We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others.

Idrian, I swear to god, I have a really bad feeling you are going to get hurt and it just might break me. However, there were couple nicely written Thessa/Demir scenes at the end of the book which I liked a lot. In recent years, Brian McClellan has made it a habit to release spectacular books, each one with a unique magic system. Demir’s chapters are a mix of political intrigue, mystery, and war all while developing the magic system. The world gets fleshed out rather quickly here, and while it doesn't cover a particularly enormous scope, the areas that are covered are very well done and feel life-like.

The plot slowed considerably after the first few chapters, as the author shifted gears towards more explanation and world-building, resulting in a mystery that was more slow-burn and going nowhere fast. In the Shadow of Lightning is regrettably 100% serious with lines such as these, and they are unfortunately frequent. He didn’t do it often—not enough to attract official attention—but the reputation was well-earned enough that cudgelists in the know avoided his cantina. Political Fantasy (Scheming and underhanded tactics are used by a secret conspiracy to take over the world.

However, what's truly astounding isn't the fact that he weaves a cool magic system out of something seemingly ordinary. I agree with the reviewers - who read the author's Powder Mage trilogy - saying that the book does not live up to the expectation. If I were to critique Thessa's character arc, I'd say that the slavery story beat from the first half of the story wasn't really continued on to the second half.

The main thing remains it's far too similar to the Powder Mage trilogy yet it lacks the character types that made the Powder Mage trilogy a success.