Download PDF Lost In Lies (Morning Shadow Book 1)

Buy for others

Contents:

Where all these countries are. Perhaps part of the problem stems from the naming conventions, which were foreign enough that all the weird words were running together without getting saved in my brain with an identification. The amount of exposition included was a very valid artistic decision, and it could very well have been a better choice than the alternative, but If well-used plots bother you, you may not care for this. The story itself is the epic fantasy standard: Some of the specifics were pretty familiar too.

They're being chased, their only chance is an ancient abandoned city with an evil of its own because the bad guys won't follow I personally don't mind revisiting a trope if it's done well, but some people really do. In any case, I think that even though I was reminded of other works at various points in the story, the book is fresh enough and well-written enough that just about everyone will be happy with how it all turned out.

The book is meaty enough to support its sweeping scope. The characters were above average, I think; nuanced and likeable, realistic, with their own unique voices, though none of them particularly blew me away. The dialogue was well-written. The editing was good. Not quite perfect, but still good and better than most! The magic was involved and interesting without being overpowered.

And there were a handful of surprises. I have a feeling James Islington is going to have a spot on my shelves alongside the other epic authors of this generation - Brandon Sanderson, Pat Rothfuss, Brent Weeks If you're a fan of epic fantasy, I strongly suggest this book. So many fantasies try to be epic, think they're epic, but so few actually pull it off. Maybe it's because the last three books I've read have been truly excellent including Sanderson's most recent Stormlight Archive release , but this book is kind of a letdown.

Shadow Woman

It feels so much like a YA book, both in writing style, content, and complexity of characters, that I've checked multiple times to see if it is actually young adult and I just missed its category. The characters don't feel particularly well-developed, a couple 'big reveals' were very easy to see coming, and it seems like every girl is pretty, beautiful, or gorgeous even the serving girl at a sketchy looking, crowded inn full of drunks that somehow manages to have a perfectly clean room and men somehow keep finding themselves standing next to the "most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen".

The writing isn't horrendous, but with a good editor, this book would probably be several hundred pages shorter and a better read.

Customers who bought this item also bought

It's an odd mix of trying to cram all the descriptors into a sentence something that I see as a trait of just okay writing , simplistic words, and then throwing in out of place feeling 'fancy' words like "envisaged" multiple times. Additionally, there are several things that don't feel particularly original. There's a super smooth stone that's the hallmark of the Builders of yore, etc. Obviously there will always be overlapping ideas in books, but I just thought I'd point out a couple of these things since I've seen several people writing about how unique the world is.

I frequently find myself finishing series even when I don't really like the books because I become interested in the story, but I'm still undecided about whether or not to read the remainder of this trilogy. Don't set your expectations too high or believe the hype that fans of the Wheel of Time will love this I love the Wheel of Time though I did struggle through some of the books, particularly Nevertheless, it was a story of such grand scope and with such an immersive depth, impressive character development, intriguing world-building, etc.

I could go on. And then I read it. I'm sorry but this work is not on the same level as the works of Jordan, Sanderson, etc. They're just not in the same realm. And that's not to be critical of Islington - every good writer develops their own voice and I think Islington will get there. But I don't think he's there yet. Yes, Jordan got way too lengthy with descriptions to the point of boring me to death, but where he got lost in his descriptive droning, I feel the opposite is true of Islington: I would've liked to see more thorough world-building and description of places and the cultures, etc.

I definitely think he's capable. Another point that prevented me from immersing myself in the story was the lack of character development. We see some of the characters go through situations and events that have an impact on them, and we see them change throughout the story There's times when certain events should have a dramatic influence on people who've never witnessed such things like two people just killed before your eyes Many of the characters also seem like the same person with different faces I think Islington has a grand view of everything throughout the trilogy and how everything interconnects.

