The Shattered Dark (Shadow Reader) Mass Market Paperback – October 30, 2012

The Shattered Dark was one of those books that I was putting off reading because I knew the characters would be put through so much (because it's the type of series that waits until the end for the characters to get their HEA's) and I honestly didn't know if I could take it. I will say that once started, it was almost impossible for me to put the book down. It was very fast paced and drew me right into the world again.The Shattered Dark picks up just a couple of weeks after The Shadow Reader. The rebels have overthrown and killed the former Fae king and are now trying to convince the other court Fae's that they are right in their move to the throne. There's a lot of fighting going on in this book and it's hard to know who to trust and who is going to switch sides. Mckenzie has returned to her apartment to pick up some of her things, when she discovers that her friend Paige has been taken. Determined to get her back, Paige knows it will be difficult, but she's torn because she doesn't want to draw anyone away from the main fight seeing that the rebels need all the Fae help they can get.As I said this was a very fast paced book. Mckenize continues to be a character that I really like. She's a human in a Fae world. She the weaker person in a world where beings can heal, summon fire, or creat illusion among many other things. Yet she's held her own quite successfully. Even when she's out numbered and out powered she still fights with everything she has. She's also not too rash. She thinks about the things she does. Her friend Paige has been taken, yet she doesn't just throw herself into the fray, she takes back-up and is as careful as she can be, but when needed she steps up. She's a great female character.I'm not really a fan of love triangles. Sandy Williams really set up a different protocol for the love triangle with the first book and she continued to follow her pattern. Mckenzie had been in love with Kyol for ten years, being that Fae / human relationships are looked down upon by most Fae he never fully acknowledged his feelings for her. In the first book she meets Aren and she comes to find out that even though he was the rebel leader he still is a good man. She comes to see that in him and she falls for him. Aren and Mckenzie go through a lot in this book. They both need and want time to figure out their feelings fully, but neither of them get it with all the fighting going on, and in between the fighting the personal stuff gets complicated. It may be the first book where I really don't have a preference as to who Mckenzie should end up with. If she decided she didn't want either man, I would be ok with that too.I'm glad there will be a third (and final?)book in the series. Williams ended the book with a solid ending, but there were still a few loose ends that can definitely be tied up with another book. I look forward to finding out where Mckenzie will be taken next.

I went into The Shattered Dark with some trepidation because I read various reviews that all mentioned the same thing…their dislike of the ending/cliffhanger.The beginning started a bit slow. The story takes places two weeks after the events of the previous book; the rebels had successfully over thrown the previous fae King Atroth and secured the thrown for Lena. However, that doesn’t mean they have won. The rebels has to constantly keep watch for remnants attack on the Silver Palace and the high nobles still has to vote/agree on whether to make Lena the Queen.Williams blew me away with her debut The Shadow Reader in 2011, and it was among my favorite books the year it came out. While I enjoyed The Shattered Dark, it was missing some of the sparks and excitement that I found in the first book. It pains me to say that The Shattered Dark suffered from second book syndrome; the story/plot didn’t really go anywhere and there was no characters development. I love McKenzie, and while she’s only human she does whatever it takes to survive. There were times when she step up in the story, and didn’t let sword wielding remnants or even the police deter her from escaping or inflicting serious bodily damage to the other person…but most of the time she was a damsel in distress that needed a lot of rescuing. She’s been with the rebels for awhile now; I’m a surprised no one thought to teach her some self-defense or to use a sword. I really wanted her to use a sword (like the one she keeps holding on the book covers). Well, she did use it but not correctly and Aren did give her a dagger but I don’t remember her using it. Another thing that bothered me was her repetitive internal thoughts. She kept thinking the same thing over and over the entire book; like her feelings for Aren and Kyol, wanting a normal life/job, and the guilt of leaving Paige behind at Bedfont house (mental asylum) in the past…basically she had a lot of regrets.The story eventually picked up at end with more action but one that I have to admit was out of the blue. The majority of the book there wasn’t a lot happening and then in the last few chapters remnants invades the Silver palace through a Sidhe Tol, but readers aren’t given any answers as to why or who (I doubt it is Caelar idea)? Then there’s that cliffhanger ending everyone was talking about. My initial reaction was ‘that sucks’; I wasn’t shocked at all. I love Aren and for the ending to happen as it did really stinks for him; as for Kyol not so much love there anymore…not because of what he did at the end but because he was passive in his affection for Mckenzie (or lack of; also I don’t even know if it is appropriate to say this is a love triangle) at the end of book one and this entire book; for him to say he loves McKenzie and did what he did was crap. If you love someone; you don’t ignore them or give them the cold shoulder. Ever.To be clear; I didn’t hate The Shattered Dark but I didn’t love it either. I guess I had really high expectations for this book because I love the first one sooo much. I just pray that the next book is better and that Williams find a solution to the dilemma at the end of The Shattered Dark.

This review will probably contain spoilers for book 1 but only as much as what is in the blurb. Please don't read this book without reading the first one The Shadow Reader as you really need to know the background of the characters and story to get the full enjoyment from The Shattered Dark.I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time, as much as I enjoyed The Shattered Dark, which is the second instalment in the Shadow Reader series. It has been a long time between books and because of the amount of books I read I wasn't sure how much detail of the first book I would remember but Ms Williams does a great job of re-capping events that previously occurred.The Shattered Dark takes place over a few days and involves missing friends, war, deception and fae politics. There is a lot going on and a lot to remember so pay attention when reading. I love McKenzie I think she is a wonderful character. She learns a lot about her fae boyfriend, Aren's past in this book which will give you some surprises. Oh boy do I love Aren. There was a bit of a love triangle going on with McKenzie, Aren and Kyol in book 1 but I had no indecisiveness of which man I was rooting for. I also love Ms Williams world building which is very vivid and creative.I will warn you now there is a massive cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see what is in store for these wonderful characters in book 3. If you like action packed urban fantasy with hint of romance please read this series. I think it is a fantastic series and I'm giving The Shattered Dark 5 stars.

Oh My!!!!I simply can't explain what it is about these books that is so stunning, so captivating but I can tell you that I absolutely love Sandy Williams' way of writing!!Although I have to say that this book did start off a little slow after finishing off the first book, however, it only took a short time for it to begin to affect me in the same manner as the first...I adore the characters, each and every one of them, I love that I'm not sure who to trust or what to feel... especially in the romantic department... I'm torn for Naito, I want him to find something that may or may not exist and I want the same for Lena... What do I want for McKenzie? What do I want for Aren or Kyol????? I'm so torn and I love the way I feel!!!I am still saying what I said in the first review, the last time I read a Fae novel that captivated me in this way was the Fever series... again, I'm not comparing the two, just saying how this series makes me feel....I fricken love these books!!!

These books are awesome. So many twists and turns. Just when we think we know what's going on, it all turns on its head and you're left going wow. Love this series.

I love it 😍 reading again a whole series 😘😎

a good second book which goes off in a direction you don't expect. looking forward to what happens next. enjoyed the read