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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
Rating: 4/5
The Shadow Gate is the follow up to the SPFBO7 finalist The Iron Crown, and continues to follow Fenn as he seeks to recover his memories and travels with Apollo and Selys to recover the Citrine Key from the icy domain of Paragos, while Calidra now reunited with her sister struggles to protect her loved ones as the Myr continue their attack on Porsenthia and Braggalia.
The dragon spirits are such an interesting creation and the way MacRae has weaved the magic system and world building around them is incredibly well done. We learn a lot more of the dragon spirits and the Myr in this book, as well as see the impact of the Myr’s return to Tassar.
Admittedly some of the characters actions could be quite frustrating at times - while understandable due to events that have impacted the or the influence of others, it could be nonetheless quite frustrating for me as a reader with the wider lens of what is occuring.
On the whole The Shadow Gate is a marked improvement over The Iron Crown in one of those rare cases of book two surpassing the first. I’m excited to see what the third book in this series will bring.
I really enjoyed continuing in this world and I am very glad I went back to it whilst on holiday so I really got the chance to dig into a big expansive fantasy world and really invest back into these characters. This story is sprawling and feels like it has lots of threads all going to different places, but the root of it all is whether or not the Myr are going to take over the Sprits of the Dragons in this world and whether they are truly such a dark force or not. The Myr seem to be able to take over and influence people susceptible, and some of our characters are certainly vulnerable. They also have dark magic which is ominous and could spell doom for the wider fantasy world here, so of course there is a lot at stake!
I liked going back into this story and remembering the curses and the blessings that Dragon Spirits had given to the humans. They are often both a curse and a blessing all at once, and the question of whether Dragon Spirits or the Myr are better to share the world and your mind with comes up a fair bit over the story. We have a lot of viewpoints and so we see the ‘spread’ of the Spirits and the Myr influence through various different eyes and we get to follow the individual journeys of those working for or against the bigger world-ending/re-making that could be coming.
Fenn as a character is someone I don’t particularly like in this book. He felt pretty much like the bad guy and he here was very little wiggle room here to make him likeable whereas in the previous one he didn’t feel as set in stone to me.
Calidra and her family and loved ones had some touching moments and I enjoyed the family bonds which were formed in her plot. Her story is somewhat dysfunctional but I like her and her determination.
I liked Selys and the Pirate-like crew that we see down in the other part of the world. Their inclusion in the story made for some fun moments and some levity and love at times, whilst also adding a new piece of the puzzle into the plot.
Overall a fun second book and it got me firmly back into enjoying fantasy after a bit of a break and also into this world and wanting to see where it might go next. 4*s.
I liked going back into this story and remembering the curses and the blessings that Dragon Spirits had given to the humans. They are often both a curse and a blessing all at once, and the question of whether Dragon Spirits or the Myr are better to share the world and your mind with comes up a fair bit over the story. We have a lot of viewpoints and so we see the ‘spread’ of the Spirits and the Myr influence through various different eyes and we get to follow the individual journeys of those working for or against the bigger world-ending/re-making that could be coming.
Fenn as a character is someone I don’t particularly like in this book. He felt pretty much like the bad guy and he here was very little wiggle room here to make him likeable whereas in the previous one he didn’t feel as set in stone to me.
Calidra and her family and loved ones had some touching moments and I enjoyed the family bonds which were formed in her plot. Her story is somewhat dysfunctional but I like her and her determination.
I liked Selys and the Pirate-like crew that we see down in the other part of the world. Their inclusion in the story made for some fun moments and some levity and love at times, whilst also adding a new piece of the puzzle into the plot.
Overall a fun second book and it got me firmly back into enjoying fantasy after a bit of a break and also into this world and wanting to see where it might go next. 4*s.
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Iron Crown was a promising start to the Dragon Spirits series, but The Shadow Gate absolutely takes the story to the next level.
Everything I loved from the first book is again present in this sequel, but somehow just executed even better. The story takes a much darker turn, but because MacRae also infuses the story with SO much heart, it never loses its comforting and exciting touch. This is character-driven epic fantasy at its very best!
