Official Review: A Shadow Named Envy: Guardians

Please use this sub-forum to discuss any fantasy or science fiction books or series.
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Official Review: A Shadow Named Envy: Guardians

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Shadow Named Envy: Guardians" by Kyle Stumpp.]
Book Cover
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


A Shadow Named Envy: Guardians by Kyle Stumpp is a fantasy novel set in our modern-day world. Because of profanity and some adult content (drinking, violence), the recommended age is for 12 and up. I would add that the ending is also unsutible for younger children as they may find it disturbing.

Long before animals and humans roamed the earth, there were shadow people. At odds with the humans, who wielded dangerous light-producing sticks, the shadow people moved underground. Now they only come to the surface for special jobs such as: scavenging for human objects, observing, or mimicking humans.

In the City of Shade, a baby shadow with unusually bright eyes, is thought to be cursed. The Shadow Council comes after him, ready to destroy, but the quick-thinking of his mother saves his life. Hubert, an old janitor, finds and brings the baby home to his wife, Dot. From there things unfold as Hubert and Dot try to raise the baby, who they name Envy, to be a normal shadow. All the while they must keep his identity as the “cursed child” a secret.

There are excellent descriptions and world building in this book. I could easily picture the City of Shade as I read. Sometimes descriptions can bog a book down, but the author does an excellent job making the descriptions flow smoothly. Aside from a few slow parts in the beginning, the book has a nice amount of action. There are some twists in the book and I was never 100% sure what was going to happen next.

I absolutely love the main characters, Hubert and Dot. Not only are they cute together, with their playful bantering, but they are realistic. They both make mistakes and sometimes hurt one another, but you can tell that they truly love each other. The other characters are also well-written, but Hubert and Dot are truly a memorable pair.

Unfortunately, the book does contain a few grammatical errors. There were not many and certainly did not take away from my enjoyment of the story, but there were enough to notice that it could use some more editing.

The ending of a story can either make or break an entire book. I was disappointed with the way the author chose to end this book. I can not say much because of spoilers, but I feel like the end does not fit in with the rest of the story. I was planning on giving the book 4 stars, but with the grammatical errors and the unsatisfactory ending I can only give it 3 out of 4 stars. It is a shame because I really enjoyed the majority of the book and would have liked to give it a perfect score.

******
A Shadow Named Envy: Guardians
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Rachaelamb1's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
kstumpp
Posts: 10
Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 08:27
Currently Reading: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Bookshelf Size: 2
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by kstumpp »

Thank you for the very thorough and fair review. I'm sorry you did not enjoy the ending, but I suppose it can not be to everyone's taste! I will be sure to double check about the grammar, although it may be due to the use of GB English opposed to US English?

Thank you again, have a pleasant evening.
User avatar
LivreAmour217
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 2043
Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 12:42
Favorite Author: Too many to count
Favorite Book: Ditto
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 294
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-livreamour217.html
Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer

Post by LivreAmour217 »

Great review! This sounds like a fascinating and original fantasy novel. I will have to check it out!
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

kstumpp wrote:Thank you for the very thorough and fair review. I'm sorry you did not enjoy the ending, but I suppose it can not be to everyone's taste! I will be sure to double check about the grammar, although it may be due to the use of GB English opposed to US English?

Thank you again, have a pleasant evening.
Thank you, I did notice you were using GB English, which is no problem at all. There are some basic errors aside from that, probably things that just got overlooked when you were editing. :)
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
bookowlie
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 9073
Joined: 25 Oct 2014, 09:52
Favorite Book: The Lost Continent
Currently Reading: Up to No Gouda
Bookshelf Size: 464
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookowlie.html
Latest Review: To Paint A Murder by E. J. Gandolfo

Post by bookowlie »

Great review! I am glad you were able to appreciate the positive parts of the book, even though you didn't like the ending.
"The best way out is always through" - Robert Frost
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

LivreAmour217 wrote:Great review! This sounds like a fascinating and original fantasy novel. I will have to check it out!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it! The world building is especially interesting.

-- 12 Feb 2016, 20:35 --
bookowlie wrote:Great review! I am glad you were able to appreciate the positive parts of the book, even though you didn't like the ending.
Thanks! I really liked the book up until the end. It is the first book in a series so I am interested to see what the future books will be like. Hopefully they will have a better ending.
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
Lorirainbowbright
Posts: 71
Joined: 22 Jan 2016, 15:03
Favorite Book: An Ember in the Ashes
Currently Reading: Burning Midnight
Bookshelf Size: 249
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lorirainbowbright.html
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by Lorirainbowbright »

Sounds like a very interesting book. Great review because it makes me want to read it. Even though you didn't like the ending, but at least it's a series so maybe if you read the next one in the series it will have a more satisfying ending for you.
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

Lorirainbowbright wrote:Sounds like a very interesting book. Great review because it makes me want to read it. Even though you didn't like the ending, but at least it's a series so maybe if you read the next one in the series it will have a more satisfying ending for you.
That is true, the other books in the series may end better. I enjoyed everything else so I think this is a series I will keep my eye on.
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
kimmyschemy06
Posts: 2598
Joined: 20 Oct 2015, 20:49
Currently Reading: The Searching Three
Bookshelf Size: 694
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kimmyschemy06.html
Latest Review: Kazi Boku by M. Poyhonen

Post by kimmyschemy06 »

Sounds like a very interesting book, but.. personally I find the idea of 'shadow people' creepy :) Great job on the review!
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

kimmyschemy06 wrote:Sounds like a very interesting book, but.. personally I find the idea of 'shadow people' creepy :) Great job on the review!
Thanks! I suppose it can be a little creepy if you think about it too much...especially since we can't escape our shadow. Of course this book talked more about shadows that are not attached to people, but I think future books will have more about people and their shadows. That might be a little more creepy.
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
anonanemone
Posts: 562
Joined: 07 Sep 2015, 22:30
Favorite Author: So many...
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 24">Tinder Stricken</a>
Currently Reading: Outland Exile
Bookshelf Size: 901
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-anonanemone.html
Latest Review: "The Shark in the Park" by Mark Watson
Reading Device: B00I15SB16

Post by anonanemone »

This sounds like an interesting concept. The cover also seems well paired with the story. It sounds like you enjoyed the book for the most part so I think I would be willing to give it a try.
The world lives between those who say it cannot be done and those who say that it can. And in my experience, those who say that it can be done are usually telling the truth. --Lord Vetinari (Discworld, Raising Steam)
Latest Review: "The Shark in the Park" by Mark Watson
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

anonanemone wrote:This sounds like an interesting concept. The cover also seems well paired with the story. It sounds like you enjoyed the book for the most part so I think I would be willing to give it a try.
The cover does fit well with the book. The concept is interesting and well executed. If you do give it a try, let us know what you think about it. :)
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
Jojowrites4All
Posts: 645
Joined: 01 Mar 2015, 18:59
Favorite Author: L.A. Banks
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... =2847">The Great Gatsby</a>
Currently Reading: Hidden in Plain Sight: Revelation of the Sons of Yah
Bookshelf Size: 514
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jojowrites4all.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
fav_author_id: 8337

Post by Jojowrites4All »

I'm interested! Thanks for the review.
~ A Lack of Preparation on Your Part - Doesn't Constitute an Emergency on My Part~
User avatar
Rachaelamb1
Posts: 986
Joined: 07 Mar 2015, 01:58
Favorite Author: CS Lewis
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... onwitch</a>
Currently Reading: Falling Star
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachaelamb1.html
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco

Post by Rachaelamb1 »

Thank you!
Latest Review: "Dragon Born" by Ela Lourenco
User avatar
ALynnPowers
Posts: 8536
Joined: 21 Aug 2014, 07:14
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 417
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-alynnpowers.html
Latest Review: Sarah's Dream by Eileen Bird
Reading Device: B0051QVF7A
Publishing Contest Votes: 13

Post by ALynnPowers »

Hey, I've read an older version of this book!!!
Post Reply

Return to “Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books”