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Shadowcast (The Gateway Trilogy, #1)

Crystal D. Grant

Start date: July 1, 2024

Finish date: July 31, 2024

Discussion: ✯Book of the Month✯

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What Members Thought

Dec 23, 2023 Sharon Loves to Read rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-ya, clean_g_pg

7/3/2024
Oh my! I just finished my reread of Shadowcast, and I am so excited to already have my arc of the next one on my Kindle. It was a nailbiting finish, and the next book, Lightshed, feels like a necessity right now.

This allegorical, good against evil story, takes place in a fantasy world where the Lambient gives light in the form of Beacons to soldiers, known as Stewards, who are fully committed to the Lambient's Sacred Code. The Beacons are powerful defensive and offensive weapons able to 7/3/2024
Oh my! I just finished my reread of Shadowcast, and I am so excited to already have my arc of the next one on my Kindle. It was a nailbiting finish, and the next book, Lightshed, feels like a necessity right now.

This allegorical, good against evil story, takes place in a fantasy world where the Lambient gives light in the form of Beacons to soldiers, known as Stewards, who are fully committed to the Lambient's Sacred Code. The Beacons are powerful defensive and offensive weapons able to battle against the forces of evil. In this story, evil comes in the form of Emperor Jader and his Darkmen and Shadowmen army. The Shadowmen possess the antithesis to the Beacon: the Shadowstone, which is given selectively by the emperor linking the Shadowman to his power of darkness. It gives powers that can only be overcome by the Beacons.

While the Beacons and Shadowstones are given selectively by their respective givers, there are Gifts that are given to people more "sporadically" by the Lambient when those folks are born at certain times of the moon cycle. These Gifts can be given to men and women on either side of this conflict.

Enter Mason, Seria, and Prince Eric, our MCs. (I would argue that Uralis Faunt is a subtle "under-MC" as we see his words heading up many of the chapters. His words, along with the Sacred Code, give background and stability to the story.) All three of our MCs have traveled difficult roads and have responded differently to their difficulties. These characters' lives have been and will become entwined in ways they could not have foreseen. The question is, will revenge, regret, and rejection win the day?

There are no easy answers in Shadowcast. No easy outs. The battles faced within and without are powerful and complicated. I love how the author did not shy away from the complexities of the good against evil situations in life. This is a deep story that deals with the grittiness of life and does 🚨🚨🚨🚨(view spoiler)😢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢

Read and be drawn in by Shadowcast and its characters. Do not expect a perfectly told story--it does have a "new author" feel in places (for example--switching POVs randomly) and can feel a bit trite, at least until you reach the end. Honestly, the last 5 chapters or so felt almost like a different book. I feel like the author must have poured her heart and soul into those last few chapters and then left them there! I was pulled along, wide-eyed, even on this 2nd time through the story. I might have even cried.😉 If you can be forgiving of the issues I mentioned above, then I strongly recommend this book! I am on to Lightshed tonight! I cannot wait to find out what happens to Seria, Mason, and Eric!

4/29/24

*The second book is coming out this fall, and I am so excited! I can’t believe I never wrote a review for this one. (I do have a harder time reviewing books I love, so I suppose that is why.) When it is closer to book 2’s release, I will reread Shadowcast and leave a proper review.😌 ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2024 Brittany rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-reads, fantasy, clean-reads, year-2024, magic, favorites, i-need-a-copy, christian-fiction, faith, audios-i-own

4.5 Stars ✨

Clean Fantasy Romance

“Once rooted, darkness devours everything in its path, satisfied by nothing but its own hunger”
The Sacred Code

🎧 Audio Book Version via Audible

Bravo 👏🏽 Miss Grant! This was everything I enjoy in a book! Fantasy, enemies to lovers, faith undertones, and medieval vibes. I absolutely loved it! Our world needs more books like this.

Mason Grey longs to be a part of the Steward Knights, until he witnesses them kill his brother- his only living relative. With no one ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Nov 01, 2023 Candice Yamnitz rated it it was amazing

The books pulled me into its world with a forced proximity and lie. I loved how the scenario played out. I can't wait for the sequel. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2024 Mary Emma Sivils rated it really liked it

A promising start to a trilogy!
Going into the book, I think I was expecting something with a little more action, so the slow pace of the plot took some getting used to. Around halfway, it started to pick up, but the characters conflicts that developed in the last 25% were what really sold me. I’m curious where the series will go from here!

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2023 B. Anne Stevens rated it it was amazing

Shadowcast has it all: a brilliantly designed fantasy world, war, romance, and the struggle between good and evil. Crystal D. Grant has a powerful writing style with beautifully descriptive language. Her fighting and battle scenes are the best I’ve ever read. For someone who does not always pick up fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the Gateway Trilogy.

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2024 Becky Harris rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

This was an enjoyable read. Two of my teenaged daughters read it as well and we're all eagerly awaiting book 2. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2024 Crystan M. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-kindle, faithandfantasy

I enjoyed reading Shadowcast, a Christian worldview of the battle between good and evil. The author created a believable world and intriguing magic system. While I did enjoy this read, it wasn't riveting. The pace was rather slow in places that some content editing could have tightened up, but It's still worth the read. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 03, 2024 Dawna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

is there a sequel?

I was gripped with the pages to the last page. Wow! So well written! Please say there is another book?

Ok make sense, right? This book is written very well. The se fences are well constructed and I did not find any errors. The story line is amazing. I thoroughly love this book.

1 like · Like · see review