Review: The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

The Shadow Reader is the first book in the McKenzie Lewis series by Sandy Williams and an ACE Fantasy.


Book Blurb:


Some humans can see the fae.  McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind.  But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.


A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm.  Her job isn’t her only secret.  For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master - and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.


But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader.  He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king.  Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has to decide once and for all whom to trust - and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.


My thoughts:


At the age of sixteen McKenzie realized that she could see beings others could not - and when those beings realized McKenzie could see them - they wanted to use her ability, whether she was willing or not.


Rescued by Kyol, the king’s sword-master, McKenzie felt like she was living her very own fairy tale - and when the king asked for her help, she said yes.


McKenzie has the ability to read the shadows left behind by the fae.  This way, she can plot a map that will tell where that fae has gone.  This is very useful to the king - he can then send his troops after those fae.  Very handy tool to have at his disposal during this time of war.


Now McKenzie has fallen into the hands of Aren, the leader of the rebellion.  He is not quite what McKenzie expected - but she does not trust him. After all, he did kidnap her.


But the longer she stays within the rebel camp - the more McKenzie comes to see that maybe the rebels aren’t lying.  And maybe not everything she’s been told over the years is the truth.


I completely enjoyed The Shadow Reader and can’t wait for more.


I give The Shadow Reader 4 out of 5 stars.



Product Details
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007014
ISBN-13: 978-1937007010