Books and Ladders: a hunt of shadows

Review: A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS by Elise Kova, Book #3 of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 10 April 1 Comments

A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS

Author: Elise Kova

Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #3
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:

From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.

Purchase:

Amazon | TBD

Read my review of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

Read my review of A HUNT OF SHADOWS!

Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death

This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested.

I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.

Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.

I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!

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Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?

Review: A HUNT OF SHADOWS by Elise Kova, Book #2 in A Trial of Sorcerers

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 12 December 0 Comments

A HUNT OF SHADOWS

Author: Elise Kova

Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #2
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:

Eira is now a champion of the Solaris Empire. She’s off to a land she’s only dreamed about. But a nightmare awaits her.

Her sworn enemy has escaped. His allies are powerful and deadly. And Eira finds herself tangled in the dangerous web of the undercity of Risen where the mysterious Court of Shadows and lethal Pillars battle for the fate of the kingdom.

But vengeance has a price. When Eira is captured by her enemies, it’s not only her life, but the lives of her friends, and the man she loves most, at stake. The woman she was won’t be enough to turn the tides churning against her from long before she was born. She’ll have to become something more. She’ll have to love deeper and fight fiercer than ever before.

The only way to kill a legendary champion, will be to become one herself.

Experience Eira’s adventure in the A Trial of Sorcerers series by USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova today, for readers who enjoy young adult, epic fantasy, filled with sorcery, deep friendships, forbidden romance, and tales of faraway lands.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

Content Warning: sexual harassment, torture, fire explosions resulting in loss of life, kidnapping, death of a loved one (discussed), mild gore and blood.

Read my review of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

I'm seeing a lot of pattern in the way the Air Awakens related series are going. That's both a good and bad thing. I loved Eira as a character, and having her focus on revenge and also being curious about a new land, was great! She had such great character development throughout this and I really liked exploring more of her magical abilities.

However, I'm not totally feeling the romance. Looking back at my reviews for the Vortex Chronicles series (and Air Awakens), after book two of each of those I was very meh on the romance as well. I hope that changes as things continue and progress forward. I was definitely rooting for them, but there's not enough on the page for me to really believe it.

But the worldbuilding, the setting, and the overarching plot is so exciting and intense! I loved every second of it and sometimes wish we got other perspectives in this one so that I could see some of the moving pieces behind the scenes that we don't get from Eira (who is very much in the dark and making her own decisions based on what she knows).

If you are planning on reading this, I still very much think you should read the entire Air Awakens and Vortex Chronicles series so that you get to experience the lush worldbuilding of the setting and not get spoiled for those if you end up going back to them.

I have definitely seen Kova's craft improve book over book and series over series and this is shaping up to be the best one yet. I can't wait to see where this goes next with A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS!