Review: Forsaken by Shadow by Kait Nolan

Title: Forsaken by Shadow
Author: Kait Nolan (Twitter)
Series: A novella of the Mirus
Genre: Paranormal romance/Urban fantasy
Details: eBook, 165 pg
Publisher: Kait Nolan (independently published)
ISBN: 9781452302898

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Alice’s Review:

I received a PDF file copy of this novella (which  meant I got to use my brand new Sony eReader!!!)  by the author, who is a part of the Indie Book Collective (IBC).

I wanted to review this for two reasons: one, I like the idea of helping a new, indie author get their name out; two, the synopsis was intriguing.

Synopsis:

Cade Shepherd is on top of the world as this year’s Ultimate Fighting Champion. He doesn’t even remember his life as Gage Dempsey, a Shadow Walker with the ability to magically transport himself from shadow to shadow. In fact, he can’t remember anything before waking up in a cheap motel room ten years ago with mysterious burns on his hands–not even the woman he almost died for.

Embry Hollister has picked up the pieces of her life, learned to control her ability to generate flame, and now works an enforcer for the Council of Races. But when her father is captured by the human military and the Council refuses mount a rescue mission, Embry has no choice but to go rogue. All she has to is find the man with the new name and new life who was completely wronged by her people, give him back the memories they stole, convince him to join her on what’s probably a suicide mission, and hope that after ten years of living as a regular guy he still remembers what her father taught him.

And after that, she just has to leave him. Again.

Even though this was a novella, which means it’s shorter than the average novel, it took me longer finish than it should have.

At only 165 pages, I should have finished this in about an hour or two.

I liked Embry, she’s a tough chick who’s dealt with her past by throwing herself into her work. Cade, who remembers nothing of his life, manages to make a name for himself and build a life, despite not having  past. As Gage, however,  he seems a bit more friendly and confident. I don’t know if that’s because he’s reunited with Embry or because he can remember his past — maybe it’s a little bit of both.

Forsaken by Shadow starts off slow, building steam as the story goes on.  The first two chapters were really confusing as chapter two is set ten years after chapter one, and you don’t find out until a few pages into chapter two.

There are some flashbacks that don’t read as flashbacks until midway through, and though that writing technique is a good one and it works, for this novella, it just didn’t feel believable. I was more confused than anything.

Even though Forsaken by Shadow is a novella and an introduction to the Mirus world Kait Nolan is creating, there is more backstory thrown into it than necessary and not enough world building. I didn’t get a feel for Embry’s gift until midway through the story.

At times it felt as though Nolan wanted to write a novel, but then pulled herself back into the novella mode at the last moment. I certainly wished it had been a novel, because I was really intrigued with world Nolan created. I am definitely looking forward to more Mirus stories.

Nolan does have an interesting world of magic and paranormals that I would have liked to have seen more of. I would have liked to have read more about the magic usage, the Mirus people, the Shadow Walkers, the Council of Races and the paranormal races she introduces throughout the story (especially the dragon shifter…).

Once Embry and Cade/Gage are reunited, they dance around one another, unsure of how to pick up their past relationship, or even if they should. Besides, they’re on a suicide mission — there’s not really a lot of time for talking about the past.

The last third of the book is exciting and action-packed. It reads quickly, as is the strongest part of the story. Nolan has a strong voice — if you enjoy urban fantasy writers like Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn or Devon Monk, you’ll enjoy Kait Nolan.

I rate Forsaken by Shadow 3 stars. Nolan is definitely a writer to watch out for, and I believe her writing will get stronger with time.