But it seemed like he was trying too hard to make so much happen and interweave things with so many names that it complicated the story and muddied the plot A few pet peeves: But specific places in your world hopefully have different names than places in other authors' worlds. The Aryth ocean and the Sea of Storms! Both of these were in Jordan's Wheel of Time. Also, maybe I'm being picky, but I like it when there's a map to follow along with the story.

But on the map, Malacar is very much to the west of Talmiel. I know it's a small oversight, but it's the little things like this that undermine the story for me. Overall, the plot was well thought out, and the author's manipulation of time throughout the story is what really kept it interesting. However, throughout the book I wasn't as engaged as I was hoping and I think Islington can and will do better as he refines his craft. In the end, I'm just a reader and I've gotta give props to anyone that's written a good book and seen it through to completion; that takes hard work, creativity and the resolve to see it through.

See all reviews.

Shadow Woman by Linda Howard

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Set up a giveaway. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item? Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Dying to Know You: There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime. Get fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. Get to Know Us. English Choose a language for shopping. Not Enabled Screen Reader: Enabled Amazon Best Sellers Rank: Amazon Music Stream millions of songs. Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers.

Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon. Alexa Actionable Analytics for the Web. The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies , Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve , [ ] As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd ,. But that thou shouldst my firmness therfore doubt To God or thee, because we have a foe [ ] May tempt it, I expected not to hear.

Shawn Mendes "Lost In Japan" (Audio)

His violence thou fear'st not, being such, As wee , not capable of death or paine , Can either not receave , or can repell. His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs [ ] Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love Can by his fraud be shak'n or seduc't ; Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy brest Adam , misthought of her to thee so dear?

Support Us

To whom with healing words Adam replyd. Not diffident of thee do I dissuade Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid Th' attempt itself, intended by our Foe. I from the influence of thy looks receave Access in every Vertue , in thy sight [ ] More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, Shame to be overcome or over- reacht Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite.

Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel [ ] When I am present, and thy trial choose With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd. So spake domestick Adam in his care And Matrimonial Love; but Eve , who thought Less attributed to her Faith sincere, [ ] Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd. If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe, Suttle or violent, we not endu'd Single with like defence, wherever met, [ ] How are we happie , still in fear of harm?

But harm precedes not sin: And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid [ ] Alone, without exterior help sustaind? Let us not then suspect our happie State Left so imperfet by the Maker wise, As not secure to single or combin'd. Fraile is our happiness, if this be so, [ ] And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd. To whom thus Adam fervently repli'd. O Woman, best are all things as the will Of God ordain'd them, his creating hand Nothing imperfet or deficient left [ ] Of all that he Created, much less Man, Or aught that might his happie State secure, Secure from outward force; within himself The danger lies, yet lies within his power: Against his will he can receave no harme.

Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, Since Reason not impossibly may meet [ ] Some specious object by the Foe subornd , And fall into deception unaware, Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd. Seek not temptation then, which to avoide Were better, and most likelie if from mee [ ] Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancie , approve First thy obedience; th' other who can know, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest?

But if thou think, trial unsought may finde [ ] Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst , Go ; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; Go in thy native innocence, relie On what thou hast of vertue , summon all, For God towards thee hath done his part , do thine. So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde , but Eve Persisted, yet submiss , though last , repli'd. With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words Touchd onely , that our trial, when least sought, [ ] May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd , The willinger I goe , nor much expect A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek, So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.

Her long with ardent look his Eye pursu'd Delighted, but desiring more her stay. Oft he to her his charge of quick returne Repeated, shee to him as oft engag'd [ ] To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre , And all things in best order to invite Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose. O much deceav'd , much failing, hapless Eve , Of thy presum'd return! For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend, Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come, And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde The onely two of Mankinde , but in them [ ] The whole included Race, his purposd prey.

In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay, Thir tendance or Plantation for delight, By Fountain or by shadie Rivulet [ ] He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find Eve separate, he wish'd , but not with hope Of what so seldom chanc'd , when to his wish, Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood, [ ] Half spi'd , so thick the Roses bushing round About her glowd , oft stooping to support Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold, Hung drooping unsustaind , them she upstaies [ ] Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while, Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour , From her best prop so farr , and storm so nigh.

