https://librarytalker.blogspot.com/2020/01/of-silver-and-shadow.html

In a world of magic, the magicians have been all but wiped out.

Generations before, the king purged all the silver wielders from the land except for his own family. Since then, the only magic in Erdis has been hoarded by the the royal family and used to keep the rest of the land and the surrounding countries in line.

But things are changing.

A new silver wielder has grown and she may be what the rebellion needs to finally take the country back and keep the king from destroying everything.

Final thoughts: I wanted to like this much more. The characters had a lot of depth and it was fun to read from four different character points of view. However, that multi-view did get a little confused from time to time and story had to backtrack more than once to cover the viewpoints. I also struggled with some of plot as ideas seemed to be thrown in after the fact to cover for plot holes. Why does she have this power when no one in her family did? Let's use this idea to over that hole. How are you going to convince the people to overthrow the king? Here's something to cover that hole (and we've been planning it for years so just go with it). And there were other issues here and there that bugged me like the repeating over and over at how skilled someone was at something. She's good with a bow and arrow. We get it!
I'm not sure if there's a sequel since the ending could be considered final by some. It is nice to see a fantasy novel that doesn't necessarily automatically have to be a trilogy.

Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC.

A fun romp full of magic, fighting, con-artists, thieves and revolution. I am so pleased that my first book of 2020 is a 4 star! I couldn’t put it down! Ren, Darek, Freya, Kellen, Holland, even Adley, the whole gang were fabulous and I wanted more background on all of them. I hope there will be companion novels and a sequel.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely LOVED this! Everything was s lo well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, and the characters, especially.

I can tell I've enjoyed a book when I genuinely care about what happens to the characters. Finishing Of Silver and Shadow, I can say that I am looking forward to (hopefully) finding out what happens next. Jennifer Gruenke sets up a fascinating world, using just enough exposition to set the stage, and then lets the characters loose to run amok. While not a challenging or boundary pushing story, this is a great fireside or beach novel; one that never seems to be short on action, passion or growth of its characters. I hope Gruenke continues to play in this world, expanding upon the locales mentioned in passing.

Of Silver and Shadow, published by FLUX, is the first book I read by Jennifer Gruenke and I'm glad I gave this book a try.

Of Silver and Shadow is a YA novel, I recommend to read it as NA. The story is told in a multiple pov and it took me a bit to get used to this. But once I was into the story, I was in it.
Ren is a young woman with a hard life so far and it seems she has more trials to win. The author crafted an amazing magical world, Ren was my favorite character and I loved the bicker and banter. She's a strong heroine, just what I like to read.
Of Silver and Shadow is an unputdownable enemies - to - lovers / forbidden love story, excellent written and beautifully thought out and beautifully told. 4 Stars.

'I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.'

I loved the multiple perspectives and main characters in this book. Ren and Darek are great, I just wish I would have been able to read more about their time spent together traveling through the city to put on displays and spread rumors. Kellen is a sweetie. Adley was a parallel to Ren in my opinion, just trying to make the best of their situation and survive.
I also would have liked to learn more about the magic system, but Ren had no teachers so she just winged it.

That being said, I loved this book a lot. I didn't expect it to be as brutal as it was. People were getting their throats slit, blood spraying everywhere, eyes gouged out, stabbed and tortured and getting their skin peeled off. This was a pleasant surprise. There was also some romance, which always gets me.

The pacing and writing were great. There was a battle scene and it switched from perspectives in short, clipped chapters, making me want to read faster and faster to finally get to the outcome. A lot of suspense, anticipation and humor.

I'm hoping there will be a second book because I'm invested and need to see where these babies end up. I can't wait to purchase the physical copy of this when it is released in May.

Review will be posted on Goodreads.com/dmwhite94

This high-stakes fantasy is equal parts deadly and steamy - the perfect read for fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & the Dove.

The story is told from multiple POVs and the character's, each with their secrets, loves, and losses. Ren is a silver-wielder who will do anything for gold because she is paying off another's debt. Darek is the leader of the rebellion. Kellen is the second son of the evil king who would rather be any place but the palace. Adley is a King's Child, an elite soldier who is in love with her fellow soldier Lesa - but if they're caught, they'll be killed.

Multiple steamy romances (including my favorite trope: enemies to lovers), plenty of heart-pounding action, and unique magic make this a fast-paced read sure to be a favorite.

In the kingdom of Edris, the only ones who have silver magic is the royal family. A century ago the ruling family killed anyone who had magic. At least, that is until Ren Kolins. Her family was killed when she was young due to her having silver magic and she was believed to be dead. Now she only survives by stealing, cheating at cards, and pit fights.

