Shadows of Men

by M Lee Holmes

[chymerra]

This book starts off on a horrifying note. Viktor, who is the High Protector of Kaena, is choosing his successor. That wasn’t horrifying it was the way the successor gets chosen. His sword tells him (well its more like a ringing…very hard to explain and is better explained in the book) the name of who it wants, they go and get him, stab him through the chest and the sword gives him his life back. Except, Viktor is trying to ignore the sword because who the sword wants because of the gender of that person. So, after the 3rd person is killed, he finally tells his King who the sword wants and the chapter ends. I got so frustrated at that point because I wanted to know WHO it was and it compelled me to keep on reading.

In the next chapter, which takes place years later, it is revealed who the successor is. Her name is Rhada and, for the moment, she is the most feared and hated person in the realm of Kaena. It is explained, a little later in the book, that she is responsible for a massacre (and burning of bodies) of citizens at a city called South Fort, which was done by the King’s command. She is summoned to the King and Queen after the Sorceress Myranda has a vision of a city being burned and the ocean disappearing. Her exact vision is this:

North, in the city of Tyos, the blood of the innocent people has flooded the streets and a great wall of flame has swallowed the Blood Sea entirely

King Firion and Queen Scarlet order Rhada to go to Tyos, investigate if it really happened (even though Myranda’s visions are never wrong) and report back to him. She decides to take her Captain, Mayvard Stonewall, with her…which angers Myranda. They are supposed to be married within 3 days and now the wedding is on hold. At this point in the book, I didn’t like Rhada. She came across as so cold, so mean, so unfeeling that it radiated off the pages.

Meanwhile, as Rhada and Mayvard are preparing for their journey towards Tyos, a group of rebels are meeting in the city of Mordrid to discuss A) when to kill Rhada and B) when to attack and kill the King. Unbeknownst to them, there is a spy for King Firion in their midst.

I won’t go much into the book after that point but to say that Rhada really had a tough time of it for the rest of the book. I honestly went from not liking her to feeling really bad for her. I kept thinking to myself”Thank God for Mayvard”….especially at the end of the book.

There were a few smaller storylines that were wrapped up by the end of book but the main storylines were not. I actually was very disappointed when the book ended because there were a few things that I wanted to know (mainly about Rhada) and now I will have to wait for the next book to find out. I did find the epilogue fascinating.

How many stars will I give Shadows of Men? 4

Why? A great fantasy that kept my attention. The author did a great job writing vivid characters and a world that came alive. Also, and I never comment on this, the cover totally lived up to the book.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence, sex, a pretty graphic chapter of torture and one rape scene.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**