Shadow Fallen is a quick and witty read from Kenyon about an immortal woman named Ariel who finds herself in a rough spot with a grieving witch. She’s cursed into immortality and with it comes emotions for the first time and a romantic adventure with an unlikeable male who is filled with anger from his past, named Valteri.

The novel was quick and entertaining. The story line flowed nicely for a while. Sherrilyn does a good job at character development and bringing in different personality traits with all the characters. She also ties in back stories very well and there were two long term Dark Hunter characters that were brought in which was good to see.

I was a little annoyed at how repetitive the book’s tone got. The main male character Valteri, was not very likeable. He was just cranky and hated his life throughout the entire book. Would’ve liked to see him develop more. Other than that I look forward to another Dark Hunter or Dream Hunter novel from her!

★★★★ Would recommend. Would advise to read the Dream Hunter & Dark Hunter novels in order beforehand but it would make sense as a standalone. ( )

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Tor/Forge and Sherrilyn Kenyon for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Shadow Fallen is the sixth book in the series Dream Hunters. This one tells the story of an angel Ariel who falls to earth because of a curse. Ariel’s job is to escort the dead souls (usually soldiers fallen in battle) to their afterlife. One such soul’s mother was so distraught at her son’s demise that she curses Ariel to fall to earth and fall in love with a man, Valteri, who will then die and leave her brokenhearted. The old woman has made a blood curse with a demon, who also wants their souls to gain his freedom from Hell. Valteri is no ordinary man, he has suffered greatly because of his vague parenthood and most think him some sort of demon. Ariel has lost her memory but falls madly for Valteri knowing him to be the good man that he is. Now, if they can only find a way around this curse.

I was not a fan of this story. I have read the prequel to the series, Phantom Lover and enjoyed it very much and was hoping for something in the same vein. This story just had too much repetition and it got really boring. I read it in one sitting and to be constantly hit over the head with Valteri had a hard life growing up, got it, he got beaten, got it, he doesn’t trust anyone, great, over and over again for three hundred pages, just wasn’t interesting. Same with Ariel, I mean she was an angel fallen from heaven, there should have been lots to talk about becoming mortal that could have been interesting. The only thing that was remarkable was how beautiful and kind she was. I mean really, that’s it??

There was also lots of confusing history of different demons and demigods, their children and who ran things in what realms. As well as bible quotes thrown in for good measure. So for me the characters were cardboard, the story weak and the repetition of scenes with no forward progress was not enticing. I am curious to see what the rest of the series is like, since I liked the first one so much but as for this one, it’s a pass for me. ( )

It felt different but I liked it

This book had a different feel than the other books in the series. It might have been the era but it still read differently. It's not a bad thing. It was just that I liked the feel of the other books better. She's such an excellent writer though that this was a magnificent piece of work.

I love this series and had missed it but this was worth the wait.



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The gods at play in Medieval times!

I’m not sure if this is a Medieval historical romance wrapped in the banner of Fantasy or an historical fantasy novel. The gods at play in the human world with archangels and fallen angels, demons and their ilk running riot, and attempting to change the balance of power.
It’s been sometime since I’ve read a fantasy where the pantheon of gods infect and infiltrate the historical world. The time is that of William the Conqueror. Valteri the Godless, is William’s half brother, a fearsome warrior, more berserker, and a tormented soul. Tormented as a child by the clerics in charge of him who saw his mismatched eyes as a sign of the demonic. Valteri has a dream of a blond woman in a battlefield. Prophetic. Ariel, is a daughter of the archangel Saint Michael and “a Naşāru—a resolute warrior whose calling was to stay far from the mortal realm, where their licentiousness could tempt her, except for those brief moments when she was commanded to find dead warriors to return to life so that they could fight in earthly battles that were denied to her species. Her job was to protect the order of the universe. To defend the primal forces. She was not to know pain. That was for mortals to bear.”
Ariel is tricked by a troublesome demon Belial and a crone with a grudge against her. Ariel is stripped of her powers. She is the key to Belial’s attempts to regain favour of the evil god Kadar. Of course there’s tricksy moments and counter moves but how Ariel will win free and how Valteri will protect and be protected is contested every step of the way.
Things of course take a slightly different tack. My heart goes out to Valteri who is more than he seems, a lonely and abused man with a kind heart whose self protection solution is to isolate himself and move from one battle to another. Only this time William outplays him by gifting Valteri lands and responsibilities Valteri doesn’t want.
A love story filled with heartache, demons, angels and the like.
This is my first Kenyan novel. I don’t think it will be my last.

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )