If you’re looking for a paranormal romance that gives “ancient tribe” energy with a modern twist, Shadow’s Edge by J.T. Geissinger might be up your alley. Think of it as the ultimate “hunter becomes the protector” setup, with high stakes action and some interesting superhuman abilities.
Whether you’re a shifter veteran or looking for an introduction, Shadow’s Edge gives you an opportunity to dive in and get your feet wet.
***Please note: This review contains mild spoilers***
Book Summary
Leander McLoughlin is leader of the Ikati, an ancient tribe of beautiful, savage shape-shifters who live hidden in the forests of England. Their survival is rooted in secrecy, a secrecy threatened by the very existence of one raised outside the tribe.
Charged with capturing her before she can expose their secret, Leander tracks the unsuspecting outsider to Southern California. The great warrior is prepared for a fight, but not for the effect the courageous young beauty has on his heart.
Jenna Moore spent her childhood in hiding, on the run from an unseen enemy. Now her mother is dead and her father has vanished without a trace, leaving Jenna alone to contend with sudden strange, superhuman abilities. When handsome, enigmatic Leander McLoughlin appears, promising answers to all of her questions, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. But their connection is as undeniable as the dangerous destiny drawing her home?
(Via Goodreads)
Quality of Writing
Rating: 5/5
The writing in Shadow’s Edge is definitely its strongest suit. The writing stayed consistent without getting overly fluffy or wordy. The vocabulary has lots of variance and the flow feels intentional, which makes for a polished experience.
I did follow along at some points with the audio, which means I did notice that the narrator took a few creative liberties with text. But honestly, it worked well and made the whole thing feel more immersive.
Plot Development
Rating: 3/5
When it comes to the plot, Shadow’s Edge is definitely on the slow burn side of the spectrum. Unfortunately, that led to me having some issues with concentration, which led to memory gaps. I’ll be honest, I can’t tell you exactly what happened in at least half of the book. However, the parts that did stick were pretty gripping and did a great job of pulling me back into the world of the Ikati.
Characters
Rating: 3/5
The character dynamics in Shadow’s Edge are a bit of a mixed bag. On their own, I actually liked the individual characters, but when it came to the chemistry between Leander and Jenna, I just wasn’t feeling it.
A huge part of that (for me, at least!) was the narrator’s choice for Leander’s voice. He’s supposed to be this powerful Ikati leader, but he sounded like a 70 year old British aristocrat. It made the romantic scenes feel a little cringey, and made it hard to get invested in their connection.
On the bright side, I loved Morgan and am super excited for the next book to focus on her.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 4/5
When it comes to picking this one up, Shadow’s Edge is a pretty easy and breezy experience. The writing is smooth and the flow is intentional, so I didn’t find myself tripping over awkward sentences or confusing descriptions. Unfortunately, this book’s fatal flaw once again comes back to he plot. Because of the middle section being so slow, my mind wandered off pretty frequently.
Shadow’s Edge is an easy read in terms of the style, but maybe a little too easy to tune out if you aren’t 100% down for the slow burn pace of the plot.
Ending
Rating: 4/5
Although it’s part of an interconnected series, the ending of Shadow’s Edge felt just a little bit unpolished for my tastes. It’s not in total cliffhanger territory, but it leaves enough dangling threads that you know you aren’t done with the world yet.
Luckily, Shadow’s Edge does a great job of setting the stage for the next book. By the time I hit the last few chapters, I was less worried about the main couple and way more interested in Morgan’s redemption arc. It’s a solid setup that makes me want to reach for the sequel immediately.
Would I Recommend This Book
Honestly, I would give Shadow’s Edge a soft yes, but with a few caveats. Admittedly, the slow pace did make me lose focus, but the world of the Ikati is super intriguing. I would also recommend reading this book versus listening, as the narrator’s voice for Leander was very off putting and made it hard to feel engaged with the book.
If you’re looking to try out something that isn’t run of the mill vampires, wolf shifters, or witches, give Shadow’s Edge a shot!
Overall Rating
Although I struggled with the pacing and the narrator’s specific vibe, Shadow’s Edge does have an intriguing premise and is chock full of Ikati lore. The book is also a great setup for Morgan’s story, which was enough to keep me curious about what’s to come.
Book Rating: 3.5/5 (TW: Death, SA (Threatened))
Spice Rating: 2/5
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
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Have you ever had a narrator’s voice choice completely change how you felt about a book?
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