Thank you Harper Collins for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied around his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.
As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging in the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark.
So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group. Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.
Review:
Okay first of all this cover is stunning. And I mean it is bloody stunning. I love it and it would have to be my favourite cover of 2019! Seriously even if this book is not something that you would normally read, you should just buy this book because of how amazing this cover will look on your bookcase. No pressure or anything but you should buy this book.
Circle of Shadows is centred on Sora and Daemon who are apprentice Taigas, and they are bonded to each other with a mental bond and are able to send feelings to each other. Taigas are trained warriors that protect the emperor. Sora and Daemon are not taken very seriously due to the amount of mischief they cause, which is highly amusing. Their teachers don’t assign them to important missions and tend to assign them to missions that really aren’t that hard nor important at all. However while on a said boring mission they witness something out of the ordinary, something they haven’t seen before, something that is a huge threat to the kingdom.
The friendship between Sora and Daemon was lively and beautiful. They relied on one another, wouldn’t leave the other person behind and would protect them at all costs. It was refreshing and a highlight of this book for me. I loved their banter and found that individually they were strong but together they have unlimited faith and strength in one another.
Circle of the Shadow was fast paced and brilliant, for such a massive book I found that nothing really lagged behind nor was there any over explaining dialogue to fill in the pages. The world in which it was set really added value to the story and the characters. There really wasn’t a part of this book I didn’t enjoy.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062915405