Much hee the Place admir'd , the Person more. As one who long in populous City pent, [ ] Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy the Aire , Forth issuing on a Summers Morn to breathe Among the pleasant Villages and Farmes Adjoynd , from each thing met conceaves delight, The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine, [ ] Or Dairie , each rural sight, each rural sound; If chance with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass, What pleasing seemd , for her now pleases more, She most, and in her look summs all Delight.

Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold [ ] This Flourie Plat , the sweet recess of Eve Thus earlie , thus alone; her Heav'nly forme Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine , Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire Of gesture or lest action overawd [ ] His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: That space the Evil one abstracted stood From his own evil, and for the time remaind Stupidly good , of enmitie disarm'd , [ ] Of guile, of hate, of envie , of revenge; But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes , Though in mid Heav'n , soon ended his delight, And tortures him now more, the more he sees Of pleasure not for him ordain'd: Thoughts , whither have ye led me, with what sweet Compulsion thus transported to forget What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope [ ] Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy, Save what is in destroying, other joy To me is lost.

Then let me not let pass Occasion which now smiles, behold alone [ ] The Woman, opportune to all attempts, Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh, Whose higher intellectual more I shun, And strength, of courage hautie , and of limb Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould , [ ] Foe not informidable, exempt from wound , I not; so much hath Hell debas'd , and paine Infeebl'd me, to what I was in Heav'n.

Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods, Not terrible, though terrour be in Love [ ] And beautie , not approacht by stronger hate, Hate stronger, under shew of Love well feign'd , The way which to her ruin now I tend. So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos'd In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve [ ] Address'd his way, not with indented wave, Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare , Circular base of rising foulds , that tour'd Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; [ ] With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect Amidst his circling Spires , that on the grass Floted redundant: With tract oblique [ ] At first, as one who sought access, but feard To interrupt, side-long he works his way.

As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile ; [ ] So varied hee , and of his tortuous Traine Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve , To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us'd To such disport before her through the Field, [ ] From every Beast, more duteous at her call, Then at Circean call the Herd disguis'd.

Hee boulder now, uncall'd before her stood; But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck, [ ] Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod. His gentle dumb expression turnd at length The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad Of her attention gaind , with Serpent Tongue Organic , or impulse of vocal Air, [ ] His fraudulent temptation thus began.

Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain, Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze [ ] Insatiate, I thus single, nor have feard Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. Fairest resemblance of thy Maker faire , Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine By gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore [ ] With ravishment beheld, there best beheld Where universally admir'd ; but here In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among, Beholders rude, and shallow to discerne Half what in thee is fair, one man except, [ ] Who sees thee?

So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd ; Into the Heart of Eve his words made way, [ ] Though at the voice much marveling; at length Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake. What may this mean?

Language of Man pronounc't By Tongue of Brute, and human sense exprest? The first at lest of these I thought deni'd [ ] To Beasts, whom God on thir Creation-Day Created mute to all articulat sound; The latter I demurre , for in thir looks Much reason, and in thir actions oft appeers. Thee, Serpent, suttlest beast of all the field [ ] I knew, but not with human voice endu'd ; Redouble then this miracle, and say, How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how To me so friendly grown above the rest Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight?

To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd. Empress of this fair World, resplendent Eve , Easie to mee it is to tell thee all What thou commandst and right thou shouldst be obeyd: Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc'd [ ] A goodly Tree farr distant to behold Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt , Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze; When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n , Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense, [ ] Then smell of sweetest Fenel or the Teats Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn , Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play. To satisfie the sharp desire I had Of tasting those fair Apples , I resolv'd [ ] Not to deferr ; hunger and thirst at once, Powerful perswaders , quick'nd at the scent Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene.

About the mossie Trunk I wound me soon, For high from ground the branches would require [ ] Thy utmost reach or Adams: Round the Tree All other Beasts that saw, with like desire Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. Amid the Tree now got, where plenty hung Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill [ ] I spar'd not, for such pleasure till that hour At Feed or Fountain never had I found.

