Review and Giveaway (INTERNATIONAL) The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

Because the long awaited Book 2 of the series was just published, I thought it’s time to tell you something about the first one: The Shadow Reader.

In short, The Shadow Reader is a book of 5 stars (maximum on most sites and blogs for books). It’s that kind of book you can not put down. It has rhythm, thrill, relationships and romance. Here comes the problem! We have a trio, but a special one. Many have criticized the 'old' relationship as unrealistic, blaming the heroine to be (at least) naive and / or a little masochistic. I disagree and I know people who have been through similar situations. The only explanation that I find is those who argue that, certainly they not ever truly loved. Can be convinced that they did, but they are wrong. In addition, as you'll see, the relationship with Kyol carries many nuances and each of them, consciously or not, leave their mark on our McKenzie.

 "I'll talk to Atroth, McKenzie. If you'll forgive me, if you still want me, I'll talk to him. I'll convince you and I Should Be Him together. "Really? I want to ask, but i can not form the question. This is what I've always wanted, I've been clinging to the hope for a decade, and now, I'm terrified I Might Be trapped in a dream. 

Usually I choose my favorite at the first pages and I do not really care what happens with the one who will lose. So it was with Adrian for example, I was totally pro Dimitri (from Vampire Academy), and although I understand Adrian, I didn’t wanted to be the one that Rose will choose and didn’t bother me too much that he was ... inconsolable. (Sorry Team Adrian, but see? All for the best, now he has his own series ... well Sydney has, but with him).

With the two rivals from The Shadow Reader it was not the case. Yes, I want that McKenzie to be with Aren, but I do think that it wouldn’t bother me too much if she’ll to stay with Kyol. As I read I became more convinced that the mainly reason for the bad relationship between he and McKenzie was not some kind of male cowardice or lapse. On the contrary!

The author has developed very well the relationship between the three of them. McKenzie’s decisions were some very good in that crisis she was in, situations of those nature where you do not really have anything to rely on - any pro has a versus - where there are no rules that can be applied, there is no precedent. I have nothing to reproach to her. I support her in everything she decides, no matter who she’ll choose.

Is not this so freaking fantastic? I've spent ten years searching for someone to fill the spot in my heart Meant for Kyol, and when i finally find a contender, he's an enemy and he's fae.

Both Aren and Kyol have their own strengths and weaknesses, and one of them had more time to make mistakes - if you’ll find that there are mistakes. It’s sure that the problem is not easy to solve.

Some would like to pity Kyol and they can’t. I feel sorry for all of them. It's a book where you want to find a solution that would make everyone happy and, for the moment, it’s not possible. It seems that the things will be more complicated in Book 2 and reader's feelings will be changing a lot many times. But nothing is certain...

It's supposed to be the last kiss, and if we were both human or both fae, It Might have Been, But the moment Before we separated, chaos lusters explode through me. The jerk of HIS body, HIS sudden inhalation, tells me he feels Them, too, and INSTEAD of moving apart, we move closer. So much closer.

The Shadow Reader has also the quality that is not lost in a certain romance. The love story is combined with moments of pure action. War, with its battles, horrors, losses and victories is always present. When you think it's quiet, you get a scene that immediately awakens you from your romantic dreams. Characters who have become dear to you will suffer. However, the book doesn’t become a action one. Sandy Williams found a very well balance between romance and action.

There is so much to say ... Secondary characters are treated with the same care as the main ones and you’ll get to love them or hate them. The story of McKenzie, Kyol and Aren is not only romance or the only romance where there is suffering. You get unexpected twists of situations, power struggles, decisions about which everyone has his own opinion, even a pinch of humor.

My eyes shoot open when Kyol grabs my arm. Aren holds on a moment more, his lips and hands lingering as if this is his last breath. As if this is the only breath in his life that has ever mattered. Then he locks eyes with the sword-master.

“McKenzie.” He kisses my lips again briefly, then again, lingering. “I’ll be waiting at the crossroads. I promise.”

I could talk about the book quite some time, but I risk revealing too much. Instead, I'll do something else. Give you a chance to win the Book 1 of the series. You already know what to do!

ROMANA 

Pentru că abia a fost publicat mult aşteptatul volum 2 al seriei, mi-am zis să vă spun câte ceva despre primul: The Shadow Reader.

Pe scurt, The Shadow Reader e o carte de 5 stele (maximum pe majoritatea site-urilor şi blogurilor destinate cărților). Face parte din genul acela de cărți pe care nu o poți pune jos.

