emruth13
Written on Sep 19, 2018
Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother's and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can't forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her. Who is the Goblin King? And what is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world-- and all the ones Liesl loves-- is in her hands?
- ISBN10 1250129133
- ISBN13 9781250129130
- Publish Date 6 February 2018 (first published 30 January 2018)
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Publish Country US
- Imprint St Martin's Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
Kait ✨
Written on Mar 7, 2018
bookishzelda
Written on Jan 31, 2018
Reckless behaviours and Suicidal ideation.
I’m not even sure what I was expecting going into Shadowsong from Wintersong. I had loved Wintersong and I was actually okay with the ending. Sometimes I don’t mind seemingly loose ends. I feel Shadowsong really does a great job of wrapping up the ending in a way that makes sense.
The plot had a slow start for me. I was frustrated with both Liesel and Josef. Josef was being such a jerk and Liesel, well it felt like she was a shadow of the kick butt girl I remembered from the first book. She is so clearly wrapped up in her struggle to leave behind the Underground and the Goblin King that she is completely unaware of things happening around her. There is a point where things change and the book picks up in all the ways it needs. Once the Countess and Count enter the picture things get more interesting.
This book is more about Lisel and Josef and their relationship then it is about Lisel and the Goblin King. Although he is not completely absent either. Again I was frustrated with Josef for being a jerk but it was interesting to see Lisel see herself from Josef’s eyes. Despite my frustrations with her, she actually experiences quit a bit of growth. To see the things she has done and how that has affected others. Kathe and Francois felt a bit under used as characters but they also still have a presence.
There is more insight into what Der Erlkonig’s own really means. We also get to delve more into the history of the Goblin King and the first bride. I found those aspects really contributed to the understanding of the world as a whole. I was excited to learn more. I loved the way the pieces slowly fit together and eventually will reveal what makes the Goblin King, the Goblin King.
The writing is lyrical and haunting. Almost like you are lost in the pages of a song. You can still feel how much music is a part of everything. Since it’s such a special part of Lisel, Josef and the Goblin King. I’m glad that it didn’t fade from the first book.
I enjoyed the book. I really like how things were wrapped up in the end.
tweetybugshouse
Written on Jan 29, 2018
Their are some triggering things in this book which may make it difficult for some to read. It a fairy tale story woven in dark threads as our main character has bi-polar disorder. The story is dark but was a delight to read as much as wintersong was.
cornerfolds
Written on Jan 29, 2018
And the most disappointing book of the year goes to...
Wintersong was my one of my top two favorite books of 2017, so it should be obvious why Shadowsong was my most anticipated of this year. Wintersong was just the right amount of fantasy and darkness and romance and magic. I loved Liesl and I loved the Goblin King and I loved the relationship that grew between them. I loved the Underground and the music. Basically, I loved all the things that Shadowsong is missing.
Shadowsong picks up after Liesl's return to the world above, her Goblin King left in the Underground. She pines for him and fights with herself over whether she is happy back in her old life. In this book, Liesl is a much different character. The book begins with a note from the author, explaining that this is an Own Voices book, that the MC is bipolar, and that Shadowsong will embrace this more fully than Wintersong.
We got to know Liesl in Wintersong. A story unfolded, a relationship grew between two incredible characters. The world was rich and didn't lack anything, in my opinion. In Shadowsong, most of what was set up in Wintersong is left behind so that we can explore Liesl's personal struggles. I understand that this is the character and it's perhaps important to her growth, but this is the second book in a duology. I wanted to continue the story from the first book, learn more about Liesl and her relationship with the Goblin King, not spend the entire story wondering if things were actually real or imagined.
I fully understand the need for books that explore mental health and I get why S. Jae-Jones wanted to write an Own Voices book. I know that this is important, I just wish it had been done in a separate series. Instead, Shadowsong feels so far removed from the world of the first book that it might as well have been a different series anyway.
Where Wintersong was all about Liesl embracing her new role, her whole self, and the Underground, Shadowsong had her constantly questioning everything, running, and hiding. The entire story consisted of day to day activities between a few different locations, none of which involved the Goblin King. There was an interesting dynamic between Liesl and Josef, but even that became tedious and boring after awhile. Other characters were there for awhile and then forgotten, and if you're coming for the Goblin King, don't bother. There were glimpses of him here and there throughout the book, but I'd estimate that he got about 30 pages of this nearly 400 page book. There is no romance, no Underground, and very, very little music. What I'm trying to tell you is this book is NOTHING like Wintersong at all.
I believe Wintersong was originally a standalone novel that was later turned into a duology (correct me if I'm wrong). In my opinion, it should be read as a standalone. Shadowsong honestly reads like a second book in a trilogy. If it absolutely had to be a series and all the filler from this book absolutely had to be in the story, I strongly believe that the last 40 pages should've been left off and turned into a third book to end the series. As it stands, the last 40 pages could've been written as a novella and it would've made a better ending.
I know you're thinking I must hate this book, but I don't HATE it, I'm just extremely disappointed. I wanted more of the magic of Wintersong and what I got was... not that. The ending was satisfying and that's the only reason I'm not giving this one star. I honestly cannot recommend it though, especially to anyone who loved Wintersong for the romance or the Goblin King.
shannonmiz
Written on Dec 16, 2017
The tone is dark, in a different way. The main character, Liesl, is dealing with mental health issues- a rarity in fantasy, and I applaud the author for including it (this is also #ownvoices, make sure you read the author's note!). She's also trying to put her family back together, all while dealing with her own broken heart. I absolutely felt for her during the course of this story.
I realize that some people will be a bit unhappy that the romance isn't front and center of this book as it was in the last book. But I think it was quite important for Liesl to work through her circumstances, and to figure out who she was and what (or who) she was willing to fight for. And of course, the Goblin King is involved, no worries!
There was a point in the middle that the plot felt like it was meandering a bit, but the beginning and end were quite strong and definitely made up for some of the slowness in the middle. I also do need to mention, the formatting of the eARC was a disaster- and that sometimes that took me out of the story a little. Obviously I'd never fault the book for that, but... it was some of the messiest formatting I have ever encountered. I assume my trouble was perhaps part that the story was a bit slower in the middle, but also that I was trying to decipher stuff and that made it feel even more so? It's as good a guess as any, right?
Ultimately, this book completed the series nicely. I had feelings during the course of the story- happy, sad, swoony, all the things. And I felt that it was a strong conclusion; not too many loose ends, nor too neatly wrapped up. Definitely one of the best series ends I've read in awhile!
Bottom Line: With completely enchanting writing and fabulous character development, this sequel provided a very satisfying ending to a lovely series!
nightingalereads
Written on Feb 12, 2017
Review:
I'll start off by saying that I loved Wintersong. It was atmospheric and engaging, and just a great book overall. S. Jae-Jones's writing is beautiful. Seriously, there is something musical about the way she weaves words together. That being said, while the writing in Shadowsong was as visceral as in the first book, I was a little disappointed by this sequel.
First off, there was a serious lack of plot throughout most of the book, with the characters just sort of drifting between a few different locations. Some plotlines and character arcs felt purposeless, and most of the novel is spent muddling through stagnant introspection. My biggest complaint, though, is that the Goblin King was reduced to the fringes of the story. We learn a bit about his background, which is interesting, but he doesn't play a major role in the progressing story like he did in Wintersong. He barely interacts with anyone at all, in fact, let alone the protagonist. A lot of the events of this book also felt cut off from the first one, as if the established relationships and build-up from the first book didn't wind up mattering at all.
In general, I enjoyed the world and the writing, but was a bit let down by this sequel. Like Wintersong, the pacing in Shadowsong was slow, but not in a good way this time around. This time it felt like we weren't going anywhere.