With a rebellion brewing, the rebel leader finds out about Ren and offers a fortune for her to join them. The King's Children, soldiers who are conditioned from a young age to be merciless, are charged with finding the leader of the rebellion. Whoever brings in the leader become's the King's Fang, the second highest person in the kingdom and the only way for a King's Child to leave the King's employment with their life. Time is running out as they kill and torture their way though the city to find the rebellion's leader. But what will happen when the King's youngest son gets involved with the rebels?

This was an amazing read, I could not put it down! Jennifer Gruenke does a fabulous job of hooking readers from the beginning and keeping us on the edge of our seats throughout this amazing story with lots of twists, turns, and wondering what will happen next. There is no cliffhanger at the end but I want more!!! Kudos on this wonderful book and I hope you will be bringing more to us since I want to find out what happens next!

This book was given to me an an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Silver and Shadow was fun but not fluffy. The characters all had their own personal insecurities and troubles to work out. I felt like I knew most of them quite intimately by the end of the book. I liked Ren, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the points of view switched often. My favourite ended up actually being Kellen's, with Adley coming in close second. I love the slow development of the natural chemistry between all the characters; I'm always a sucker for the "band of misfits" vibe in books. Also, I would absolutely love to get more of Holland and her point of view.

Thank you #NetGalley and publisher #Flux for an opportunity to read Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke.
A fabulous, magical story about a young woman, Ren Colins, is a commoner who can wield silver. In the land Erdis, magic is banned for the commoners and saved for the king and his family. The King kills all the people that can wield magic.
Ren Collins struggles day to day to survive in a poverty stricken community. She uses her magic secretly to help support herself and those she cares for. Since magic is banned, so she needs to be quiet and secretive. One evening, two men tell her they know her secret.
After an evening of playing cards, Ren is followed by the two men, both members of a rebellion. They ask her to join the group to free the people. Ren, who has struggled all her life, agrees to help the group, but for profit only.
The first half of the story, author Jennifer Gruenke, does well with character buildup and narration. The first few chapters help us understand why Ren is loveless and cares for no one but herself.
The second half of the story happens so fast, it felt like it ended abruptly. While I enjoyed the ending of the story, I felt it could have used more ‘magic’. It felt rushed and empty.
However, the ending left a bit of a cliffhanger and I hope to read a second book!
This review can also be found at my personal blog theundeadreader.blogspot.com

“Manners are nothing more than a polite form of dishonesty.” #ofsilverandshadow

Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! I did not expect multi POVs and at first I was not sure, but I was not disappointed. This book is fast paced and full of snark, magic and ruthless characters.

I do have to admit that I needed to take a break from the book, it started to become predictable. However, the writing and plot growth is done expertly and I really enjoyed this book!

I have to admit that I requested this Arc on Netgalley mainly because of its gorgeous cover. I know it's bad to judge a book by its cover but in this case I'm really glad I did!

The story is captivating from the very beginning and the pacing is perfect. It is not a short book but it was a really fast read which left me wanting more. I really hope this isn't a stand-alone because I really need to know more.

The whole rebellion plot was a bit too predictable but still enjoyable. There is a lot of violence but it made the rebellion seem much more realistic.

I really loved the magic in this book. I'd never read anything similar to Ren's silver-wielding and I found it pretty cool.

I also really liked the romance aspect of this book. Of Silver and Shadow has both a hate-to-love story and a (f/f) forbidden-love one and I'm a sucker for both kinds of love stories.

I loved the four POVs and the way the author transitioned from one to the other.
The first POV is Ren's. Ren, the silver wielder, reminded me a lot of Lila Bard (A Darker Shade of Magic). She's badass and sarcastic but we can also see her deepest and more private side that makes her seem more human and realistic.
Darek is the wealthy rebel leader. He finds Ren and offers her an enormous amount of money to participate in the rebellion.
Adley is one of the King's Children, orphans captured by the king and trained to become lethal soldiers. She wants to capture the rebel leader to become the King's Fang, his right hand, and to have the opportunity to be free one day.
Prince Kellen is the King's son. He hates his life and his family and seeks another life outside the castle's walls.
I loved them all but I think that my favourite one would be Prince Kellen.

Overall, I really liked this book and I would recommend it to any fantasy lover.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read. I’m usually not a huge fan of multi pov’s but this was very smooth with the transitions and I never had a problem with trying to figure out who was who. There was hate to love and forbidden love, both tropes complimented the story very well and didn’t take over the plot in the end. I luved the magic aspect and would like to hear if there will be a second book to see how the story continues after that ending!

This was amazing! The plotting, the characters, the twists, all great. I loved Ren and her snarkiness, reminds me a lot of Celaena from TOG. All the characters had such great personalities that added to the story. You have multiple perspectives throughout and whose storylines eventually connect. Couldn’t put it down!

Rebellions, romance, tyrants and lots more! Recommend for older teens.

<i>Thank you so much to Flux for giving me an ARC of Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<blockquote><i>Seven hundred gold pieces.</i></blockquote>

Was Ren Kolins’ mantra. An orphan, she lived a life of thievery and pit fights until two brothers dragged her into the middle of a revolution in exchange for gold. Ren has magic, and an illegal one at that. She finds herself repeating her mantra as she is dragged into a revolution where every side either wants to kill or use her (which can get her killed) for their own benefit.

Of Silver and Shadow is perfect for fans of the Red Queen series. Told on the point of views of Ren, Darek, Kellen, and Adley, each person in different status of life, and seen as an enemy of one another, we see what happens in the world built by Gruenke and the contrast of how the views of an organization or the deeds of the people around us do not define us.

The novel was slow for my taste at the beginning, as it tried to build its foundations. However, when it had, it became fast paced like a rollercoaster ascending a sharp angle. Every chapter was packed with action, and when the action softened into a murmur, you’re stabbed in a surprise, as if to say “Nah not yet”. Twist and turns, and one that you didn’t even expect.

The characters are well defined and established, their chemistry with each other is outstanding. Ren is all about self-preservation, she’s selfish, a dormant volcano, and always has a snappy retort in hand. She may show indifference to everyone but is actually a softie inside. Darek is tall, <s>hot</s> brooding man, determined to finish the mission of his parents at any cost. His and Ren’s banter is one of my favorites of the book. Every scene of them just screams sexual tension, and whether it was told on Ren or Darek’s point of view, I can’t just help scream “Get on with it!”. <s>I would honestly read a erotica book about them.</s>

<blockquote><i>Darek enjoyed the physical, but he needed more than a night. Not the promise of forever, but not temporary either.</i></blockquote>

Adley is a King’s Child, a ruthless army of the crown, and one of the best. But despite her ruthless upbringing and ways of getting questions out of people, she has a warm, kind heart rare on her comrades. She has a fascination to read books, she often battles her guilt on what she had done, but she has a determination to get out of the castle, even if it would take killing a million people. And lastly, we have Kellen with his easy going personality. He is seen as the dumb prince, a spare, seen as the black sheep of the family. He is ignored and often underestimated due to his difference from the rest of his family. As a result, Kellen often sneaked out of the castle and pretended to be someone else.

<blockquote><i>“He’d been trying for so long, swapping personas and hoping one day something would fit him right.</i></blockquote>

Of Silver and Shadow ended on a cliffhanger, and it kind of disappointed me. I wanted more. The build up was so good and I craved more. I hope we will get to see a sequel, although I am fine with this book being a standalone, I want more to the ending! Besides that, I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book but I did. The writing, the plot and the course of events, the characters, and the world Gruenke built were wonderfully made. I recommend it to anyone who loves the likes of The Mortal Instruments, Red Queen, and Divergent.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The plot follows Ren, a silver (magic) wielder as she gets roped into a rebellion she has no interest in. The characters in the book are so well written and the writer made me care about each and every one of them. By the end, I was rooting for the characters and I had to see what happened to them next. The plot flowed flawlessly and kept me locked in throughout. The world building was so well done. The plot contains a romance that is both angsty and entertaining. I loved the representation of all walks of life included in this book. I loved the fresh plot line of the rich instead of the poor pushing for a better world. The end was satisfying and did a great job of setting up for a possible next book in the series. If you want a fast paced fantasy book with lovable and relatable characters, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.

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

Ren Kolins is a thief, an orphan, a pit fighter and a silver wielder. Having power is dangerous, in a country, Erdis, when the royal family, Lyandor, outlawed it centuries ago, killing every other silver wielders but them. Her being able to do silver is a secret only trusted people, like her friend Freya, knows and when Darek and Markus discover it and ask Ren to help them overthrown a cruel king, Ren is bribed by the promise of gold and accept to join their revolution. Meanwhile, in the royal castle, Adley, one of the King's Children (children stolen, lost or kidnapped and trained to be the king's army) is fighting to keep her love for Lesa secret and become the King's Fang, a position that, in 12 years, could mean freedom. In a situation of political tensions, the younger prince Kellen finds himself becoming more and more disgusted and detached by his cruel family, favouring running away in Denfell and choosing to become someone else for a while. On the brick of war, the reader swings from different prospectives, from Ren's and Darek's, to Adley's and Kellen's, while the main characters meet, bump into each other, plotting, scheming and trusting one other.

