The heart wrenching conclusion to S. Jae-Jones' Wintersong. Shadowsong is an enchanting tale of madness and love, of the cost we will pay to protect those dear to us, of the thin line we walk between sanity, and the chaos that threatens our minds. The aching beauty in which this story is woven, with words laced together so eloquently, they're sure to haunt you long after the last period.

Guys, I’m massively disappointed….After reaching the 33% mark in Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones, I’ve decided to call it a day and not continue with it. It really pains me to do this as I adored the first book in this series but in all honesty, the best thing about Shadowsong for me was the cover.

When I first received a copy of this book, I was so excited. I could not wait to dive back into the magical realm of The Underground and to begin with, things seemed promising (although I can’t be sure that this wasn’t merely down to how much I wanted to enjoy this book). I was pumped to catch up with Liesl’s character and was interested to see how her story had progressed since the events of Wintersong. I was super excited for the inevitable Goblin King reunion and couldn’t wait to read more about their strange but engaging relationship….I was so ready for this book. Unfortunately, my expectations quickly fell flat.

My first issue was that nothing happened. Literally, 33% into the book and nothing had happened. Now, I know that many people will think that I should have probably persevered and pushed through the slow start but this girl Googled spoilers and saw that the pace of the story doesn’t pick up until right near the end of the book and for me, that felt like a stretch too far. I was struggling so badly with this book; it wasn’t engaging me, I was bored, and I just didn’t really care enough about Liesl as a character (nor her family) to really care about her personal growth, which is what Shadowsong seems to centre around. For me, she’s not a strong or likeable enough protagonist to dedicate an entire book to her without the additional elements of magic and her relationship with the Goblin King.

That brings me to my second point- where the hell was the Goblin King? When I first started reading this series, I was promised a Labyrinth retelling and whilst Wintersong delivered on that, Shadowsong felt self-indulgent and lacked any of the magic and fantasy that the series promised. Why would I bother to read a Labyrinth-like story without any of the Labyrinth elements? Perhaps if Liesl had been a better character, it wouldn’t have mattered so much but as a reader, I wanted the Labyrinth elements. As I’ve already said, I’m aware that Liesl goes back to The Underground at some point towards the end of the novel but I just couldn’t wait that long.

The final nail in the coffin for me with Shadowsong was the writing style. Now, I tend to find very whimsical writing quite hit and miss. Whilst I wasn’t a massive lover of the writing style in Wintersong, the incredible story was enough to allow me to overlook this whilst reading the book. For Shadowsong however, I found each page an absolute chore to get through. Quite literally, the book could have been halved in length if you took out all of the needless descriptions and metaphorical rubbish that made this book drag horrendously for me. In short, Shadowsong was sadly not for me.

Despite this rather long and negative review, I really don’t want to deter other people from buying Shadowsong. I’ve seen so many fantastic reviews from people who loved it and I know that objectively it wasn’t a bad book; it just wasn’t for me. I went into this book with a set of very high expectations and quite a clear picture of what I wanted from the story and that was what led to my increasing frustration with Shadowsong; it simply wasn’t what I wanted it to be. For people who are considering reading this book then my recommendation is to go in with an open mind and try not to compare it too closely to Wintersong. Also bare in mind that it is a story that is primarily about Liesl and her relationship with her brother, rather than the magical, romantic whirlwind that we saw in Wintersong.

Shadowsong is released in the UK on the 6th February.

*I would like to say a big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Liesl has left Der Erlkonig and the Underground to be with her family, who needs her desperately. But Leisl’s Papa has died, Josef is not answering her letters, the inn is floundering to even keep feeding the remaining family, Constanze is somehow growing madder, terrified of the Goblin King’s Wild Hunt, and Liesl can no longer play her music. Inspiration has died, and she is more depressed and lonely than she ever was far away Underground with her Goblin King. Then all seems saved, when an unimaginably wealthy benefactor who has heard Liesl’s composition, the Wedding Night Sonata, sends her a letter wishing not only to be her patron, but to fulfill every financial desire she and her family have ever had, and allow Liesl, Kathe, Joseph, and even his beloved companion Francois to stay in one of their mansions and compose and play and surrender to the arts. But generosity, as all things, comes with a price, and it is said in Vienna and whispered among servants that the wealthy benefactor and his wife have “strange proclivities” and that Liesl and company must beware what recompense may be asked of her. Shadowsong is the conclusion and closure that all who loved Wintersong have yearned for, with a riveting ending about sacrifice and love.

