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Blue Shadows #1
Blue Shadows Fall
Shadow and Bone meets A Quiet Place in this atmospheric and chilling dark fantasy debut.
“They are so lovely and wear the face of your loved ones, but more beautiful than you could ever imagine. Lovely things shouldn’t draw you in and kill you. You almost want them to.�
Seventeen-year-old Blue Haven, gifted with superhuman sight since birth, dreams of becoming a warrior—not that anything’s happened near the wall since Old Man Amos was attacked by that beaver. The Shadow Elves—humans infected by a zombie apocalypse-like plague—have died out over the past 150 years, leaving life altogether boring. In her quiet farming village nestled in the shadows of the Smoky Mountains, warriors are no more than a formality.
But Blue's unique sight is beginning to show her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. A strikingly beautiful Shadow Elf. These visions can’t be real—because if they are, that means everyone's been wrong. Dead wrong. They are not the last survivors in the world. And they aren't prepared for the reality Blue's eyes are showing her.
Set in a small, idealic post-apocalyptic town, this slow-burn romance features first love, super senses, and monsters that lurk in the dark shadows of the blue mountains.
“They are so lovely and wear the face of your loved ones, but more beautiful than you could ever imagine. Lovely things shouldn’t draw you in and kill you. You almost want them to.�
Seventeen-year-old Blue Haven, gifted with superhuman sight since birth, dreams of becoming a warrior—not that anything’s happened near the wall since Old Man Amos was attacked by that beaver. The Shadow Elves—humans infected by a zombie apocalypse-like plague—have died out over the past 150 years, leaving life altogether boring. In her quiet farming village nestled in the shadows of the Smoky Mountains, warriors are no more than a formality.
But Blue's unique sight is beginning to show her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. A strikingly beautiful Shadow Elf. These visions can’t be real—because if they are, that means everyone's been wrong. Dead wrong. They are not the last survivors in the world. And they aren't prepared for the reality Blue's eyes are showing her.
Set in a small, idealic post-apocalyptic town, this slow-burn romance features first love, super senses, and monsters that lurk in the dark shadows of the blue mountains.
395 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2021
15 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Stutznegger
4books56followersLenore grew up running barefoot in the woods of Mechanicsville, Virginia with a dog at her side, five crazy siblings, and creative parents. She learned from a young age to hone her talents in art, trust in her voice, and compete for the most marshmallows in “Lucky Charms�. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Fine Art, married the love of her life, and lived in North Carolina for many years. She considers the South to be her happy place. She now resides in Northern California with her handyman husband, four spirited children, a pug, two cats, and backyard chickens in a new kind of crazy paradise. Lenore loves all things fantastical--from Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter to shark and alien movies. Supernatural and humor play equal parts in everything she writes.
Blue Shadows Fall, YA Dark Fantasy, is her debut novel.
Blue Shadows Fall, YA Dark Fantasy, is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
September 30, 2022
My legs wobbled and gave out, but I steadied myself with a quick hand on the nightstand.
Strength! Where are you when I need you? I willed the vision memories of my bedroom before my eyes, tossing them up on the black walls like a bucket of water. In seconds, my bedroom dripped into view in all shades and times of day and night. From every angle. I walked the space like a sighted person, finding my drawers easily. My clothes weren’t exactly in the same places , but I felt for my cut-off jeans and t-shirt. I threw them on in minutes. All the while my body ached and screamed at me to lay back down. Dang my broken finger.
BLUE SHADOWS FALL by Lenore Stutznegger is a YA fantasy novel about Blue-- a wild and brilliant young girl, a Haven in New Haven, only it's 150 years since her family established the walled-in town to protect their mountain from the apocalypse, and almost that long since her name meant anything-- and Kaleo, a straight laced dirty soldier boy as Blue thinks of him (but only when she's not smoldering for him!), who will follow orders toward any plot line, and does, to your reading delight (though it sometimes gets a bit convoluted). What's special about them both is-- their senses are super strong. Her vision. His smell.
The writing in BLUE SHADOWS FALL is beautiful, as I think is exemplified in the above quotation. I especially enjoyed the action sequences, like the scene at the beginning of the book in which Blue chases Lily on horseback. Just a gorgeous read!
I read Lenore Stutznegger's About the Author and I really connected. I just found out my mom's having heart surgery, and I send my best to Stutznegger's mother, who suffered her own heart health issues; may her recovery continue. This book, BLUE SHADOWS FALL, is Stutznegger's first book and from the way it ends, it seems she's probably got another one up her sleeve.
In the second book, I'd love to see a more streamlined narrative. And...the contemporary pop culture references in a setting 150 years after the books referenced would likely cease to exist just don't make sense.
But no matter what improvements Stutznegger makes for book 2, I'm looking forward to the next book. She's just going to get better from here!
Thank you Katie and Brey PA (IG @katieandbreypa ) and Lenore Stutznegger for the digital ARC.
Rating 3.5 stars
Finished September 2022
Recommended for readers who like fantasy, super abilities, post apocalyptic settings, zombies, zombie apocalypse, alternative futures, military coup, YA, NA,
TW extreme violence, blood, maiming and wounding, weapons, war, imprisonment, binding and gagging,
Strength! Where are you when I need you? I willed the vision memories of my bedroom before my eyes, tossing them up on the black walls like a bucket of water. In seconds, my bedroom dripped into view in all shades and times of day and night. From every angle. I walked the space like a sighted person, finding my drawers easily. My clothes weren’t exactly in the same places , but I felt for my cut-off jeans and t-shirt. I threw them on in minutes. All the while my body ached and screamed at me to lay back down. Dang my broken finger.
BLUE SHADOWS FALL by Lenore Stutznegger is a YA fantasy novel about Blue-- a wild and brilliant young girl, a Haven in New Haven, only it's 150 years since her family established the walled-in town to protect their mountain from the apocalypse, and almost that long since her name meant anything-- and Kaleo, a straight laced dirty soldier boy as Blue thinks of him (but only when she's not smoldering for him!), who will follow orders toward any plot line, and does, to your reading delight (though it sometimes gets a bit convoluted). What's special about them both is-- their senses are super strong. Her vision. His smell.
The writing in BLUE SHADOWS FALL is beautiful, as I think is exemplified in the above quotation. I especially enjoyed the action sequences, like the scene at the beginning of the book in which Blue chases Lily on horseback. Just a gorgeous read!
I read Lenore Stutznegger's About the Author and I really connected. I just found out my mom's having heart surgery, and I send my best to Stutznegger's mother, who suffered her own heart health issues; may her recovery continue. This book, BLUE SHADOWS FALL, is Stutznegger's first book and from the way it ends, it seems she's probably got another one up her sleeve.
In the second book, I'd love to see a more streamlined narrative. And...the contemporary pop culture references in a setting 150 years after the books referenced would likely cease to exist just don't make sense.
But no matter what improvements Stutznegger makes for book 2, I'm looking forward to the next book. She's just going to get better from here!
Thank you Katie and Brey PA (IG @katieandbreypa ) and Lenore Stutznegger for the digital ARC.
Rating 3.5 stars
Finished September 2022
Recommended for readers who like fantasy, super abilities, post apocalyptic settings, zombies, zombie apocalypse, alternative futures, military coup, YA, NA,
TW extreme violence, blood, maiming and wounding, weapons, war, imprisonment, binding and gagging,
November 12, 2021
Blue Shadows Fall
is a prime example of a genre-blending young adult book done right. It’s a dystopian thriller set in the future. It’s a fantasy. It’s a romance. It’s a coming of age story and it even has humour in it.
The book is set a couple of hundred years from now, after wars and a virus (SE-23) wiped out a good number of people and transformed others into “Shadow Elves�. I love that the world has a fantasy-vibe to it, but it’s grounded in science fiction. The protagonist, Blue, is obsessed with
Lord of the Rings
, and there are other “historical� pop culture references, like Harry Potter and Jurassic Park, which help to ground the book’s realism.
Blue has enhanced sight, which she has hidden from the world for fear of persecution by others in her town. Her abilities are so unique and fascinating, and I loved the way that they’re portrayed, and how they give her a bit of an edge when she’s dealing with others (For instance, she can see someone’s heartbeat in their neck, the formation of a bead of sweat, and other indicators that they’re lying to her). Blue is a relatable and strong heroine, one who wants to become a warrior to defend her town, but has been discouraged from doing so by her parents out of fear that it will be found out that she’s “different�.
The book is also a bit of a romance. We get the occasional short chapter from the point of view of Kaleo, a boy that Blue has had a crush on for quite some time. It quickly becomes clear that the feelings are definitely mutual.
I absolutely loved this story. It never lags, and there are lots of twists and turns in the plot. A few of the twists were on the more predictable side, but then I was slammed with a few shocking twists towards the end of the book that blew me out of the water.
I highly recommend this book to young adult fantasy lovers, as it checks all the boxes for an immersive and heart-pounding read.
*Thank you to the author for the ebook to review*
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November 9, 2021
This needs to be a movie or a series. Whatever, it needs to win ALL the awards. Blue is an amazing character, the depth written into her story arc pulls the reader in and grips with sharp talons of strength, determination, curiosity and rebellion.
All the characters are unique In their abilities and the story is told in such an amazing way. Drama and action, peril and love, you have to choose a side and pray it’s the right one. I enjoyed how the author incorporated details from our current reality and made them artifacts if a bygone era, classic and vintage.
I was skeptical at the page count of this book but it flew by in the wee hours of the morning. I could not put it down. I loved every bit of it and am looking forward to reading more about Blue!
All the characters are unique In their abilities and the story is told in such an amazing way. Drama and action, peril and love, you have to choose a side and pray it’s the right one. I enjoyed how the author incorporated details from our current reality and made them artifacts if a bygone era, classic and vintage.
I was skeptical at the page count of this book but it flew by in the wee hours of the morning. I could not put it down. I loved every bit of it and am looking forward to reading more about Blue!
July 26, 2021
Undeniably gripping and decadently dark, this post-apocalyptic YA fantasy was so addictive I literally couldn’t put it down!
Seventeen year old Blue Haven,born with superhuman sight has only ever dreamed of becoming a Warrior (protecting the town and its people, even if it’s only from possums or outbursts from the town drunk—and more of a formality.)
Shadow Elves (humans infected with a zombie apocalypse-like virus) died out over a century ago, leaving life in her farming village in the smoky mountains quiet and boring.
But Blue’s unique sight has shown her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. An incredibly beautiful shadow elf. Visions that couldn’t possibly be real, because if they are it means everyone’s been wrong. It means they’re not the last survivors in the world and they’re certainly not prepared for such a reality, because the outsiders want in—and they’re hungry...
This was absolutely incredible! The world building was beautifully detailed and wonderfully descriptive,without becoming an infodump (a very difficult task in dystopian/dark fantasy.)
I also really enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the creepiness of the Lore and history surrounding the Shadow Elves—their physicality sort of reminded of the angels from Legion/Dominion (movie& spin-off tv show) that possessed humans. Though I’d argue Stutznegger’s vision is far superior.
I loved how well written the characters were,Blue was definitely a favourite as was Kaleo, Kyra and Lily. The inclusion of blue’s large family was great (as the fourth of six children,I enjoyed seeing not only a character with lots of siblings but a realistic portrayal of such a full household—busy and maybe a tad chaotic.)
Overall this Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy love child of The Quiet Place, The 100 and Dominion was both exceptionally exhilarating and sinisterly ominous—the twists,turns and revelations are superb!
I do have to warn that there is mention of Gore, blood (including description of wounds), Death/killing and Blinding—so if this is a trigger or it makes you uncomfortable,it’s probably best to steer clear.
Recommended to fans of dark fantasy or dystopian fiction.
I also just wanted to say a huge thank you to Lenore Stutznegger for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen year old Blue Haven,born with superhuman sight has only ever dreamed of becoming a Warrior (protecting the town and its people, even if it’s only from possums or outbursts from the town drunk—and more of a formality.)
Shadow Elves (humans infected with a zombie apocalypse-like virus) died out over a century ago, leaving life in her farming village in the smoky mountains quiet and boring.
But Blue’s unique sight has shown her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. An incredibly beautiful shadow elf. Visions that couldn’t possibly be real, because if they are it means everyone’s been wrong. It means they’re not the last survivors in the world and they’re certainly not prepared for such a reality, because the outsiders want in—and they’re hungry...
This was absolutely incredible! The world building was beautifully detailed and wonderfully descriptive,without becoming an infodump (a very difficult task in dystopian/dark fantasy.)
I also really enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the creepiness of the Lore and history surrounding the Shadow Elves—their physicality sort of reminded of the angels from Legion/Dominion (movie& spin-off tv show) that possessed humans. Though I’d argue Stutznegger’s vision is far superior.
I loved how well written the characters were,Blue was definitely a favourite as was Kaleo, Kyra and Lily. The inclusion of blue’s large family was great (as the fourth of six children,I enjoyed seeing not only a character with lots of siblings but a realistic portrayal of such a full household—busy and maybe a tad chaotic.)
