The Shadow Revolution: Crown & Key: Crown & Key Bk 1 (Crown & Key, #1)

by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

A thrilling new Victorian-era urban fantasy for fans of Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, the Showtime series Penny Dreadful, and the Sherlock Holmes movies featuring Robert Downey, Jr.
 
They are the realm’s last, best defense against supernatural evil. But they’re going to need a lot more silver.
 
As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield.
 
After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane—but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined.

Praise for The Shadow Revolution
 
“Team Griffith creates a number of really compelling characters whose exploits will keep readers glued to the pages! Terrific!”—RT Book Reviews
 
“A fast-paced, action-filled dark fantasy that is just sheer fun to read . . . The Shadow Revolution kicks off the Crown & Key series in spectacular fashion!”—Fresh Fiction
 
“Werewolves, mad science, and plenty of smiting. Pass the popcorn.”—Emma Jane Holloway, author of The Baskerville Affair series
 
"A thrilling read! Clay and Susan Griffith have crafted a gritty, action-packed Victorian-era fantasy world full of dark creatures, mystery, and magic—a must read for steampunk fans!”—Shawntelle Madison, author of the Coveted series
 
“What happens when you kick off a new urban fantasy series with a fantastic setting and unique characters, and you throw in some dangerous, supernatural creatures, evil madmen, murder and mayhem? You get a kick-ass book to read. . . . I want more, please!”—Book Swoon
 
“If summer blockbuster action movies existed back in the Victorian era, they would look a lot like The Shadow Revolution. This book doesn’t mess around. . . . Highly recommended.”—The BiblioSanctum
 
“One hell of a read . . . [With] unforgettable characters and magic around every bend, this truly was a breath of fresh air.”—My Guilty Obsession
 
“The story is pretty fast-paced, the mystery intriguing and refreshingly surprising, and the action thrilling. [The Shadow Revolution] pulls you in and barely lets you up for air, and I love the intensity of that kind of storytelling.”—Refracted Light
 
“So good that I won’t be surprised if this book series is opted to be a TV show or movie with an accompanying video game! Great storytelling, great plot and most of all great book!”—Marienela

• ISBN10: 0345539508
• ISBN13: 9780345539502
• Publish Date: 2 June 2015 (first published 1 January 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Del Rey Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345539502

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Five reasons to grab your earbuds and listen to The Shadow Revolution: 

• Told from both the male perspective as well as the females this gritty urban fantasy with its steampunk vibe and magical mayhem quickly pulled me in. The tale is action packed and gory at times but it made me shiver and I became caught up listening to the clever narrations. While this is a series, the reader will be instantly rewarded as the stories release about a month apart.


• The characters were phenomenal, although admittedly with all the intense, nail-biting action I did not get to know them as much as I wanted. Griffith gave us a yummy hero in Simon Archer. He is a scribe and ever the gentlemen. Dressed to the nines with his walking stick that doubles as a sword and covered in hidden tattoos he was at times overly confident and had a tendency to be forward but I loved the devil. Nick Barker is Simon’s teacher/friend. He seems like a playboy on the surface but the man has numerous talents. Kate was a personal favorite for me. I love strong, educated women and she does everything from Alchemy to running her father’s estate. Did I mention the gal is kick-ass? Malcolm McFarlane is a huge Scotsman with a sharp tongue who made me laugh. Secondary characters like Penny added to the mix and only increased my enjoyment as they grounded the tale.


• Magic, battles and squeamish moments with unthinkable beasts had me looking for excuses to continue listening. A powerful darkness whispers from the underbelly of London and our hero must step up his game and his education to save the day. The author does a great job with foreshadowing and has me excited about the next installment.


• Griffith blends paranormal and steampunk elements brilliantly. From the gadgets and alchemy to the magic in this world. Simon uses runes to perform his spells and I liked the twist the author added. In this world, magic has a cost and it is something I appreciate when delving into these magical worlds. I love the idea of balance.


• The Shadow Revolution is suggested for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Penny Dreadful. These type of references usually scare the hell out of me but in this, they were spot on. Nicholas Guy Smith beautifully narrated this tale, and I hope he continues throughout the series. From his accents to his ability to evoke subtle emotions he made listening a pleasure.

Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Silvara]

Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.



I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



I really enjoyed this book. All the characters were well-developed, even the more minor, not central characters. The story was descriptive, giving you a good idea of what everything looked and sounded like, without being over-detailed. The world was fully-fleshed out and believable. I liked the magic we were introduced to, and would love to learn more about Scribes and the key.

I loved Simon. He was funny and quick-thinking, without falling into the 'too perfect' role a lot of main characters end up in. Kate I didn't care for at first, but she quickly grew on me. I also loved Charlotte, I wish we knew what happened to her for sure.

There is quite a bit of violence, blood and gore in the book. It didn't bother me at all, but those who are squeamish or just don't like reading about that sort of thing will want to skip this book.

The banter between Simon and Nick reminded me a bit of the Sherlock Holmes movie. It was funny, and you could tell there was a strong bond of friendship between the two. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

If you haven't read this book yet, and you like mysteries, action and magic, with a paranormal twist, you need to try this book.

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon