Review Detail

CAST IN SECRETS AND SHADOW continues to have all the wonderful world-building and mythology that made the first book a great read. It also moves at a bit of a faster pace now that Ara and her group are more sure-footed about their quest to free Saetlund’s gods from their greatest weakness.
A pattern has been established that someone new will come into Ara’s path and will prove themselves worthy of becoming a new Loreknight. We see a total of 3 Loreknights by the end with hints of many more positions to fill. That speaks to an action-packed third book if they are going to finish their quest, fill the positions, and fight the Vok in a battle to reclaim their homeland. I hope with that many tasks left that it is done well and not rushed.
The budding romance between Ara and Teth was enthralling. Especially using an audiobook their heated exchanges made it hard to stop listening. Ara’s fears that her duty as the Loresmith will be compromised if she loves Teth more than the others adds a bit of tension and keeps the romance at a slow burn. Just when she has decided that she is punishing them both beyond reason, his fate takes a surprising twist at the end.
Overall, this book has a well-done quick pace for an epic fantasy. There is a lot to accomplish in the last book if they are to win the day and I hope it continues to have the right amount of pacing not to feel rushed to a conclusion.