NICOLE'S REVIEW: Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Sea of Shadows
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: April 8 2014

Publishing House: Harper Collins

ISBN: 9780062071248
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire's worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls o the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by ana nicent evil, the sister's journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they've ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court - one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review:

Moria and Ashyn - sisters, twins, Keeper and Seeker. They have a task every year - quiet the sprits that roam the forest near their home. Spirits of the exiled criminals who die in the forest near their home. It's Ashyn's first year to do it without her mentor and when things start going wrong and people start dying she's not sure what to think. Her fault? Or maybe just a bad year for her and her sister. When their tiny little town is attacked, the sisters have to bring news to their Emperor crossing paths with monsters and journeying across deserts and mountains. But thing is, trouble has a way of following the sisters and court life isn't exactly the reprieve they thought it'd be.

Sea of Shadows is a pretty good story - the pacing's great and the world-building was decent. I liked the atmosphere, it was creepy and dark. My only problem was how it seemed like the ending was too quick which left the story feeling a little cut short but that's about it.

The story is told in the alternating voices of Moria and Ashyn, two wholly different characters. Moria is the fighter, brash, bold and gorgeous, she has all the boys falling at her feet. Especially that imperial guard who's taken a liking to her. Moira has a cat, a big hunting cat who tags along wherever she goes. ( I like the cat better than I do Moria)

Ashyn, the other twin, is as beautiful but more timid. I was more partial to Ashyn and might be a little guilty of just skimming through Moria's parts and paying more attention to her twin's. After getting separated from her sister, she's forced to travel with an exile named Ronan. I liked him with Ashyn and when it was clear that he might have been more interested in Moria, initially, I wasn't happy. There was a little case of insta-love and Ashyn feeling a whole lot sorry for herself and comparing herself to her sister but thankfully it doesn't last the whole book. I can deal with a little self-pity.

Long story short, they do some traveling then encounter supposedly nonexistent mythical creatures and get into fights. They get deceived by bad men out to get them and escape and have to travel to the city. There are kisses in between. Then we realize that Ronan leaves the scene and there's something wrong with Moria's choice in men. See Moria? This is why I prefer your sister. She's not stupid. 

Overall a pretty entertaining book, I'd recommend this for those looking for their next fantasy read.

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