The characters are interesting and complex. Ren is grumpy, angry, with a painful past and a desire and need to be free from her commitments, her debts. Both Darek and Markus are revolutionaries, continuing their parents' ideas and dreams, above all their mother's. It was interesting reading about Kellen's and Adley's inner conflicts, how both of them used masks to hide who they really are, to survive and move on. Kellen was an brilliant character, he's really funny and complex and I enjoyed reading about him, even though he's turning against his family was abrupt as Adley's helping the rebels.

This book was an enjoyable read, but I found it very similar (in some aspects, of course) to Throne of glass, by Sarah J. Maas. A sarcastic, reckless and magical girl in a city ruled over by a cruel king, her being escaped a magical purge, Denfell like Rithfold and even Kellen reminded me a lot of Dorian (even though Cealena and Dorian were better developed), the gang lord like Arobynn and so on.
The idea of a main character grumpy, expert in fighting, with a painful past isn't new, it isn't new the sexual tension between the main female character and the male one, so it was so predictable they would end up together. Unfortunately I found a lot of clichè in this book. The tormented and guilty prince. The girl with a complex past, but with a hidden good heart.

Notwistanding these things and clichè, Of Silver and shadow is a good book, with some interesting plot twists and sarcastic quarrel. I really liked this book, its characters are really well written and interesting and I loved the way it all come together in the end, when masks are dropped and identities revealed. I liked how masks are used in the book, physically and metaphorically and how the characters, slowly, begin to trust and open one other, revealing weaknesses, truths and pasts. It was funny reading about Ren's and Darek's attraction and their way to deny it, even though it was obvious and really sweet the relationship between Adley and Lesa and how fiercely they protect each other. Like the masks themselves, the characters peeled away their fronts when they learn to trust one other.
This book was captivating and hopeful.


My review will be posted on LU'S BOOKS on 25 May 2020

I loved the story world Gruenke built for us in this novel. Denfell is a port city with a sadistic and cruel (he kidnaps children and trains them to be cutthroat warriors called King's Children) ruler. The royal family, the Lyandors, are magical and can wield silver. Their greed causes them to seek out other magical folks in the city and kill them so they are the only ones with power. Ren lives as a secret silver-wielder and comes into contact with rebels vying to dethrone the king. Ren's character is prickly at first and took me a while to get used to, but I felt like I was growing with her through this journey with the rebels. I was less sympathetic to the King's Children that are featured in this novel due to their inclination to violence, though I found their relationship between one another to be beautiful and redeeming. If you like magical people living in a very believable, yet cruel, world and doing everything they can to make a difference, you'll be hooked on Of Silver and Shadow. I grew to love the characters and the limited use of supernatural abilities, but I felt that the "twist" was underwhelming and would have liked the universe to be explained slightly more. Learning about the lore of Denfell frequently felt clunky and this made a major revelation seem undercut. Overall, however, the character development is incredible and there's just enough fantasy to brighten a bleak city.

Grad school…

That's literally all I can say, readers. I apologize for being away so long. I know you missed my sarcastic puns and horrible jokes from the enjoyment of your electronic device. But I promise to be back starting now! Just one more semester of grad school and I should be on my way to making my regularly scheduled posting.

Ha ha.

Let's be real. I never have a schedule. It's my New Year's revolution.

Anyways, this year has been jam packed full of fun and school. I'm almost finished another project I'm working on. Just three more chapters! Come on Kylan Mogg! Get it together! And also finalizing a new Picture Book, which I hope to debut in 2020.

Other than that, my life has been filled been books, Disney+, dark and brooding thoughts, and of course Bob's Burgers. But let me tell you, this year the Young Adult books have literally changed my world. I'm going to share my top ten picks to check out!

10. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
9. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
8. A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer
7. Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra
6. Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5. With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
4. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
3. Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
2. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
1. The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

These ten titles were ones that were published and read during the year! Don't get me wrong, there were MANY MANY MANY GREAT TITLES to choose from, including some I haven't even started reading yet (I'm so behind on my TBR list). These were the ones that really made a lasting impact that I read over and over when needing inspiration.

Without further ado, here a review from the book Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke! I urge you to add this to your 2020 list. I promise you won't regret it!!!

A girl born with Silver. Haunted by a shadowy past. Jennifer Gruenke makes a stunning debut with the dark and twisted gem Of Silver and Shadow. Gruenke takes readers deep into Denfell, where a tyrant king rules without mercy. His team of highly trained guard keeps his land in check, along with his silver channel of powers. It takes a young group of individuals to join the rebellion and put an end to his evil ways, including a young child from his past. The one he thought was killed, one of the last silver wielders to stand against him. Gruenke introduces readers to a diverse set of characters who are all connected like cards in a deck. From a cunning thief to a rebellious prince, each individual has a role to play for everything to go as planned. Even if it means opening dark secrets from the past.