Overall this Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy love child of The Quiet Place, The 100 and Dominion was both exceptionally exhilarating and sinisterly ominous—the twists,turns and revelations are superb!
I do have to warn that there is mention of Gore, blood (including description of wounds), Death/killing and Blinding—so if this is a trigger or it makes you uncomfortable,it’s probably best to steer clear.
Recommended to fans of dark fantasy or dystopian fiction.
I also just wanted to say a huge thank you to Lenore Stutznegger for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2021
i just finished reading this amazing book💙so here is my review 💫
💙𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: dark ya fantasy
💙𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
💙𝕓𝕝𝕦𝕖:
�"Listen, Kaleo, I’m not who you think I am"
“You’re saying you’re not this crazy beautiful, hilarious book geek who’s got Lord of the Rings memorized? The one who loves riding Pepper with your mighty scandalous dress flowing? Just so you can show off those amazing legs? Wait, that’s not you?”✨
💫 Blue is not the cold badass main character but something different and better, she is strong and brave yet she is also soft and lovely.
💫she is reckless and acts on instinct, but also smart... in short she is an interesting complicated character.
💫what i liked most about her was how she loved her family and friends and how she would do anything to protect them,
💙𝕜𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕠:
💫my favorite character: the sweet but brave village boy, and of course a hot warrior..
💫what i loved most about him is his charming character, how he leads his team with such a confidence and control, but he is still cheerful and friendly with them..
💫i loved how we got to see him battle with his feelings and loss to get our of his isolated trance, i really loved reading through his character development
💙𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖:
�"Sweet and sharp. Pleasure and pain. Blue was all of those things."�
💫a slow burn love story and a childhood crush that turns into something more.
i loved how Kaleo is always worried about Blue and looked for her.
💫i also loved their teasing and fights, and how they both tried to deny their feelings in the beginning yet they still felt the pull toward eachother...
💙𝕞𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
💫usually i would be so bored if the book doesn't have much romance 👀 but this book is a different case, it was a mashup of a good plot and a slow burn romance that got me always waiting for more
💫also i loved blue's gift, supernatural sight isn't something i read about everyday and that made this book even more exciting
💫friendship in this book is everything, i loved how blue is with Lily and Griffin, like a small gang of friends, how they trusted eachother blindly, and fought for eachother
💙𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: dark ya fantasy
💙𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
💙𝕓𝕝𝕦𝕖:
�"Listen, Kaleo, I’m not who you think I am"
“You’re saying you’re not this crazy beautiful, hilarious book geek who’s got Lord of the Rings memorized? The one who loves riding Pepper with your mighty scandalous dress flowing? Just so you can show off those amazing legs? Wait, that’s not you?”✨
💫 Blue is not the cold badass main character but something different and better, she is strong and brave yet she is also soft and lovely.
💫she is reckless and acts on instinct, but also smart... in short she is an interesting complicated character.
💫what i liked most about her was how she loved her family and friends and how she would do anything to protect them,
💙𝕜𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕠:
💫my favorite character: the sweet but brave village boy, and of course a hot warrior..
💫what i loved most about him is his charming character, how he leads his team with such a confidence and control, but he is still cheerful and friendly with them..
💫i loved how we got to see him battle with his feelings and loss to get our of his isolated trance, i really loved reading through his character development
💙𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖:
�"Sweet and sharp. Pleasure and pain. Blue was all of those things."�
💫a slow burn love story and a childhood crush that turns into something more.
i loved how Kaleo is always worried about Blue and looked for her.
💫i also loved their teasing and fights, and how they both tried to deny their feelings in the beginning yet they still felt the pull toward eachother...
💙𝕞𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
💫usually i would be so bored if the book doesn't have much romance 👀 but this book is a different case, it was a mashup of a good plot and a slow burn romance that got me always waiting for more
💫also i loved blue's gift, supernatural sight isn't something i read about everyday and that made this book even more exciting
💫friendship in this book is everything, i loved how blue is with Lily and Griffin, like a small gang of friends, how they trusted eachother blindly, and fought for eachother
September 26, 2021
Blue Shadows Fall is an entertaining and fast-paced dystopian YA novel. I buzzed right through it, but it has surprising depth with many layers, themes, and plot twists that make it complex and different. The book is set following the collapse of society, and learning how the ancestors of the people in the story survived and adapted to a changing world is interesting and satisfying, particularly in 2021. The story focuses on a generation that has put down their swords and no longer remembers the horrors of the past, which has resulted in lost history and knowledge, as well as lingering superstitions. The world Lenore has created feels both fresh and perfectly relatable, with modern references and recognizable characters. The main, character, Blue, grapples with love, family, her place in society, her allegiances, and her own secret superhuman abilities, as well as a growing list of threats from forces both outside and inside her community. The humanity of the characters is evident--even when they stand in opposition to one another, their motivations are understandable. Come for the post apocalyptic society and enhanced abilities, stay for the family secrets, political plots, and first love. You'll fly right through it, but at the end, you will be amazed at all the elements that were brought together in one unique story.
October 1, 2021
What a fun read! Super fast paced and unique with lots of humor and heart. Highly recommend this one.
August 31, 2021
In this darkly beautiful post-apocalyptic debut, it says that lovely things shouldn’t draw you in, but this book defies its own edict and draws you in, bit by excruciatingly lovely bit and devours you whole in a most satisfying way. Small town secrets, Southern gothic atmosphere, and a certain pair of eyes that see disturbing things create a spellbinding read.
September 4, 2021
Thanks to the the author for the ARC.
This book is a completely original mashup: dystopian, dark fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, and throw in a dash of romance and mystery. I kept getting (good) Village vibes from this with the small-town, claustrophobic atmosphere. I loved the scrappy MC Blue and her gift of sight. The characters were well drawn, and there were quite a few! I always had a good grasp on who was who though for such a large cast. I also quite liked the setting with the secret locations and hidden books etc.
I honestly can't say any of the twists surprised me, not even the ending, but I was glad to see I was right.
About that ending though...umm..it's not exactly finished. I expect the author to say there is a book #2?
This book is a completely original mashup: dystopian, dark fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, and throw in a dash of romance and mystery. I kept getting (good) Village vibes from this with the small-town, claustrophobic atmosphere. I loved the scrappy MC Blue and her gift of sight. The characters were well drawn, and there were quite a few! I always had a good grasp on who was who though for such a large cast. I also quite liked the setting with the secret locations and hidden books etc.
I honestly can't say any of the twists surprised me, not even the ending, but I was glad to see I was right.
About that ending though...umm..it's not exactly finished. I expect the author to say there is a book #2?
November 1, 2021
I've read an early draft of this book, but I'm excited to see the finished project.
