Reign of Shadows (Reign of Shadows Series #1)

by Sophie Jordan

Overview

Destiny and darkness collide in this romantic, sweeping new fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo.

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok's lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna's survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn't stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062377647
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Series:	Reign of Shadows Series , #1
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she’s the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of more than thirty novels. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she’s not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with anything that has a happily ever after.  

Editorial Reviews

01/18/2016
In a fantasy driven by romantic tension, a princess in hiding teams up with a mysterious archer to brave the eclipse that has kept their land in darkness for 17 years. Blind from birth, Luna is fearless, capable, and resourceful, while Fowler is gruff, independent, and reluctant to accept her as a traveling partner. When Luna's tower refuge is discovered by those looking to kill her, she must accompany Fowler on his quest for a mythical island. As they brave the terrifying Black Woods, where monstrous "dark dwellers" hunt human prey, and fight agents of the chancellor who usurped the throne and murdered Luna's parents, the two grow close, eventually falling for each other. Jordan's (Unleashed) somewhat implausible premise (the presumably mystical nature of the eclipse goes unexplained) is mitigated by the growing chemistry between her strong characters; Luna is a memorably competent protagonist whose inability to see barely slows her down. A clichéd late revelation significantly complicates the romance, while building to a cliffhanger ending. Ages 13–up. Agent: Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Associates. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for UNINVITED: “A riveting, disconcerting vision of a near–future corrupted by genetic profiling. Thoroughly unputdownable.

Rachel Vincent

Praise for the Firelight series: “The Firelight series is a rare sparkling gem. I delved into the mystical world and discovered a fast–paced, gripping story. …Anytime my readers ask for a book recommendation, I always say, ‘Read Sophie Jordan!’

Colleen Houck

There’s more than blindness to Luna, and her sightlessness is authentically depicted as an advantage at times and a vulnerability at others. This will appeal to readers drawn to romance.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for UNINVITED: “UNINVITED asks the question: will you let the world define who you are or will you choose to define yourself? Put simply: I loved this book!

Carrie Ryan

Praise for the Firelight series: “This imaginative and intense story leaves you wanting more.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

12/01/2015
Gr 7 Up—Luna, an orphaned princess, has been living in a tower with her rescuers since they saved her from an assassin on the day she was born. On that day, her kingdom and all its neighbors were plunged into seemingly eternal darkness thanks to a lunar eclipse. What's worse, enormous flesh-eating creatures (called "Dwellers") came scuttling out of the ground as the endless night fell hard on the land. Now, 17 years after the eclipse, Luna happens to rescue a rugged survivor named Fowler, who agrees to travel with the princess to a fabled island free of Dwellers. What begins as a fast-paced adventure quickly gets bogged down in the quagmire of Luna and Fowler tromping through the forest, fighting with each other, avoiding getting killed, and resisting the urge to fall in love. Luna, who is blind, has heightened senses and has been trained to fight, yet she falls into the damsel-in-distress role much too readily. There are some moments of true suspense, but Luna's characterization is inconsistent. The cliff-hanger ending guarantees more books to come, though readers might not feel compelled to stick around. VERDICT An additional purchase where apocalypse and fantasy novels tinged with tame romance are popular.—Abby Bussen, Cudahy Family Library, WI

School Library Journal

2015-11-25
Star-crossed romance smolders in a sunless fairy-tale kingdom of ugliness, horror, and grisly violence. Born on the eve of a now seemingly perpetual eclipse, Luna has spent her 17 years in darkness; alone with two loyal retainers in a remote tower, she hides from both the monstrous "dark dwellers" and the power-mad chancellor who murdered her royal parents. Everything changes after she rescues a few wanderers from Outside, including Fowler, a bitter youth particularly adept at survival. Once her sanctuary is discovered, Luna flees with Fowler, who longs to be rid of her while harboring sinister secrets of his own. Luna and Fowler alternate painfully florid narration of their journey through a far-fetched world where "everything is bleakness and death." Fowler is an archetypical brooding hero; his cynical, callous exterior merely shields a heart bruised by his traumatic past. Luna, while laudably confident and competent (despite the disability she's unaware of till he tells her about it), is also superspecial, flawlessly compassionate, and noble, with senses so implausibly acute that she almost totally compensates for it. Their inevitable romance is swoony, angst-y, and (discreetly) consummated, leading all too predictably to tedious misunderstandings, feckless self-sacrifices, and an abrupt, over-the-top cliffhanger that may inspire eye-rolls from even the most fervent devotees of the genre. All the standard tropes and clichés, only ever-so-much more so. (Dystopian fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

Effortless fantasy with high romance, REIGN OF SHADOWS keeps you intrigued until the final sentence.” — RT Book Reviews

“Star-crossed romance smolders.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Set in a dark, petrifying world of nightmares, and chock full of harrowing action, swoon–worthy romance, and a compelling, formidable pair of protagonists, REIGN OF SHADOWS was a thrill ride from start to finish!” — Sarah J Maas, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series

“There’s more than blindness to Luna, and her sightlessness is authentically depicted as an advantage at times and a vulnerability at others. This will appeal to readers drawn to romance.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An exciting and unique fantasy, full of suspense and romance.” — Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

Praise for UNINVITED: “UNINVITED asks the question: will you let the world define who you are or will you choose to define yourself? Put simply: I loved this book!” — Carrie Ryan, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series

Praise for UNINVITED: “A riveting, disconcerting vision of a near–future corrupted by genetic profiling. Thoroughly unputdownable.” — Rachel Vincent, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

Praise for UNINVITED: “this fast–paced story is a solid addition to the dystopian genre.” — Booklist

Praise for the Firelight series: “The Firelight series is a rare sparkling gem. I delved into the mystical world and discovered a fast–paced, gripping story. …Anytime my readers ask for a book recommendation, I always say, ‘Read Sophie Jordan!’” — Colleen Houck, author of NEW YORK TIMES bestselling TIGER’S CURSE

Praise for the Firelight series: “Firelight soars to dizzying heights, combining forbidden love, scorching romance, and thrilling danger.” — Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy

Praise for the Firelight series: “Magnificent and masterful! A world so captivating, you’ll never want to leave!” — Kerrelyn Sparks, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author on FIRELIGHT

Praise for the Firelight series: “Jordan’s compelling addition to the supernatural star–crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance.” — Booklist

Praise for the Firelight series: “Just surrender to the sizzle.” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for the Firelight series: “This imaginative and intense story leaves you wanting more.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

From the Publisher

Praise for UNINVITED: “this fast–paced story is a solid addition to the dystopian genre.

Booklist

Set in a dark, petrifying world of nightmares, and chock full of harrowing action, swoon–worthy romance, and a compelling, formidable pair of protagonists, REIGN OF SHADOWS was a thrill ride from start to finish!

Sarah J Maas

Praise for the Firelight series: “Firelight soars to dizzying heights, combining forbidden love, scorching romance, and thrilling danger.

Kiersten White

Effortless fantasy with high romance, REIGN OF SHADOWS keeps you intrigued until the final sentence.

RT Book Reviews

An exciting and unique fantasy, full of suspense and romance.

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Praise for UNINVITED: “this fast–paced story is a solid addition to the dystopian genre.

Booklist

Praise for the Firelight series: “Magnificent and masterful! A world so captivating, you’ll never want to leave!

Kerrelyn Sparks

There’s more than blindness to Luna, and her sightlessness is authentically depicted as an advantage at times and a vulnerability at others. This will appeal to readers drawn to romance.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books