I am absolutely blown away by the character development in this instalment and was quite surprised and excited by the bold turns in some characters’ character arcs. We really go through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with these characters, and I loved that each of them is allowed to be so authentically flawed and messy.
I think that these characters were more easily likeable in the first instalment, but here they become more well-rounded, and, as a result, more human. And yes, sometimes that meant I wanted to smack them over the head or give them a good shake (mostly looking at you, Fenn), but that’s exactly why they felt so real and why I am now so terribly emotionally invested in all of them.
It’s also quite impressive to me how smoothly MacRae has built up this rather large cast of characters, even adding a new POV in this instalment (which I loved, give me all the pirate/seafaring vibes!), and still manages to give them all the time and care they deserve. There were maybe a handful of supporting characters that felt a bit flat and forgettable to me, but I think that only stood out because all the other characterisations are so stupendously strong.
I especially love how each of these protagonists is driven forward by a similar motivation, that being the love for their loved ones, yet none of their journeys feel interchangeable. Family, love, loyalty, and friendship are very big themes in this story, and they are explored in both the most heartbreaking and most heartwarming ways.
The world building is another aspect that is only continuing to get better and better the further into the series we get. I absolutely adore the concept of the Dragon Spirits and loved seeing them become an even more integral part of the story here. Not only because it’s simply damn cool to read about these majestic and awe-inspiring beings, but also because we really dive deep into just how dangerous and capricious they really are. Their corruptive powers have big psychological impacts on some of our protagonists, and I loved all the dangerous mind games that were being played.
Speaking of dangerous, MacRae does such a brilliant job of building up tension and subtly reminding both the characters and the readers of the looming threat of the Myr. I really love that these dangerous beings continue to be so shrouded in mystery, as that only makes them more frightening. These characters might all be on their own separate journeys, but their paths keep interweaving because of the overarching threat of the Myr and their collective impending doom.
Also, the way that the events of the prequel novella The Citrine Key (which I highly recommend reading before diving into this book) are tying back into the story here is simply magnificent and only raises the stakes to even more unimaginable heights. The fate of the world might just be in these characters’ hands, whether they like it or not, and that makes this book absolutely unputdownable from start to finish.
All in all, I think The Shadow Gate is the sequel that this epic series both needed and deserved. MacRae strikes the perfect balance between progressing the plot and putting all the pieces in place for what I can only imagine will be an EPIC finale, which makes this a damn near perfect sequel in my eyes.
Wondrous world building, complex interpersonal relationships, deeply flawed characters, queer love, magical artefacts, capricious dragon spirits, talking griffins, cinematic action sequences, heavy emotional gut punches, and so much page-turning intrigue; the Dragon Spirits series has it all. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Iron Crown was a promising start to the Dragon Spirits series, but The Shadow Gate absolutely takes the story to the next level.
Everything I loved from the first book is again present in this sequel, but somehow just executed even better. The story takes a much darker turn, but because MacRae also infuses the story with SO much heart, it never loses its comforting and exciting touch. This is character-driven epic fantasy at its very best!
I am absolutely blown away by the character development in this instalment and was quite surprised and excited by the bold turns in some characters’ character arcs. We really go through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with these characters, and I loved that each of them is allowed to be so authentically flawed and messy.
I think that these characters were more easily likeable in the first instalment, but here they become more well-rounded, and, as a result, more human. And yes, sometimes that meant I wanted to smack them over the head or give them a good shake (mostly looking at you, Fenn), but that’s exactly why they felt so real and why I am now so terribly emotionally invested in all of them.
It’s also quite impressive to me how smoothly MacRae has built up this rather large cast of characters, even adding a new POV in this instalment (which I loved, give me all the pirate/seafaring vibes!), and still manages to give them all the time and care they deserve. There were maybe a handful of supporting characters that felt a bit flat and forgettable to me, but I think that only stood out because all the other characterisations are so stupendously strong.
I especially love how each of these protagonists is driven forward by a similar motivation, that being the love for their loved ones, yet none of their journeys feel interchangeable. Family, love, loyalty, and friendship are very big themes in this story, and they are explored in both the most heartbreaking and most heartwarming ways.