Throw in the excitement of Sarah J. Maas, mix in a slew of nerd fandom references like LOTR and HP, a give it a sprinkle of Southern flavor, and you've got this truly satisfying story.
More RTC once I read the finalized version.
Throw in the excitement of Sarah J. Maas, mix in a slew of nerd fandom references like LOTR and HP, a give it a sprinkle of Southern flavor, and you've got this truly satisfying story.
More RTC once I read the finalized version.
September 5, 2022
Blue and Kaleo are out in the world! Thank you for your support!
September 29, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I obviously always go into a review copy hoping I’ll enjoy it but I didn’t expect to love Blue Shadows Fall as much! 😍 I started reading the ebook while I was on holiday in Groningen with my flatmates and raced through it.
This book had everything I expect from a good fantasy novel: loveable characters, a fast-paced plot and great world building. I liked Blue immediately and related to her. I also liked the love interest pretty early on. 👀 It‘s a dark fantasy novel but I‘m glad that it wasn’t too creepy, because personally I‘m not a fan of that. It had just the right amount of suspense!
There was one scene towards the end where I sat in the train with my mouth open for at least a minute because I was SHOOK! The only reason why people didn’t notice was that I was wearing a mask 😂
I honestly didn’t want to put Blue Shadows Fall down because it was so addicting. I remember reading the first two chapters and then having to stop because it was getting cold outside. But I kept thinking about the book, which is why I raced through it so quickly. I can‘t WAIT for the second book in the series. 🤩🤩
CW: death, violence, blinding, mentions of Harry Potter
I obviously always go into a review copy hoping I’ll enjoy it but I didn’t expect to love Blue Shadows Fall as much! 😍 I started reading the ebook while I was on holiday in Groningen with my flatmates and raced through it.
This book had everything I expect from a good fantasy novel: loveable characters, a fast-paced plot and great world building. I liked Blue immediately and related to her. I also liked the love interest pretty early on. 👀 It‘s a dark fantasy novel but I‘m glad that it wasn’t too creepy, because personally I‘m not a fan of that. It had just the right amount of suspense!
There was one scene towards the end where I sat in the train with my mouth open for at least a minute because I was SHOOK! The only reason why people didn’t notice was that I was wearing a mask 😂
I honestly didn’t want to put Blue Shadows Fall down because it was so addicting. I remember reading the first two chapters and then having to stop because it was getting cold outside. But I kept thinking about the book, which is why I raced through it so quickly. I can‘t WAIT for the second book in the series. 🤩🤩
CW: death, violence, blinding, mentions of Harry Potter
August 10, 2021
We apologize for the delay in making a review and a big shoutout to the author, Lenore for considering us as one of the first readers and providing us an ARC.
We've said this before, and we'll say it again. It is hard to read a good dystopian book nowadays. Most often authors would miss the right spots in that genre (and we've always loved that genre growing up with Hunger Games and Divergent) but lately we haven't read any or we've read a few that were mostly disappointing BUT this book hits all the right spots. This was hands down an easy 5 out 5 star read and yes, we highly recommend this book especially if you've been itching to read a dystopian/fantasy genre.
The character building was spot on. We couldn't help but adore our sassy protagonist, Blue with her funny expressions, quick wit, and bravery. Also include her love for pop culture going from Star Wars to Harry Potter, to Lord of the Rings (we could be bff's, just saying). Of course, there is also our dream boy, Kaleo, who is not just downright good looking but also smart. We also loved how friendships were emphasized in this book and how family is not always by blood.
A unique twist of dystopian and fantasy, Lenore created a world full of characters who are indeed extraordinary. If you're looking for a fast paced, action packed, and magical read, do include this book to your TBR before the year ends. Also, we just have to say that we need book 2 ASAP!!!
We've said this before, and we'll say it again. It is hard to read a good dystopian book nowadays. Most often authors would miss the right spots in that genre (and we've always loved that genre growing up with Hunger Games and Divergent) but lately we haven't read any or we've read a few that were mostly disappointing BUT this book hits all the right spots. This was hands down an easy 5 out 5 star read and yes, we highly recommend this book especially if you've been itching to read a dystopian/fantasy genre.
The character building was spot on. We couldn't help but adore our sassy protagonist, Blue with her funny expressions, quick wit, and bravery. Also include her love for pop culture going from Star Wars to Harry Potter, to Lord of the Rings (we could be bff's, just saying). Of course, there is also our dream boy, Kaleo, who is not just downright good looking but also smart. We also loved how friendships were emphasized in this book and how family is not always by blood.
A unique twist of dystopian and fantasy, Lenore created a world full of characters who are indeed extraordinary. If you're looking for a fast paced, action packed, and magical read, do include this book to your TBR before the year ends. Also, we just have to say that we need book 2 ASAP!!!
July 19, 2021
I was privileged to receive an ARC of this novel and excitedly dove right in. Lenore has a way of crafting a world that is easy to imagine with her descriptive prose and relatable characters. The story is well-paced and full of exciting twists and turns. There’s some romance, plenty of action, and I had a hard time putting it down! I am so excited to see what comes next for Blue!
May 28, 2021
Excellent, imaginative YA novel with a cool premise and interesting characters.
October 14, 2021
For anyone who knows me personally, it is no secret that I have ADD. I am either hyper-focused on a task to the point where I tune out everything else until it’s done, or I am SUPER easily distracted and it’s difficult for me to finish anything. This makes it really hard for me to read. I am a very slow reader. I end up reading a million books at the same time, bouncing from one to another until I finally finish one of them.
But every so often, I’ll find a book that will absolutely seize my attention. One that I become hyper-focused on and can’t put down, because I *have* to know what happens next! This is one of those handful of books. The last half I read in a few hours, because I needed to know what happened next! It shut off all distractions.
I haven’t read a book that hooked me like this in a while! Blue Shadows Fall will keep you turning the pages, eager to know what happens next.
Lenore is an incredibly gifted author. Her prose, at times, is like poetry, painting beautiful visuals with grace that draw you right into the world. The world building was stunning throughout. You could vividly see it and believe it.
I also felt this was a very unique post-apocalyptic universe. It’s a world that still has comics and books from “the old days� and makes several pop-culture references, which made it so much more entertaining for me. I also love that the enemy outside the walls are shadow elves, not zombies.
I loved Blue’s humor and heroism. It made her down-to-earth and relatable, you’re really cheering for her. Lenore managed to give her a stunning ability while still making her so very human and likable.
