Double ARC Review | Shifting Shadows (Narun, #2) & War of the Twin Swords

 🌿 Hi, guys! I hope you’re having the most wonderful day by the hand of the most incredible readings. ❤️ Today I’m more than happy to bring you a double review of two great books that I’ve read this month, and that I also have the pleasure to say have been ARCs. Before starting as I always like to do, I want to thank both authors for contacting me to review their books, it’s a great honor for me. This time I come with an action-packed short book highly based on the story of King Arthur, but with its own original touches as well and very powerful female leaders & on the other hand, I bring a sequel to a super addictive urban fantasy that combines very well elements of fantasy with contemporary touches and a good atmosphere. 👏🏻 
You’ll see that my reviews aren’t as extensive as always, it’s because I haven’t had much time this month, I promise that it will be like that again next month, but for now, I focus on the most important details and don’t worry because I don’t leave anything out of my reviews and I still share with you all my thoughts, the good ones, and the not so good ones. 🥰 
So without further ado, I hope you enjoy it, you know that I adore sharing my thoughts with you 😊 & LET’S GET STARTED! 🌿 

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Title: Shifting Shadows

By: M.J. Bavis

Series: Narun #2

Published: March 24th, 2020

Genre: YA – Paranormal – Fantasy – Romance

Buy it: Amazon

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Having faced her past and discovered its painful truth, Kalika is determined to right her wrongs and return to her homeland. Together with the Prince of Narun, she sets off to stop a looming war with the Gorahites. But, with the borders heavily monitored and Hunters breathing down her neck, she is forced into hiding until her seen and unseen scars have healed from her last encounter with enemy soldiers.

When the time comes to leave for Narun, Kalika is faced with a series of choices that will determine not only her destiny but that of her loved ones.

With the fate of two nations in her hands, will the cost of peace require the ultimate sacrifice? 

| Goodreads |

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 🌿 Shadow Soul (Narun #1) by M.J. Bavis

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I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

Makes me sad that I can’t elaborate much on this book because it’s a sequel, and also because it’s those kinds of stories that when you reveal too much, you can easily ruin the experience for someone else, so I wouldn’t want to do that. If you have more questions about the story itself and what it is about, you can always read my review on the first book. The most important thing is that I did enjoy it, I think it was very easy to read and super atmospheric.

It was a good and pretty solid sequel, I still enjoyed the first book more, but I liked this one as well. I love how the author plays with two completely different worlds and mixes them in a very unique way. That makes it have a weight within the fantasy genre, but without neglecting contemporary factors, which I think is the strong point of this whole story. I think that sometimes when a book tries to play a lot with fantasy and reality, can be confusing, but I don’t think that’s the case this time, it’s well developed and is super fun to read.

This is always just my opinion, of course, but at times I felt the characters were somewhat weak surrounded by a plot with a very solid construction of the world and ideas, they’re not my favorite characters, but I would continue reading the story just for the plot, and that doesn’t happen to me often so it is a great merit.
Also, I adore the author’s style, I already knew what I would find, but again it gives us a fluid style and super easy to read, but at the same time doesn’t neglect the atmosphere because the descriptions are there and are just the necessary amount of them. I always say this because I don’t know how else to describe it, but you know when you watch a TV series of urban fantasy like Vampire Diaries or Grimm, well that’s what I feel when I read this story, it’s like watching a series, it’s addictive because you want to know what will happen, but it’s light at the same time and you have fun in the process, so that’s great!

I like the tone that the author has decided to give to the sequel, maybe I don’t entirely agree with some of Camilla’s decisions, but I still really appreciate seeing a growth in her as the main character, as well as the weight of the scenes, who show great tension and anticipation.I think the opinions regarding the direction of the plot could be polarized, but it was still interesting to me to read it.

I quite liked the book in general, I tend to be demanding when it comes to this type of genre, but I would still recommend it, especially I love the beginning of this story, so go see my review of the first book for more info and then it develops solidly, there’s a moment of surprise, there are some that are quite predictable, but still it doesn’t lose its soul and I appreciate that, because if you’re looking for a book that will keep you entertained from the first page, that has a good writing style and unique factors that convince the fantasy with the contemporary, then this is the book for you! I know that if one day you just want to relax and read something very fun you can enjoy it, no doubt about it, it reads very quickly and I think it’s worth giving it a try.

