Shadow Rise by Audrey Grey

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 312
Series: Shadow Fall #2
Genre: YA, Survival, Battle to death
Published: April 17, 2020
Rating: DNF @ pg 97

Synopsis:

My name is Maia Graystone: rebel, terrorist, and . . . traitor.

Imprisoned in the Tower at the Archduchess’s mercy, awaiting certain execution, I spend every moment thinking of ways to escape so I can find Riser and fulfill the promise to my father.

When the perfect moment arises, I break free, only to discover the unthinkable—the rebels have branded me a traitor.

It gets worse. War looms, my friends have abandoned me, and Nicolai refuses to help find the Mercurian.

There’s only one way to change his mind and regain the rebels’ respect. I must fight in the ruthless Blood Courts, a violent, gladiatorial arena where only the strong survive. 

Only problem is, first I have to defeat the reigning champion.

Someone I once trusted with my heart.

Win and the entire rebel army is mine. Lose and the world burns.

Dare to enter the gritty world of Shadow Fall where tyrants rule, misfits reign, and anti-heroes are tasked with saving the world. If you like enemies-to-lovers romance, high-octane action, and epic themes of good versus evil, you’ll binge this rollercoaster of emotions late into the night!

Review:

Spoiler warning! Rant warning!

I had to go and look at reviews to see if I could continue with this series. I even debated reading the last chapter to see if that would give me the motivation to continue. But ultimately I am too angry to continue.

While most people probably like the direction that the author went I did not. It really angered me. After Maia escaped, she finds out that she is labeled a traitor by the rebels. Not only that but Riser supposedly erased her from his memory. Are you freaking kidding me? To me, that means everything she just suffered through was for nothing. Her friends abandon her and Riser completely erasers her and changed. A total personality flip.

Excuse me, but no. Everything I just finally connected within the first book is now thrown out the window. We had enemies to lovers only for them to turn back into enemies to lovers again. Are you kidding me!!! I have to relive them not being together and fighting attraction and all that new crap that’s in the way? Heck to the no! I ain’t doing it.

That is what has angered me. While other reviews liked the direction I did not. Not for me.

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 429
Series: Shadow Fall #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: Nov. 22, 2016
Rating: 3 STARS

Synopsis:

My name is Maia Graystone: prisoner, rebel, and reluctant savior of a dying world.

In exactly 552 hours, an asteroid will end life as we know it. Not that I’m counting or anything. Trapped inside a hellish prison with thieves and murderers, I have more current worries.

Like the brother I left behind or the not-so-friendly inmates or the fact that I’m wanted by the most powerful man in existence.


Then a mysterious benefactor breaks me out and offers the impossible: a spot in the Shadow Trials. Win and I’ll receive a coveted place for my brother and I on the space station in the stars.

But the opportunity comes at a steep price. Partner with a dashing psychopath, enter the court that once condemned me to death, survive the ruthless trials created by my own mother, and kill the Emperor–the very man who’s hunting me.

In this cunning game of life and death, nothing is as it seems and everyone expects me to fail. But they forgot one tiny detail.

Never underestimate the girl with nothing left to lose.

Review:

Preface Fair warning—this book is dark. This book is gritty. This book doesn’t hold its punches. It will make you question everyone, will make you scream, throw your kindle—or paperback—and probably curse my name. If that’s not your thing, do not proceed.

When a book starts like this, it gets you to question if you are ready? What is this book going to do? What is going to happen? Well…

In this world, people are separated by colors. Gold, silver, and bronze class the people. Maia is a bronze who went to prison when she was nine years old. Dropped into the lower pit, survival is all she has known for seven years. An asteroid named Pandora is headed for earth. Golds, the Emperor, and those chosen were on a space station called Hyperion. Maia and a boy from the pit named Riser go under reconstruction so they may infiltrate the Shadow Trials to get on Hyperion. They must go to Emerald Island and compete against others to win the spots.

I’m surprised at how calm I feel. How very, very determined. Somehow it feels as if I have been preparing for this very moment my entire life. After all, it’s not the first time I’ve been here. Scared and alone. Unsure whom to trust. Struggling for survival in a harsh, unforgiving environment. Except this time will be different. Because this time I’m going to fight back.

The writing was okay. There were parts I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. I had to reread a couple parts to make sure I one didn’t skim by accident and to make sure my mind didn’t jumble anything. I wasn’t really connecting with the characters until halfway through part 2. The preface warning had me excited because I thought I was going to get a gripping tale, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

I did go straight into the second book after the ending. I wanted to see what happens next. I’ll explain that in the second book’s review on my feelings towards that book.