The Shadow Rises by K.S. Marsden

By: Anonymous on Monday, August 26, 2013

Title:  The Shadow Rises

Author:  K.S. Marsden

Series:  Witch-Hunter #1

Published:  May 2013 (first published January 1st 2013)

Page Count:  157

Genre:  Paranormal

Shelf: Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Witches are real, and to be blunt, they’re all black-hearted, and evil. These are not wiccans, bored housewives and teens that wore too much black, playing with candles and poems; witches are a different breed that use magic with devastating effect.
Charged with stopping the witches, taking whatever measures necessary, there are witch-hunters, all reporting to the Malleus Maleficarum Council (MMC). For hundreds of years witches have been persecuted and when the powerful Shadow Witch rises again, they have their opportunity for revenge.

The best the MMC has to offer, the talented seventh-generation witch-hunting Hunter Astley has his own part to play. In his own way.

My Review:

Marsden has a very straightforward writing style that keeps the characters and the action in your face throughout this rather intense novella. It is a very well edited and put together novella that takes you on quite a wild ride. Marsden presents her storyline in a manner that is easy to follow. She fills in lots of background information without breaking this flow. She is also very good at marking the passage of time without the reader feeling left behind.

Not only is this one of the few times I can remember seeing witch hunters as the good guys in fictional literature, it is the only time outside of academia that I have ever seen the Malleus Maleficarum used correctly. A huge kudos to the author on that front. Lots of research went behind this lovely novella.

The main characters in this story are quite well developed for a novella. You actually get to know them much better than some characters in full length novels. They are all quite well suited to their role in the story. I also appreciate the supporting cast of characters. they bring a very well rounded feeling to the story.

Overall this is a dense but very enjoyable read. The author leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction at the end, while still wanting more.

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