Format: E-Galley, 400 pages
Release Date: November 20, 2018
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Epic
The author of Heartstone once again infuses elements of Jane Austen’s beloved novels with her own brand of magic in this addictive fantasy that brings back sparring lovers Aliza and Alastair: fierce warriors who match wits, charm, and swords as they fight an epic war to save their world
The Battle of North Fields is over—or so Aliza Bentaine, now a Daired, fervently wants to believe. But rumors are spreading of an unseen monster ravaging the isolated Castle Selwyn on the northern border of the kingdom. When she and Alastair are summoned from their honeymoon by the mysterious Lord Selwyn, they must travel with their dragon Akarra through the Tekari-infested Old Wilds of Arle to answer his call.
They are not alone on this treacherous journey. Shadowing the dragonriders is an ancient evil, a harbinger of a dark danger of which the Worm was only a foretaste, and soon Aliza realizes the terrible truth: the real war is only beginning.
Dragonshadow, by author Elle Katharine White, is the second installment in the authors Heartstone series. If you haven't read the first book, Heartstone, I do suggest you do so. The author infuses elements of Jane
Austen’s beloved novels with her own brand of magic that brings back sparring lovers Aliza and Alastair: fierce
warriors who match wits, charm, and swords as they fight an epic war to
save their world. Picking up several months after the Battle of North
Fields, and the War of the Worm ended, Aliza Bentaine nee Daired is on her
honeymoon with Alastair Daired, Rider, House of Pendragon.
She fervently hopes the war is over for good, and that her nightmares can finally come to an end. But, rumors are spreading of an unseen
monster ravaging the isolated Castle Selwyn on the northern border of
the kingdom. Things are apparently dire at Castle Selwyn and they need Alistair and his dragon
companion Akarra to come help deal with some dead Idar (magical creatures
who are indifferent allies to humans) and a missing girl. Refusing to be left behind, Aliza joins Alastair and Akarra on the journey.
Aliza, Alastair, and Akarra must fly through the Tekari-infested Old Wilds of Arle to answer his call. The journey to Castle Selwyn proves to be difficult for the trio leading
them to believe that something may be following them in the shadows. It’s all too clear that an unknown evil is plaguing Castle Selwyn in the northern
border of Arle. The evil seems to target only the Idar like trolls,
centaurs, and merfolk who are indifferent to humans. The Tekari, Gryphons, direwolves, valkyries, sirens, and sea serpents aren't all that impressed with humankind and thus have been left alone.
Dragonshadow expands the world,
characters, and fascinating creatures including the ghastradi, a human possessed by a kind of powerful, magical spirit. Aliza’s mindset is one of struggling to understand her place within House Pendragon, and the fact that Alastair was gravely injured in the previous novel and isn't up to full health yet which puts both of them in jeopardy. Aliza is still looked
upon as a nakla, a non-warrior, as well as being a Daired and all the history surrounding the name.
While Aliza is clever and makes herself useful throughout the journey,
both as a healer and investigator, the author makes it clear that her
lack of fighting skills is a definite liability. There is an underlying conflict between Aliza and Alastair that takes a great chunk out of this story. However, things seem to resolve themselves in the end, but with some interesting twists to come with the third installment.
Dragonshadow really pushes the series into a new and very interesting
direction, exploring new territories. One of the more interesting characters in this book is the Dragon Akarra. I absolutely love her. She is unequivocally the most fascinating character outside of Aliza and Alastair, and she is also someone you don't want to mess with on a regular basis. The series is inspired by the Regency novel Pride and Prejudice, but without all of the balls and shenanigans. The series feels more like a medieval one than a Regency
one.
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