Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

A Spoiler Free Review

This is honestly nothing like anything I’ve read from Kelley Armstrong. That being said, I’m definitely a fan of epic fantasy and this ticks that box rather nicely. Sea of Shadows is definitely set up for the rest of the trilogy. The concepts for the magic system are set up but not completely explained, so I do hope that gets expanded upon through the rest of the trilogy. Same for the overall war plot that Armstrong has set up.

I quite liked the main protagonists, Moria and Ashyn. I would like a more thorough explanation of their powers, though. They are Seeker and Keeper but I’m still not entirely sure what that means aside from an affinity for speaking to spirits. Them having animal sidekicks is nice, love me an animal sidekick. Ronan and Gavril are kind of bog-standard for their character types, really. I was expecting either of them to do anything super awesome or important. They are clearly secondary to Moria and Ashyn and that is just fine.

The setting is actually kind of flat for this high fantasy story. Like, not sure if we’re in a European style medieval or an Asian style medieval… just kind of standard village is village thing going on for most of the story. We get a better feel for the setting once the characters reach the capital city toward the end, but it’s more of a side feature Asian style than an in-your-face kind of thing.

I think the shadow-stalkers, thunder hawk, and death worms were interesting, if largely just obstacles the girls have the get through… like mini-bosses. Honestly, of the three, the thunder hawk was my favorite. The fact that it actually influences the local weather is cool, if worrying for weather patterns.

The only thing I have left to say is that I really don’t blame the village elders or whatever for just straight up killing anyone who survives the Forest of the Dead. If you’ve had one person seem perfectly normal turn on a dime and actually be murdery and crazy, then yes, you have legitimate reason for just killing all survivors. I mean, otherwise you have to waste manpower on some kind of quarantine and, ya know, no one wants that… and yes, I am being sarcastic in that last bit. Your Forest of the Dead punishment is supposed to allow for survivors… but nope, can’t actually have that. Ugh.

Anyway, I really enjoyed Sea of Shadows. For once that ominous sounding title fits the narrative within. On to the next one!