I also loved, LOVED the superpowers. They have heightened senses, which reminded me of autism, in a very good way. My son and I (among several other wonderful people that I know) are on the spectrum. I’m overwhelmed by smells, and often sights and sounds (music can either soothe me or agitate me to an *extreme* degree) and even touch. My son is very much overwhelmed by noise and sights. I’ve always told my son that being on the spectrum made him unique, and was like having superpowers. So I can’t tell you just how happy it made me to read a book where this is exactly the case! Because when other kids on the spectrum read this book, they can see that their sensory sensitivities are, indeed, superpowers.
I love it. I really enjoyed this read. I highly recommend it!
But every so often, I’ll find a book that will absolutely seize my attention. One that I become hyper-focused on and can’t put down, because I *have* to know what happens next! This is one of those handful of books. The last half I read in a few hours, because I needed to know what happened next! It shut off all distractions.
I haven’t read a book that hooked me like this in a while! Blue Shadows Fall will keep you turning the pages, eager to know what happens next.
Lenore is an incredibly gifted author. Her prose, at times, is like poetry, painting beautiful visuals with grace that draw you right into the world. The world building was stunning throughout. You could vividly see it and believe it.
I also felt this was a very unique post-apocalyptic universe. It’s a world that still has comics and books from “the old days� and makes several pop-culture references, which made it so much more entertaining for me. I also love that the enemy outside the walls are shadow elves, not zombies.
I loved Blue’s humor and heroism. It made her down-to-earth and relatable, you’re really cheering for her. Lenore managed to give her a stunning ability while still making her so very human and likable.
I also loved, LOVED the superpowers. They have heightened senses, which reminded me of autism, in a very good way. My son and I (among several other wonderful people that I know) are on the spectrum. I’m overwhelmed by smells, and often sights and sounds (music can either soothe me or agitate me to an *extreme* degree) and even touch. My son is very much overwhelmed by noise and sights. I’ve always told my son that being on the spectrum made him unique, and was like having superpowers. So I can’t tell you just how happy it made me to read a book where this is exactly the case! Because when other kids on the spectrum read this book, they can see that their sensory sensitivities are, indeed, superpowers.
I love it. I really enjoyed this read. I highly recommend it!
September 11, 2021
Things to know:
-Content warnings: gore, murder and death, and blinding
-Slow burn romance
-YA
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blue Shadows Fall had me hooked from page one. By the time I finished the last page I was wishing for book two!
In Blue Shadows Fall, Blue is our main character. She is a teenage girl with ocean blue eyes that can see better than anyone else can. She can count things with no effort no matter how many of them there are. She can tell distances without a blink. She can literally find a needle in a haystack. Despite how wonderful her gift of sight is she has to keep it a secret. I LOVE Blue as a MC. She is strong and will do anything for her family, but she is still absolutely 100% a 17 year old girl. She still has a crush whom she has a hard time communicating with at all besides blatantly staring, but who could blame her with a love interest like him! 😍 She’s not your average MC. She’s not a warrior from birth hardened by her grief or loss. She’s not royalty or rich or famous. She’s just a humble farm girl who has only ever dreamed of becoming a warrior to protect her town and her family, but has been held back by her family because of her gift. Her growth during the book is so wonderful.
The plot is extraordinary! You’ve got a dash of slow burn romance and a sprinkle of whodunit mystery to top a handful of post-apocalyptic action and adventure. A plague that infected the majority of humankind turned them into monsters called Shadow Elves. A bite from a Shadow Elf will turn you into one, if they let you live to have that happen. These Shadow Elves destroyed and infected most of humanity. Very few survived and some of those who did founded the mountain village that Blue calls home. They believe they are the only survivors of this plague. Things have been quiet for many many years, but Blue begins to have some troubling visions of strangers and other terrifying things that should not be possible.
Blue Shadows Fall has hands down been the best fantasy book I have read in all of 2021, and I cannot wait to hear news of a second book! I. Must. Know. What. Happens. 🤞🏻 Stutznegger sure knows how to write some amazing twists!
If you enjoyed Shadow and Bone, The Quiet Place, or The Stand this book is for you!
Thank you Lenore Stutznegger for early access to your book!
-Content warnings: gore, murder and death, and blinding
-Slow burn romance
-YA
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blue Shadows Fall had me hooked from page one. By the time I finished the last page I was wishing for book two!
In Blue Shadows Fall, Blue is our main character. She is a teenage girl with ocean blue eyes that can see better than anyone else can. She can count things with no effort no matter how many of them there are. She can tell distances without a blink. She can literally find a needle in a haystack. Despite how wonderful her gift of sight is she has to keep it a secret. I LOVE Blue as a MC. She is strong and will do anything for her family, but she is still absolutely 100% a 17 year old girl. She still has a crush whom she has a hard time communicating with at all besides blatantly staring, but who could blame her with a love interest like him! 😍 She’s not your average MC. She’s not a warrior from birth hardened by her grief or loss. She’s not royalty or rich or famous. She’s just a humble farm girl who has only ever dreamed of becoming a warrior to protect her town and her family, but has been held back by her family because of her gift. Her growth during the book is so wonderful.
The plot is extraordinary! You’ve got a dash of slow burn romance and a sprinkle of whodunit mystery to top a handful of post-apocalyptic action and adventure. A plague that infected the majority of humankind turned them into monsters called Shadow Elves. A bite from a Shadow Elf will turn you into one, if they let you live to have that happen. These Shadow Elves destroyed and infected most of humanity. Very few survived and some of those who did founded the mountain village that Blue calls home. They believe they are the only survivors of this plague. Things have been quiet for many many years, but Blue begins to have some troubling visions of strangers and other terrifying things that should not be possible.
Blue Shadows Fall has hands down been the best fantasy book I have read in all of 2021, and I cannot wait to hear news of a second book! I. Must. Know. What. Happens. 🤞🏻 Stutznegger sure knows how to write some amazing twists!
If you enjoyed Shadow and Bone, The Quiet Place, or The Stand this book is for you!
Thank you Lenore Stutznegger for early access to your book!
June 6, 2022
"ARC Provided By Author in Exchange for An Honest Review"
Thank you
2.5 Stars
the author was super nice, but,
I'm sorry� I wish I could've given it more.
Sadly, while many of my friends liked this book, It was not for me, for several reason:
Slow pace! The main thing started approximately in the middle of the book & the plot was still slow after that. First half was mostly talking, lingering on the past, describing the world (which didn't need this much explanation because it was plain & dark), politics & how outsiders or Shadow Elves were dangerous & of course, Blue’s sight, a lot! it took me forever to read it.
I understand we should spent time to know the characters & the world building, but I usually like those stories that the main plot, started from the beginning, hooked me up with one extraordinary, special, intriguing event to read the whole book instantly. This book didn’t ignite that curiosity inside me.
& when nothing like this happens, I start to see minor flaws & cringe.
Mind you, that the writing style was great & beautiful, even though it was first person. It was fun at some points, I liked how the story started.
& another important reason, I couldn’t feel connected to the characters; I only liked Blue because she was interesting & funny & strong, but even that didn’t last. They weren’t quite appealing to me.
& I usually liked to see a relationship building throughout the book, or at least we would have some interesting first meeting backstory (preferably a funny one) how they met. But in this book, it was like as they were living together, they had crush on each other since their childhood; nothing special.
The fact that I got sick in the middle of this & didn’t want to read it, or anything, so it was a semi-slump in the middle of a slump this book put me through (because I didn’t want to start any books to finish this sooner & this was kind of a torture, not enjoying the act of reading & only do it for the sake of finishing a book), because after I got better I was willing to read other books, but still not this one.
-
Plot: ★★/5 (pace: ★★/5 - excitement: ★★/5)
Characters: ★★/5
World building: ★★(�)/5
Written style: ★★�(�)/5
general idea: ★★�/5
Thank you
2.5 Stars
the author was super nice, but,
I'm sorry� I wish I could've given it more.
Sadly, while many of my friends liked this book, It was not for me, for several reason:
Slow pace! The main thing started approximately in the middle of the book & the plot was still slow after that. First half was mostly talking, lingering on the past, describing the world (which didn't need this much explanation because it was plain & dark), politics & how outsiders or Shadow Elves were dangerous & of course, Blue’s sight, a lot! it took me forever to read it.
I understand we should spent time to know the characters & the world building, but I usually like those stories that the main plot, started from the beginning, hooked me up with one extraordinary, special, intriguing event to read the whole book instantly. This book didn’t ignite that curiosity inside me.
& when nothing like this happens, I start to see minor flaws & cringe.
Mind you, that the writing style was great & beautiful, even though it was first person. It was fun at some points, I liked how the story started.
& another important reason, I couldn’t feel connected to the characters; I only liked Blue because she was interesting & funny & strong, but even that didn’t last. They weren’t quite appealing to me.
& I usually liked to see a relationship building throughout the book, or at least we would have some interesting first meeting backstory (preferably a funny one) how they met. But in this book, it was like as they were living together, they had crush on each other since their childhood; nothing special.
The fact that I got sick in the middle of this & didn’t want to read it, or anything, so it was a semi-slump in the middle of a slump this book put me through (because I didn’t want to start any books to finish this sooner & this was kind of a torture, not enjoying the act of reading & only do it for the sake of finishing a book), because after I got better I was willing to read other books, but still not this one.
-
Plot: ★★/5 (pace: ★★/5 - excitement: ★★/5)
Characters: ★★/5
World building: ★★(�)/5
Written style: ★★�(�)/5
general idea: ★★�/5
October 10, 2021
Excellent 4.5/5 �
First, I'm really thankful to the author for giving me an eARC of her amazing dark YA dystopian fantasy book.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world after a virus outbreak which turned people into some kind of a zombie called the shadow elves.
Blue has always wanted to be a warrior to fight monsters outside the peaceful village even though rumors said that they're no more.
Blue is gifted with a power. She got visions of monsters and strangers and if the vision is true, that means there're still people and monsters outside in the world.
The story was told from 2 perspectives; Blue's and Kaleo's. This kind of story-telling is really intriguing for me and it's nice to see a different point of view in the story.
Blue is a very well written character, she is brave and very determined to protect those that she loves while keeping her power a secret since she will be killed if the people know about her ability.
The story is so unique; the characters are believable and relatable; like how blue interacts with her family in the most realistic way.
The story is quite fast paced even though the first half of the book is kinda slow, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact I kind of enjoy the pace, It's on the sweet spot and neither too slow nor fast.
There're still so many mysteries regarding the shadow elves and I really want to see what will become of this series in the future.
I recommend this book to basically anyone! The story is so gripping and filled with amazing twists. If you love dystopian YA novels then this book is definitely for you and I'm sure it won't disappoint!
First, I'm really thankful to the author for giving me an eARC of her amazing dark YA dystopian fantasy book.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world after a virus outbreak which turned people into some kind of a zombie called the shadow elves.
Blue has always wanted to be a warrior to fight monsters outside the peaceful village even though rumors said that they're no more.
Blue is gifted with a power. She got visions of monsters and strangers and if the vision is true, that means there're still people and monsters outside in the world.
The story was told from 2 perspectives; Blue's and Kaleo's. This kind of story-telling is really intriguing for me and it's nice to see a different point of view in the story.
Blue is a very well written character, she is brave and very determined to protect those that she loves while keeping her power a secret since she will be killed if the people know about her ability.
The story is so unique; the characters are believable and relatable; like how blue interacts with her family in the most realistic way.
The story is quite fast paced even though the first half of the book is kinda slow, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact I kind of enjoy the pace, It's on the sweet spot and neither too slow nor fast.
There're still so many mysteries regarding the shadow elves and I really want to see what will become of this series in the future.
I recommend this book to basically anyone! The story is so gripping and filled with amazing twists. If you love dystopian YA novels then this book is definitely for you and I'm sure it won't disappoint!
November 10, 2021
"A Quiet Place meets Shadow and Bone in this southern, dark fantasy about a beautiful post-apocalyptic world, a girl with superhuman sight, and the blood-thirsty creatures that turned their world to ash 150 years before."
. . . .
I could describe this book in one word as... Addictive. In more words? It was thrilling, creepy, exciting, nerve-racking! I haven't enjoyed a fantasy book this much in awhile and I'm so happy to have read it! The plot is amazing and the characters are all so loveable!
The different POV's were one of my favorite things about the book, I find it more intriguing to be able to know what others in the book are thinking.
The dark fantasy aspect of the novel is CHILLING. And I loved it!!! So freaky and intense! I really can't wait to see what the next novel brings 😍
. . . .
I could describe this book in one word as... Addictive. In more words? It was thrilling, creepy, exciting, nerve-racking! I haven't enjoyed a fantasy book this much in awhile and I'm so happy to have read it! The plot is amazing and the characters are all so loveable!
The different POV's were one of my favorite things about the book, I find it more intriguing to be able to know what others in the book are thinking.
The dark fantasy aspect of the novel is CHILLING. And I loved it!!! So freaky and intense! I really can't wait to see what the next novel brings 😍
September 30, 2021
Blue Shadows Fall is such an incredible dark ya fantasy read! The story advertises as Shadow and Bone meets A Quite Place and I found it absolutely delivered! The story is so fast paced and engaging, and the plot twist had me sitting and staring with my kindle open for quite some time! Blue is an easy to read MC who is witty, funny and so sincere. You are invested in her right from the start! Also the diverse cast of characters in this book really add to the charm and depth of this story! This needs to to be add to your TBR pile as soon as it is out!
