Bookish Mumma

Admittedly, I did want to put this book down after the monologues in Shaedes of Power and not continue. BUT I am glad that I kept with it because around the corner was one hell of a twist that I really want the answer to, but it hasn’t come to me even in this block. If you do choose to read this book, just stick with it. You may well enjoy it for the chapters included here.

If you’d like to read the reviewed chapters before these or any of my other reviews, you can find them here

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“I suppose we need to have faith that the Balance knows some things we do not, but it would be nice if someone told me I have any predator in me at this point in the game. Red eyes would be cool.”

I am not a religious person, but faith is something I have always been jealous of. I am jealous of the way that people can believe in something so resolutely. They seem to have extra strength to get through anything that comes their way. Sure, there is an actual magical element here, but I’m sure any kind of god is magical to those who believe in them too.

But purple shaedes could talk to all animals, even the wild ones with no discernible voice. Animals seemed loyal to the purple fae in ways the rest of us couldn’t understand, so they carried their messages, their instructions, and their needs out into the wild. Some could be called on to sacrifice themselves for food or perform any purple shaede’s wish really.

The dark faeries may seem like the Big Bad Guys of Shaedes of Power, but the purple shaedes are the ones who seem terrifying to me. Historically, the animal speakers in any system have been the most passive and peace loving. Here they have actually asked animals to give their lives willingly for food. THAT is scary as hell.

“I guess if you live long enough, you are bound to experience a certain amount of loss,” Lennyx said. “And you earnt he right to live however you wish.”

I wouldn’t want to live forever, seeing all those that you love, get born and die before you do. It feels like a special kind of torture. Earning the right to live however I want doesn’t feel worth it when I can live it with the ones who made it worth it.

“You have to return to the human realm tomorrow morning. You’ve healed so well, and I think you will agree that when Ciaran’s time allotment is up, it is not sade for you here.”
“If I recall, I wasn’t all that safe in the human world, either.” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
“I pleaded for more time. They wanted to adapt your memories so you wouldn’t remember the faerie realm.”
His brow furled. “But then I wouldn’t have memory of you.”
“It might have been easier that way,” I admitted, “but I talked them out of it.” Even as I said it, it felt selfish.

This would have been really hard for Opal to do considering the amount of chemistry the both of them clearly have. Even though it has only been a couple of days at this point. I do like that they agreed to let him keep his memories though. Especially given his comments about dreaming of magic, wishing it was in places it didn’t exist and then finally finding it.

“I will give you the address on one condition. You let me come with you. I know you all decided for me that I needed to return home, but if I help you with this, I want to see it through.”

Yes, Farris! Negotiate the hell out of them and they may let you keep more than they were originally going to let you.

“Don’t worry, no offense taken. You don’t know me well enough, so naturally you underestimate my abilities.”

Go Lennyx! Leysanna is a fireball, but of course the blue High Shaede can stand up to her! I am all for a calm, confident and powerful High Shaede against his seemingly wild counterparts.

He pressed his hips against mine, pinning me to that door, and I could feel my magic awakening inside.

So either Ass-tor wasn’t good in the bedroom and Opal is about to have her first orgasm. Or she actually does have magic coming to the surface now.

All at once, it hit me that although I was the one to call this meeting, it was Amira who had come to bargain.

As a general rule, if a meeting is called, that person is either in a position of power or because they want to bargain. If the other party shows up, it is always to bargain. If they had nothing to gain, they wouldn’t show up because it wouldn’t be worth the effort or the time.

“The Shaede Court will never accept the cursed and damned, Amira. I do believe that there is a path here to peace, but it would take more than I think either of us is willing to give,” I said.

I have a the opinion that there is always a path towards peace in any form of government. What stops it is one or both parties not being willing to give up enough on their side to make it happen. It is, however, wiser than expected on Opal’s part to recognise that.

“Not everything that is dark is meant to be menacing,” he said with an edge to his voice. “Sometimes something that is dark is hyst different and different can be beautiful.”

I absolutely adore this line from Edmyn! Hopefully he will end up being one of the more well rounded characters in the later chapters. I’m curious to know how that will look.

Henrick was visibly fighting his disappointment, but it was Amira who I was focussed on as we exited the throne room, her face pallid with remorse.

I almost feel like Amira is only doing any of this for her own survival. Not because she wants to like the story so far has led us to believe.

conclusion

I am very glad that we have gotten past the monologues (so far) and that there is more back and forth conversation. There is also some really good development of individual characters and the chemistry and relationships between each of them. I’d love to see more of Lennyx as he seems like he could have a very interesting dynamic with Leyanna. He may also be extremely useful in battle if he is as powerful as he says he is. The discovery of Opal’s power and what she seems to be able to do is the big question mark here. I’m very curious to know what that actually means and what she did to Farris.

Remember, this book comes out super soon on March 11th! I want to give a special thanks to The Nerd Fam for gifting me the Shaedes of Power ARC to read. I am very much looking forward to finishing the book.

If you’d like to preorder this book, you can get the audiobook or the kindle versions from here