Thank you to the author for providing me a free eBook in exchange for an honest review!

Book Information:
Shadowless by Randall McNally
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark
Pages: 499
Published: December 6, 2017
Publisher: Self Published

Book Blub:

“What if the gods themselves wanted you dead?

A young boy lies on a beach on a warm summer’s day. While trying to block the sun from his eyes Arpherius makes a shocking discovery; he has no shadow. Confused and bewildered he asks his uncle why he is shadowless. What he learns is a terrifying secret that will change his life forever.

Set in the Northern Realms, Shadowless is a fantasy novel about individuals born without a shadow. Spawned by the malevolent deities of this world these children of the gods are persecuted at every turn. Hunted by the high priests who carry out the wishes of their gods, hunted by the Shadow Watchers; armed soldiers who are assigned to each temple, and hunted by the gods themselves.

Part-mortal and part-god, the Shadowless live for centuries and face a battle for survival, constantly on the run or hiding in far-flung corners of the Northern Realms.

Soon their lives and fates become intertwined, expedited by the mysterious monk Amrodan. Driven by a series of visions Amrodan travels through the Northern Realms, seeking out the Shadowless and trying to enlist their help to take a stand and fight back against the gods.”

My thoughts:

Shadowless is one of the most unique adult fantasy books I’ve read in a very long time. Each chapter follows a different POV and are essentially a series of short stories which are masterfully interconnected. This was one of my favourite aspects of this novel and was a really refreshing take on dark fantasy storytelling. The slight downside to this was sometimes it would take a little bit of time, particularly in the early chapters, to really get into a scene or to be interested in the new character. By following a large variety of perspectives, it made a great way for the reader to explore every inch of the bleak and unforgiving Northern Realms.

There are plenty of moments in this story where I was audibly reacting to what was happening.

I wouldn’t be able to find fault with the prose if I tried. All of the scenes were so descriptive and vivid in my mind. The world still feels fresh in my mind, as if I’d spent time in the world myself. It’s a great book to escape into and be fully immersed.

Along with the episodic nature of the story making it a little harder to engage with the new characters each chapter, the other aspect that let’s Shadowless down a bit is its climax. The conclusion just isn’t as strong as the majority of the story and is a little underwhelming.

Oh, also… No one told me there was going to be a dragon in this book but there is and he’s super cool! (I just really love dragons, ok?)

This book is often described as Game of Thrones meets Clash of the Titans, and I would have to agree. I think any fantasy fan with an interest in darker stories or mythology would love this book. Maybe I’ve been playing way too much Elder Scrolls recently but Shadowless also has a Skyrim vibe to it, not in story but in setting with a darker atmosphere. ⭐⭐⭐⭐