Review: Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones
“For love is our only immortality, and when memory is faded and gone, it is our legacies that endure.”
The Basics
Title: Shadowsong (Wintersong #2)
Author: S. Jae-Jones
Published: 2018
Publisher: Wednesday Books — St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 379
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, Low fantasy, Romance, Fantasy romance, Young adult, Young adult fantasy
Book Synopsis
Six months have passed since Elisabeth returned from the Underground, but the Underground does not seem to want to let go of her. Her departure upset the natural balance and angered the Old Laws, and as a result, the barrier between the realm of the living and the Underground is disintegrating. The Hunt has begun to ride, claiming the Goblin King’s own and leaving a wake of dead bodies with strange silver scars upon them. Elisabeth knows that the Hunt is at her heels, and try as she might, she cannot evade it forever. Sooner or later, she will have to return to the Underground in order to restore balance to the world. After all, the Old Laws are clear: a life must be sacrificed to ensure the passage of seasons and to safeguard the land of the living from the blight of the Underground.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: An unsatisfying sequel to Wintersong.
What a letdown. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Wintersong, I was quite eager to delve into Shadowsong, but it became apparent rather quickly that Shadowsong would not live up to its predecessor. Like many sequels before it, Shadowsong has fallen victim to second-book slump.
The biggest issue with Shadowsong is its pacing. The book starts off with a decent pace, but by the end of part one (roughly 100 pages in), the story begins to drag a bit. The plot continues at its slow pace until the final section, at which point it picks up to the point of feeling rushed. To put it into perspective, the last section of the book is only 40 pages, yet it features the bulk of the action – namely, Elisabeth’s return to the Underground. Everything that comes before is simply a buildup to this moment, and the fact that this much anticipated event gets resolved in less than 50 pages is so unsatisfying. It is like spending all day baking a cake and then only being allowed a tiny forkful.
The story itself also leaves a lot to be desired. Taking place primarily above ground, the book lacks that magical feel of the first book, which is primarily set in the Underground. The Goblin King is also pretty scarce in Shadowsong. He makes a few appearances, but he and Elisabeth rarely share a scene. This is a shame, as their dynamic was one of the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of Wintersong.
Another shortcoming of this books is its ending. In addition to feeling rushed, it comes across as contradictory in some regards. For instance, throughout the course of the book, Elisabeth is dogged by the Hunt, a group of beings from the Underground who seek to capture the Goblin King’s own and bring them to the Underground. When she attempts to return to the Underground on her own volition, however, she is told that she can only enter if she makes a sacrifice. Why? If she is being pursued by the Hunt, wouldn’t she be ushered into the Underground? After all, she is saving the Hunt the work of having to track her down. Countess Procházka’s release of Elisabeth also doesn’t quite add up. Lastly, the ending leaves a number of unanswered questions, including does Elisabeth get back what she sacrificed and what happens to the Count and Countess?
The good
While largely disappointing, Shadowsong does have some redeeming qualities, including its prose. Jae-Jones’ lyrical writing is ever present. The book also deepens our understanding of both Elisabeth and the Goblin King. We learn about his past and her bipolar disorder.
Overall
Shadowsong is an underwhelming follow-up to Wintersong. Is it a terrible book? No, but it fails to live up to the high bar set by its predecessor. If you have read Wintersong, you might as well read Shadowsong to see how the story ends – just go into it with lowered expectations.
Have you read Shadowsong? If so, let me know what you thought of the book in the comments section below.
