Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Review: Spark of Shadows by Rachel Madbury

Title: Spark of Shadows
Series: The Sevens
Author: Rachel Madbury
Read copy: eBook (Kindle)
Published: November 4, 2020
Publisher: Rachel Madbury
ASIN: B08MVD4H3F

True love never forgets.

Demons are coming for Cora Gardner. A witch like her sisters, and all the women of her line before her, her existence is threatened not only by mortals who fear what they don’t understand, but by those who live in the shadows and thrive on the darkness.

But when a warrior is summoned to be her guard she’d almost prefer to meet her fate.

Liam Wolfe is not just any warrior, he’s a Seven, created by the covens to protect the most powerful among them. He and his team are the hard edge that keep the violence at bay, so the witches of the world can hold the earth in her balance.

But demons aren’t the only ones drawn to Cora. Despite an animosity from her he cannot comprehend, Liam finds his oath as a Seven tested in the face of temptation. And as evil approaches, secrets are revealed – a truth which threatens everything he’s ever known.

Their past holds the power to reshape his world, but only if he can protect the woman who holds the key.


My rating:

***copy provided by author/publisher through BookSirens***

Cora and Liam were in love when he went to London with the promise to return to her. Three days later, she went searching for him and he acted as if they were strangers, breaking her heart.


I read the sample (first chapter) and was immediately intrigued. Unfortunately, the rest of the story didn't deliver on the promise of the first chapter.

It would've definitely worked better as a shorter story. Granted, the author managed to avoid the dreaded info-dump by scattering the world-building elements and all the pertinent information regarding the series and the creatures dwelling in it throughout the story, but it was still too much for an introductory prequel.

The characters lacked major depth and development (he was broody, she was achy) so the romance wasn't really working, the paranormal suspense hinted at with the demon threat seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought to act as a catalyst for the resolution to the lackluster romance...

But what bothered me the most was the anachronisms. It was obviously set in the Victorian era and in England, but instead of the Victorian British, the characters acted and talked like the story was set in the present (using "baby" as an endearment was particularly jarring).

Quite a disappointment.



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