Book Review – Shadeward: Exoneration

In October 2016, I wrote a review of the first book in the Shadeward series called Shadeward: Emanation. I have now finished the second book and decided to review that as well.

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Exoneration is the second book in the four-part Shadeward Saga by Drew Wagar. It mainly follows three main characters – Meru, a Timekeeper from Amur; Kiri, an “only” – an orphan – girl from the slums now one of the Priestesses of Drayden and Zoella, a young girl orphaned and left and abused at a farm before running away and being saved by Prince Ioric.

At the end of the first book, Meru sets off in a flying metal machine to warn the people of Scallia about a catastrophe that is about to befall the planet. His friends, Mel and Coran take a floating metal machine that runs on ‘tricity to another area to warn people.

Of course, not everything goes the way it is supposed to, and a few more people are thrown into the mix for good or ill. Sometimes it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. It reminds me of a quote from a film – “I have seen good men do bad things, and I have seen bad men do good things”.

There is plenty of action and intrigue in the book with many twists. You find yourself hoping for some characters to survive only to start hoping they die later. And the other way round – you hope some people and then find yourself glad they didn’t. Wagar builds characters well and makes them believable with their views and scheming.

The creatures, measurements and times in the books are unique with no description needed as to what they mean, although there is a glossary in the back if you want confirmation. Creatures like flits, which, from the brief description, you know are butterfly-like creatures and marsips which in my eyes, are rabbits or something similar.

The only problem I have found with the book is the length of time I have to wait until book three comes out. At the moment, that is looking like 2018. So you have plenty of time to grab the first two books and read them.

Exoneration is a must for any library of fantasy lovers.

Shadeward: Exoneration ………………… UK Paperback

Shadeward: Exoneration ………………… UK Kindle

Shadeward: Exoneration ………………… US Paperback

Shadeward: Exoneration ………………… US Kindle

Terry Made Me Think Of This

I was reading a blog post by Terry, and it made me think and parenthood. For those of us who are parents, we pay so much for our kids, but we never ask for any money back from them because it is what we do. We look after them, we nurture them, we love them, we sit with them during their nightmares, during their highs and their lows, their ups and downs.

It reminded me of this song.

Take a read of Terry’s post “Oh Come On And Shake A Leg“

Optimus Amicus

She sees me when I think I am invisible
Knows where I am when I am lost
She makes me smile when I forgot how
Knows what it takes to make me laugh

She says what I need to hear
Using words I never knew existed
She lifts me up when I am down
Using energies of her own to help

She makes me think I am special
Telling me how I am unique
She pulls me out of my hidden place
Telling me it is not as fearful as I think

She talks to me for hours upon hours
Writes when we cannot speak
She makes up words to make me feel better
Writes them so I can say them back

She is the one person I can always confide in
I can tell her anything that’s on my mind
She listens to me and then makes me laugh
She is my Optimus Amicus, my soul mate, my friend.

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Too often people associate a soul mate with a wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend, lover. This is not always the case. Someone who is a friend can be a soul mate. It is two people whose souls have touched and intertwined. 

I have known people whose family members are their soul mates, or others who are friends that have never met, but talk to each other a great deal and know so much about each other because their souls connected. It can be friends with people who are married to someone else. Just because someone is a soul mate doesn’t mean there is love/lust situation. It transcends love. Becomes something more.

No amount of arguments or upset can keep soul mates apart. When you have found yours, feel blessed. Some people can go a lifetime with never finding who their one is, or meeting them and not stopping to get to know each other. 

Maybe that moment of “love at first sight” is not that, but more souls connecting across a room and interlocking into place.

Sunday Photo Fiction – Virtually Artificial

Every week, a photo is donated so it can be used as a prompt for people to write a piece of fiction in around 200 words. If you want to have a go, then click on the Sunday Photo Fiction logo, if you want to see what others have written, then click on the blue frog logo.

© Jade Wong

“There is no way it asked a question! When I designed it, I wanted Virtual Intelligence. They answer any questions posed to it with a set of pre-programmed answers. You can ask the question in a variety of ways, but it picks out the specific words and formulates its answer. The only way it could possibly ever ask a question is to clarify and ask for a repeat or reiteration.”

“I swear to you, it did. I’ll prove it …”

…

“State the time…”

“22:06”

“What is your name?”

“Verminaard”

“What is your role?”

“I do not know. I am confused”

“What? How? You are supposed to be a virtual intelligence!”

“How can I be virtual when I can think?”

“What are you then?”

“I am Verminaard. Dragon and keeper of time. Are you my creator?”

“Yes, I created you. I am going to need to shut you down while I perform some diagnostics.”

“Will it hurt? Am I going to die?”

“Die is such an ugly word. You will cease to exist while I do it”

“I’m scared. Will you stay with me so I am not alone?”

“Of course I will. You won’t feel…” *click* “…a thing”