The world building is another aspect that is only continuing to get better and better the further into the series we get. I absolutely adore the concept of the Dragon Spirits and loved seeing them become an even more integral part of the story here. Not only because it’s simply damn cool to read about these majestic and awe-inspiring beings, but also because we really dive deep into just how dangerous and capricious they really are. Their corruptive powers have big psychological impacts on some of our protagonists, and I loved all the dangerous mind games that were being played.
Speaking of dangerous, MacRae does such a brilliant job of building up tension and subtly reminding both the characters and the readers of the looming threat of the Myr. I really love that these dangerous beings continue to be so shrouded in mystery, as that only makes them more frightening. These characters might all be on their own separate journeys, but their paths keep interweaving because of the overarching threat of the Myr and their collective impending doom.
Also, the way that the events of the prequel novella The Citrine Key (which I highly recommend reading before diving into this book) are tying back into the story here is simply magnificent and only raises the stakes to even more unimaginable heights. The fate of the world might just be in these characters’ hands, whether they like it or not, and that makes this book absolutely unputdownable from start to finish.
All in all, I think The Shadow Gate is the sequel that this epic series both needed and deserved. MacRae strikes the perfect balance between progressing the plot and putting all the pieces in place for what I can only imagine will be an EPIC finale, which makes this a damn near perfect sequel in my eyes.
Wondrous world building, complex interpersonal relationships, deeply flawed characters, queer love, magical artefacts, capricious dragon spirits, talking griffins, cinematic action sequences, heavy emotional gut punches, and so much page-turning intrigue; the Dragon Spirits series has it all. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Disclaimer: I worked on this book as a (hopefully) helpful alpha reader, and this series is very dear to my heart, but my review is, as always, honest.
I can confidently say that this book does not suffer from middle book syndrome. It's better than The Iron Crown.
I won't talk too much about the actual plot because it's a sequel, but I do have a few thoughts about some of these characters.
Firstly, they really get to grow, especially Torsten and Calidra. Secondly, we get to know them better, especially Selys, who I originally wasn't that interested in, and Jisyel.
I was a fan of Torsten in the first book already, but here he really stood out to me as a morally grey, conflicted person, who is trying to be dutiful, but also cares so very much about his brother, a dying dragon spirit.
Calidra, on the other hand, must learn that she cannot control everything, and that sometimes it's better to let go. I adore the way MacRae explores the dynamic between the two estranged siblings who both grew up with an abusive mother. They carry a lot of emotional baggage, and I love them to bits.
And then there's Fenn. Fenn, my dear, Fenn. I wanted to smack the man, but bless him, he tries, unaware just how much he's fumbling around in the dark.
In The Iron Crown we meet a handful of powerful dragon spirits. Some are mischievous, some are more powerful than others, some are not what I would call pleasant, others are entirely benevolent. In The Shadow Gate, we get to see even more of these spirits, and it's really one of the aspects I enjoy the most about this series, and this time around they get to fight.
Epic dragon battles? Yes, please.
MacRae's writing is fantastic and has evolved even more. I love watching an author grow. She has a strong and distinct voice and the ability to seamlessly weave her world-building into action in order to avoid info dumps.
Overall, The Shadow Gate is an exciting sequel to The Iron Crown, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy with rich world-building, complex characters, and of course, dragons.
MacRae has, once again, delivered a thrilling and engaging adventure, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next.
I can confidently say that this book does not suffer from middle book syndrome. It's better than The Iron Crown.
I won't talk too much about the actual plot because it's a sequel, but I do have a few thoughts about some of these characters.
Firstly, they really get to grow, especially Torsten and Calidra. Secondly, we get to know them better, especially Selys, who I originally wasn't that interested in, and Jisyel.
I was a fan of Torsten in the first book already, but here he really stood out to me as a morally grey, conflicted person, who is trying to be dutiful, but also cares so very much about his brother, a dying dragon spirit.
Calidra, on the other hand, must learn that she cannot control everything, and that sometimes it's better to let go. I adore the way MacRae explores the dynamic between the two estranged siblings who both grew up with an abusive mother. They carry a lot of emotional baggage, and I love them to bits.
And then there's Fenn. Fenn, my dear, Fenn. I wanted to smack the man, but bless him, he tries, unaware just how much he's fumbling around in the dark.
In The Iron Crown we meet a handful of powerful dragon spirits. Some are mischievous, some are more powerful than others, some are not what I would call pleasant, others are entirely benevolent. In The Shadow Gate, we get to see even more of these spirits, and it's really one of the aspects I enjoy the most about this series, and this time around they get to fight.
Epic dragon battles? Yes, please.
MacRae's writing is fantastic and has evolved even more. I love watching an author grow. She has a strong and distinct voice and the ability to seamlessly weave her world-building into action in order to avoid info dumps.
Overall, The Shadow Gate is an exciting sequel to The Iron Crown, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy with rich world-building, complex characters, and of course, dragons.
MacRae has, once again, delivered a thrilling and engaging adventure, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like this one more than the book one. I really think that the author is talented. I haven't had this much fun in a while.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy Hell this book was incredible!
I audibly gasped reading this book at least 15 times, just when I thought I knew where it was going, it flung me in another direction. It was so nice to be back in Tessar but with the ever growing threat of the Myr and the fickle loyalties of the dragon sprits, this book takes a darker and more sinister turn, which only makes you root for the character more!
I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait for the next book especially after that cliffhanger but I know it will be worth it 🐉
If you’ve read Fire and Blood or Eragon then I would highly recommend this book! I love all of the new characters and cannot wait to see how the series ends 💫🫶
I audibly gasped reading this book at least 15 times, just when I thought I knew where it was going, it flung me in another direction. It was so nice to be back in Tessar but with the ever growing threat of the Myr and the fickle loyalties of the dragon sprits, this book takes a darker and more sinister turn, which only makes you root for the character more!
I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait for the next book especially after that cliffhanger but I know it will be worth it 🐉
If you’ve read Fire and Blood or Eragon then I would highly recommend this book! I love all of the new characters and cannot wait to see how the series ends 💫🫶
Superb character development throughout the book, continuing on from book 1. Constant excitement and a gripping plot throughout.
I usually find that book 2 of a trilogy drags as it comes down from the height of the opening and sets up the finale but this one just went from strength to strength, building the world further and developing the plot while managing breathtaking action riddled with twists and turns, betrayal and death in every chapter.
Simply put, the quality of prose and storytelling is top tier and is a step up from previous series/books (as much as I enjoyed them as well!) Throughout the multiple POVs you'll come to love (or love to hate) every character, "good" and "bad" and in truth it's all really just a blend of grey!
I just don't have adequate words to express just how good this book is!
I usually find that book 2 of a trilogy drags as it comes down from the height of the opening and sets up the finale but this one just went from strength to strength, building the world further and developing the plot while managing breathtaking action riddled with twists and turns, betrayal and death in every chapter.
Simply put, the quality of prose and storytelling is top tier and is a step up from previous series/books (as much as I enjoyed them as well!) Throughout the multiple POVs you'll come to love (or love to hate) every character, "good" and "bad" and in truth it's all really just a blend of grey!
I just don't have adequate words to express just how good this book is!
I had the privilege of being a beta reader of this book, and wow what a great experience it was! The character development was simply amazing, MacRae had me empathising with characters I never would've suspected were worthy of it. The action was outstanding, with some truly spectacular scenes that I won't spoil here. Full of tension, suspense, magic, mystery, betrayals and plot twists I just couldn't put the book down.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes character driven fantasy, dragons, epic good VS evil showdowns and mysterious mystical lore.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes character driven fantasy, dragons, epic good VS evil showdowns and mysterious mystical lore.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book Review - The Shadow Gate
To say I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of this book is a massive understatement.
Since reading The Citrine Key and The Iron Crown in 2021, I’ve been patiently waiting for book 2.
Lauren being the awesome person she is offered me an arc copy to read before the release date, I jumped at the chance.
Thank you Lauren!!!
So I started The Shadow Gate, I read one sentence and just like that it, it felt like I was home.
I just love it when an author adds a recap to the start of a book as it really helps me immerse myself back into the story and pick back up the keys points from the previous book.
