Review: Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: April 8th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / B& N

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

My Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and Sea of Shadows is another wonderful addition to my Armstrong shelf.  With strong female leads, two heroic warriors, and monsters behind every corner this book gives us a strong tale that left me begging for more.

I really don't know why I don't read more fantasy.  I usually really enjoy them and Sea of Shadows is proof of that.  I loved this book. It was fast paced and I promise I jumped in my seat at least 10 times.  I never knew what was behind the door and man can this author create some badies.  If this is ever made into a movie I will surly watch it, but I will have to have my head half hidden in a blanket!  Don't get me wrong though I loved every single second of this!

Moria and Ashyn are twins and their role in their village is a complicated one.  Since they are twins and have passed the Keeper/Seeker tests when they were babies they each play a significant role and must abide by several rules.  Ashyn and Moria love their titles and their first priority is to their village.  When tragedy strikes during Ashyn's first mission into the Forest of the Dead everything changes and these two sisters must save their village from the what was once only legend.

See sounds amazing right??!!  This story really intrigued me and I really enjoyed the world that Armstrong created.  It wasn't too complicated which I appreciated and it was just overall interesting.  I really liked the beast bond these two had as well.  Since they were the Keeper/Seeker they got to have a beast bond with either an immoral wildcat or hound.  I'm so attached to these two animals that I will have to have my blanket handy for the next installment just incase the author decides to do something drastic.  I'm really hoping that she doesn't but I have learned that Kelley Armstrong will hold nothing back.

The characters were just amazing.  I think this is one of the rare occasions where I really and truly liked each and every one.  Ashyn needs a little toughing up, but since her sister is tough as nails I can over look it.  It helps that we get POVs from both sisters also. It helps break up the tough as nails story from the emotional one.  Sometimes its nice to have both in a story and Ashyn and Moria were perfect as the POVs.  The boys were just as great in my opinion.  There is a romance here but they both are very slow moving and were not by any means developed by the end of the story.  One even has a bomb dropped before anything can happen and I am left with a NOOOOO scream!  I hope that this isn't what it seems. *crosses fingers*

The one and only thing that made me drop a star from this review is the falling down.  In almost every chapter someone fell down.  It got to the point where I wanted to scream at the characters to watch were they were going.  It was way too much and I wish that had been edited out.  Especially for Moria.  She is supposed to a badarse and I didn't buy that she would fall down so much.  It made her and her sister seem clumsy which they shouldn't have been.  Other than that though I really enjoyed this book and I am very much looking forward to the sequel!

4 snowflakes