From debut author Katharyn Blair comes a heart-stopping fantasy novel, perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and The Young Elites, about a teenage runaway who enters a dangerous tournament with an impossible prize.
THE BECKONING SHADOW by KATHARYN BLAIR
Series: The Beckoning Shadow #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication date: July 2, 2019
Genre: YA, fantasy
SYNOPSIS
Vesper Montgomery can summon your worst fear and turn it into a reality—but she’s learned the hard way that it’s an addicting and dangerous power. One wrong move and you could hurt someone you love.
But when she earns a spot in the Tournament of the Unraveling, where competitors battle it out for a chance to rewrite the past, Vesper finally has a shot to reverse the mistakes that have changed her forever. She turns to Sam Hardy, a former MMA fighter who’s also carrying a tragedy he desperately wants to undo. However, helping heal Sam’s heart will mean breaking her own, and the competition forces her to master her powers—powers she has been terrified of since they destroyed her life.
But when she earns a spot in the Tournament of the Unraveling, where competitors battle it out for a chance to rewrite the past, Vesper finally has a shot to reverse the mistakes that have changed her forever. She turns to Sam Hardy, a former MMA fighter who’s also carrying a tragedy he desperately wants to undo. However, helping heal Sam’s heart will mean breaking her own, and the competition forces her to master her powers—powers she has been terrified of since they destroyed her life.
Praise for The Beckoning:
“An extraordinary debut packed with richly drawn characters in a sure-to-entertain storyline.”
- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Interweaving excellent worldbuilding with the uncertainties of discipline, friendship, and taking ownership of one’s decisions, Blair’s debut will entrance and delight in equal measure.”
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This story of magic, hope, death, friendship, and family...offer[s] a taste of the mystical, a great voice and dialogue, and well-written questions that address teen angst.”
- School Library Journal
“Part fantasy, part battle royale, this gripping novel builds on the well-loved trope of mutant outcasts with unexplained powers but adds a worthy gladiatorial spin.”
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“The Beckoning Shadow is a fast-paced, exciting debut with an awesome girl protagonist! I rooted for Vesper as she smashed her way through this vividly imagined story, and was left hoping for more!”
- S.J. Kincaid, New York Times bestselling author of The Diabolic
“An absolutely riveting, supercharged story set against a world of secretive and thoroughly badass magic-wielders. I adored Vesper for her toughness and vulnerable heart—I dare you not to fall for her, too.”
- Lana Popoviç, author of Fierce like a Firestorm
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I live in LA, drink way too much coffee, and write all day long -- because I'm crazy blessed to do what I've been doing for fun since I was a kid hiding in my garage loft writing terrible, terrible vampire stories. Glitter enthusiast. Bethyl shipper. Pluviophile. Ask me about my Dean Winchester obsession.
I'm wife to Ross and mom to Aryn, Liam, and River Grace. Also, mom to Cricket (a dog, not an insect), and Maggie Rhee (cat, not the bad ass from The Walking Dead).
You can find her on:
The Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn BlairMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
After all the warnings, all the lessons, all the looks over their shoulders—and the thing they should have feared the most was next to them, the whole time. Me. I was the scariest thing.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but it ended up being more than I could have hoped for. It was such a fresh and exciting offering to the genre that was unlike anything I've read. I literally could not get enough. All it did was leave me hungry for more. I don't think the synopsis does it justice, it only gives you a small taste of what's inside. If I could draw a comparison, the first thing that comes to mind is a teen X-men story with an underground supernatural, gladiator-style tournament thrown in.
Vesper is the main protagonist, a runaway teen trying to escape the mistakes she's made, but some things you just can't outrun. She doesn't like to stay in one place for too long, form any friendships, or draw any attention to herself. All she wants is to be left alone in the hope that she can prevent the events from her past from repeating themselves. It's a mistake that haunts her every day, when the idyllic life she once had was stolen from her. Vesper is a Harbinger, an Oddity that can tether herself to people's fears and make them a reality. The only problem is that she has no idea how to control the power that's inside her, and no longer has anyone who can teach her the things she needs to know.
Growing up she lived in complete ignorance of the supernatural world filled with Rippers, Ledgers, Dusters, Shaders, and many more uniquely gifted people. She was unaware of the threat of Wardens who police Oddities, and the absolute power that they use that's not necessarily in the best interest of those they govern. We get little flashbacks of what happened after her power manifested, and how that led her to where she is now. I couldn't help but see the irony that her power was drawing out other people's fear, when her own greatest fear was using her power. It's not until the Tournament of the Unraveling that she may have to face her fear in order to win what she most desires.
Vesper and Sam meet fairly early on in a nail biting, action packed scene. This is where we first get a sense of what she's capable of, and I...was...riveted. The power she wields is immense, with limitless possibilities, making her one of the most impressive of the Oddities. While she is near the top of the tier, she doesn't fall into the YA cliche of the chosen one, THE most powerful or rare. I found that refreshing for a change. There were a lot of kickass Oddities who presented a formidable challenge for Vesper to go up against. Not only because of their mastery over their powers but also her unwillingness to fight dirty with their darkest fears.
She has a tough as nails exterior on the outside, someone who doesn't need help or sympathy, but she's more than the hardened girl she portrays. She can be a softie on the inside, and it puts her somewhat at a disadvantage with the cutthroat competition she enters. She wages a battle with herself over how far she's willing to go, what lines she's willing to cross.
I’ve been so afraid of the monster inside I didn’t see the monster I was becoming.
One of the best things about the book is Vesper's new group of friends from the Oddities world. They all welcomed her into their ranks with open arms, something she hadn't had in a long time.Slowly she lets them in, and eventually gifts them with her trust. But something even more compelling about their relationship was the fact that they become her opponents in the tournament which makes their friendship a whole lot more complicated.
I think I forgot, even in that short amount of time, what it feels like to be with people. Sapphira reminded me, and now Sam feels like he’s snagged on me or something. I’m caught, a little. Stuck here, drawn by the way he looks as broken as I feel.
So used to being alone and on defense, she really blossomed and found her strength with them at her back. There are some among the group that have their own secrets, and there are small hints that are dropped throughout, but I was pleasantly taken by surprise when they were revealed. I love when a plot can take me off guard with its twists and The Beckoning Shadow most definitely achieved that. Not only do the Oddities have their secrets, but there is a mystery in Sam's past that Vesper vows to help him solve. In turmoil over her growing feelings for the man who has been nothing but supportive to her, she makes it her mission to bring him the closure and answers he seeks. Not everyone is who or what they seem, and Vesper soon learns that the Wardens are the least of her fears.
The devil you know is just as bad as the one you don't.
For a debut book, this was such an impressive offering. We get some amazingly choreographed supernatural action scenes, unpredictable plot twists, and a compulsively readable fantasy story that I raced through despite the considerable page length. It was a huge win for me, and bonus, there is no suspenseful cliffy at the end. I can't recommend this book more for those looking for a new series to get hooked on. You will not be disappointed!!
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