Thank you Lauren for adding the recap, it was a great help.
The Shadow Gate starts and we’re thrown into the immediate aftermath of the destructive attack by the Myr.
Our main characters from The Iron Crown are split up. We have Fenn, Selys, Apollo and Nadja heading to Foxmouth in search of Apollo’s family before going after The Citrine Key.
Unbeknown to Apollo, Calidra and Jisyel are with Malora, Apollos wife and heading off on their own adventures in the opposite direction.
Lauren delivers some brilliant characters growth in this book. Each characters arc is expanded on more deeply in this book compared to book 1, especially Fenn.
Fenn is struggling with some inner turmoil as he try’s to “do the right thing” from his perspective. Fenn is hoping to find his family, regardless of the potential ramifications of his actions.
I probably enjoyed Fenn chapters in this book the most.
We get introduced to some great new characters in this book that definitely add additional depth to the story. You can see off the bat these characters would play an integral part of the wider story.
If you have read any of my previous reviews you would know I’m a sucker for a Dragon story. I loved the take on Dragons Lauren give us in this series.
In The Shadow Gate the dragon epicness just jumps up 100 levels. We not only get to see more of the Dragon Spirits but really get to understand more of their personalities and powers. Lauren explores the bond between person and Dragon in more a lot detail, which was just awesome.
There is quite a bit of travelling throughout this book and this was great way for the reader to see more of this expansive world.
The world of Tessar is both beautiful and harsh. Through Laurens detailed descriptions you definitely feel you could be standing in the middle of the wasteland or the frozen domain of Paragos.
An area we saw a significant increase in quality in this book compared to The Iron Crown is the extensive action. I don’t want to give anything away but there is some epic fights.
Each action scenes was delivered with such detail and clarity, making it so easy to picture it in your mind.
The Shadow Gate takes everything I loved in The Iron Crown from the characters to the world and especially the Dragons and magnifies the quality 100 fold.
I’m really excited to see where Lauren takes the story next. If the improvements continue on the same trend, book 3 will be on another level.
I’m so happy to have read this ARC but also sad that I have to wait soooooo long for 3 book.
Rating 10/10 ⭐️
To say I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of this book is a massive understatement.
Since reading The Citrine Key and The Iron Crown in 2021, I’ve been patiently waiting for book 2.
Lauren being the awesome person she is offered me an arc copy to read before the release date, I jumped at the chance.
Thank you Lauren!!!
So I started The Shadow Gate, I read one sentence and just like that it, it felt like I was home.
I just love it when an author adds a recap to the start of a book as it really helps me immerse myself back into the story and pick back up the keys points from the previous book.
Thank you Lauren for adding the recap, it was a great help.
The Shadow Gate starts and we’re thrown into the immediate aftermath of the destructive attack by the Myr.
Our main characters from The Iron Crown are split up. We have Fenn, Selys, Apollo and Nadja heading to Foxmouth in search of Apollo’s family before going after The Citrine Key.
Unbeknown to Apollo, Calidra and Jisyel are with Malora, Apollos wife and heading off on their own adventures in the opposite direction.
Lauren delivers some brilliant characters growth in this book. Each characters arc is expanded on more deeply in this book compared to book 1, especially Fenn.
Fenn is struggling with some inner turmoil as he try’s to “do the right thing” from his perspective. Fenn is hoping to find his family, regardless of the potential ramifications of his actions.
I probably enjoyed Fenn chapters in this book the most.
We get introduced to some great new characters in this book that definitely add additional depth to the story. You can see off the bat these characters would play an integral part of the wider story.
If you have read any of my previous reviews you would know I’m a sucker for a Dragon story. I loved the take on Dragons Lauren give us in this series.
In The Shadow Gate the dragon epicness just jumps up 100 levels. We not only get to see more of the Dragon Spirits but really get to understand more of their personalities and powers. Lauren explores the bond between person and Dragon in more a lot detail, which was just awesome.
There is quite a bit of travelling throughout this book and this was great way for the reader to see more of this expansive world.
