Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 331 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Mar 7, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
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About the Book
That is not all Taliesin learns from Uthyr. He discovers Nimue has left Affalon as well, traveling under her mortal name of Viviaine, and has allied herself with Myrthin. Sick with the bitterness of her betrayal, he races north to warn Arhianna. In his efforts to protect her, he strays into an ever-more complicated labyrinth of deceit.
Arhianna still remembers nothing of Knockma. She goes north with her husband in search of his clan, knowing he will never be content until he discovers what has become of his people. Her decision changes her fate in drastic ways, sending her on a dark journey that takes everything from her but her will to survive.
All have an immense role to play in the great wars to come; wars that threaten to take far more from the clans of Brython than their fortresses, fields and forests. Should they fail, their enemies will lay waste to their gods and stories, ancient rites and sacred places, leaving nothing in their wake but the history they choose to write across their trampled bones.
By the end of their struggle, none will have escaped succumbing to the shadow within; lies will be told by the most honest, oaths broken by the most loyal, and weakness will torment the strongest, as all strive to defend and protect what they cherish most.
My Review
Characters are flawed and face difficult choices. The characters feel real, flawed and even a little relatable rather than being flat characters in a game. They make hard calls. They second-guess themselves. They carry the weight of leadership, loyalty, and betrayal in ways that aren’t neat or convenient. There are hard-hitting emotional moments present in both the quiet exchanges and the big confrontations. I kept wondering who would hold firm and who might finally crack under pressure — and that tension kept me completely pulled in.
The story grows darker, but keeps its focus. This novel definitely raises the stakes, but it never feels messy or overdone. The political strain tightens, alliances shift, and the consequences feel real. What I appreciate is that the mythic elements never overpower the human ones. Even as the conflicts deepen, the emotional core stays steady. Nothing feels thrown in just for shock value.
The narrator is perfect for this series. The audiobook experience works especially well for me in this series. The narrator doesn’t overact or try to dominate the story, which I’m grateful for. Instead, the delivery feels measured and steady, letting the emotion come through naturally. Tension builds where it should, quieter scenes hold emotional impact, and character voices are clear without being exaggerated. It’s easy to settle into the rhythm of the performance and not want to leave at the end.
Would I recommend Into the Shadows? If you enjoy epic fantasy that balances strong, yet flawed and realistic characters, and fictional world building with situational and historical realism, this one delivers. The themes faced in this book are a little darker--and morality and emotions hit hard throughout. In audio form especially, it’s easy to get swept up in the journey. This book, again, is a little darker, and I found myself disappointed in some of the characters--and saddened by some of the directions the storyline has moved--but, I was definitely ready to continue the journey into the 5th book!
