Sea of Shadows audiobook

A finished unsolicited copy was provided by the publisher for review.Kelley Armstrong always writes in a way that keeps the plot moving. Being an impatient person, I always need something to grip my attention, so this one really held it. I wasn't at all bored. Little did I know this book was about the supernatural. In this case, spirits and ghosts and even The Forest of the Dead. I pretty much devoured this from the get go, and the ending gave me enough closure to know there will be another book, but it also didn't end on a cliffhanger. I liked how there are two cultures being represented. Even if I thought at first hand it was the Japanese.I really liked how the two twin sisters were portrayed in the book. Different as night and day, Ashyn and Moira had unique voices and being told from their point of view was exciting. When one sister is kidnapped, and the other is trying hard to rescue her, my heart would leap out. I can't imagine having your own twin being ripped away from you. But these two were so determined and I admired them for it. Not only was most of the book a rescue mission, but there was also a lot of action sequences. The pacing is just right, and the characters aren't as fully developed as I like, but maybe that will change in the next book? The world is highly detailed and I love the crazy beasts and spirits. Armstrong uses animals a lot in her books and I kind of love her sense of magic and imagination to make them something new.Overall, it was an adventurous and sometimes creepy journey into Kelley Armstrong's latest YA installment, Sea of Shadows will gain your attention. RATING 4/5QUOTES"The only thing people love more than a good story is a bad one." (28)"Just because she was admiring the scenery did not mean she would step blindly into the quicksand." (171)"Don't ask a question if you don't care to hear the answer." (176)"If you need something and you don't have it, you take it from someone else." (207)"Curiosity is what lets a young mind grow and keeps an old mind young." (386)

Review found at: www.awesomebooknut.comI finished reading this book, back in December of 2014. I didn’t realize I hadn’t written a review on it, until a Goodreads follower mentioned it. Then I forgot to write it and I am just not getting to it. Yes here is my confession. But I remember the book because it was that good and here is my review!This is an amazing story of two VERY different twin sisters with opposite personalities, they are a perfect fit to each other and share a deep bond that is sweet. I loved them both.First we’ve got Moria who is fierce but at the same time almost uncontrollable in the point that she lacks patience. I really liked her quick tongue that sometimes got her into trouble and her talent with weapons.Then you’ve got Ashyn who is quiet, thoughtful and almost considered “weaker” when in reality she isn’t. She is just the softer of the two.With angry spirits and deadly ancient monsters that are wrecking havoc and death, both Moria and Ashlyn have to discover why this is happening and how to save those who have survived such slaughter.The character development throughout this story was awesome. Because we see both sisters pull from each other and ended up both growing and I loved it.I really enjoyed the romance in this book. I really enjoyed how Gavril constantly pushed and questioned Moria. Then I really also enjoyed the humor brought into this story by Ranon who was Ashyn’s love interest. They both were just great and I really enjoyed the slow moving aspect of this story which Kelley Armstrong does so well at and I appreciate a good story not drenched in romance. Keeps some of the mystery.Overall I LOVED this story, I love the creepy, gory, craziness and uniqueness of this story.Sexual Content: mild (some kissing)Violence: moderate/heavy (monsters destroying villages and leaving behind carnage not too graphic)Language: mild/none (that I recall)Drugs/Alcohol: none

This is such a dark and suspenseful book!This is a fantasy book that has all kinds of crazy stuff. It follows two female characters who are twins, Moria and Ashyn. Ashyn is the "Seeker" of their village and Moria is the "Keeper." These titles are held in high regard by the people because it means they are in connection with the spirits and they protect the people from The Forest of the Dead. I won't get into all of the details, but it's the kind of world that has elements that are difficult to explain!I loved the two main characters Moria and Ashyn, the switching POVs really gave the story more depth!I have to say, I enjoyed Moria's character a little more than Ashyn's, just because she is more fiery and entertaining. I also love the wildcat and hound they are bound to, Daigo and Tova. They are so cute and also have their own personalities!The world is a bit confusing, and this is where some of my problems with the book come in. Kelley Armstrong builds the world throughout the novel and spends a small amount of time actually explaining it. This is a unique and cool way to write, but in the first third of the book it was difficult to read and understand at times. By the end I feel like I get the world and I feel invested in the story, but I think it would be tempting for some people to put the book down in the beginning.The world and plot are very dark and gritty! I loved that though. I would say this story is not for the faint of heart. Once I got past the first half of the book, the story really picked up and it was one thing after another, along with some great action scenes! I thought the plot would reach a calm spot, then all of a sudden another crazy thing would happen, it was pretty awesome.There is little romance in the story. There is definitely potential, but not much comes from it. The whole time there are a couple relationships brewing, but nothing that is part of the main story line.I also thought the side characters were very well-written and everyone had such a unique and distinguishable personality.I LOVE how the book ended and I am DYING for the next one!!!*I was sent an advanced reader's copy of this book in return for an honest review*

I am glad that I gave this book another chance a couple of years later. I was slammed in life when I first read it, and couldn't get as immersed as I wanted to at the time. I enjoyed the story a LOT more this time around.Twins Moria and Ashyn were more enjoyable as characters and I loved their guardians. Gavriel and Ronan made more sense to the plot and I was able to pick up on more nuances.I now feel ready to continue in this series, which I didn't when I read it a few years ago.I look forward to what the future holds for these girls. 4 Stars.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***Sea of Shadows by Kelley ArmstrongBook One of the Age of Legends seriesPublisher: HarperTeenPublication Date: April 8, 2014Rating: 5 starsSource: eARC from EdelweissSummary (from Goodreads):They hear the spirits.They must obey.In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire's worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters' journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they've ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court--one that will alter the balance of their world forever.From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a captivating new series that blends elements of fantasy and horror with the pulse-pounding action and romance that have earned her a devoted readership worldwide.What I Liked:People. I don't even know where to begin. I can't... I don't... THIS IS TOO MUCH. The responsibility to produce a review worthy of my feelings towards this book... I don't think I'll be able to do this book any justice. I know the rating on Goodreads is not SUPER high - usually, my rating of a book is lower than the overall rating on Goodreads - but I seriously loved this book.Ashyn and Moria are the Seeker and the Keeper of spirits. Twins are rare, and twin Seekers and Keepers are even more rare. The Seeking Day has arrived, and Ashyn must go into the Forest of the Dead to put the souls of those exiled into the forest to rest. Citizens of Edgewood who go into the forest (not on account of exile) always return, unharmed. But something goes wrong, something is set into motion. Soon, the two of Edgewood is destroyed, and the girls must find help. They are separated, but each girl has a companion. It is up to the four of them - Ashyn, Ronan, Moria, and Gavril - to save the children of Edgewood, and to enter court to save themselves.I LOVED the set of characters that Armstrong has developed. At first, I thought this book was only told from Ashyn's point-of-view, but then I quickly realized that it would be told from Ashyn AND Moria's perspectives, both third-person point-of-view. I really like this. We get to learn a good deal about each girl, and while I liked Ashyn more, I really like Moria as well. I really like all four of the main characters!Right. There are four. Let me start with the girls. Ashyn is the quieter of the two, the more sensible, in my opinion, but the more naive. She is the healer-type, with the calm disposition, and observant nature. She is more like my outer nature, in that sense. But Moria appeals to my inner nature. She is a warrior, a fighter, a protector. She is feisty and crafty, impulsive and quick-witted. The girls are very different, but I really like both of them. Neither girl is particularly whiny or stupid or shallow. They have their negative qualities, but the qualities aren't horrible-human-being qualities (if you see what I mean).The other protagonists are the two males - Gavril and Ronan. Gavril is a guard for Edgewood, and Ronan is an exile who survived while in the Forest of the Dead for months. Both are fierce and intelligent, brutal and cunning. Gavril is definitely the colder of the two, but he has his moments. Ronan is less cold, and more blunt (in general, he talks more Gavril). Gavril and Moria are travel together, and Ronan and Ashyn travel together. The four of them do not intermingle (all four, together) until the last part of the book, in Fairview. But I really enjoy reading about each one individually, and together. It is especially interesting to see what each girl thinks of the other male.I suppose that sort of leads me to the romance. The romance between Ashyn and Ronan is more obvious and proclaimed than that of Gavril and Moria. In the case of the former pair, they talk about potential lovers (well, Ashyn basically asks Ronan if he has a girl waiting for him). And towards the end, they actually share a really sweet and intimate scene for the briefest of seconds. But the latter pair is a little more tricky. Moria refuses to acknowledge any feelings she might have towards Gavril. Gavril, well, he has as much emotion showing as a brick wall, so we don't actually know how he feels. Except sort of, at the end. But then, the ending. Things get confusing. So we never actually see a manifestation of a relationship between Moria and Gavril, but as readers, we can totally see it coming (hopefully!).But I should say - the romance is very subtle, in this book. Its definitely takes a backseat to the actually plot - finding the children of Edgewood, finding each other (the girls), staying alive. There is no perceived love triangle. I hope it stays that way!The plot. I've seen some people say that the book is boring and slow and that the characters are walking around for the entire book. The last part is true - the two pairs travel to Fairview, where the children of Edgewood were taken. The children were taken as ransom, I believe, and possibly to be a part of the shadow army that the enemy is creating. I'm not entirely sure. But anyway. I thought the plot was actually really interesting. It's shrouded in mystery, and you have to peel back layers and layers, but things get interesting quickly, in my opinion. The beginning is a tad bit slow, but once people start dying (which is pretty soon), question emerge, and trust me - you WANT to know what is going on. The fantasy part of this novel is creepy cool. There are shadow stalkers - creatures made of shadow, death worms - like a snake, but an anaconda, I suppose, thunder hawks - gigantic hawk-like bird that sounds like thunder. Spirits are a huge part of this book - they speak to Moria and Ashyn, as the Keeper and Seeker, but evil ones also can inhabit humans. Creepy cool. I think I've said a lot... but seriously, this book was great. I LOVE fantasy, and this book is a really great fantasy novel. I love the story, and I love the romance between each pair (especially Ronan and Ashyn). I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book - because the ending of this book is CRAZY. I was NOT expecting that at all. Although, I was expecting something sneaky... but not THAT. I seriously cannot wait. Gimme more!What I Did Not Like:I don't think I have any legitimate complaints... I just want the second book! And then the third! And so on!Would I Recommend It:Um, YES! Clearly, if I'm giving this book five stars, then you know this book has to be good. I don't just hand out five stars like that. Also? My rating of this book is higher than the overall rating on Goodreads - that NEVER happens (my rating is always lower). So. You should read this one, if you have an ARC or eARC or copy. It's worth it, especially for those fantasy lovers out there!Rating:5 stars. I think this is my first 5-star rating of 2014? Wait no, Alienated, and Sins of A Wicked Princess. Okay, my THIRD 5-star rating of 2014, out of... forty books read for the year so far. Three out of forty. I've only read two of Armstrong's book - The Summoning, and The Awakening - and I didn't really like them. But I LOVED this book, and will definitely be reading the next book!

