The Shadow Casket

The Darkwater Legacy, Book 2

By: Chris Wooding

Narrated by: Simon Bubb

A BAND OF REBELS.
A TRAITOR IN THEIR MIDST.
A REVOLUTION ABOUT TO BEGIN.

It's been three years since Aren seized the Ember Blade. Three years since they struck the spark they hoped would ignite the revolution. But the flame has failed to catch. The Krodans have crushed Ossia in an iron grip of terror. The revolution seems further away than ever.

Far in the north, the Dawnwardens seek to unite the fractious clans of the Fell Folk and create a stronghold from which to retake their land. But even if they can overcome the danger of treachery from within, they still have to contend with the dreadknights. Only the druidess Vika can resist these near-unstoppable foes, and there's only one of her.

But what if there was a weapon that could destroy the dreadknights? A weapon of such power it could turn the tide? A weapon that, if it fell into the wrong hands, might mean the end of all hope?

The Shadow Casket has returned from out of the past, and it will save or damn them all.

'The Ember Blade is Lord of the Rings for the modern generation - an epic world full of history, depth and adventure' Ed McDonald, author of Daughter of Redwinter©2023 Chris Wooding (P)2023 Orion Publishing Group Limited

it's not bad, but I don't want this

I'll admit, I didn't finish this book. Maybe it gets better, maybe the hamfisted drama gets more complex and satisfying, maybe the main characters develop interesting dynamics, maybe ANYTHING happens that makes me want more from this book. After 24 chapters filled with tedium and artificial drama (that honestly takes away from the real story) I just can't finish it. Nothing is overtly awful, but it is boring with a sense of anticlimactic eye roll teen drama that flattens any character arc. the book has completely ejected me out of the world, and I'm left with my mind wandering half the time.

I would really hesitate buying this book. It tarnishes the rising hope and awe from the ending of the Ember Blade. What a shame.

Great series

The characters, setting, plot…. Such a good series. Wish the main character got a better name at the end! Definitely should give this a listen or read.

Slow build to an epic conclusion!

Since it had been a couple years since I read The Ember Blade I was really excited to start this one. It started out slowly, building upon the first book. Man, did it take off toward the end. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Absolutely incredible

A+++ This book is everything that I’m looking for in a fantasy novel and Chris knocked it out of the park. So many great twists and turns and repercussions that it had me smiling ear to ear when I tied 2 things together. Narrator was also 10/10 fantastic and I can’t recommend this enough if you like sword and sorcery and Grim dark and long journey acquiring new friends type fantasy. Great great great book.

So we all agree on the best character rite?

Harod all day. He reminds me of Rock Lee and Sirfetch'd. To be honest I'm leaving this review not even half way through the book because he always hype's me up in every scene he's in. 5 out of 5 for harod alone.

This is a headline

Worth a listen. I liked the first one better but still enjoyed listening to this one.

Mastercraft in character writing

I have over 500 fantasy novels in my library and this is in the top 5, so far. You hate characters then learn to like them and vice versa. Its more in the style of GoT in which no character is safe, magic is..real but not understood, and the story are the characters themselves. I see alot complaining about Fenn, but this isnt your happy ending book. She did what people do in real life. I will say if something happens to Grub, ill stop listening, jk. Grub is one of the better characters ever laid to page. Cant wait for more.

Its Worth a Read

Its realistic for people to make the same mistakes, or to backslide on advances weve made. however its narratively frustrating, and youll run into a fair bit of that for some of our characters from the first book. I found a few arcs in the story eye rolling, and its baffling that Aren hasnt trained significantly in several years. there are many such baffling moments. that said, their are so many excellent twists, character moments and gripping scenes that its well worth it.

i will say, im unsure if something is being set up with one character in particular, but im worried its ending on a subversion that honestly had me questioning close to a third of the book. it could be cut as well as the character it concerns, and nothing changes.

didn't finish it

The ember blade was surprisingly good, especially for someone is picky as me. I never could quite get behind the concept of the druids and how their power works, though. as many of the reviews point out this book is a bit darker, I got about a third of the way in and decided I had enough. I like my bad guys bad, maybe even a little disturbing, and perhaps my complaint is with the feeling of Nazi experimentation on people just too well done for my taste. I was also quite disappointed with the direction that the characters take in this book, and their interactions. The author brings back a character from the first book that I think would have been better off left dead. To be fair, I didn't finish it. If you don't mind the darker bits of content, and the somewhat disappointing arcs the characters take, prose is well written, and the action is engrossing; He's definitely a talented author, and I might consider some of his other work.

Lose the love triangle!

This was a bit of a tropy follow up to the fantastic Ember Blade. The first half of the book was nearly ruined by a horribly lame love triangle. It got better towards the end. I hope the next book is better.