Cloak of Night (Cloak of Shadows Series, book 2)

By Evelyn Skye

Blurb: 
After the devastating Ceremony of Two Hundred Hearts, Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick are truly alone in the fight to save their kingdom. Empress Aki is missing, and everyone else who could help them is a prisoner to the Dragon Prince’s mind control.

At least Sora understands what they’re up against. Or so she believes, until she overhears the Dragon Prince bargaining with the god of war for immortality and learns that ryuu magic may be a more insidious danger than she realized.

Suddenly, the stakes are higher and even more personal for Sora—not only must she stop a seemingly indestructible Prince Gin, but she must also unravel the secrets of ryuu magic before it is too late for nearly everyone she loves.

And as Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick face dangerous obstacles at every turn, the greatest challenge may be discovering who they truly are, and what, if anything, they are capable of.

Review: 
This is the second book in this series, I believe it is a duology as I can't find anything else about this series but at the same time it could potentially be a trilogy from the way it ended. Either way this will be the last book I read of this series as I am not a fan of the authors style or the characters that she writes about.

Being truthful, I'm not entirely sure what actually happened in this book as there wasn't much action until the last 5-10 chapters. Basically, they are still trying to save their empire but they need to contact the gods for a certain reason, then they need to kill Prince Gin. That's basically all that happens.

The story does not develop much at all, it is really slow, there isn't much adventure. more of the same old stuff. To be honest, it was quite a long book for what happened. I also felt that the events that happened were also repetitive of the first book so it just really wasn't enjoyable for me at all.

The characters on the other hand just really annoyed me, they were so childish and just irritating. I even tried to listen to the audio-book version to see if I enjoy it or could get into it more but you know what? It actually made me hate it even more especially the characters. The voices for them suited their personalities, childish and whiny. 

The only good thing I could force myself to say about this book is that everyone deserves to be forgiven no matter what they have done as there is a chance for people to change. That's the only thing that could be considered good about this book. To be honest, I don't even know why I originally rated it 2 stars maybe I should rate it 1/1.5. I'm not entirely sure, there's barely anything I liked about this book.

We do see a development of Wolf's character as he discovers more about himself and he starts believing in himself. But the way that he doesn't come out with his true feelings just annoys me so much but then I suppose this is the character that I can relate to the most because I don't tell people how I truly feel and I don't have any self confidence just like Wolf.

I'd only recommend this book if you don't mind slow books with not much adventure and not much development from the first book to the second.

Least Terrible Character: Wolf

Read: 17/03/20 - 26/03/20

1.5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Cloak of Night (Cloak of Shadows Series, book 2)

By Evelyn Skye

Blurb: 
After the devastating Ceremony of Two Hundred Hearts, Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick are truly alone in the fight to save their kingdom. Empress Aki is missing, and everyone else who could help them is a prisoner to the Dragon Prince’s mind control.

At least Sora understands what they’re up against. Or so she believes, until she overhears the Dragon Prince bargaining with the god of war for immortality and learns that ryuu magic may be a more insidious danger than she realized.

Suddenly, the stakes are higher and even more personal for Sora—not only must she stop a seemingly indestructible Prince Gin, but she must also unravel the secrets of ryuu magic before it is too late for nearly everyone she loves.

And as Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick face dangerous obstacles at every turn, the greatest challenge may be discovering who they truly are, and what, if anything, they are capable of.

Review: 
This is the second book in this series, I believe it is a duology as I can't find anything else about this series but at the same time it could potentially be a trilogy from the way it ended. Either way this will be the last book I read of this series as I am not a fan of the authors style or the characters that she writes about.

Being truthful, I'm not entirely sure what actually happened in this book as there wasn't much action until the last 5-10 chapters. Basically, they are still trying to save their empire but they need to contact the gods for a certain reason, then they need to kill Prince Gin. That's basically all that happens.

The story does not develop much at all, it is really slow, there isn't much adventure. more of the same old stuff. To be honest, it was quite a long book for what happened. I also felt that the events that happened were also repetitive of the first book so it just really wasn't enjoyable for me at all.

The characters on the other hand just really annoyed me, they were so childish and just irritating. I even tried to listen to the audio-book version to see if I enjoy it or could get into it more but you know what? It actually made me hate it even more especially the characters. The voices for them suited their personalities, childish and whiny. 

The only good thing I could force myself to say about this book is that everyone deserves to be forgiven no matter what they have done as there is a chance for people to change. That's the only thing that could be considered good about this book. To be honest, I don't even know why I originally rated it 2 stars maybe I should rate it 1/1.5. I'm not entirely sure, there's barely anything I liked about this book.

We do see a development of Wolf's character as he discovers more about himself and he starts believing in himself. But the way that he doesn't come out with his true feelings just annoys me so much but then I suppose this is the character that I can relate to the most because I don't tell people how I truly feel and I don't have any self confidence just like Wolf.

