I really wanted to like this book. Kings, princes, orphans, magic--what else do you need. And, when I read a review that lovers of the Jodi Meadows The Orphan Queen series would like it, I was hooked. All that being said, I was just so so on this book. The magic was interesting, but not that novel. The characters were not well developed, the world not well built, and the story secondary to the not well developed romance. There was a bit more language and detailed romance than I prefer in a YA book. And, there was a fair amount of death and destruction.

I am sorry to not have liked this book more, but thanks Netgalley and the publishers for a free e-arc. I am sure that the book will appeal to some readers, just not me.

<I>*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *</i > 
<b> 4.5 stars (rounded up) </b>

<i>"If you think I'm annoying now, wait until you're stuck with me in the afterlife!"</i>

Ren is a Silver Wielder, which means she has magic and is hunted in her kingdom of Erdis. She is wanted dead by the King and is  unwittingly recruited/bribed into a plot to overthrow the throne.

Of Silver and shadow follows the alternating points of view of four main characters, Ren, Adley (a 'King's child', part of the KIng's elite corps), Darek (the resistance leader who recruited Ren) and the younger prince, Kellen.
  
The writing is witty (and very sarcastic which I always enjoy) , the plot is clever (albeit a bit cliché at times). The characters are engaging and well-developed. However, I wish there had been a bit more development of the relationships between the characters, as well as more world-building.

I'm aware that this is supposed to be a standalone, but I feel like there is so much more to be explored in this world.

P.S. I LOVE KELLEN

I received a copy of this through Net Galley.

Of Silver and Shadow was exciting, action-packed, and fast-paced! The story is told through multiple perspectives. Sometime, I find that having an ensemble cast of characters can be confusing, but this was not the case here. I thought that the author was able to present clear portraits of the different individuals. The characters were likable and I was drawn to their personalities and different struggles.

I will say that this was full of tropes typical of today's YA selections - magic, evil ruling monarch, rebellion... But the story was well-written, and so exciting and enthralling that I honestly did not care. I was completely sucked into this world and the romance(s)!

I am hoping for a sequel!! (The ending seemed like the author was setting it up as such.)

*THANK YOU to North Star Editions and Flux, Netgalley for graciously providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*


Full 5 stars for the amazing journey that book is! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No fillers no runaround, pure action from chapter one,right until the last one!
The story is told from several points of view and the timing to switch between them is so perfect and fluid, that is pure pleasure to read and complements the story, instead of distracting you and make you say "I wish i saw that momemt from that character's view".
A kingdom that is ruled by a tyrant King Mattheus and his two sons - Kellen and Heath.
Long ago the Lyandors were threatened by other Silver(magic) wielders and king Tallis Lyandor sent his armies across Erdis, burning villages of wielders, hanging magical families, beheading anyone caught fleeing. The Silver Purge was the reason the only magic left in the kingdom belonged to the crown, why the only silver wielders in the past 100 years had been Lyandorswielder .
Now the rebellion with Darek for a leader, have plan to take the Lyandor family from the throne and the only hope is a girl - Underground pit fighter and a thief...but also a hidden Silver wielder,beside the royal family.
The developing story is seen trough the eyes of :
Ren - orphaned at young age,now a thief and a pit fighter to provide for herself
Darek - rebel leader with a younger brother Markus
Kellen - the younger son of King Mattheus
Adley - a ferocious warrior of the famous King’s Children army
I love how we see all the back story for the characters- all the events and emotions,that made them what they are today, and at the same time it's not cramped up and it's easy to read.
I really hope we'll see the characters again!
And definitely can't wait to read another book by this author!

This was a pretty good story but I didn’t find anything really new here. Maybe I’ve read too many fantasies that it’s hard to discover a true gem. I did really like the characters and their development throughout the story!

More for the younger end of YA but this was fast paced and fun. Personally I’d have preferred more detailed world building and magic systems but perhaps that’s a sign that I’m drifting from YA fantasy a bit. Still an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for the free advance.

This book was a fast yet fun read. Definitely more of a 'young' than 'adult' but still a good experience for the latter! The cover is gorg, and Ren is a spunky underdog of a protagonist. I enjoyed the world it was set in, with the politics of the kingdom and the rich vs poor districts.

Sadly, I did have a few issues with the book - I felt as if it was an odd combination of time periods. With fantasy you can often get away with a lot, as it's all about worlds you couldn't even imagine, but for the first couple of chapters, I had been imagining that it was set in a more urban world. It may have been the language that was used, but when you read about a leather-clad girl gambling, followed by her breaking into a shop and stealing a jacket off a mannequin, you picture a more modern society like ours. When a King was mentioned, it completely shattered the idea I had of the world.