I’m sorry I can’t share much about without spoilers, but I hope I’ve been able to transmit the soul of the book as such. Now, to find out the events and obstacles that will be presented to the characters (which are many, dangerous and monstrous) you’ll have to read it

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3.5/5

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Title: War of the Twin Swords

By: Julia Goldhirsh

Series: Gemstone Massacre Series Prequel

Published: June 9th, 2020

Genre: Fantasy – Romance

Buy it: Amazon

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On the night before her Choosing, there were whispers of war in the air.

After binding herself to Clarent, Opal is given a grim prophecy of her future. Alone and ostracized from her clan, she finds an unlikely ally in the sorceresses’ leader, Joan.

Joan is the reason the Sorceress clan wants to attack. She’s prophesied to pull Excalibur from its stone. But her clan wants its powers for a darker purpose.

They have to band together to stop the Sorceress clan’s invasion. Excalibur is on their side, but they’re outnumbered five to one. Can Opal escape this war unscathed?

Or will her prophecy come true?


If you like Merlin and Once Upon a Time, then you’ll love the first book in the Gemstone Massacre series. Buy “War of the Twin Swords” today! 

| Goodreads |

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I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super entertaining read! I adore the feminine power that it transmits, the characters are interesting as well as the plot, although I would have liked a little development in several areas, especially in the descriptions of the places and in some characters, I still managed to enjoy it, I think it’s a book worth reading if you want an action-packed quick read. Plus: it’s full of winks to King Arthur, which I really liked.

I really liked the idea that surrounds the plot, I love that it has a lot of magical aspects and there are sorceresses! I loved how the author played with all that, I think she makes smart decisions in this book to keep the reader super hooked from the beginning. I really want to highlight how well built I felt the plot was, the pace is magnificent, but at the same time, it’s a short story, which makes everything feel a bit rushed, but I could enjoy it without problems anyway, so I think will be different according to the reader.

I would have liked a little more description of the world because even though we know where were and what’s happening as a central point, which is great, I couldn’t put myself there feeling that I lived it together with the characters, you know? because it lacks that little touch of greater development of descriptions of the world and concentration on the surroundings in general. The characters are good, I love the women in the book, they’re very powerful and have very strong personalities, I loved that, it was refreshing to read and the interactions between them are very good as well. Even so, it’s also another point that I would have spent a little more development on, I mean, what I read was good, I’m not complaining, I enjoyed it a lot and I think they still have a lot of personality and credibility, but I would have liked it more deepness in some past events that have marked them to be able to understand 100% their actions.

It’s the first time I read this author and her style seemed very unique, it is easy to read but at the same time it’s surprising when you least expect it, and it shows that no word is actually left to chance which I appreciate. Before, I mentioned how I really liked the way the plot is constructed, and I want to explain a little what I mean. I’m not the biggest fan of action scenes, but I think they have a pretty strong purpose in this book, so they made sense to me, and I like that they’re set at the right times. I like how we jump directly into the action and then we know more about what’s happening, its meaning and the why, until we reach the final outcome, and honestly I liked the development a lot and how it’s designed, I enjoyed the process.

I’m happy to say that I recommend this reading especially if you like retellings but with unique and unexpected twists (Excalibur twist), and also if you feel like reading something fast and full of action. The female characters are to stand out and although the scenarios need further development, it still doesn’t prevent my enjoyment since the plot is very well thought out, as well as the construction of the beginning and the end, I loved, I think they’re the most solid points from the book. I think you should go for it keeping in mind that’s a short story because then you’ll have a better idea what you’ll find, it’s precipitate at times and there are scenes that come out of nowhere, but I understand what the author wanted to tell this story of a short form always getting to the point and being strong with her ideas, I admire that, even though I know it won’t work for everyone. It’s a great book, no doubt, I know you’ll have a lot of fun with it if you give it a chance. 

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3.5/5

Have you heard about this book? | Would you like to read it? | Have you read the author’s work before? | What do you think about it?

    🌿 Feel free to leave your comment below, I always love to know what you think 🌿  

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