I'd only recommend this book if you don't mind slow books with not much adventure and not much development from the first book to the second.

Least Terrible Character: Wolf

Read: 17/03/20 - 26/03/20

1.5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Circle of Shadows (Circle of Shadows Series, book 1)

By Evelyn Skye

Blurb: 
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied around his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.

As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging in the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark.

So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group. Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.

Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever.

Review: 
I received this book in a FairyLoot box, I possibly would have chosen this book in a book store because the story sounds good and the cover is quite attractive and enticing.

So this book is about people having special powers and being part of a set of tribes. Which is pretty cool being honest.

The book starts of with an exhibition act in front of Empress Aki, where Sora and Daemon have planned a little trick with fireworks. I found this scene quite funny and typical of rebelling students.

Sora and Daemon should be trying quite hard with their studies so they get a decent job or at least the ones they want. Their two friends that they hang around with (can't remember names it was a long time ago that I read it and I'm only just getting round to writing the review) were actually really interesting I found that the friendship between all 4 was really strong and you can see this throughout the whole book.

The relationship between Daemon and Sora is quite complicated because you can tell that they love one another but they know it is forbidden so try to hide their feelings for one another. It obviously comes out at some point within the book but I won't say when or what happens.

I feel slightly sorry for Sora because it feels like her relationship with her parents is quite forced and she treads around them quite lightly. She still hasn't got over the death of her sister, either has the rest of her family, which I can understand as they obviously feel guilty about her death. Sora seems to struggle the most with guilt and this shows towards the middle to the end of the book when she starts opening up to Daemon after certain events. I like that throughout the book you find out how her sister died and the events that happened around her death.

There was quite a few moments in this book that were really interesting and captivating but then at other times the book seemed to drag on. Also while reading the story, it didn't really develop much and there wasn't much action to really keep you that interested. The amount the story developed compared to the size of the book was really disappointing, I'm not too sure whether I'd read the next book in the series. I will see what happens closer to the time, but I know I won't be pre-ordering it.

This book is really good for friendships, character development and history on events. But it's not great for action and well developed stories, I just feel like this book is lacking a great amount of action as it was quite slow at times.

I'd recommend this book to people who don't mind slow books, great friendships, complicated love, traitors, twists, and oriental history.

Favourite Character: Sora

Read: 24/01/19 - 08/02/19

3 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Check out Sammie's review of FairyLoot - January 2019.

Check out Sammie's review of book 2: Cloak of Night.

Circle of Shadows (Circle of Shadows Series, book 1)

By Evelyn Skye

Blurb: 
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied around his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.

As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging in the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark.

So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group. Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.

Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever.

Review: 
I received this book in a FairyLoot box, I possibly would have chosen this book in a book store because the story sounds good and the cover is quite attractive and enticing.

So this book is about people having special powers and being part of a set of tribes. Which is pretty cool being honest.

The book starts of with an exhibition act in front of Empress Aki, where Sora and Daemon have planned a little trick with fireworks. I found this scene quite funny and typical of rebelling students.

Sora and Daemon should be trying quite hard with their studies so they get a decent job or at least the ones they want. Their two friends that they hang around with (can't remember names it was a long time ago that I read it and I'm only just getting round to writing the review) were actually really interesting I found that the friendship between all 4 was really strong and you can see this throughout the whole book.

The relationship between Daemon and Sora is quite complicated because you can tell that they love one another but they know it is forbidden so try to hide their feelings for one another. It obviously comes out at some point within the book but I won't say when or what happens.

I feel slightly sorry for Sora because it feels like her relationship with her parents is quite forced and she treads around them quite lightly. She still hasn't got over the death of her sister, either has the rest of her family, which I can understand as they obviously feel guilty about her death. Sora seems to struggle the most with guilt and this shows towards the middle to the end of the book when she starts opening up to Daemon after certain events. I like that throughout the book you find out how her sister died and the events that happened around her death.

There was quite a few moments in this book that were really interesting and captivating but then at other times the book seemed to drag on. Also while reading the story, it didn't really develop much and there wasn't much action to really keep you that interested. The amount the story developed compared to the size of the book was really disappointing, I'm not too sure whether I'd read the next book in the series. I will see what happens closer to the time, but I know I won't be pre-ordering it.

This book is really good for friendships, character development and history on events. But it's not great for action and well developed stories, I just feel like this book is lacking a great amount of action as it was quite slow at times.

I'd recommend this book to people who don't mind slow books, great friendships, complicated love, traitors, twists, and oriental history.

Favourite Character: Sora

Read: 24/01/19 - 08/02/19

3 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Check out Sammie's review of FairyLoot - January 2019.

Check out Sammie's review of book 2: Cloak of Night.