Shadow City is the third book in the Horngate Witches series. It features two different plotlines: Max and Scooter enter another realm to reclaim his stolen parts and the birth of a Fury at Horngate.Warning, spoilers ahead...What I Liked:A Fury rises - The Fury storyline was engrossing and suspenseful. It was so good it actually detracted from my enjoyment of the Max/Scooter storyline because I wanted to read about the Fury. Any fan of Greek mythology knows there is no worse fate than to have a Fury pursuing you. The author did an excellent job of depicting the terror and the despair that the characters were feeling as the Fury tore through the ranks. My poor angels! Their last stand was so bold and honorable.Valery & Holt - This is my favorite pairing in the books. I demand a spin-off featuring the duo.Giselle - She may be the witch-bitch but I find her to be a sympathetic character. She has done horrible things but she had her reasons. I've enjoyed the evolution of her character and that she has realized she can no longer remain aloof from the group and needs to "join" the family.Favorite Quotes:"I shouldn't have to say this, but given the fact that most of you idiots at Horngate have a ridiculously overblown sense of responsibility...Stay put. I can handle this." - Tutresiel"You will always belong to me. I don't care if you took back the marriage marks. You'll be mine until you die." - Holt"Feel free not to die yourself. That goes for the rest of you, too. Except for the child killer. He can die painfully." - Alexander It is no secret that the Horngate Witches is one of my favorite urban fantasy series (see ‘favorite series’ tab) , it is by far the most imaginative, dark and gritty written urban fantasy out in the genre. Shadow City is the third book in the Horngate Witches series, which takes place a few weeks after the events in Crimson Wind. Max, our protagonist was captured by the demi-god Scooter at the end of the last book, and finally readers learn the reason why in Shadow City. Scooter ‘Nayan’ is slowly dying, and he needs Max to go with him to Chadaré (shadow city) to retrieve his heart, horn, and silk that was stolen from him long ago. Chadaré is a city through the abyss full of unknown creatures and magic that Max has never seen before, she will have to battle the Korvads and win if she wants to save Scooter and get out alive.Meanwhile, back at Horngate Alexander, Giselle and the other blades and spears are battling a problem of their own, a fury is being born that threatens the destruction of Horngate and it’s surrounding. Furies are born from the souls of women who have been brutally betrayed, the most powerful-disastrous force of the embodiment of all suffering women. Time is running out as Max searches for Scooter’s missing part and as Alexander and the gang try to keep Horngate from another cataclysmic blow. This book had two stories going at once, one with Max and Scooter in Chadaré and the other with Alexanader and the entire coven stead at Horngate. The chapters jumps back and forth (sometimes two chapters at a time) between Max in Chadaré and Alexander in Horngate, I love both sides of their stories and how it came together towards the end of the book. Readers are in for a real treat when Max arrives with Scooter in Chadaré, as we get a whole new play ground to explore. Chadaré is different at every turn, one minute you think you’re standing in Arabia, the next a futuristic blue crystal or back in the renaissance era with medieval castles. I was also glad to learn more about Scooter, who before in the previous book was a total mystery...and underneath that disguise of a man lays a demi-god with scales, horn and talons. The world building is already top-notch and complex all on its own, but the characters is also another reason that makes this series a must read for all urban fantasy fans. While Max and Alexander were separated for most of the book, I still enjoyed the interactions they had with the rest of the cast of characters. Francis introduces a new ally demi-god, Ilanion that helps Max in Chadaré but not without motives of his own and readers also get to see Valery and Holt again from the previous book as they help Alexander with the Fury business. Oh almost forgot! There were also an animal/creature bonding going on which I found funny and fascinating in both worlds for Max and Alexander… a pack of grims, dog-like beast and a tagalong calopus. Another amazing addition to the series, readers get everything that they love in the previous books plus more. I can’t recommend this series enough, if you haven’t started this series yet…what are you waiting for?! Buy it now, and I highly suggest you read this series in order starting with Bitter Night, Crimson Wind, Shadow City and finally Blood Winter. Superb writing, world and characters that will stay with you long after you finish a book, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
What do You think about La Cité Des Ombres (2013)?
I would not recommend this book. There were a few typos missed and the story dragged on at times.
—jcmorgan
4.5 stars. epic showdown. Master worldbuilding. Review to come
—mimi
