Bookish Mumma

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this! This is my first ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). To be able to read and review it before the general population gets to is a new kind of exhilarating. Fortunately, you won’t have to wait long to read it, though, because it comes out on March 11th! I’d also like to mention that this copy was a gift to me by The Nerd Fam. They have a thriving community of reviewers who have been supportive of me and each other. It’s great to have people to read the book alongside. So, without further ado, let’s jump into… Shaedes of Power by Jenny Grimes

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I was already bored and today’s shift hadn’t even started yet.

Starting strong, already being SUPER relatable!

No one knew if when a faerie was born, the shaede was already within them, planted by the all-knowing Balance, or if the shaede was attracted to the person one became.

I love this concept and I’m curious to know how it evolved. Obviously being a supernatural setting, the characters would have powers. How will the shaede make a difference and can it be influenced?

I couldn’t speak for Dru, but I always felt the Balance inside me. It was like walking around with an internal shadow. It made me sensitive to other faeries’ shaedes. I couldn’t draw some incredible power from it – I was no High Shaede – but it was always with me, making itself known.

I’ll be honest, I’m struggling to wrap my head around the concept, but maybe it will become easier to understand as I find out more about it and it becomes a central part of the story.

Every day had the potential to be such an adventure for this man, and he probably didn’t even realize it.

I think that this is true for a lot of people, but is also the beauty of reading – we get to live multiple lives within our own lifespans. Regardless of whether that is fiction or history in his case, it is still an adventure to discover.

Amira, my sister, was their first, but she had disappeared during her conversancy in the human realm over fifty years ago.

A little sprinkling of mystery, perhaps some foreshadowing!

Knowledge lived here, and our assignment was to simply experience it.

Firstly, that is an amazing way to describe a library and it’s books. Secondly, how does one get a job like that? I would love to get paid to read all day!

“Should I feel cheated on?” I said, pointing to the cup, not knowing what else to talk to him about other than coffee.

The scandal! Cheating on your barista! I say this with legitimate horror as someone who does not have a barista and does not drink much coffee

I was stuck trying to regain some speech myself. This beautiful human was taking a chance on probably the one girl in the entire realm that wouldn’t – and couldn’t – accept his affection.

When you read this book, you will understand why she was lost for words! I hope that this is the start of a forbidden romance

He was looking at me so ravenously that I was tempted for a moment to deliver myself on a silver plate.

Get. It. Girl!

Although faeries live in a peaceful realm that would look like a utopia to most humans, we were still ruthless people

This was in reference to accepting death, but I don’t think that that is so much a ruthless act as it is a loving one. To accept someone’s death is to also accept their life and that should be celebrated.

The Seam was a section of earth hidden from humans, where all the magical realms dwelled

Look at Earth being the main character! All the realm revolve around it, after all!

How do you explain to someone that their fantasy world was your reality?

“Yeah hi, so I’m a faerie, magic exists and you’re now in a different realm. Surprise! Also, you almost died and it was my fault, but I’m pretty, so please forgive me!”

“I’m not not shocked, Opal.” He smiled as he said my name. “I think I will just choose to believe it. Maybe it comes from living in a world without magic but always looking for it anyway. Who am I to ignore it, especially now when it’s sitting right in front of me with such a beautiful face?”

If Opal doesn’t want him, I’ll take him! He’s super idealistic, but it plays off as adorable, so I’ll happily take it

“If getting hurt means I get to have you take care of me, then show me some stairs I can throw myself down.”

Jenny, stop it, that’s morbidly hilarious, adorable and sweet all at the same time! I need more of this in my life… without the stair inflicted injury though, please and thank you. Also without the shadow beat mauling.

Conclusion

When I tell you that I devoured these first 4 chapters of Shaedes of Power, let me just tell you that, at time of writing this, I am now 2 days ahead in posts. I’m going to keep reading more of it today too! It has had a solid and enjoyable start. I love the twist of the barista faerie being in the human realm to learn about them in a modern context. Rather than the typical fae being cruel and unyielding in all ways. I found this to be wonderfully refreshing.

Currently, there is only a kindle copy and an audiobook that you can pre-order, but with a narrator like Laura Horowitz, how can you NOT want the audiobook! You can pre-order either option here.

For any of my previous posts and reviews, you can find them here.