4 starsThis book was a solid 3 stars until the end.....wow. What a way to end a book! Makes me want to grab the next one now.....oh how I hate library hold waits =(Ashyn and Moria are the Seeker and Keeper (respectively) of the Forest of the Dead. After a horrific attack on their village, they set off to find out who is responsible....and also discover other secrets along the way.This was a journey book. The main characters and their sidekicks spend about 80% of the book travelling. Normally I do not like these types of stories. I find journey books to be a bit tedious at times; however, this one was done fairly well. Probably because the main point of the book was not the fact that they were travelling. The plot as a whole was pretty compelling, but I have to admit to being a bit bored....until the end. There is a twist that I did not see coming, and I thoroughly enjoy being surprised. Also, the shipping in this book is on point! So much shipping yayyyy!!Overall, good read. Many thanks to my GR wifey for forcing me to read this highly recommending this book

"I have survived." Sea of Shadows is a rich story, with two beautiful heroines, a charming thief, and a dangerous warrior. This series is filled with twists and turns around every corner, and dangerous creatures that were believed to be stories to scare the children.Moria and Ashyn are two beautiful twin sisters, with golden-red hair and a Hound and Wildcat accompanying them by their side. But in their world, being twins comes with a strange power. Moria is the Keeper, and Ashyn is the seeker, and their job is to take care of the souls of the dead. But when they enter the Forest of the Dead, they see that new creatures are stirring around every corner. And when Shadow Stalkers attack their city, and the sisters get separated, they must find each other, and find refuge away from the dangerous and dark creatures roaming in the night. I hate saying this, but the beginning of this book was really confusing, which kind of made it boring. But once it picked up, it was so worth bearing through the painful beginning. I instantly fell in love with all the main characters, they are all so different but super interesting. And while there was no action in the beginning, there was tons of it as the story picked up. I was amazed at the cool creatures the author managed to come up with, they seemed impossible but so cool at the same time. And the relationships that were made were honestly just perfect.As much as I hate cliff-hanger endings, I have to say this one was pretty good. I did not see it coming at all, the author definitely impressed me here! I definitely recommend this, especially to all the fantasy and animal lovers. I guarantee you will love this book once you get past the beginning. Happy Reading,Aneta

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: It’s easy to immerse yourself in this action-packed, exciting novel.Opening Sentence: After three days of tramping across endless lava fields, Ronan quickened his steps at the sight of the forest.The Review:Sea of Shadows tells the story of Moria and Ashyn, twins, trained since they were young to be seeker and keeper of Edgewood. In this tiny village, the keeper and seeker keep the angry spirits at bay and keep a connection to their ancestors. But this year, during the annual trip into the Forest of the Dead, the spirits rebel — ancient monsters awaken and people are slaughtered. It’s up to Moria and Ashyn to discover why and how to save the sole survivors of Edgewood!Moria and Ashyn are very different, beside physical appearance. Moria is fierce and impatient, with a quick tongue and talent in weaponry. Ashyn is quieter and more proper, regarded as the weaker of the sisters. I enjoyed the conflicting personalities, and it’s obvious that although they are far from the same they share a deep bond. Their spiritual animals, a Hound of the Immortals and a Wildcat, made me like the characters even more. Through the journey they both change a little, in subtle ways — Moria learns a little patience and Ashyn lets her more fiery side show once or twice.Now let’s talk about the love interests. I can appreciate the relationship between Moria and Gavril, but I didn’t like it very much. Gavril doesn’t show enough expression towards Moria: the only way I realized they were supposed to be falling in love was through Ashyn’s point of view. On the other hand, Ashyn’s love interest Ranon was more fun. He added humor to an otherwise very tensely toned novel, loosening the suspense a bit.With the two sister’s points of views so different, it was hard to get confused, but a few times I did. Sometimes it was just that Moria had narrated four chapters before this one and I expected Moria’s story, and same with Ashyn. Other than that, though, I didn’t get mixed up, and all was well in my reading. (Just be careful if you read it to not get too comfortable in one character — as soon as something exciting happens to one it will often flash to the other!)I enjoyed how the setting was always changing. The adventure spanned over quite a distance, so you aren’t hearing about the dreary Waste’s barren sand too long.To sum it up, Sea of Shadows was ripe with betrayals, cliffhangers, and action, although the romance was lacking a little. There were two or three kisses the whole novel, so if you’re a huge fan of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer you might want to avoid this title. Otherwise, you will really love it. You’ll want to pre-order it on your eReader or pick it up at Barnes and Noble. I’d recommend the latter, the cover is awesome. Definitely something you want to display on a bookshelf, that’s for sure! Happy reading!Notable Scene: It looks like… It cannot be…She lifted her gaze slowly, almost not daring to look back at the door, certain that she would not see what she-Moria walked through.There were others with her. Ashyn didn’t see them. Her mind stopped there: Moria walked through.She saw her sisters face, sweat-stained and hard, her blue eyes blazing fury. Moria spotted her and her rage evaporated a flicker of shock. Then she raced across the stone floor.FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Sea of Shadows. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Sea of Shadows had an intriguing premise and potential to be a fascinating series.Two sisters, each with their own powers are sent into a wasteland filled with evil and monsters of long ago. The sisters, Moria and Ashyn, are separated and must face their own set of perils until they reunite and discover the treachery behind the devastation of their town. Each sister has a companion, that helps them along the way. As their journey progresses, they learn more about life and themselves. When they think they finally reached their goal a most unbearable betrayal will rip apart all that they've come to know.I have found many hours of great paranormal reading created by Kelley Armstrong. She has an incredible imagination and creates fabulous worlds for us to explore. I really enjoyed the self discovery of both Moria and Ashyn. I found Sea Of Shadows action packed and quite suspense filled adventure but there was times that the story's flow seemed to stall. I see huge possibilities for this story line and will absolutely check out the next book in this series. I received this ARC copy of Sea of Shadows from HarperCollins in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 8, 2014.Written by: Kelley ArmstrongSeries: Age of Legends Sequence in Series: Book 1Hardcover: 416 pagesPublisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition Publication Date: April 8, 2014ISBN-10: 0062071246ISBN-13: 978-0062071248Rating: 3.5 StarsGenre: Paranormal | Horror | FantasyFind this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/coming-of-age with elements of horrorReading Level: Young Adult Recommended for: People looking for a good cross-genre YA book with a real kicker of a heroineTrigger Warnings: murder, violence, killing, threats of sexual assault, accusations of child molestationMy Thoughts: This was a really good book. I did something I haven't done for ages, and that was to sit and read almost the entire book in one sitting. I did not want to put it down! I've been a fan of this author's Otherworld series, but this is a very different world she has created. I can see where it is based on various cultures, but she had made them her own and the world-building, while somewhat slow, is wonderfully done.I am always impressed when an author can create truly different voices for their characters, especially when they are writing from multiple points of view (by chapter). Moria and Ashyn had very different voices. Moria was brash and in-your-face, while Ashyn was more retiring and diplomatic. I think this quote encapsulates those differences quite well. “Keepers and Seekers were not permitted to do more than trim their hair to elbow length. Ashyn said they ought to be grateful they weren't like the spirit talkers, who weren't ever allowed to cut their hair or their nails. Personally, Moria would be more concerned with the "eyes plucked out, tongue cut off, and nostrils seared" part of being a spirit talker, but she could see that the uncut nails might be inconvenient as well.” Each of her characters has his or her own quirks and foibles that are slowly built up through the book. She does an excellent job of showing rather than telling, and that really makes a huge difference in a story like this one.My one complaint is that this ends on a cliffhanger and we have to wait until next year before the next book in the trilogy is available! This is the one thing I dislike about reading the books as they come out, as I'll have forgotten much of the story by the time the next one is released and will need to re-read this one. Of course, as fun as this story was, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I also wish Daigo and Tova had played larger parts. While they are always there, I think they could have been more in the middle of things in various places.But these are minor quibbles and overall I loved it. If you've been looking for a fast-paced YA fantasy with a heroine who really does kick posterior and take names (Moria), then this is the book for you. Check itout!Series Information: Age of Legends trilogyBook 1: Sea of Shadows Book 2: Empire of Night, expected publication 2015Disclosure: I received an uncorrected ARC proof copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.Synopsis: In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

Bisschen untypischer Spannungsbogen, aber ich freu mich auf Buch 2! Übrigens alles andere, als ein Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen Buch. ... Inhalt .................Moria und Ashyn sind nicht nur Zwillinge, sondern "Seeker" und "Keeper" ihres Dorfes Edgewood. Schon mit ihrer Geburt wurden sie dazu auserwählt, ihr Dorf zu beschützen und die spirituellen Rituale durchzuführen. Nun sollte Ashyn eine neue Aufgabe übernehmen, nämlich die Seelen der Verstoßenen im Forest of the Dead zu erlösen. Doch etwas stimmt dort nicht und verfolgt die Zwillinge weiter, als sie je für möglich gehalten hätten...Mein Eindruck..................................... Ich halte mich an dieser Stelle bewusst mit dem Inhalt bedeckt, weil das Buch wirklich sehr ungeahnte Wege einschlägt. Besonders gut hat mir gefallen, dass es von Beginn an sehr actionreich und spannend ist. Allerdings mit einer ordentlichen Portion Brutalität, die gerade noch so zu einem Buch für junge Erwachsene passt. Aber ehrlich gesagt wird es stellenweise wirklich grenzwertig und ist nichts für zarte Gemüter.Moria und Ashyn haben mir als Hauptfiguren richtig gut gefallen, vor allem weil sie so gegensätzlich sind. Moria ist mehr die Mutige, die Unerschrockene, diejenige, die kämpfen kann und anderen in den Hintern tritt. Ashyn ist deutlich ruhiger, besonnener und auch zurückhaltender. Sie ist der Gegenpol, der Moria wieder auf normales Level bringt, wenn diese gerade vor Wut alles auseinandernehmen will. Faszinierend, fand ich auch die unterschiedlichen Begleiter (Wildkatze und Riesenhund) der beiden, die jeweils mit ihren Seelen verbunden sind. Überhaupt ist "Sea of Shadows" eher ein Buch, das die Aufmerksamkeit beim Lesen fordert. Es strotzt nur so vor Weltgestaltung und zusätzlich wird diese nicht immer auf dem Silbertablett präsentiert. Mal gibt es eindeutige Erklärungen, mal muss man sich Zusammenhänge selbst erschließen. Größtenteils fand ich die Mischung ausgewogen, nur ab und an hätte es doch ein paar mehr Erklärungen geben können. Man hat beim Lesen richtig das Gefühl, dass sich noch mehr Tiefe hinter dem angedeuteten Weltentwurf verbirgt. Andererseits hat man lange Zeit das Gefühl, noch nicht so richtig durchzusteigen. Ich bin sehr gespannt, wie das in den Folgebänden wirkt.Sonst gibt es, wie gesagt, jede Menge Action zu bieten. Es fließt Blut, es gilt Ungeheuer zu bekämpfen, sich mit Verrat auseinanderzusetzen und vor allem, zu überleben. Dabei spielt auch jeweils für einen der Zwillinge ein Loveinterest eine Rolle, also auch in romantischer Hinsicht wird es nicht allzu langweilig. Wobei der Schwerpunkt wirklich eindeutig auf Handlung und Setting liegt.Fazit............. Für mich zeigt "Sea of Shadows" mit dem Auftakt unheimlich viel Potenzial für eine gelungene Reihe. Es gibt zwei faszinierende Hauptfiguren, spannende Nebencharaktere und einen actiongeladenen Plot. Auch der Weltumfang lässt kaum Wünsche übrig, er ist höchstens fast schon zu breit und undurchsichtig. Aber das kann sich in den Folgebänden noch ändern. Wer gerne mal anspruchsvollere Fantasy liest und auch etwas heftigeren Szenen nicht ganz abgeneigt ist, der sollte sich "Sea of Shadows" näher anschauen.Spannender, aber vor allem blutiger Auftakt mit umfangreicher Welt4,1 Sterne

HOW DID I NOT PICK UP THE SEQUELS TO THIS ASAP WHEN I FIRST READ IT?!?! How could I just leave them unread for years?!This review first appeared on my Instagram, @booktineus. The Good Things + This is a reread of a book I read years ago so I can finally finish the trilogy (I’d forgotten almost everything). + YA fantasy from one of my favourite authors. + Written in alternating third-person POVs from the twins. Moria and Ashyn have very different personalities, but both are classic YA fantasy archetypes. I’m looking forward to watching quiet Ashyn grow. + I loved the animal companions, Daigo and Tova. They’re Mythical bond-beasts with vibrant personalities. I hope nothing bad happens to them. + The secondary characters are so interesting. Many are more morally grey than they first appeared. + There are two slow-burn, opposites-attract, forced-proximity romances developing, one with very strong enemies-to-lovers vibes I can’t wait to see develop over the series. + Plenty of creepy forests, monsters, and dark magic to be found. + Was a solid three-star read until I got to the twists at the end! I’d completely forgotten about that plot point and it bumped my rating up. The Not-So-Good Things - Sea of Shadows feels very much like an introductory book. Despite the action and mystery, it’s slow going. A lot of time is spent with the characters journeying. - I’ve been left with a lot of questions and not many answers. But that’s not entirely unexpected considering this is book one of a trilogy.- The secondary characters were almost more interesting than the main characters at times. - The cliffhanger at the end! Thank goodness I can immediately dive into Empire of Night. TL; DR: Sea of Shadows is a good introduction to what I’m hoping will make an epic YA fantasy trilogy from one of my favourite authors. It was a slow start but had a good ending and interesting characters I can’t wait to learn more about. And let’s not forget the animal companions and creepy mythical monsters!

