Review: Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Category: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication: February 9, 2016; Harper Teen
Purchase: Amazon

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

Review

[book rating=5.0/5.0]

 

“The darkness isn’t so bad. It’s just the monsters that hide inside it “

From the very first page of Reign of Shadow I was hooked. The book gives a nod towards Rapunzel with its beautiful princess kept locked in a tower but the similarities stop there. For starters, no offense to the long tressed Rapunzel, but Luna is a bad ass with a capital B, no extra hair needed. With a handicap that is more handy than not, Luna sets herself apart as a heroine to be reckoned with. She has been kept locked away in a tower by her adopted family for her safety but this isolation has nurtured a feeling of wanderlust and longing.

Then Luna meets the mysterious Fowler and sparks as well as a few arrows fly.  From here the story sets these two unlikely allies onto the road of a dangerous quest. One of the intriguing elements of Reign of Shadows is that the world is set in perpetual darkness due to a never-ending eclipse. Because of this darkness a feeling of creepiness permeates.  The darkness, the ever present danger, things that lurk in the night, put this together and you have a cocktail for a very satisfying fantasy.

One of the best parts of Reign of Shadows was the slow burn and romantic tension between Fowler and Luna. Luna was obviously intrigued by Fowler from the moment she stumbled upon him in a moment of need but Fowler had his own agenda and as much as he fought his attraction there was no denying this chemistry.

I found this book to be unputdownable. I kept turning the pages as this bizarre and dangerous journey unfolded and I wanted to see how the burgeoning and swoony relationship was going to unfold. Then faster than you can say lights out, the book ended on an epic cliffhanger. Seriously, it had me on the literal edge of my seat.

I loved this world, the fantastic writing and the beautiful relationship between Fowler and Luna. This one hasn’t even released and I am already counting down the days until book #2.