fan of the first novel).

The links will go live tomorrow (Feb. 6) with the blog tour!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the follow up to Wintersong. Within the first novel I found myself deeply impressed with the level of mythology and world building that had taken place. This one is no exception and I found myself getting the answers that the first book had promised and a little more. Satisfying conclusion to a great two book series and I can’t wait to see what else Jones might write.

Shadowsong is the continuing story of Liesl and her dramatic story with the Goblin King. This book picks up right where Wintersong left off. I found this book to be just as good as the first but in different ways. The first book was poetic and the writing style reflected such. Shadowsong is much darker. We see a more manic side of Liesl. We also get to get into Josef's psyche a little bit. The book deals with topics such as self-harm and suicide. There is a number for the suicide hotline at the beginning of the book. Most books that deal with this topic do not do that so I did like that. Overall, the book was good. I did like the first book better but that's normally how these things go. I love how the author wrapped up the storyline.

Shadowsong picks up six months after the end of Wintersong. Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.

When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands? (via Goodreads)

I received an eARC from publisher Wednesday Books, courtesy of Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel to S. Jae-Jones' Wintersong is a beautiful, discordant and strange book, and I can't decide whether I liked it or not.

Shadowsong needs content warnings for self harm, addiction, reckless behaviors, suicidal ideation, use of 'negro,' kidnapping, use of ableist words 'idiot, simple, mad', drug use, unconsenting drug use, and suicide. Please be careful with your mental health as you read.

It had a lot of good elements, and pulled in themes from the original story. I loved that Käthe got more of her own storyline. I loved that we got to learn more about François. I loved the mysterious benefactor aspect.

One thing I really love about Shadowsong is that it really makes it clear that her love for Josef and for the Goblin King are different, but equal. So often, romantic relationships are prioritized over family and friendship in a really shitty way, but Jae-Jones goes out of her way not to do that. I loved that she did state that they are both part of her heart, and that her heart just grew to accept the other people without lessening her love for the originals.

However, there was one line that really bothered me from Josef's perspective, as someone on the ace spectrum.

"But the changeling knew that his love was not the same as François's love, for the urge to touch was absent and the heat of passion was cold."

It's a throwaway line that could be omitted without any damage to the story, and would be much less harmful for readers like myself.

I didn't love the weird perspective changes. Liesl's part was told in first person, but all of the others were in a distant third person, which forced me to really take a minute and get back into the story every time. It wasn't badly written, it was just really confusing for me.

I would have loved a little bit more of a conclusion, rather than the sigh that Shadowsong ends on.

Overall, I think that I liked this book. But there were definitely some things that left me scratching my head.

This book made me feel so many things, most of all sadness because the stories of Lisel and the Goblin King and Josef and Kathe are over and my heart hurts. This book was amazing i love the interwoven story of Lisel and her devotion to not the Goblin King but the amount of love and heart wrenching torment she goes through to be loyal to Josef her brother.

Their are some triggering things in this book which may make it difficult for some to read. It a fairy tale story woven in dark threads as our main character has bi-polar disorder. The story is dark but was a delight to read as much as wintersong was

A worthy conclusion to the Wintersong duology.

Shadowsong, even more than Wintersong, truly delves into what is reality and what is not. And even if the images are not "real", it does not mean they are not important or the truth.

The world above the Underground is just as messy, confusing and brutal. Love and Grace are around and can save humanity.

Prequels are something which I always start a little critically, but this one gave exactly what was needed at the right time.

By splitting this book up equally between Aidan and Allie, the author allows the reader to gain new insights, which aren't as vital to the plot as they are to the characters. After reading this, especially Aidan gains a whole new side which rounds him into a hero to dream about. The look into both of their pasts not only makes them more understandable but makes them seem that much more normal. They both had their struggles and problems, and these come across in a very 'average teen' manner (even if the problems, especially in Aiden's case, aren't so normal).

The prequel grabs the entire way through. At first, it's hard to see how all of it will connect as Aidan and Allie lead two very different and distant lives. It's a treat to return to each viewpoint as the chapters switch back and forth between them, never having anything in common enough to make it clear how they come together. And when they do, it wraps up things nicely in every way.

I enjoyed reading this and found it a nice break after the first novel. After reading it, I'm that much more excited about jumping into book two.

I had such high hopes for Shadowsong, after loving Wintersong so much. I was so excited to start reading it. Shadowsong follows Liesl’s gripping journey to the underworld. Unfortunately, it was slow paced, and it lacked luster. I was really hoping for more of the Goblin King!
I did finish reading it, however it was a big let down after reading book 1 in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviews an ARC copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

My coworkers and I have eagerly awaited the release of Shadowsong, ever since we passed Wintersong around the breakroom and fell in love with it. I, for one, could not be more curious about how the romance plot would be resolved. It was a little disappointing then, to start so far from it, with Liesel and her siblings in Vienna. However, the writing is compelling, and I found myself engaged in the mystery of their benefactors. The book hits its stride about halfway through, and I found it difficult to put it down after that. The conclusion is heartfelt and satisfying, if a bit rushed.
Honestly, after finishing it, I think this book did something unexpected. The focus on mental illness and the way it plays out it is important. In a world where we often disregard and push mental illness to the background, reading about characters honestly struggling with it, in a time and place where there would have been little help for them, was engaging and made me think about the ways in which we often disregard mental health in fantasy literature.
I will definitely continue to recommend the duology, although with the caveat that the second book is a departure from the first. I enjoyed both books immensely, and I’m a little sad to leave this world of music and goblins behind. And I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

2.5 stars

Plot: My hesitations with Wintersong were that it didn't explore the goblin lore enough nor did it ever reach a proper climax, and Shadowsong did not provide any of the answers I needed. Taking place 6 months after Liesl' escape from The Underground, Shadowsong dealt with Liesl's rocky relationship with her brother and the phantom call to the Underground. Much like Wintersong, there was no real sense of urgency or intrigue in Shadowsong. This novel was 90% dialogue, but it seemed to go in circles with only the last chapter holding my attention.

Characters: Shadowsong would have been a more memorable reading experience if the characters were explored more. In the author's note, Jones remarked that Liesl had bipolar disorder similar to herself. With this information, I was excited to see more of Liesl and how she dealt with varying moods but it felt as though Liesl was kept at a distance. The writing style was very passive which made it hard to get a clear understanding of any of the characters, especially The Goblin King. The mysterious Goblin King was only present for about 25% of Shadowsong which was the most disappointing because I was expecting to learn more him and his past.

Worldbuilding: A large portion of Shadowsong took place in Vienna which was a refreshing change. I liked the glamorous feel of the city and the masked balls. It was easy to see myself in Austria, this was in due part to Jones' whimsical writing.

Short N Sweet: Shadowsong wasn't the satisfying conclusion that I was hoping for.