3.5

This is the second book in the series and I would say its a perfect follow on. It expands the world building but in a good way where it doesn’t feel like ‘too much’. I enjoyed the increase in depth in the story, which also came with an increase in characters. All in all a solid read which was very enjoyable.

AK Wikder can sure write an amazing adventure! I love the multiple POVs and the action. Sometimes sequels can really be a let down but this one hit the mark.

Ok, here’s the thing.

I tried really hard with this one. I really did. Unfortunately, it did not work for me. It would be rude and a disservice to rate this as I know several others really enjoyed it.

It is not for me and I had to DNF (did not finish) for reading reasons. I could not connect with the plot of the characters at all. I did not and could not force myself to read it as I picked it up and put it down several times, but could not get into the book.

I appreciate the opportunity, but it is not going to be one I will recommend going forward.

Thank you again for my gifted copy.

Curse of Shadows is the second in a ya fantasy trilogy, kicking things off with two types of memory loss. For one, protagonist Ash is suffering from amnesia following the big battle that ended book one. To make matters worse, no one was with her who could explain what caused it. The second bout of amnesia was my own. It seemed sometimes to be taking me too long to pick up the main pieces of the story again, but in my opinion, the author includes enough little clues and nudges for you to work things out eventually.

In this sequel, we see our merry band of characters, once only students but now the potential heroes the world needs, set out on a quest by sea. Seeking ancient magical artifacts that will require diplomacy and bargaining with some of the most powerful leaders in the world, they also race two others trying to collect the same items. There are chases, battles, and manipulations to spare along the route. And the stakes make these challenges yet more stressful. With the arrival of a second sun on the horizon, the world is experiencing a sort of accelerated climate change called The Great Dying, so you know it's ominous. On that front, the commentary on the real world is basic but not unreasonable.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book is Ash's romance with Kaylin and their secret line of communication. When that link is severed, it's the first of many tests. I appreciate that much of the drama comes from external sources here rather than self-sabotage or poor emotional regulation. The love story smacks of sweet devotion, a welcome balm to angstier stories on the market-- and this despite secrets both intentional and not that leave some barriers between them.

There were other aspects of the book I didn't enjoy as much. For one: Marcus. As another main POV, I don't remember finding him so frustrating in the first book. We open on him having a tantrum over losing his throne. His arc of trying to learn a semblance of control or even just collaboration with his phantom continues. There's also what I think might be a new or at least amplified dismissiveness towards non-savants, including his best friend, Ash. Though he has twinges of regret for how he might hurt her specifically with his comments, we're not yet at a point where we see him question his overall worldview, something that might develop in the series finale if we're lucky.

In terms of other characters, what I recall as a lively main cast falls a bit flat in this sequel. They orbit Ash, Kaylin, and Marcus without offering much nuance or emotion to the story. It seems more like they offer specific functions to the company on the quest rather than anything deeper. And the quest is a pretty straightforward affair, i.e. sail here, get the thing, fight some guys, wash, rinse, repeat. Despite the constant flow of action, the formulaic nature of the quest didn't hold my interest as much as I'd like. I could tell that the intended emotional impact of the story wasn't reaching me, either, because even a section on grief didn't stir much up in me-- a topic that rarely fails to get an emotional reaction.

I will say there's a cool twist right at the end-- not the first one but the second one. We get one reveal that's so clearly spelled out to the readers throughout both books that it was honestly just a relief to have it out in the open. For the second one, though, I was expecting ~something~ but didn't realize just how deep the secret went, so that was a cool moment. There's one more book to come, and it'll be interesting to see how things wrap up for Ash & Co on the world-saving front. Thanks to Entangled Teen for my copy to read and review!

Wow!!! What a great follow up to the first book. Talk about dark, adventurous and thrilling. Cannot wait to continue this series! Absolutely adore Ash!

I sincerely appreciate Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this would be the final book till I reached the end and it left on a minor cliffhanger. This was a well thought out sequel with a good story ark. I think I enjoyed book ones pacing a little more but over all I really like this series.

This book was great! I feel like the author took advantage of this book being a sequel and really developed the characters and plotlines that were established in the first book. This book was definitely more intense than the first one, and was filled with background information. People may think the story is moving slowly, but it wouldn't be the same without the context. Overall, a unique fantasy experience!

"Curse of Shadows" immerses readers into the world of Amassia on the brink of catastrophe. As Ash, a fallen warrior, we navigate a realm thrown into turmoil by the return of the second sun and the ensuing war among the nine realms. The narrative masterfully weaves together elements of loss, redemption, and the unexplained emptiness within Ash.

The quest to collect the original twelve whistle bones becomes a central focus, led by the enigmatic Marcus and his volatile phantom. Amidst the chaos, diplomacy is as crucial as the sword, and the race for the bones intensifies as other factions seek them too.

This installment in the Amassia series promises a gripping continuation of the saga, filled with intricate world-building, complex characters, and a looming threat that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Fans of epic fantasy will find "Curse of Shadows" a compelling addition to the series.

“What’s the High Savant, red-robe of Baiseen, afraid of?” Finally. De’Ral exhales. The right question…
Curse of Shadows by A.K. Wilder is the follow-up to Crown of Bones—the YA Fantasy that still lives completely rent free in my brain even though it’s been out since the beginning of 2021. The storyline of Curse of Shadows picks up directly where Crown of Bones left off. Trust me when I tell you that as a reader, you hit the ground running and won’t slow down until the very last page.

Curse of Shadows is a treasure hunt combined with an adventure race. The Amassia series is shaping up to be perfect for fans of The Lord of the Rings with all the different characters set to a task, as well as those who would do anything to prevent their success. Where Crown of Bones ensnared readers, Curse of Shadows sets the hook.

“It’s simple. Whoever holds the crown, holds the future of all the realms in their hands.”
Marcus has been denied his birthright and has been given a new journey that has been foretold for years. Ash grapples with memory-loss related to the great battle in the previous book, as well as coming to terms with what she inherently knows and what she’s been told to know. Kaylin and the Mar are featured again and hold a particular role in how the events of the book play out. All of that to say, the new name of the game is the hunt for the Whistle Bones. The characters from the previous books are all important—specifically the Shadows.

A.K. Wilder had a Herculean task of weaving all the major plot points of Crown of Bones into the events of Curse of Shadows while also setting the stage for what is surely going to be an epic third installment of the Amassia series. The attention to detail, and the complex magic systems are some of my favorite aspects of A.K. Wilder’s writing style but that also means that readers should start at the beginning of the series. Each book is important on its own in this series and must be read in order.

“A curse of shadows blinds all but one.”
There is absolutely something for every style of reader. Romance, friendships in unlikely places, mysteries, and plots upon plots upon plots. Someone is always scheming when there is a kingdom at stake, or the world is being threatened. Curse of Shadows is just as beautifully written as Crown of Bones. A.K. Wilder is a keen storyteller and will undoubtedly win over readers with this latest release. Curse of Shadows releases today, December 6th! Trust me, you absolutely need to read this series!

I loved loved loved this sequel!

Brogal is such a douche.

I’m so happy that we finally get to see some of the mystery surrounding Ash. Things are shaping up for book 3 to be even more amazing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

Reading the first book in this series was such an adventure and I was very excited to read book 2! It didn't disappoint to say the least and after this ending I can.not.wait for book 3 to come out!

This story starts off pretty much right where the first book ended. I don't want to spoil too much but in this book we follow Marcus, Ash, Kaylin and their friends on new adventures. The future of their world may well depend on them...

I loved reading this book a lot. It's fast paced, has lots of action and it has plot twists I didn't see coming. I'd recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a great YA fantasy series full of adventures, love and friendship!

I have to give a lot of credit to A.K. Wilder. Because of her, I’m a YA fantasy reader and fan. Reading Curse of Shadows put me in a happy place, where I was able to forget the real world. In doing so, I was teleported to Amassia, a planet consisting of seven continents, which now forms a single landmass. It’s a world of savants and phantoms. Where two suns have appeared, heralding the next Great Dying. Where a band of seemingly misfits have the fate of the world on their shoulders.

Curse of Shadows is the second book in the Amassia series. This is not a standalone read. Crown of Bones needs to be read first. I thought Crown of Bones was a great story. Somehow, A.K. managed to make Curse of Shadows even better. Where Crown of Bones left readers with tons of questions and possible theories, Curse of Shadows answered those questions but created a couple of pretty big ones. She amped up the story, as well as the violence.

