About the Book:
Title: Shadow War
Author: Jina S. Bazzar
Series: Shadow Walker #4
Publication Date: Jan. 27, 2023
Synopsis: The stakes have risen, and this time, Melaina doesn’t think she can pay the price. Not only is she wanted by every faction, but the Resistance is closer than ever to reaching their goal.
Not. Her. Problem. Melaina’s plans are simple: run and hide.
But when she’s offered a clean slate in exchange of one complete task for the Coalition, she can’t help but take it.
What she finds, however, is so far from what she expects, it is not even on the list of possibilities.
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My Review:
Happy Friday and happy book birthday to Shadow War, the epic finale in the Shadow Walker series by Jina Bazzar. Shadow War picks up where Shadow Flames left off, and with that cliffhanger, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to some of the characters and to continue Melaina’s story. I needed to know what happened to Melaina after she took on her beast form! I had so many questions: How did Aurora react when she woke with Melaina in her beast form? What happened to Zach? Bradley? Who were the real monsters? How was Melaina going to save her brother? Happily, all of my questions were answered in this exciting conclusion.
Melaina has come a long way since the beginning of the series, and it’s amazing to think back to where she started and all that has happened to lead her to this point. She is a complex and well-layered protagonist who is fierce, strong, and smart. She is a warrior, and she never gives up fighting for herself, those she loves, and those who can’t fight for themselves. She is also fiercely protective, and she has a vulnerable side that we see quite a bit in this conclusion, especially when it comes to her closest relationships.
In the last book, Melaina dealt with some shocking betrayals, and it’s interesting to see how she deals with the deception. Without giving too much away, there were a couple of people Melaina totally trusted, and they kept things from her for a long time. Melaina lost all trust in them, as she should. I hoped these characters would have a chance at redemption, especially because they were so important to her, and it’s interesting to see how Melaina deals with her conflicting feelings about them.
All of the characters are in high-stakes, end-of-the-world, deadly situations. The plot is super intense with tons of twists and turns, as well as kidnappings, hostage situations, deadly creatures, disturbing experiments, daring escapes, and more pulse-pounding situations and action. The story explores themes like the corruptive nature of power, fear of change, forgiveness, acceptance, and my personal favorite – love.
Melaina’s romance with Bradley is still a favorite of mine. It’s a bright part in a dark and dangerous plot, and I so rooted for these two. They have loved each other for so long, and so many obstacles stood in their way. Now, with her beast exposed, Melaina feels more vulnerable than ever, and she worries about Bradley’s reaction to this surprising revelation. I love how Bradley responds and how their relationship progresses.
I’m so glad I had a chance to read this series. It’s suspenseful and intriguing, and the world-building, fantasy and dystopian elements, and character development are fantastic. Special thanks to Jina S. Bazzar for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The suspense and action.
- The love story.
- Melaina.
Favorite Lines:
I knew now to be afraid was okay, as long as I didn’t allow the fear to guide my actions. I’d been afraid all my life. I’d allowed that fear to be the deciding factor behind me, using it as my crutch in any meaningful action and interaction. I was still afraid.
We wanted to be accepted as ourselves, not just when needed, but because of them.
Recommendations:
This isn’t a standalone, so I would suggest reading the first three books in the series before starting this one. Also. be sure to check the content warnings. There are elements that could trigger readers.
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