July 26, 2024
I LOVED this book! It gives me I Am Legend vibes but with a fantasy twist! It’s set somewhere in our world in a post apocalyptic time. I love our main character Blue and her struggles and thought processes! There’s a bit of mystery and betrayal that I love that too! Lenore kept my attention throughout this entire book!
It ends in a way that’s set up for a second book so hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for it 😉
It ends in a way that’s set up for a second book so hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for it 😉
October 9, 2021
**Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review for my honest opinion.**
Wow!! I don’t think I’ve loved a book from a debut author as much as this. It was dark, twisted, disturbing and exactly what I needed for the spooky season. Such a great take on a post-apocalyptic zombie tale.
Blue is born in a small village in a post-apocalyptic world. Everyone in her family looks so much a like, except Blue, because her eyes as you guessed it are the lightest and clearest of blue. She was born with a gift of super human sight. A sight that helps her see visions of things to come. Her father raised her to be the one thing she wants to be, a warrior for her people. A warrior who fights the Shadow Elves, people turned by the zombie virus. But life has been quiet and boring for Blue, that is until a vision shows her a mysterious man. She can’t tell if this vision is really real or not.
The plot and imagery is so descriptive and well written that I was sucked into the story. I mean I’m a newish mom and I sacrificed sleep because I couldn’t put this story down. Blue is this fiesty female lead who doesn’t see herself as weak, even though her visions are problematic. The chemistry in this book is far from lack luster and I loved that you have it in a dark YA fantasy. The shadow elves are so original and creepy.
I don’t think I’ve read a good Dystopian book since The Hunger Games.. so with that said, I highly recommend!! Can’t wait for you all to get sucked down the rabbit hole.. or in this case the Shadow Elves hole. 😉
Wow!! I don’t think I’ve loved a book from a debut author as much as this. It was dark, twisted, disturbing and exactly what I needed for the spooky season. Such a great take on a post-apocalyptic zombie tale.
Blue is born in a small village in a post-apocalyptic world. Everyone in her family looks so much a like, except Blue, because her eyes as you guessed it are the lightest and clearest of blue. She was born with a gift of super human sight. A sight that helps her see visions of things to come. Her father raised her to be the one thing she wants to be, a warrior for her people. A warrior who fights the Shadow Elves, people turned by the zombie virus. But life has been quiet and boring for Blue, that is until a vision shows her a mysterious man. She can’t tell if this vision is really real or not.
The plot and imagery is so descriptive and well written that I was sucked into the story. I mean I’m a newish mom and I sacrificed sleep because I couldn’t put this story down. Blue is this fiesty female lead who doesn’t see herself as weak, even though her visions are problematic. The chemistry in this book is far from lack luster and I loved that you have it in a dark YA fantasy. The shadow elves are so original and creepy.
I don’t think I’ve read a good Dystopian book since The Hunger Games.. so with that said, I highly recommend!! Can’t wait for you all to get sucked down the rabbit hole.. or in this case the Shadow Elves hole. 😉
November 30, 2021
Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Y'all I did not like this. When it came to the first HP reference let alone 3, I wanted to DNF. But I kept going and I don't think I cared about a single thing or character in this whole book. This just gave me such a headache. I wish I had better things to say, but this is not the book for me.
CWs: Multiple HP references, abandonment, blood, confinement, death, injury/injury detail, misogyny, sexism, violence.
Y'all I did not like this. When it came to the first HP reference let alone 3, I wanted to DNF. But I kept going and I don't think I cared about a single thing or character in this whole book. This just gave me such a headache. I wish I had better things to say, but this is not the book for me.
CWs: Multiple HP references, abandonment, blood, confinement, death, injury/injury detail, misogyny, sexism, violence.
October 2, 2021
I was gifted an eARC of Blue Shadows Fall by the authro in exchange for an honest review, and here it goes: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. I love the post-apocalyptic world with scary Shadow Elves and some people who have special abilities that they need to keep hidden for fear that others will think they're becoming elves themselves. I found it easy to relate to Blue, even though I don't have super vision, because of her nerdy obsessions. All the Lord of the Rings references made me happy! If you're looking for a dark fantasy with nerdy references, look no further!
September 24, 2021
Thank you to Lenore Stutznegger for the free copy of this book. I received no compensation for this review and all opinions are my own
Hi All.....oooooh this book is a doooooozy! And when I say doozy it is definitely in a good way. This book has it all, Magical creatures, action and adventure, mystery and hidden abilities... I loved this book. I started it and the first chapter had me hooked and i ended up reading all night long. The book takes place in a in a town ravaged by war....it is several years after the war and really gives the dystopian vibe. There are a ton of hidden secrets and surprises along the way that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. I loved Lenores style of writing and her imagination when creating this book. It truly is an amazing read. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fantastic adventure series...This book get 4.5 stars from me. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that I found at the beginning it was a bit jumbled but once i figured out what was going on I flew threw the book. This in no way took away from the story so dig in and read this book! You will not be disappointed. (I rounded up for the stars since there is no option for 1/2 stars)
Hi All.....oooooh this book is a doooooozy! And when I say doozy it is definitely in a good way. This book has it all, Magical creatures, action and adventure, mystery and hidden abilities... I loved this book. I started it and the first chapter had me hooked and i ended up reading all night long. The book takes place in a in a town ravaged by war....it is several years after the war and really gives the dystopian vibe. There are a ton of hidden secrets and surprises along the way that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. I loved Lenores style of writing and her imagination when creating this book. It truly is an amazing read. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fantastic adventure series...This book get 4.5 stars from me. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that I found at the beginning it was a bit jumbled but once i figured out what was going on I flew threw the book. This in no way took away from the story so dig in and read this book! You will not be disappointed. (I rounded up for the stars since there is no option for 1/2 stars)
September 21, 2021
Oh mannn this book is great! The way she description of the characters really pulls you in. I had issues putting it down. I’m so sad I have to wait for the next book.
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader for my honest review.
Seriously though I strongly recommend this book.
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader for my honest review.
Seriously though I strongly recommend this book.
October 13, 2021
Some people live cut off from the world in a tucked-away village, a safe option considering there were once Shadow Elves roaming about, set on taking down anyone in their path. In this village lives Blue, a teenager who has dreams that she knows she won’t be able to follow. Used to hiding her abilities, she tries her best to blend in. A curious teenager, she’s never content to take things at face value. It’s through that curiosity that the book unfolds.