Are ritm, are tensiune, are relații şi romantism. Aici intervine problema! Avem un trio, dar unul special. Mulți au criticat relația “veche” ca fiind nerealistă, învinuind eroina de (cel puțin) naivitate şi/sau ceva masochism. Nu sunt de acord şi ştiu persoane care au trecut prin situații similare. Singura explicație pe care o găsesc este aceea că cei ce susțin asta, cu siguranță nu au iubit niciodată cu adevărat. Pot fi convinşi că au făcut-o, dar se înşeală. În plus, aşa cum o să vedeți (credeați că de data asta o să vă spun?), relația cu Kyol poartă mult mai multe nuanțe şi fiecare în parte, conştient sau nu, îşi lasă amprenta pe a noastră McKenzie.

 “I’ll talk to Atroth, McKenzie. If you’ll forgive me, if you still want me, I’ll talk to him. I’ll convince him you and I should be together.” Really? I want to ask, but I can’t form the question. This is what I’ve always wanted, the hope I’ve been clinging to for a decade, and now, I’m terrified I might be trapped in a dream. 

De regulă îmi aleg din prima preferatul (însă se pare că ce am citit în ultimul timp vrea să-mi strice acest bun obicei) şi abia îmi pasă ce se întâmplă cu cel care - bineînțeles - va pierde. Aşa a fost şi cu Adrian de exemplu; am fost total pro Dimitri, şi deşi l-am înțeles pe Adrian, nu am vrut să fie alesul lui Rose şi nu m-a deranjat prea tare că a rămas... neconsolat. (Scuze echipă Adrian dar vedeți? Tot răul spre bine, acum are propria lui serie... mă rog Sydney, dar e cu el)

Cu cei doi rivali din The Shadow Reader nu a fost aşa. Da, aş vrea să rămână cu Aren dar nu cred că m-ar deranja să rămână şi cu Kyol. Pe măsură ce citeam m-am convins că nu din laşitate sau alte delăsări masculine nu a făcut nimic pentru relația sa cu McKenzie. Dimpotrivă!

Autoarea a dezvoltat foarte bine relația dintre cei trei. Deciziile pe care i le-a dat lui McKenzie au fost unele foarte bune în situațiile de criză în care aceasta se afla, situații de natura acelora în care în care nu prea ai nimic obiectiv pe care să te bazezi – orice pro are un contra - , în care nu există reguli ce pot fi aplicate, nu există precedente. Nu am nimic să-i reproşez. O susțin în tot ce decide, indiferent pe cine va alege (din nou, credeați că vă spun pe cine??).

 Isn’t this so freaking fantastic? I’ve spent ten years searching for someone to fill the spot in my heart meant for Kyol, and when I finally find a contender, he’s an enemy and he’s fae.

Atât Aren cât şi Kyol au calitățile şi defectele lor, iar unul a avut mai mult timp la dispoziție să greşească – dacă le veți considera greşeli. Sigur nu e o problemă uşor de rezolvat.

Unora ar vrea să le fie milă de Kyol şi nu prea pot. Mie mi-e milă de toți. E o carte în care vrei să se găsească o soluție care să-i facă pe toți fericiți şi, deocamdată, nu se poate. Se pare însă că apele vor deveni mult mai învolburate în volumul 2 şi părerile cititorului se vor putea schimba. Dar nimic nu e sigur...

 It’s supposed to be a last kiss, and if we were both human or both fae, it might have been, but the moment before we separate, chaos lusters explode through me. The jerk of his body, his sudden inhalation, tells me he feels them, too, and instead of moving apart, we move closer. So much closer.

The Shadow Reader are şi calitatea că nu se pierde într-un romance oarecare. Povestea de dragoste este fericit îmbinată cu momente de pură acțiune. Războiul, cu luptele, ororile, pierderile şi victoriile lui e prezent mereu. Când crezi că e linişte ai parte de o scenă ce te trezeşte imediat din visurile romantice. Personaje care ți-au devenit dragi au de suferit. Totuşi nu devine o carte de acțiune. Sandy Williams a echilibrat bine balanța.

Sunt atât de multe de spus... Personajele secundare sunt tratate cu aceeaşi atenție ca cele principale, ajungi să le îndrăgeşti sau să te dezguste, dar nu-ți pot fi indiferente. Povestea celor trei nu e singura poveste de dragoste şi nici singura poveste de dragoste în care există suferință. Ai parte de neprevăzut, de întorsături de situații, luptă pentru putere, decizii cu privire la care fiecare are propria lui părere, chiar şi de un praf de umor.

My eyes shoot open when Kyol grabs my arm. Aren holds on a moment more, his lips and hands lingering as if this is his last breath. As if this is the only breath in his life that has ever mattered. Then he locks eyes with the sword-master.

“McKenzie.” He kisses my lips again briefly, then again, lingering. “I’ll be waiting at the crossroads. I promise.”

Aş putea să discut despre carte destul de mult timp, dar riscul de a vă dezvălui prea multe e mare. În schimb, voi face altceva. Vă dau ocazia de a câştiga volumul 1 al seriei. Ştiți deja ce trebuie să faceți! 

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SUCCES! GOOD LUCK!

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