If only books can talk, this one would tell you an amazing story. In S. Jae-Jones highly anticipated sequel to Wintersong, we learn of Liesl's fate and what terrible things she has brought upon the world and her beloved Goblin King.

I have to confess though, I was hoping for more of the Goblin king and the tunnels that turned our world around in the last book, but sadly, we only learn of the king's fate toward the end. Most of the book is spent on the carriers of Liesl and her brother Joseph. At times it was hard to get through, but I'm glad I did, because the ending was to die for. Love, love, love.

Make sure you pick up your copy of Shadowsong on February 6th! I know I will.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

After reading the author's note - I might wait until I'm a little bit more stable to dive into this! I loooove SJ and her writing, but I'm currently battling a chronic illness that is very mentally taxing so I've been having a hard time with books that deal with depression/etc. Thank you SO much for sending it to me, and I do plan on reading it at some point! I just have to wait a while until I'm mentally ready! (Thank you for letting SJ write the authors note as well so that the readers don't go in blind!)

Such a dark and entrancing addition to Wintersong. I couldn't be more pleased. I love the darkness this book portrays and how it show cases the things often hidden from our society. Such things have a stigma attached and I think will cause some to dislike this book, but for me I found it gripping and lustrious. This book focused more on Liesl and Josef, but it does not take away from the story brought to us in Wintersong. In fact, I feel it shows how our choices can cause havoc on those around us and even our own harrowing journey in growth. That some things aren't as easily fixed, and having courage to do things that are frightening and hard. I liked the turmoil of Josef, his slow descent into darkness that kept me raptured for more. The truths and lies we tell, the love that clings and cripples. I am thoroughly happy with how this book continued on in Liesl's life, the little glimpse of her family life in Wintersong, blends seamlessly with Shadowsong, yet stands alone in its entirety. The poetry of these books words are music on my tongue, and I can't help but feel this is just the crescendo of a story untold, waiting for the right notes to complete the climax of the outro.

I loved the previous book, Wintersong, and while I was hoping for a sequel, I also thought the story could end there. But when SHADOWSONG was announced, I was hopping mad to get a copy, eager to revisit the Underground, and hoping for a happy ending for the Goblin King and Liesl.

As a whole, Wintersong came across as a tightly plotted story, while SHADOWSONG seems a bit scattered. There was none of the intensity of the previous book. Maybe it was because of the mystery initially presented--what's with the dying people being found with silver frost on their lips? Who's the green-eyed woman? What's happening with Josef, and what seems to be up with Liesl, who seems to be distant in this book? And as I read on, the story starts to captivate me, maybe not as much as Wintersong, but enough to ensure that I would forge onward to the very last page.

The story is more about Liesl's ongoing discovery about herself and her relationship with her brother Josef. It was heartbreaking to read how their once-closeness was shattered by the distance and the secrets they keep. Especially for Josef who thought he'd lost his sister. There was also a sense of mysticism about the importance of a name and calling a person home and the person who owned your heart. And a certain parallelism to the way it applied to two individuals.

As a romance junkie, I was terribly disappointed that there were only a very few scenes of Liesl and her austere young man. I understand why, of course, and what scenes there were showed their love mixed in with the helplessness at their situation.

For me, the plot moves slowly in the beginning, though things started to pick up maybe 60% into the story. It contains twists and revelations I didn't see coming, though the ending was bittersweet and moved me to tears.

Overall, I don't love SHADOWSONG as much as Wintersong, and I would've been happy for the story to end on the last page of Wintersong. Then again, there was further growth to Elisabeth in SHADOWSONG and there was a resolution to her relationship with her young man as well as restoring the balance to the world. Both have endings that are bittersweet and poignant, and left a lasting impression.

I do believe readers new to this tale should start with Wintersong. Then you can decide whether to continue with this book or let the story end there. Rating: 4.5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I had just read Wintersong, I may not have thought much about this series. The first book was good, but a bit weird to me and I was hesitant to see what happened in book 2, but I was not disappointed! Shadowsong is not only more action packed, but beautifully written. I have always been a fan of German folklore and this story enthralled me. Liesl's escape from the Underground is exciting and creepy, but her story after she arrives back home is even more captivating and shocking. I was so anxious to find out The Goblin King's story and his name, but I did not expect what this book gave.

I absolutely adored this book! To finally have Käthe, Josef, and Liesl together again not only added some drama but some well needed humor! I was intrigued by the new characters introduced, but I wish Jae-Jones went into the Countess' background more! I wanted to know her and her ancestor's history, but I never got the answers I was looking for. Although most of my other questions from Wintersong and from the beginning of the book were answered by the end!

All in all, this book was exciting, revealing, fun, and mysterious. So much better than Wintersong in my opinion, and I'm excited for everyone to read how S. Jae-Jones has grown as an author! I'm so thankful I was able to receive this book for review and I hope that everyone picks up this book and reads about Liesl's never-ending love for her family and for the Goblin King. You will not regret it!

I’m not going to assign this book any stars because I think it’s a necessary piece of writing for the author, and a worthy tale, but not one that I enjoyed.
Let it be said that I loved Wintersong.

I spent the first two thirds of the book waiting for the shoe to drop or to better understand what Josef was feeling. Liesel knows, and the audience knows thanks to the last book, that he’s a changeling, but he doesn’t know so I kept waiting to see what he thought was happening but even as the reveal came I couldn’t make sense of the path there.

It feels like a matter of comparison. While Shadowsong is similarly lyrical in style, Wintersong introduced readers to a new world and explained most of the rules as it went along. It was a lush story full of clear wanting, and even when I didn’t entirely understand how the Goblin King was circumnavigating the demands of a supernatural bargain for Liesl, I at least understood the motivation and assumed it would be a standalone book.

This book is less clear. The hurried and scattered thoughts, the confusing poetic nature of the book does an excellent job of putting readers in the mindset of someone who struggles with depression or mania, and if you’re willing to engage in that story, then you can potentially embrace the discomfort that comes with it.

Maybe because of my own history of depression and anxiety, I’m unable to sink into this style, to embrace someone else’s episodes when I’m grateful for every day I go without my own.

I had a hard time investing in this story the same way I did with the first, waiting for too many pages to feel like the story was moving forward. The point seemed to be “how do we deliver a happy ending when we upset the rules of order in the first book?” And you get there, but it takes 95% of this convoluted tale to get there. I desperately wish I found this book more compelling, more interesting, because I loved the first one so much.

Note: This book is the sequel to WINTERSONG. There will be minor spoilers in this review.

WHAT A SEQUEL. Seriously, SHADOWSONG is everything I wanted after that cliffhanger in WINTERSONG and more. The ending was absolutely fantastic, and I reread it multiple times just this past week before I could muster up the energy to write this review. That’s right - this book left me emotionally drained in the BEST of ways. We delve deeper into the darks of Liesl’s mind and her relationship between her and her brother, and her and the Goblin King. There is less of an emphasis of the romance like in the previous book, and more of an emphasis on Liesl’s growth and her love for her brother. Also, shout out to Jae-Jones for the content warnings at the beginning of the book.

“Sometimes, I fear there is a maelstrom swirling within me. Madness, mania, melancholy. Music, magic, memories. A vortex, spinning around a truth I do not want to admit.”

Liesl is a character whose mind is very intense and we really get to see inside her head in SHADOWSONG This book is #ownvoices for bipolar disorder, and Jae-Jones writes that in exceptionally through Liesl’s voice. Now that Liesl has left the Underground, she’s taking care of her family and wondering about Josef, who went to Vienna to continue his music studies and performance. When Josef sends an ominous letter telling her to come to Vienna, and she gets a mysterious benefactor to go over there and perform, she leaves her small town and the Underground… or does she?

While Liesl is above ground, the Goblin King is becoming less and less like himself. Her benefactors are keeping something from her, and Josef is reticent and withdrawn. Even though Liesl and Josef reunite, he’s in a depression that keeps him quiet and moody. Their relationship went through so much in this duology, and Liesl trying to mend their broken tie is so heart-aching in this book. It was definitely a growth from both of them, however, as they find the path to each other again.

“‘Madness is not a gift,’ I said angrily.
‘Nor is it a curse,’ the Count returned gently.
‘Madness simply is.’”

The side plot of the Wild Hunt was a bit confusing for me, and probably the weakest part of the story. While the characterizations were phenomenal and heartbreaking, the plot was on the dull side because readers never get a feeling of fear for the Wild Hunt. It’s just… there, and moving the plot along. Jae-Jones continues to write gorgeous prose (the parts where Liesl and Josef are playing their respective instruments just makes me clench my heart) as her characters explore their music and their hearts. It’s definitely a slow pace, and readers shouldn’t expect anything as spicy as WINTERSONG going in.

Speaking of spiciness… the Goblin King is notably absent from this book. While book 1 focuses on Liesl and the Goblin’s King relationship (yum), book 2 is more about Liesl and Josef, the brother-sister dynamic that holds true no matter how far they’re apart. However, we do get to see the background of the Goblin King and uncover all the mysteries surrounding him that continues from the first book. And oh my goodness - it is SO. GOOD. I don’t know how this author does it, but she wraps the book up in a way where the resolution is stunning and you’re left aching but so, SO content.

“You are the monster I claim, mein Herr.”

The WINTERSONG duology: it’s classically stunning, features vivid music and imagery, and depicts superb and realistic characterizations in a fantasy plot. Maybe the plot won’t be for some people (which I sometimes see in low ratings) because it’s so very slow, but I couldn’t care less because of the introspection we had with the characters. I seriously can’t wait to read what Jae-Jones comes out with next, because I’m for sure going to be picking it up.

Content Warning: self harm, addiction, suicidal thoughts, reckless behavior, depression

REALLY liked the writing in Shadowsong. Even better than its predecessor. Flawless, utterly flawless word choices. This book surprised me, caught me off guard a bit. I really did expect more goblin jazz through its entirety, but most of the book was centered around the MC + her brother, which was unexpected. Nice all the same though. I highkey predicted ending of this series while reading Wintersong, and the author definitely made it a pretty clean cut path from start to finish.

I feel like this book was oddly paced. The majority of the text seemed kind of just there–purposeful but not really something that kept me on my toes. When things actually did start happening, I was concerned that there weren't enough pages left for a satisfactory wrap-up.

Satisfactory wrap-up achieved ish. It was a little too condensed for my liking, but good nonetheless.

The mental health things! I found myself consistently relating to Sepp, with the whole sense of belonging and general dazedness, and when his thoughts were revealed, it was a whoa moment for me. One of those "someone put it in words" kinds of things. I looked forward to when his POV came along, since he was such an enigma in comparison to our MC.

As a whole, Shadowsong has this nice vibe to it that pretty radically differs from Wintersong. Darker, less romance-y, more family, more personal struggles. I liked it.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for another pleasant ARC!

UUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

Well that was just awful. I am so disappointed :(:( I literally had to make myself keep reading. I just couldn't get into this book! I freaking love anything and everything to do with "The Labyrinth" and "Goblin Kings", but this book....I literally only liked one chapter, at the end. Half the story was whining and talking about not being able to play music and bitching about everything. I literally felt like it was just a bunch of unnecessary words put together to make the book longer, and nothing really made sense or meant anything. I really felt nothing for the characters that I had loved in the first book. You hardly get to "see" or hear from the Goblin King...he was the only reason I even read these books!

And if I have to read "austere young man" one more time....

Maybe I just expected too much...I'm really not trying to be mean...I just didn't love anything about this story. I couldn't wait to be done with it, and I hardly ever feel that way

"Wintersong" was one of my most memorable reads of 2017, even though I had conflicting thoughts about it. But I was hoping for the ending I wanted to be given to us in the sequel. And while I’m happy with the finale, I once again have conflicting feelings about the book.

Jae-Jones create such a lush, dark world for this series. I loved stepping back into the world with curses, kings, gifts, creatures, and danger. It’s full of mysteries and romance, melacholy and music. The setting and the prose make the story easy to fall into. The language is lyrical and whimsical. Tragic and beautiful.

In this book, the characters are dealing with the aftermath of "Wintersong". That means they face so many struggles like grief, depression, and financial hardship. Their journeys are sad but well written. They each have gone through things that have altered them and their situations. I love that Kathe and Liesl have grown closer. I also love the LGBTQ+ representation in this book, and the mention of how the gay couple faces hate. There’s also mention of racism and how Francois faces scrutiny and hatred because of the colour of his skin. In this book, now being aware that S. Jae-Jones wrote Liesl as a bipolar character, I feel like I know and understand Liesl better. It explains why her thoughts and emotions are often shifting and contradicting.