I also have to say that I felt like I didn't really get to know Ren. Yes, she has this deep shame and covers it up with a hard edged exterior, but at times her reactions felt forced and unatural. I didn't get a sense of her as a whole, only those two aspects, and how men seem to react to her. In fact, I felt as though I knew Prince Kellen more than Ren. It may be because there were so many characters that there wasn't enough time to really focus on her.

I also thought the magic mechanics were meh. 'I never learned to use it, I just know somehow, like it's a limb.' She just flicks her hands around and knows how to use it? There was a small mention that if she doesn't use it regularly it becomes wild and out of control. Would have loved that to be expanded upon, maybe with her discovering how her magic actually works. She can do all these crazy tricks with no real education behind it. It doesn't seem logically possible - we all have hands but we don't automatically know how to write without someone teaching us.

ANYWAY I may have gone too in-depth about this. However, on a lighter note, I did really enjoy the story as a whole, I thought the rebellion was an interesting idea and there were a few unexpected twists, so if you're on the look out for a light fun fantasy read, give this a go.

3 stars.

I was super excited to receive this book! It kept me engaged, it was well written and had fully fleshed out characters and a great plot! It really held its own against the books in my favorites :)

I was so excited about this book! This plot is right up my alley and i loved this book. I read this book in a day because it was so good! I will be recommending this book to everyone!!

I really liked everything about this dark fantasy book.
The magic was really great in it with a cool. The descriptions of the world is very detailed witten. The authors writing is very incredibly and it's like watching a movie. The characters were also different and great described.

This review will also be posted on my Goodreads account, which is provided in the link. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me give a honest review.

“But Markus was their mother’s son. Rebellion swam in his blood”

Wow! That’s all I can say for a moment... Ok I’m back haha.

I actually stayed up late to keep reading this! This book was amazing. I love how the story dives into action from the very beginning and the world descriptions were beautiful! I thought the concept of “The King’s Children” was creative and very interesting. The magic was amazing, the characters were phenomenal and I enjoyed each POV - Darek gave me serious Rowan Whitethorn vibes when we first met him haha

If you read my reviews you know how much I love slowburns, forbidden romances and the enemy-to-lover scenarios which this book tackled beautifully haha. I love when I can

Actually enjoy the main character(s) without wanting to strangle them. Ren was probably my favorite. she was awesome!

This book also made me laugh. I love banter and this story had plenty of it. That made me smile in the way that The Gilded Wolves did.

This book is amazing and I beg everyone to read it in May!

5/5 🌟’s

This book was received as an ARC from North Star Editions - Flux in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book reminded me a lot of the Red Queen series in the ways of the Rebels fighting for their lives and with their gifts of magic being frowned upon in the culture, they have no choice but to form an alliance and start a rebellion. This time it's Ren with her gift of being a silver wielder and joining the Rebel leader without seeing a single coin until they defeat the King. Then come the pack called The King's Children as they compete to earn their spot as the King's Fang. With Ren and the Rebel leader on the loose, they will stop at nothing to destroy them and earn their spot as their King's right hand. Political tensions arise and time is running out and Ren and the rebels will stop at nothing to take the throne from the King. The action, the drama, and the suspense was jaw dropping that it took you on a thrill ride you will never forget.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Of Silver and Shadow

Magic, fights, love and a rebellion. The perfect recipe for a young adult fantasy novel.

Jennifer Gruenke's writing style is quite lovely and easy to read. Her descriptions of scenery, clothing, and everything in between managed to make the world come to life without deviating from the story or boring the reader. I was her willing captive before the end of the first chapter.

This book starts with a bang and jumps right into the action. I honestly couldn't put the book down and I finished reading it in one sitting. Every time I tried to close the book something new and exiting happened. Of Silver and Shadow was a action packed book from start to finish.

I loved the interactions between the characters and I was interested in reading every point of view. I am not a fan of instant love and as such I have to admit that I felt as if Ren and Darek's relationship developed at an unnaturally quick pace which made it difficult for me to be truly invested in their relationship. Jennifer's witty dialogue often made me laugh. Of Silver and Shadow contained a diverse group a characters with unique flaws and view points and I loved seeing them all come together.

Fans of Jodi Meadows's The Orphan Queen series will love this book.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I shall post this review on Book Dragons, my blog and on Goodreads. This review will be posted on 26 May 2020.