This exciting story provided a new perspective on the political affair of the monarch. It shows how strong the younger generation can work together to build a new world for others to live it. I can't wait for readers to literally open this book and see how the evolution of Young Adult changes the readers from 2020 and beyond.

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

-Kylan Out (imagine an image of me doing a peace out and slowly fading into the dark!)

*I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so surprised when Netgalley approved this arc for me, and even more surprised when I found out that the author is one of my favorite reviewer’s friends!

Of Silver and Shadow follows the journey of Ren Kollins as she joins a rebellion against the tyrant king of Erdis. It’s by no means an easy road, since the king and his son don’t hesitate to show their cruelty towards rebels.

Oh, and one more thing: Ren is one of the last silver wielders in the country.

We follow the perspectives of four characters: Ren, the silver wielder with loads of sass; Darek, the leader of the rebellion who’s strangely tall; Adley, a member of the lethal King’s Children that actually has a heart; and Kellen, the youngest prince who couldn’t be more different from his family and likes to sneak out at night.

Four utterly different characters, yet their story lines all intertwine.

The writing was good and I enjoyed it, the plot line was patiently executed and not rushed, and the characters were all interesting to read.


Good underlying themes/ messages:

-Be your own person; don’t be who your family tries to force you to be.
-Love is not a weakness.
-Mercy is always a good characteristic to have.

A whole star for this catagory!


Interesting Story:

The story revolves around Ren and her being a hesitant member of the rebellion against the king, Kellen trying to live through each day with his father as the king and his brother, Adley as she tries to capture the rebel leader in exchange for her possible freedom one day, and Darek as he tries to fulfill his late mother’s goal by overthrowing the king.

The first part of the book, I felt, was the build-up to an explosive ending. I was casually reading and the next moment, things started happening and the pace picked up.

A lot happens, and this is by no means a short book, but it still feels it went by so fast.

It could also be because I was reading too fast.

The rebellion plot line felt very predictable, if I’m being honest, and I fell like it’s been done so many times by now. With Ren being the reluctant symbol of the rebellion, it gave me some Mockingjay vibes.

Kellen and Adley’s stories were much more interesting for me: the kind prince and the reluctant assassin. Both of them are sweetie pies who need to be protected at all costs.

Half a star for this catagory.


Realistic characters and growth:

Ren’s sarcasm and banter with Darek was funny most of the time, but some times it came off as childish and petty. I also didn’t feel as much chemistry between them as I had hoped for but once again:

It could be because I was reading too fast.

Freya was also a sweetie pie, though.

I liked Adley from the very start and I found her relationship with Lesa endearing. I had crossed my fingers from the very beginning for them to survive this book, so that obviously means I ship them. (You’re going to have to find out for yourself if they survive…)

I liked Kellen from the beginning as well and as the story progressed, seeing how his family treated him made me sympathize with him. Even if he sneaks out at midnight and gallivants around the city, he still was the most innocent and pure-hearted person in his family. Can I just say how much I love Holland, as well?

Darek irritated me at first because of the way he treated Ren. From the get-go, he was rude and disrespectful to her even though he had never met her before. He stays like this for a long time, which doesn’t help my opinion of him. He goes as far as prodding at Ren’s past, which is obviously a big no-no since it’s private. As time went on, he began to soften and I slightly started liking him. (It didn’t hurt that he gave Ren the book she intended to steal…)

I wish his brother got some more time, though.

So yeah, in the end I liked (mostly) everyone.

Half a star for this category.


Fantastic World Building:

I got a clear picture of Erdis, how there was a clear line betweent the rich and poor areas of the city. It was easy to picture the extravagant houses and the dilapidated buildings.

I got a sense of how politics are at that moment (not very good) and what the other countries’ opinion of the tyrannical king was.

I wish we got to see some more of the foreign countries, but I understand that the main conflict is inside the borders so I can ignore that.

Hopefully, we get the explore more in the (possible) next book!

A whole star for this category!


Writing Style Is Beautiful/ Easy To Read:

For a debut author, the writing was great! I wasn’t able to pull as many quotes as I wanted to but it was easy to read. Evident by the amount of times I mentioned in this review that I read too fast.

The conversations weren’t stuffed with filler and the banter was quite amusing most of the times. The characters’ perspectives weren’t all the same and I was able to tell them apart.

A whole star for this category!


That’s it!

4/5 stars!