The best thing about this book is the cover which is beautiful. Sadly, the writing was really poor and there were a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes. The premise was good and I think with a really strong edit process it could have been improved but ultimately it reads like an amateur writer rather than a professional and I really struggled to get through the book.

Nineteen-year-old Wren finds herself in a predicament when has to work with Tyran to save her world. Shes been training to control her shadow magic and needs to find a way to work with the necromancer to defeat another necromancer.

I am a little salty. This book gave too much of an instant love vibe. The world building was pretty and so was the fantastical aspect, but two people falling instantly in love... no thank you.
If you can look past the instant love, then this book is perfect for you (as long as you love fantasy, mages, warlocks, and warriors.

Despite struggling to initially get into this book as it felt a little slow to begin with, I really enjoyed it once it got going. It has everything that you would want in a fantasy book; magic, quests, epic battles and of course a love story. I also thought the world building was phenomenal and really well written.

Wren is a mage who also has a gift for shadow magic which is ancient and feared. She trains with the town’s wizard to learn to control these powers and when trouble arises that threatens everything she has ever known she makes an unlikely alliance with the necromancer Tyran who she meets along the way to fight against an evil that wants to dominate the world.

I loved the instant connection that Wren and Tyran had from their shared magic initially that then grew into more. They were cute and I really enjoyed them together. My only slight criticism is that I wish there had been more build up and a slower burn as it all happened very quickly.

This book wrapped up neatly and I’m intrigued to see how the story continues to develop and the role the red kingdom plays in everything that has happened so far. I also hope we learn more about the history and how it all connects back to the originals as I found that part really interesting.

This was an incredible story for a debut novel and I’m excited to read more of their work going forward.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

The Shadows of Wren was an interesting fantasy read.

Wren, a young mage, finds herself working with a necromancer Tyran. The pair find that they have a lot in conning - including an ancient magic known as shadow magic. They also have a bond which ends up seeing the pair dating despite being on opposite sides of the magical community.

Tyrans Dad is trying to take over the North of the country and the pair work to stop him.

It was an engaging read, I found some parts a bit slow, but overall enjoyed the story and think it will resonate with other fantasy readers like me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Tbh, I almost DNF'd this a few times, as far in as 70%. I realllly dislike instalove. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was feeling like the characters had no depth. Wren's thoughts were like a stream of consciousness that could probably have been refined?

Jen Bliton provides a magical world in The Shadows of Wren. I loved learning the magic system and the characters back stories.

Jen Bliton’s “The Shadows of Wren” is a captivating journey into a realm of mystery, magic, and adventure. The book immerses readers in a world where shadows hold secrets and the line between reality and the fantastical blurs.

The protagonist, a compelling and relatable character, embarks on an enthralling quest that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. Bliton’s character development is noteworthy, making it easy to connect with the protagonist’s journey.

The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. The author’s world-building is vivid and atmospheric, creating a setting where the shadows themselves seem to come alive.

Bliton’s writing style is elegant and engaging, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable reading experience. The pacing strikes a balance between moments of reflection and heart-pounding action, making it hard to put the book down.

In “The Shadows of Wren,” Jen Bliton has skillfully woven a tale that blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, leaving readers eagerly anticipating more. If you’re a fan of fantasy and adventure, this is a must-read that will transport you to a world where shadows hold the key to the extraordinary.

“You are my Dark Star,” he said. “I see your light, Wren. You show me things I didn’t know I needed, and you give it freely. No matter how dark, and through all the shadows, I see you, and I love you.” 🖤

My thoughts….

The worldbuilding was amazing. HUGE fan of this world, it has all the fantasy aspects I love to see. There’s a lot going on but it’s well-written and easily digestible. I’m a sucker for anything to do with Necromancers, so I loved this system of magic. It gave Dungeons & Dragons or The Witcher vibes and also has a cozy, autumn feel that made me glad I was reading it on a rainy day.

The romance didn’t do it for me because I’m not a fan of the instalove trope at all. There was minimal buildup, no tension, and overall just felt hard to care about their relationship when it was just. There. It could maybe be friends to lovers if you squint so if that’s your style, you’ll love them. Also, no spice if that's something that matters to you.

I wanted to love the characters but they were very two-dimensional. I kept feeling like there was something missing from each of them that kept them from reaching a full character arc. They all had similar dialogue styles (aside from Viggo's repetitive "Aye") that made it hard to imagine distinct personalities. I think there are some great aspects to all of them, but it just fell a little short for me.
↳ Wren: Oh Wren. She has some of the coolest magic but is incredibly overpowered. Until the time this book starts when Wren is 19, she has no weapons or fight training and yet somehow keeps up with soldiers who have been training their whole lives??? Takes out monsters that kill much more advanced warriors? And there’s really no mention of her being a prodigy or particularly skilled or anything either, this is all just… happening.
↳ Tyran: My silver-haired KING. I love his wit and his storyline, he was one of the best things in the book for me. No notes, 10/10, would love for him to call me his Dark Star.
↳ Oona: I thought she was a great character and was looking forward to her, but she essentially disappears after the first 20% of the book once her major contribution to the plot is over.
↳ Viggo: I’m having trouble articulating exactly what the issue with him is. He’s kind of a giant asshole who goes back and forth between treating his daughter like a soldier and like she’s too weak to exist and holds constant grudges for her mistakes. Overall his attitude towards Wren is disdainful which feels weird for the fact he’s supposed to be her dad (and not a bad one?). Also at 73% I noticed for the first time he only can use one eye??? There have been so many fight scenes at this point I feel like the fact I either didn’t notice or just forgot is not on me but oh well
↳ Rhonin: I couldn’t take him too seriously as the ~evil~ antagonist when he says shit like
“My, I expected more from two major towns joining forces,” Rhonin yelled with utter arrogance…Rhonin let out a tsk of disapproval as he looked at us.

I struggled with this being in Wren’s POV because she seems so disjointed from everything she’s experiencing (which might contribute to the characters seeming 2 dimensional). She’ll experience or witness awful things and then just… kind of move on? Certain events also have minimal buildup or tension and resolve too quickly without enough conflict to justify the magnitude they’re supposed to carry. It makes the plot feel like separate and distinct events rather than steps towards a climax and resolution.

Overall, I think this has a lot of promise. This is such a rich and thought-out world that it’s a shame the characters fall so flat in comparison. So much time is spent on characters, monsters, or scenes that have basically no impact on the story at large, and it would be great to see that dedicated to developing what matters.

Initially, the cover of the book drew me in. It looks amazing! And then I read the synopsis and it left something to be desired. I didn’t think it had a lot of information about the book. But I went to Goodreads and read reviews and all of the reviews were really positive so I decided I would give it a try. And it wasn’t really for me.

It’s not that the writing is bad or I don’t like the characters or anything like that. It’s the fantasy portion for me. I’ll read fantasy books but I don’t read them that often. So maybe I shouldn’t have even picked up this book. But I tried it and the fantasy was just too heavy for me. I didn’t understand a lot of what was going on and I found myself confused on multiple occasions. That’s the main reason for me giving it a low rating and not even finishing the book.

I think that if you are into heavy fantasy, then this book would be one to look into. Like I said, all of the reviews I read painted the book in an amazing light. So I don’t think that the book is necessarily bad, just not for me.