SHADOW’S WOUND by Saria Bryant
Fiction, M/M, Fantasy
4****
Blurb: With the realm teetering on the brink of magical annihilation, Callith Ratearynn, the reluctant heir to the Sun Throne, is thrust into power centuries too soon. With his father dead and corruption tearing the kingdom apart at the seams, Cal must battle rising racial tensions and unravel a dark conspiracy. Justice, a manipulative human official, has stirred hatred between humans and the magical community, using enslavement collars and control over the Black Sun—an elite group of soldiers loyal to the Shadow Throne. Just as civil war seems inevitable, Cal’s Fate string—a magical bond tying him to his soulmate—leads him to a grim prison where he finds Haru, his bonded, broken and tortured. But Fate has more in store. Cal discovers he is bound not to one, but Rashi, a fox shifter, and Haru, a fierce dragon warrior. Together, this reluctant triad must face cult attacks, dark rituals, and the creeping Wound, a void threatening to consume their realm. Cal’s new reality is one of impossible choices—between duty and heart, loyalty and passion. As war looms, the only hope lies in Cal’s ability to trust in his newfound soulmates and uncover the depths of the corruption before it’s too late.
THOUGHTS: This was an excellent fantasy with great characters and incredible world building. I especially loved Rashi, the fox shifter! Magic is core to the story as is the relationship between Cal (the king), Rashi (fox) and Haru (dragon shifter). I will note that there are three very hot bedroom scenes. The biggest problem I had with the story was the incredibly long lives of most of the characters. That’s not a problem, but… are the humans also so long-lived? If they are normal like most humans, they’re not. Which means… (a problem with the story I won’t go into here since I don’t want to give anything away). But there is a paradox.
Cal has a lot of problems. In addition to being newly crowned, he has to find out who is creating havoc in his kingdom, who is tearing his kingdom apart. He also has to figure out how to fix the “Wound” an area of devastated land that is growing. Cal has so many problems, he doesn’t know where to start. And that’s part of the problem. The “villains” are well-organized, having had many years to prepare. It seems a lot of the time, Cal is chasing his tail. The story has a good ending, though there are several strings left dangling that show us there is more to come.
Recommended.
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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