The world of Tessar is both beautiful and harsh. Through Laurens detailed descriptions you definitely feel you could be standing in the middle of the wasteland or the frozen domain of Paragos.
An area we saw a significant increase in quality in this book compared to The Iron Crown is the extensive action. I don’t want to give anything away but there is some epic fights.
Each action scenes was delivered with such detail and clarity, making it so easy to picture it in your mind.
The Shadow Gate takes everything I loved in The Iron Crown from the characters to the world and especially the Dragons and magnifies the quality 100 fold.
I’m really excited to see where Lauren takes the story next. If the improvements continue on the same trend, book 3 will be on another level.
I’m so happy to have read this ARC but also sad that I have to wait soooooo long for 3 book.
Rating 10/10 ⭐️
I really enjoyed The Iron Crown so when The Shadow Gate by LL Macrae dropped in my mailbox, I was ready to dive into it and I never let go.
Opening the shadow gate is the only way Fenn’s memories can be restored—and with them, his life and family.
It could also destroy the world.
Guided by dragon spirit Hassen and manipulated by the Myr, Fenn fights the corruption spreading through Tassar—and himself—in an attempt to find his family. Separated from his allies and unable to trust even his own mind, the arduous journey takes its toll.
Far from home and reunited with her sister, Calidra battles to keep her loved ones safe. But when the fickle loyalties of dragon spirits shifts, and darkness lurks around every corner, running from her fears is no longer an option.
And in the far south, consequences of the past catch up with those fighting for their freedom.
I absolutely rattled through this, much like i did with The Iron Crown, and I felt myself being transported back into this world of epicness and losing track of everything else. The mythos involved in this is established from previous and Macrae has done a lot to build on this foundation. The grappling of familial dynamics and the connections that are present are described perfectly and the feeling of pressure on some of these characters range from messy to textured. The way that Macrae has wrote these issues is amazing.
I like how expansive this world was. The Iron Crown already held a massive scope but The Shadow Gate built on what has already been established and carried it outward tenfold. We have new characters providing an interesting role and previous characters expanding upon their already cemented ground. The balance here is that Macrae has created some well-loved, meaningful discussions on the in-book topics from a unique perspective. The worldbuilding and magic here is mysterious and informal. Macrae doesn't shy away from letting us work out each part ourselves but to fully immerse us in this creation, from dragons to crafting, and have us yearning for more is an incredible feat.
The Iron Crown was a great debut but The Shadow Gate is an addictive sequel filled with the complexity and involvement of a multi-book series and I cannot wait to find out how this series ends.
Opening the shadow gate is the only way Fenn’s memories can be restored—and with them, his life and family.
It could also destroy the world.
Guided by dragon spirit Hassen and manipulated by the Myr, Fenn fights the corruption spreading through Tassar—and himself—in an attempt to find his family. Separated from his allies and unable to trust even his own mind, the arduous journey takes its toll.
Far from home and reunited with her sister, Calidra battles to keep her loved ones safe. But when the fickle loyalties of dragon spirits shifts, and darkness lurks around every corner, running from her fears is no longer an option.
And in the far south, consequences of the past catch up with those fighting for their freedom.
I absolutely rattled through this, much like i did with The Iron Crown, and I felt myself being transported back into this world of epicness and losing track of everything else. The mythos involved in this is established from previous and Macrae has done a lot to build on this foundation. The grappling of familial dynamics and the connections that are present are described perfectly and the feeling of pressure on some of these characters range from messy to textured. The way that Macrae has wrote these issues is amazing.
I like how expansive this world was. The Iron Crown already held a massive scope but The Shadow Gate built on what has already been established and carried it outward tenfold. We have new characters providing an interesting role and previous characters expanding upon their already cemented ground. The balance here is that Macrae has created some well-loved, meaningful discussions on the in-book topics from a unique perspective. The worldbuilding and magic here is mysterious and informal. Macrae doesn't shy away from letting us work out each part ourselves but to fully immerse us in this creation, from dragons to crafting, and have us yearning for more is an incredible feat.
The Iron Crown was a great debut but The Shadow Gate is an addictive sequel filled with the complexity and involvement of a multi-book series and I cannot wait to find out how this series ends.