**There won’t be a Throwdown Thursday this week**
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for review courtesy of Pocket Books
Book Description:
For Kira Solomon, normal was never an option.
Kira's day job as an antiquities expert, but her true calling is as a Shadowchaser. Trained from youth to be one of the most lethal Chasers in existence, Kira serves the Gilead Commission dispatching the Fallen who sow discord and chaos. Of course, sometimes Gilead bureaucracy is as much a thorn in her side as anything the Fallen can muster against her. Right now, though, she's got a bigger problem. Someone is turning the city of Atlanta upside-down in search of a four-millennia-old Egyptian dagger that just happens to have fallen into Kira's hands.
Then there's Khefar, the dagger's true owner--a near-immortal 4000-year-old Nubian warrior who, Kira has to admit. looks pretty fine for his age. Joining forces is the only way to keep the weapon safe from the sinister Shadow force, but now Kira is in deep with someone who holds more secrets than she does, the one person who knows just how treacherous this fight is. Because every step closer to destroying the enemy is a step closer to losing herself to Shadow forever....
First of the Shadowchaser Series!
Review:
When I was little I wanted to be Indiana Jones (not his girlfriend, him) and I dabbled a bit with Lara Croft envy in my teens (the video game version more than the movie version) because I was obsessed archaeology, Egyptology in particular. When I heard about a new urban fantasy series featuring an antiquities expert, I got a little giddy. When I saw the cover featuring an Egyptian pyramid in the background I was downright euphoric.
The dagger reeked of ancient magic. Kira Solomon stared down at it, trying not to salivate with longing. -Shadow Blade
Kira Solomon is an antiquities expert who moonlights as a Shadowchaser, a member of the Gilead Commission who hunts down the Fallen from Light (aka Demons). Kira has a unique ability that sets her apart from other Shadowchasers, she can sense the magic and history of an object just by touching it. But that ability that is so invaluable professionally, is deadly personally. Touching people can force them into a coma or even take their life.
One such object that Kira touches is a 4,000 year old Egyptian dagger with a magical bloodlust that has the ability to destroy the soul of whoever is strong enough to wield it. When the equally ancient (though not in terms of appearance) owner of the dagger comes calling, and a formidable Fallen power starts attacking, Kira may have to reach out and touch someone for the first time to save a life rather than take it.
Kira’s personal history and the burdening effects of her gift were fascinating. Everything she touches effects her. Even food that she doesn’t harvest herself can make her physically ill because of all the people who have touched it. Also the inclusion of the Egyptian pantheon of gods was a fresh and unique source of magic in the urban fantasy genre. The concept of Light and Chaos, and the Universe’s need for balance made for an interesting world to play in.
Guardians are the higher beings of Light: angels, gods, goddesses and spirits who embody good. Shadow beings are the Fallen: spawns of Chaos who fought in the First Battle– the upper echelon demons, gods and goddess who sow discord and chaos. Both use Avatars in this dimension. Shadowchasers website
I have to say I was a little disappointed by the lack of Indiana Jones/Lara Croft style adventure in this book. Kira didn’t get to raid a single pyramid. I know that antiquities expert doesn’t automatically mean Indiana Jones, but I was hoping.
Overall, the concept and unique world building are the clear strengths of this novel. Kira’s gift/curse was a little to easily overcome in terms of the romantic subplot, and while to the story never dragged, the excitement level never really took off in the way it could have. Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers, book 2) is due out July 27, 2010 and there is enough promise here that I’ll be watching out for it.
Sexual Content: References to sex.
My Rating (out of 5):
Click HERE to read an excerpt of Shadow Blade
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (January 26, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1439156794
- ISBN-13: 978-1439156797
- Cover Artist: John Vairo Jr.
Disagree with my review? Email me your review for this or any other book I reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review
Thanks of this review, I have been thinking about buying this now I know what to expect.. Great review
ReplyDeleteGreat review..I like the idea of Kira's gift/curse. Too bad the book isn't more Lara Croft adventure but maybe the next one will be?
ReplyDeleteI too was disappointed that Kira didn't travel to ancient lands to daring 'rescue' ancient artifacts. But decent, I'll read the next one.
ReplyDeleteThe idea sounds interesting, but I've been reading a lot that it kind of fell flat overall. I'll probably hold off on it for now. Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteThe story look interesting enough so I picked this one up this past weekend, glad to see it was decent read.
ReplyDelete