Review: Rising Shadows by Bridget Blackwood

Title: Rising Shadows
Author: Bridget Blackwood
Released: Feb. 2014
Source: Won a copy from a contest
Links: *Note -- This book is currently free at time of posting, so you might want to snag it up*
Goodreads ~ Amazon


Rachel Ryan wakes up with no knowledge of where she is or how she got there. Thrown into a world she thought only existed in myths, she finds more questions than answers. Shape shifters, faeries, and vampires hide in plain sight among humans. There’s a war quietly brewing in the shadows. Rachel stands between mankind and those creatures that live in the darkness. Enhanced with power she doesn't understand, she’ll tip the scales, but who is the real enemy?

My Review: 

First, I have to say that I don't think I've read an introductory book that is quite as WOWing as this one.  Rising Shadows pulls you in from scene one full of question and anticipating outcomes. The world building is almost seamless, each little piece of information given feels like it fits right in.  The mysteries and secrets add to the story and pull you into the the world of the Shadows and encourage you to dive in head first.  

When first reading, I worried Rachel would be a character I'd loathe.  She was confused and seemed kind of naive at the start of the book.  That  doesn't last to long though, slowly Rachel comes back to herself.  While she adjusts to her new circumstances, she definitely isn't wallowing in self pity or woe is me. She longs to fight back. 

I absolutely love Rachel's snarky sarcasm, It's palatable as her personality. It comes off the pages whether it's in her head or outwitting her captors.  She might be trapped, but she's not giving up or giving in.  It's strong heroines like this that really fit into a paranormal world.  

Bastien, sigh, oh Bastien.  I kind of fell in love with him from the get go.  Before he speaks. Before he meets up with Rachel, just the description of his first sighting and I digress. He's a great character, Hard Core Bad Ass when he needs to be, and quite the opposite much of the time, when he so chooses.  He feels an instant connection to Rachel, though that's more something you read into based on his actions throughout their initial meeting and afterwards. 

The true nature therianthropy was great, I love how it all ties together.  The different twists to certain things add a unique layer to this World in Shadows.  

Rising Shadows introduces a bevy of characters, so its is a lot to take in, but I think that each new character brought up is important and has their place.  From Claude and Madalaina to Cleary to Winter and Varian, you get a feel for how each "species" connects to and interacts with each other in this world. 

Though things happen suddenly, the relationship between Bastien and Rachel does not feel forced, rather it is fitting. They continue to grow as a couple throughout the book. 

I am fascinated by this new World and look forward to reading more of the books centered in it.  The interactions between certain characters build up quite an anticipation for future stories that I am hopeless to ignore.  If you are looking for a sometimes steamy, often Hilarious, full of Kick Butt Fun characters, look no further than this series.