Sated at length, ere long I might perceave Strange alteration in me, to degree Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech [ ] Wanted not long, though to this shape retain'd. Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind Considerd all things visible in Heav'n , Or Earth, or Middle , all things fair and good; [ ] But all that fair and good in thy Divine Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray United I beheld; no Fair to thine Equivalent or second, which compel'd Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come [ ] And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd Sovran of Creatures, universal Dame.

So talk'd the spirited sly Snake; and Eve Yet more amaz'd unwarie thus reply'd. Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt [ ] The vertue of that Fruit, in thee first prov'd: But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far? For many are the Trees of God that grow In Paradise, and various, yet unknown To us, in such abundance lies our choice, [ ] As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht , Still hanging incorruptible, till men Grow up to thir provision , and more hands Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth.

To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad. Lead then, said Eve. Hee leading swiftly rowld In tangles, and made intricate seem strait , To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night [ ] Condenses, and the cold invirons round, Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame, Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends Hovering and blazing with delusive Light, Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way [ ] To Boggs and Mires, and oft through Pond or Poole , There swallow'd up and lost, from succour farr.

So glister'd the dire Snake, and into fraud Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree Of prohibition, root of all our woe; [ ] Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither, Fruitless to mee , though Fruit be here to excess, The credit of whose vertue rest with thee, Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.

See a Problem?

To whom the Tempter guilefully repli'd. To whom thus Eve yet sinless. She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold The Tempter, but with shew of Zeale and Love [ ] To Man, and indignation at his wrong, New part puts on, and as to passion mov'd , Fluctuats disturbd , yet comely and in act Rais'd , as of som great matter to begin. As when of old som Orator renound [ ] In Athens or free Rome , where Eloquence Flourishd , since mute, to som great cause addrest , Stood in himself collected, while each part, Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, Somtimes in highth began, as no delay [ ] Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.

So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown The Tempter all impassiond thus began. Queen of this Universe, doe not believe Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die: God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; [ ] Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeyd: Your feare it self of Death removes the feare. Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, Why but to keep ye low and ignorant, His worshippers; he knows that in the day [ ] Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere , Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then Op'nd and cleerd , and ye shall be as Gods , Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.

So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht , Though threat'nd , which no worse then this can bring. The Gods are first, and that advantage use On our belief, that all from them proceeds; I question it, for this fair Earth I see, [ ] Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind, Them nothing: If they all things, who enclos'd Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree, That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains Wisdom without their leave?

What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree Impart against his will if all be his? Or is it envie , and can envie dwell In Heav'nly brests? Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste. He ended, and his words replete with guile Into her heart too easie entrance won: Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd , which to behold [ ] Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregn'd With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth; Mean while the hour of Noon drew on, and wak'd An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell [ ] So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire, Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, Sollicited her longing eye; yet first Pausing a while, thus to her self she mus'd.

Great are thy Vertues , doubtless, best of Fruits. Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use, [ ] Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good By thee communicated, and our want: In plain then, what forbids he but to know, Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? Such prohibitions binde not. But if Death [ ] Bind us with after-bands, what profits then Our inward freedom? In the day we eate Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die. How dies the Serpent?

For us alone Was death invented? For Beasts it seems: So saying, her rash hand in evil hour [ ] Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck'd , she eat: Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe , That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for Eve [ ] Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd , In Fruit she never tasted, whether true Or fansied so, through expectation high Of knowledg , nor was God-head from her thought.

Satiate at length, And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon , Thus to her self she pleasingly began. O Sovran , vertuous , precious of all Trees [ ] In Paradise, of operation blest To Sapience , hitherto obscur'd , infam'd , And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end Created; but henceforth my early care, Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise [ ] Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease Of thy full branches offer'd free to all; Till dieted by thee I grow mature In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know; Though others envie what they cannot give; [ ] For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here Thus grown.