Deception is the theme of Curse of Shadows. This was an intense and gripping story. So much happens within the pages of this book. There are twists and turns. A.K. takes the characters and readers on an emotional rollercoaster. Getting to the end gave me a sense of relief. Of happiness. Of anticipation for what is to come next.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“Notice the little things.”

“Your entire path is in your hands.”

“Sometimes, the heart is afraid to speak, for fear of breaking the spell.”

“Damaged is not always a weakness.”

“Mortality is an essential ingredient for love. Winning another’s heart means nothing if you can’t lose it just as quickly.”

Curse of Shadows had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to my expectations for it. I prefer fantasy books that are more fast paced than this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Teen for allowing me to read and review Curse of Shadows. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Curse of Shadows is the sequel and conclusion to the Crown of Bones duology. Crown of Bones was definitely an "out of left field" read for me. It was an unexpected book that hit me in the face and demanded to be read. Curse of Shadows is just like that. While I was not crazy about the pacing, the story itself is written beautifully. I enjoyed how everything was wrapped up in the end and the development of the characters was well-executed. I love the magic and the fantasy of Curse of Shadows and the world building is outstanding. I'm very excited to read more from A. K. Wilder in the future.

4.75 stars

Curse of Shadows by A.K. Wilder - 4/5

I recieved the Curse of Shadows by A.K. Wilder for free on NetGalley for an honest review.

This is the second installment of the Amassia series, and it picks up right where the first book ends. I love when a book has cliffhangers, and the next book is right there from the start bringing you back into that world. The author has a true hack for writing stories that will captivate the reader with this amazing new fantasy world and characters that bring the story to life. Great read would highly recommend to those who enjoy fantasy, Multiple POVs and fantastic world building.

Curse of Shadows is the sequel to Crown of Bones and I really liked this one too.
I liked the stoyline, the world and most of all the magic system which I found pretty unique.
The book has very good chracters, it is fast paced and has a lot of action. It also has a multi POV narration and many twists and revelations that I really enjoyed.

I believe that this is an underhyped fantasy series that you should definitely check out.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Pretty mid honestly. I rated the first one so high because I thought it was just growing pains, but I really didn’t care for book 2 either. Great concept. Rough execution. The main character's plot twist was pretty obvious from the beginning, and I think it took way too long for us to get to the point where she knows too. There was one good twist, but overall too much explanation that broke up the flow of the plot.

I had high hopes for this book. The concept sounded so intriguing. unfortunately, It was tough for me to get into it. The writing and timeline felt really disjointed. I've heard other people like this book, so it is possible that it's just me, not the book.

Unfortunately, I have one word to describe this book to summarize my experience with it. That word is "long."

I'm not opposed to long books, but this book felt like it dragged on forever. I'm a fast reader, but I kept looking at the amount I had left in disbelief. Part of the problem is that the book has several things that probably just didn't need to be included. We didn't need to see the point of view from as many characters, for example, and some things happened over and over again (how many times does Kaylin need to be threatened by his sea dad? We get it. Sea dad is scary. There are big stakes. How many of these meetings of learning nothing do we need?) It also made it hard to follow. There are so many things going on that I found myself sometimes forgetting what the main plotline was actually supposed to be. And did we HAVE to have the weird love triangle that wasn't entirely a love triangle but sort of? Overall, the length made it hard to follow the important points and became overwhelming. The length of it, unfortunately, detracted from the good things the book had for me. In general, there's a lot of second book syndrome happening.

So the book things. First of all, the cast of characters is entertaining. Even with more characters, the additions and returning people don't feel shallow. I do particularly enjoy the dynamics between the characters: the ones that are friends, the ones that are less comfortable with each other, the ones that don't like each other much, etc. With most of the characters, the POVs add depth and interest. Many times with POV characters, it can be hard to differentiate the voices. This book doesn't have that problem.

The book also has some interesting reveals that are well done. There's exciting, life-threatening danger, and some interesting lore developments. This series does have some incredible world building that I don't often see in fantasy. The ending is shocking and emotional, ending with a lot of questions fans of the series will be dying to have answered. However, I did feel some small annoyance that we had two such long books and Ash doesn't realize key things about herself until the very end.

If you love rich, detailed worlds and don't mind taking a while to get there, I would absolutely recommend this book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy to review.