When the review request for this came into my inbox, I was immediately intrigued. It’s not often I say that a book draws you in from the start. So often, books need a few chapters to find their groove, not so with this one. Stutznegger’s freshman novel is going to hook you from the very start. Everything from the setting to the characters is imaginative and vividly detailed. The abilities people have are so creative that I found myself a bit jealous of some of the traits.
If you’re looking for a strong teenage heroine, who goes after what she wants, isn’t afraid to show emotion, and has abilities beyond your imagination, Blue Shadows Fall is your book. This is a super fun mix of fantasy and drama, with a main character that made me laugh a lot. All the characters in this book are wonderfully deep, and I am especially fond of Kaleo.
When the review request for this came into my inbox, I was immediately intrigued. It’s not often I say that a book draws you in from the start. So often, books need a few chapters to find their groove, not so with this one. Stutznegger’s freshman novel is going to hook you from the very start. Everything from the setting to the characters is imaginative and vividly detailed. The abilities people have are so creative that I found myself a bit jealous of some of the traits.
If you’re looking for a strong teenage heroine, who goes after what she wants, isn’t afraid to show emotion, and has abilities beyond your imagination, Blue Shadows Fall is your book. This is a super fun mix of fantasy and drama, with a main character that made me laugh a lot. All the characters in this book are wonderfully deep, and I am especially fond of Kaleo.
September 27, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Blue Shadows Fall
Author: Lenore Stutznegger
Book Series: Blue Shadow Series Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, dystopian, fantasy
Publication Date: November 11, 2021
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, murder, death, violence, plague, blinding)
Explanation of CWs: Murder and death are in the book as well as violence and gore. It’s not too gorey, but it’s there. There’s a plague that happens before the start of the book and it’s prevalent throughout the novel.
Publisher: Immortal Works Publishing
Pages: 395
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Blue Haven, gifted with superhuman sight since birth, dreams of becoming a warrior—not that anything’s happened near the wall since Old Man Amos was attacked by that beaver. The Shadow Elves—humans infected by a zombie apocalypse-like plague—have died out over the past 150 years, leaving life altogether boring. In her quiet farming village nestled in the shadows of the Smoky Mountains, warriors are no more than a formality.
But Blue's unique sight is beginning to show her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. A strikingly beautiful Shadow Elf. These visions can’t be real—because if they are, that means everyone's been wrong. Dead wrong. They are not the last survivors in the world. And they aren't prepared for the reality Blue's eyes are showing her.
The outsiders want in, and they’re hungry.
Review: This is one I’ll definitely be buying a copy of! I absolutely loved this book so much. It was such a fun read with some great dystopian tropes and elements. I loved the character development and world building. I also loved the drama and romance, even if it was a little tropey. I also felt the plot was solid and it wasn’t info heavy like a lot of books of this genre sometimes are.
The only issue I really had with the book is that there were some slow moments in the pacing, but overall I loved it.
Verdict: So wonderful.
Book: Blue Shadows Fall
Author: Lenore Stutznegger
Book Series: Blue Shadow Series Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, dystopian, fantasy
Publication Date: November 11, 2021
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, murder, death, violence, plague, blinding)
Explanation of CWs: Murder and death are in the book as well as violence and gore. It’s not too gorey, but it’s there. There’s a plague that happens before the start of the book and it’s prevalent throughout the novel.
Publisher: Immortal Works Publishing
Pages: 395
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Blue Haven, gifted with superhuman sight since birth, dreams of becoming a warrior—not that anything’s happened near the wall since Old Man Amos was attacked by that beaver. The Shadow Elves—humans infected by a zombie apocalypse-like plague—have died out over the past 150 years, leaving life altogether boring. In her quiet farming village nestled in the shadows of the Smoky Mountains, warriors are no more than a formality.
But Blue's unique sight is beginning to show her some troubling things. A suspicious green-eyed outsider. A strikingly beautiful Shadow Elf. These visions can’t be real—because if they are, that means everyone's been wrong. Dead wrong. They are not the last survivors in the world. And they aren't prepared for the reality Blue's eyes are showing her.
The outsiders want in, and they’re hungry.
Review: This is one I’ll definitely be buying a copy of! I absolutely loved this book so much. It was such a fun read with some great dystopian tropes and elements. I loved the character development and world building. I also loved the drama and romance, even if it was a little tropey. I also felt the plot was solid and it wasn’t info heavy like a lot of books of this genre sometimes are.
The only issue I really had with the book is that there were some slow moments in the pacing, but overall I loved it.
Verdict: So wonderful.
October 4, 2021
Blue Shadows takes place 150 years after a zombie apocalypse-like plague ravaged the world and turned those infected into Shadow Elves.
In quiet, idyllic Smoky Mountains, our protagonist Blue starts to have visions of strangers and elves-visions that are dangerous if they were true, that would mean there are others out in the world besides them.
The story is told from both Blue and Kaleo's perspective, I found them both very likable, especially Blue, who is loyal and resourceful- liked how quickly most issues were resolved, and that there was mostly no unnecessary conflict. Blue and everyone's gifts were very cool and interesting to read, especially in their post apocalyptic society. I also thought the lore surrounding the Shadow Elves and how the world came to this state was very well written!
The book starts out quite slow but really picks up pace once there's more being revealed, I really enjoyed the buildup of the tension and mystery, even though there's still a lot of mystery surrounding the Shadow Elves and whatever's beyond the wall, and with the way the book ended I can tell there will be some twists to be revealed and explored in the sequel!
Blue shadows is an interesting mix of dystopia and fantasy that will be released on November 9th!
Thank you to the author for sending me an e- arc of Blue Shadows!
In quiet, idyllic Smoky Mountains, our protagonist Blue starts to have visions of strangers and elves-visions that are dangerous if they were true, that would mean there are others out in the world besides them.
The story is told from both Blue and Kaleo's perspective, I found them both very likable, especially Blue, who is loyal and resourceful- liked how quickly most issues were resolved, and that there was mostly no unnecessary conflict. Blue and everyone's gifts were very cool and interesting to read, especially in their post apocalyptic society. I also thought the lore surrounding the Shadow Elves and how the world came to this state was very well written!
The book starts out quite slow but really picks up pace once there's more being revealed, I really enjoyed the buildup of the tension and mystery, even though there's still a lot of mystery surrounding the Shadow Elves and whatever's beyond the wall, and with the way the book ended I can tell there will be some twists to be revealed and explored in the sequel!
Blue shadows is an interesting mix of dystopia and fantasy that will be released on November 9th!
Thank you to the author for sending me an e- arc of Blue Shadows!
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