Queen of Shadows {book review} * * * * 1/2

Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan

- paranormal romance, UF -

reviewed by Tara SG

purchased eBook via Amazon.com

Book Order (Shadow World)

1. Queen of Shadows * * * * 1/2
2. ShadowFlame (July 26, 2011)

Links

Author’s Website : http://diannesylvan.com

Author’s Twitter : @dSylvan

Amazon : paperback / eBook (57 reviews : 4.5 avg)

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List (228 ratings : 4.19 avg)

In Six Words

phenomenal character growth of kick-ass heroine

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

Having added this book to my TBR list four times (after seeing it on SciFi Guy, All Things Urban Fantasy, Lurv a la Mode, and Smexy Books), it really wasn’t a huge shocker that I moved it up my TBR list and squeezed it in even though I was insanely behind on everything. It was completely worth it! I loved this book! It was dark and depressing, but balanced with love, personal growth, and even a nice touch of humor.

Some major plot points in this book, if dealt with incorrectly, could have been disastrous. However, the author handled everything perfectly. Now this may be a little spoilerish, but I feel like I need to mention that one of these things is a fairly graphic rape scene. While it didn’t bother me (due to the way her recovery was handled), I have had friends in the past that having been in a similar situation avoided books/movies including rape at all costs.

The romance was sweet and slow, which is exactly what you would want for someone having been through such a terrible experience. I loved seeing Miranda find her strength and turn into someone who can (and wants to) protect herself.

I without a doubt will be picking up the next in the series and anything else by this author.

Brief Summary

Meet Miranda Grey – music and magic are in her blood. Overwhelmed by her uncanny ability to manipulate people’s emotions through her music, Miranda Grey comes to the attention of vampire lord David Solomon. Believing he can help bring her magic under control, David discovers that Miranda’s powers may affect the vampire world too…

- via GoodReads.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

Having never been to Austin myself, I’m not sure how well the author did at creating a darker version of this real life city. That being said, I love the world she created. Her mythology was well explained and developed. I was extremely interested in the idea of the vampires feeding off not only blood, but the emotions/physic strength. The shifting of POVs was handled really well and wasn’t confusing at all.

I read this front to back without breaks. While the middle was a little shower, the pacing was good.

Characters

Miranda may be my first favorite heroine of this year. She is barely alive when we meet her. Dealing with her magic on her own has left her looking and addicting like a drug addict. She can’t touch anyone. Doesn’t meet anyone’s eyes. She barely eats or even leaves her house. She had gotten so bad that when she was first attacked, she couldn’t even find the strength to defend herself. This all changes, however, after she is rescued by David and he begins to teach her to use her magic. This isn’t an overnight fix or miracle. It took time and a lot of work on her part. I LOVE who she is by the end of the book.

Other than his name (only for personal reasons), David was a great lead for this book. He is the strongest vampire in the area and he is what the bad guys fear in the dark… for good reason. We get to learn some about his past, but from what I’ve seen about the next book, it will be further explored then. He’s an alpha male and a little controlling, but I think he’s going to have to learn how to have a strong alpha female by his side. Also he’s a complete technology geek, how cute is that? My only issue with him will be discussed in the Going Deeper section.

Most of the side characters are well rounded and developed. I came to love David’s second in command and hope to see more of her. I’m thinking Miranda’s human friends will play a bigger role in the next book too.

Favorite Quotes

“We don’t get to choose how we’re born, Miranda, and very rarely how we die; but we get to choose how we live. Life is too short to spend in the dread and guilt.”

She cocked her head to one side and gave him a look. “You do realize that you lack any sort of credibility in the ‘life is too short’ cliche department.”

“You’re too young to remember the eighties.”

“Fuck, girl, I barely remember my eighties,” Sophie shot back. “I went through magic mushrooms like Super Mario.”

“Look, I don’t have any control over the war. It could go on longer than I live. I’m not going to lie around on a chaise longue waiting for my prince to come rescue me from my tower. And if he were the kind of guy who’d ask me to, well, he could go fuck himself anyway.”

- Urgh I love Miranda!

Recommendations

Fans of darker PNR that leans towards the UF side of the genre, should give this a try. Lots of fighting, gore, mystery, romantic tension, and female strength.

Going Deeper – slight spoilers

David sleeps with other people while him and Miranda are apart. No they aren’t “dating” or in a real “relationship” and by no means was she ready to take it to the next level at that point. However, this bothered me. Kinda. On one hand, the romantic in me wants to cry for him being “unfaithful”. But the realist in me loves that the author had him stay true to his nature. He hunted the way he normally did and while he was having sex with other women, it was just sex.

I also wanted to mention that I liked the religious and same-sex issues that were addressed with how the bad guys were targeting their victims and what David (and the other good guys) thought about it.