Review: Cloaked in Shadow by Ben Alderson

“CLOAKED IN SHADOW is a fast paced read filled with battles, mythical creatures, magic, intrigue and love.”
~ Under the Covers

Honestly I picked this up on a whim because the cover is gorgeous and I loved seeing Ben talk about his book so much that just got me excited to read it. I’ve been following Ben’s Instagram and YouTube book blogging accounts for a while and every time I pick up a book by a blogger that I like, I’m always scared I won’t enjoy the story. Mostly because I want to enjoy it so there’s the added pressure.

What was immediately surprising to me is the fact that this is his first book. The writing in this felt like a more seasoned author and I was so pleasantly surprised by that. There’s an ease with which he crafts his scenes and sets the mood, giving you enough information to get a really good feel for what things look and feel like without overwhelming you with details. I hate details! This book does it so effortlessly and while engaging you in the story. And what a fun, interesting story it is! I didn’t want to put it down.

We follow our main character, Zacriah, who is brought to serve in the King’s legion of shapeshifters. Except… he can’t shift and he doesn’t really know what he is. While he’s struggling with this, the acceptance by his trainers and friends, and developing feelings for the Prince who has become his protector and mentor, war is breaking out all around them and it may be up to him to figure out the truth of what’s going on and try and stop it.

CLOAKED IN SHADOW is a fast paced read filled with battles, mythical creatures, magic, intrigue and love. The romance element is an important part of this story while still being in the background, so cuddos to the author for keeping that balance and drawing me in to care for them as a couple, not just the world building.

If I have to have one complaint it’s the ending. I felt like there was one scene just added in that felt a bit jarring to the flow of the story and which throws this into a bit of a cliffhanger. Nevertheless, I’m interested in reading more from these characters and I’ll be sure to look out for more from this author in the future as well.

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