I'm really excited about how different this book was. It started out in a really creepy way and things just kept getting more interesting from there. It took no time at all to get into it. I think that should be my biggest praise or this book. That Kelley didn't need to se 100 pages to get us into the thick of things. I love books that can do that successfully. I might do a video review in the next couple days

Soo this took me ages to read, but that is only because I've been so busy and had barely any reading time. But despite that, I loved this! It was so interesting and I loved the characters, I can't wait to see where the story goes. Bring on Empire of Night!

(View this review on My Library in the Making.)I have never been more thankful that I'm patient with books than when I finished reading Sea of Shadows. The first seventy pages were such a struggle to get through as I was getting more questions than answers - although, looking back now, I think I was just distracted then - and I actually almost DNF-ed this book, but once I got past that and the action truly kicked in, oh lord.I'm asleep, she thought. Or I've gone mad. Moria's tales have come to life, and that is not possible, which means I've gone mad. Or the world has gone mad, and we're simply trapped within it.This year's Seeking is the first that Ashyn would lead without the guidance of her mentor, the imperial court's official Seeker. But as the tradition has been performed for many, many years, no one thought it would go wrong. Until it did. Suddenly, monsters of olden tales aren't so fictional anymore, and Ashyn races to court with her twin sister Moria, the Keeper, to warn the entire country of the new dangers that fill their land.Ashyn and Moria are two very different girls, their similarities ending with their appearance. Ashyn, the Seeker, is shy and kind, the one charged with going into the Forest of the Dead, their assigned post, to settle the spirits in it, so she learned little aside from the rituals she's to spend her life performing. Strong and rash Moria, on the other hand, is the Keeper who will stand watch during the Seeking to make sure that no spirits come out of the forest. She's well-trained in fighting and is as rough as her sister is gentle; they reminded me very much of Rose and Lissa from Vampire Academy. It was hard to connect with them at first, but once the going got tough, their unyielding love for each other, determination and strength, both inner and outer, really shone through. And despite a handful of stupid decisions that had me facepalm-ing, I really loved them both.As the girls raced to reach the king, it was hard to guess who their real enemy was: the dangerous foreigners or the legendary beasts that had come to life, and their lack of breathing room had me frantically turning the pages. Admittedly, the world-building wasn't astounding, but it was enough to get by with and surely didn't distract from the pace of the story - as did the romance or, rather, romances, because both girls had guys to keep them company through their perilous journey. If you're someone who demands romance in your fiction, then you shouldn't be disappointed.Relentless and unpredictable, Sea of Shadows redeemed itself after its slow start and by the end, I was beyond desperate for the second one. A few people have mentioned that aside from the girls' journey to the palace whilst evading evil people and monsters, nothing much happens in here, and while that may be true, it's not something I can hold against the book because I would be lying if I said I didn't absolutely enjoy reading it.MY FAVORITE PART is probably the ending because, like I said, it had me begging for more. The wait for the sequel is going to kill me.