What detracted from my enjoyment of the book, however, is how slow the pace is. Much of the book, the characters are spent drowning in their pain. And while their pain is important and a big part of the story, I was disappointed that the plot wasn’t being moved along very much while the characters were struggling with things. In fact, the plot didn’t begin to pick up until perhaps halfway through, maybe even more than that.

What redeemed the book for me after the slow pace, was the ending. The ending may feel a little convenient, but it was almost exactly the ending I wanted. I just wish the story hadn’t taken so long to get there.

"Shadowsong" is a good book, but it suffers from an extremely slow pace.

Just as lush and engaging as the first book. I may even have liked this one better! The multiple stories from multiple characters/time periods that were woven in with Liesl’s story were great, especially Josef’s perspective. Highly recommend this series.

Wintersong was one of my favourite reads of 2017, so I had really high expectations of Shadowsong. And I was actually a bit disappointed. Okay, I really liked this book. I enjoyed reading it. I love the magic in this duology, and I like Liesl, too. And I liked the changes in her. And I need to acknowledge the author’s note in the beginning of the book. I know a lot of people has already talked about this, but it’s just great that she included a trigger warning. But the plot was a bit slower than in the first book, and I would’ve liked a bit more action in it.

I really like Liesl.

I actually liked her better than in Wintersong. I was a bit annoyed by all the heartache and hopelessness, but I like her. She’s interesting to read about, and I liked how the author portrayed her. She feels realistic.

I missed the Goblin King!

In the first book, the Goblin King was what made the entire book go from ‘good’ to ‘amazing’. I liked the mystery he added to everything, and okay, I just love the Goblin King. Simple as that. I love him. And I really missed him in this book. And the romance. I would’ve really loved to see some more of that, too. I found their romance so interesting and different, and absolutely loved it. I really wish there would’ve been more romance in this book.

The plot was a bit slow.

The first half of the book was really slow, and I just kept waiting for something to happen. I felt like the plot didn’t really start up until after half the book, but once it started, the mystery and magic was amazing. I just needed to know what was going on, so I think the second half made up for the first slow part.

I love the magic and settings!

This book has so many interesting settings. First the small town Liesl lives in, then Vienna and finally another, very mysterious setting that you’ll have to read the book to find out more about *wink wink*. I loved how different all the settings were, it made the book feel more alive and interesting. And the descriptions are amazing and vivid. Plus, I love the magic in this series, it’s so different and unique and interesting to read about!

Overall, it was a good read. The mystery is great, and I like the characters. It was a little slow at first, but it’s worth sticking it out, because it gets so much better, and the second half is great! I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy, especially if you want something original and unique.

I absolutely loved Wintersong, one of my favorite reads in the past year, so was dying to get my hands on Shadowsong, the next installment.

Shadowsong jumps right back in where Wintersong leaves off, and we get letters from Liesl to her brother, Josef, who continues not to respond. But then a benefactor wants to support her and her brother's career. Things start to get very hazy then.

I had mixed feelings about this sequel!!! The things I loved: The prose is still gorgeous, I loved seeing all of the familiar faces, and I loved going to Vienna to see Josef and how that would progress. I think I'll read anything S. Jae-Jones writes. I loved all the prose about music, it really hits all the notes (pun totally intended). That said, I had a couple of really big issues with this installment. My biggest issue is we never see the Goblin King, who was one of my favorite characters in the first book and I was hoping to see some resolution, but this is the second in a duology, and I can't express how much I was disappointed by this. Secondly, we are supposed to see Liesl go off the deep end. And we are told that she does, but I actually don't see her being cruel to anyone, just in response to what people say, but secondary characters keep talking about how awful she is and all I can think is, no, YOU are awful to HER. Which I don't think that was the author's intent. That said, I still enjoyed reading this installment and revisiting people and places that I loved in the first book.

Overall, a beautifully written followup to the first, but I just wish we got to see more of my favorite character.

<i>Love is our only immortality, and when memory is faded and gone, it is our legacies that endure.</i>

I'm sitting here ten minutes after finishing SHADOWSONG and I'm still wiping away the occasional tear. This book, for all that it's a sequel (and an end) to it's predecessor, feels almost nothing like WINTERSONG -- and for this reader that worked perfectly.

"<i>Life is not the body, but the soul.</i>"

Where book one of this duology was lyrical and flowery, this second book feels more grounded in reality, in the mundane every day life that comes after the adventure. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate the style from book one, or even the events, I did. But I felt the story was lost and often confusing (which I think can be attributed to the mystery of some of the tale). Whereas in book two the writing is still wonderful but feels almost more magical because Jae-Jones' own prose and skill can be seen without the purple overshadowing it.

