Book Review: Shadows of Angels

Shadows of Angels (Zaad Stone Trilogy #1) 

Author: L.G. Rollins 

Published by: Cedar Fort Publishing and Media 

Publication Date: 8 Dec 2015 

Page Count: 315 

Buy it at Barnes and Noble or Amazon 

Source: ebook provided by author 

Audience: Young Adult – Fantasy

Fantasy books always intrigue me because of the imagination behind them. Shadows of Angels is one of those books. As soon as the story picked up, I couldn’t put the book down.

The story opens up with Aerbrin, a teenage girl who loses her father and gains possession of a mysterious stone with odd powers all in one night. Now alone in the world, she travels to the capital where her nearest relatives live. She keeps the stone a secret, as well as the fact she was somehow spared by the same creatures that had killed her father, forest dwellers who kill mindlessly. Once she is settled with her relatives, she meets a host of other characters and sets out on an adventure that will change her life forever. The ruler of the lands who claims to be king finds out about her stone and will do anything to get it from her, including throw her into dark magic infested lands where no human ever survives. Her cousin sets off on a dangerous journey along with a talking lion and an old woman to find the true king.

The story is written from many different points of view, not just that of Aerbrin, but the author, L.G. Rollins makes it very easy to follow each characters thoughts and story line. There is action from the very beginning of the book, but it doesn’t really pick up till around chapter six when all the main characters start coming together. From that point on I was hooked. All their paths separate only to join together again to create an unforgettable quest.

I love the magical and mysterious land Rollins has created. All the different characters and creatures – humans, demons, forest dwellers, cerberios, and more – are incredibly creative and fun to imagine. You see glimpses of other fantasy stories, hints as to where the author got some of her ideas, but they all have their own little twists to them and blend seamlessly with her own unique ideas to create a story you don’t want to end.

There were a couple times where I felt the story jumped and the characters all of the sudden stumbled upon what they were searching for, no real lead up to it and it made the story feel a bit rushed. I wanted to see a bit more of the journey, maybe some clue as to why they were at that particular place. But other than that it was a well written story.

I am looking forward to the continuing story of Aerbrin and her friends and the adventures that still await them. This is a fantastic beginning to a great, well thought out, story.

One Last Thought: There were a lot of grammatical errors in the story, but the copy of the book given to me was an uncorrected proof, so I am hoping most of them were caught and corrected before the final publishing.

Favorite Thing About This Book: I love the courage each character shows when faced with something seemingly impossible.

First Sentence: “Get under the bed,” Aerbrin’s father whispered between his teeth.

Favorite Character: Aerbrin

Least Favorite Character: Letalis

Synopsis

After the forest dwellers destroy her home and kill her father, Aerbrin sets off on a journey to find the truth about her people, her kingdom, and the mysterious Zaad stone that contains a power she never imagined. Magic and mystery join forces in this intriguing fantasy world. Full of shifting alliances and twists you won’t see coming, it’s a can’t-miss read.