"<i>Until they call my name and call me home, I shall not reply.</i>"
"<b>What <i>is</i> your name?</b>"
"<i>I have no name.</i>"
"<b>Then how can anyone call you home?</b>"
"<i>No one has given me a home.</i>

As for the plot, well, I don't want to go into much for fear of spoilers -- please enjoy as I vague it up in this place -- but I found this so satisfying on so many levels. So much is revealed that answers questions I had after from book one, bits of the whole coming into the fore chapter by chapter, and done in a completely unexpected way that it took until near the end for the picture to be clear. But not in a frustrating way. It was magic to watch it unfold. Additionally we have an ending that you had to know was coming (I sure did) but was still done so so well. See aforementioned tears.

"<i>You didn't tell me living would be one decision after another, some easy, some difficult. You didn't tell me living wasn't a battle, but a war. You didn't tell me that living was a choice, and that every day I choose to continue was another victory, another triumph.</i>"

I'm so happy I reread WINTERSONG prior to this book coming out because while I didn't end up loving it more for the reread, it made me appreciate the difference between these books all the more. The journey, the self-discovery, the regrets, and the mistakes, are very real, very raw. It's not an easy read, it's not a perfect read, but it is so worth experiencing.

4.25 "you cannot have a new beginning without an ending" stars

This is the conclusion to the Wintersong duology which is a Labyrinth reimagining. I had never watched the movie before so I decided to see what it was all about and ended up giving up on it about half way through. Wintersong was definitely better than the movie. The world and folkore was enchanting, but I liked the world better in the first book Wintersong because we got more of the Goblin King and his world. I gave Wintersong 3.5 stars so I was hoping this sequel would be even better.

The author said Shadowsong would be a lot darker, but it just wasnt in the way I was expecting. Everyone was depressed in this book and that's not the type of story I enjoy. They felt like a different characters, but maybe thats just me. I still thought the love between Leisl and the Goblin King was so incredibly heart breaking. Plus Francois and Josef were just so freaking adorable together. Sadly Josef and Leisl relationship was pretty strained in this book so I didnt get to see their beautiful connection as much as I wanted to.

You can have pretty writing without slowing down the pace with a bunch of unnecessary details. I might not have minded the writing as much had their been more of a plot to carry the story, but the plot only happenned in the last 20%. At least in the first book the plot was clear and we got to spend time in the creepy Goblin Underworld. We also dont get as much music in this book which was a little disapointing since I felt like the music paired well with the lyrical writing in Wintersong.

The scene where Josef fainted confused me and we didnt get a follow up as to what happened afterwards. Their time in Vienna dragged on and the rest wasnt much better. It took me longer to read than usual because I kept avoiding it. This could have been condensed into less than 100 pages and added to the first book. Someone else might enjoy the detailed writing, slow pace and the focus on melancholic characters over plot, but it wasnt for me. I liked how things ended, but by that point I was skimming a lot so I didnt get to enjoy it.

4.5/5 stars

Contents warnings for Shadowsong (included in the author's note at the beginning of the novel) // self-harm, addiction, reckless behaviours, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder

Disclaimer: I received this e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All the quotes used in this review might have changed in the finished copy.

When I started reading Wintersong last year, I had no idea it would end up being one of my favourite reads of 2017 and yet, it was exactly the book for me. Shadowsong, its sequel, was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018 and I was over the moon when I got to read it early. I was a bit scared it wouldn't live up to Wintersong, but it truly was amazing.

"You didn't tell me living would be one decision after another, some easy, some difficult. You didn't tell me living wasn't a battle, but a war. You didn't tell me that living was a choice, and that every day I choose to continue was another victory, another triumph." (p.96)

I'll say this straight away: Shadowsong is quite different from Wintersong, but it is still an amazing novel. I also have to say that this review will never do the book justice, but I had to stop writing at some point, or it would have been way too long. I just hope I will be able to make you eager to read this book and if you haven't read Wintersong yet, you should check out my review of it.

From the very first lines, I fell in love with S. Jae-Jones' beautiful and poetic writing once again. I absolutely loved that she used quotes from Beethoven to introduce the different parts of the novel, as well as the use of musical terms for some chapters. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale that had gone completely wrong. Some aspects of Shadowsong actually reminded me of Hades and Persephone, which is such an interesting arc to develop in fiction and that's pretty much one of my weaknesses. Once again, the author incorporated elements of folklore into her story easily, even showing that some elements of folklore were common to different cultures and that this story, that was set in Austria, could have repercussions in the rest of the world, which was somehow quite realistic. Her world-building was once again compelling and I always needed more of it. This time, the novel wasn't set much in the Underground, but I really loved seeing the world-building in our world.

Shadowsong picks up six months after the ending of Wintersong and from the very beginning, the author shows that her characters are in a completely different state of mind, that they're completely lost within their own lives. In the background, we have glimpses of the upcoming plot, but some readers might feel like it will be a bit slow to start, because this story is as much about the consequences of the events of Wintersong as the characters finding themselves again. I didn't mind at all, but I know it might bother some readers, so now you know. Shadowsong is a dark and twisted novel, plays with the boundaries between reality and delusion. In my opinion, Shadowsong was a slow-paced, atmospheric read I had no choice but to devour, because I couldn't get enough of it. I read it in less than 24 hours, for I simply couldn't stop myself.

While Wintersong explored Liesl and the Goblin King's relationship, Shadowsong focused on her dynamics with her brother, Josef. [Warning for the Goblin King's fans: you won't see much of it in the novel, but I loved that the author went that way.] I have a weakness for family dynamics and S. Jae-Jones explored this one in a very realistic way: the characters don't know each other anymore, they can't get through the other and yet, they would do anything for each other. Liesl and Josef were far from perfect with each other, but their relationship rang true and this sibling relationship is something I definitely want to see more of in YA fiction.

"In the end, words had been insufficient. Music was the language my brother and I shared down to our bones. Melodies were our sentences, movements our paragraphs. We spoke best when we let our fingers do the talking - mine over my keyboard, his over the strings. It was in our playing, not my letters, that I could make Sepperl understand." (p. 61)

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was definitely Liesl's character development. At the beginning of Shadowsong, it might look like she finally has everything she ever wanted, yet she is completely lost within her own life, she doesn't know who she is anymore, she even struggles to find motivation to get through every single day. It might not be easy to read at times, but as someone who has felt this way, I can tell you that the author did a fantastic job at putting those feelings into words and it made me relate to Liesl even more. For almost all of the novel, she was a broken character and I really loved that the author showed us that it's okay not to be okay sometimes, but that we can still find ourselves, at some point. Liesl is such a strong character, loyal to her loved ones, trying to be someone and I really admire her for all of that. She might be one of the characters I relate to the most in YA literature. I will miss her so much, because following her journey truly was wonderful.

"As I turn to peer into each of the mirrors, I see a different facet of myself: the girl with music in her soul, the daughter, the friend, the sister. These are all parts of me, entire, yet, I did not know until this moment how I had fractured myself, unable to understand how to fit these pieces together into a whole." (p. 354)

The last few chapters of the novel were absolutely spectacular, I was on the edge of my seat for the entire time, devouring words after words to know how the author would wrap everything up. I obviously can't tell you much about that, but it was a very satisfactory conclusion to an amazing duology.

Overall, I absolutely adored Shadowsong. It was a dark, heart-wrenching story and I am so sad to say goodbye to those characters. This duology truly was made for me and I cannot wait to read what S. Jae-Jones will publish next. Sadly, I couldn't write about all the aspects of the novel because it would be an essay and not a review, but I hope that what you just read convinced you to read Wintersong and Shadowsong.


Other quotes I adored:

"People don't disappear, but their stories become forgotten," he said in a soft voice. "It is only the faithful who remember." (p. 53)
"Perhaps I love the monstrous because I was a monster." (p. 261)
"You allowed me to forgive myself for being imperfect. For being a sinner. For being me." (p. 356)

In this stunning follow up to Wintersong, we return to Liesl's world 6 months later. Her "austere young man" has changed, her life is upended, and her brother is in danger. Liesl and Kathe travel to Vienna, to help Josef, and find themselves entangled in the world of the Goblin King's Own, both friendly and sinister.
While the first book explored selfishness and selflessness, and the twisted ways the two intertwine, the second delves into the world of devotion and desire, love and hate. While I did not find myself as absorbed in this world the second time around, I felt that the writing was clearer, the characters stronger, and the plot line more mature and intense.