Of Shadow Born (Shadow World #4) by Dianne Sylvan
Urban Fantasy
March 26, 2013
Ace

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Till my body is dust and my soul is no more I will love you . . . love you . . .”

After a heart rending night of loss and blood, Miranda Grey-Solomon, vampire Queen of the South, now stands in the ruins of her life determined to pick up the pieces and move on. David, her husband and Prime, is missing and presumed dead, and Miranda is lost without her soul mate by her side…but she has little time to grieve as enemies both old and new emerge to test her yet again.

Between vampires trying to take advantage of a Queen without a Prime, incursions by a mysterious organization of humans calling themselves the Order of the Morningstar, and the continuing threat from those within the Shadow World who have already tried to destroy her, Miranda and her allies are running out of places to turn. In order to save her territory and the ones she loves, Miranda must look to the ancient past, to the first days of the vampire race, and uncover secrets about the Signets that could change the course of history…(Goodreads)

Of Shadow Born picks up right after Shadow’s Fall. Towards the end of Shadow’s Fall, we learned the true duplicity of Jeremy Hayes and the reasons behind his deception. We are left reeling at the devastation and the potential consequences of his devious actions.

The beginning Of Shadow Born show us those consequences.  Miranda did not die as we all assumed when Hayes destroyed her bond with David and secreted her away to use in the Awakening. She is found by Stella and awakens injured, confused, and steeped in grief over the loss of David. As she struggles to take back the reins of running the South without her Prime and her love, Prime Deven and his consort, Jonathan, remains firmly at her side. The vampire world waits with breathless anticipation for her to fall to insanity as that is the usual outcome when a Prime loses their other half however, Miranda continues to shock this world as she not only rises to the occasion but begins to take matters into her own hands. As other Primes and human enemies cast an envious eye towards her throne, Miranda turns her eyes towards the past and to those who took away her love.

If Shadow’s Fall was the epic storm that changed the game, Of Shadow Born is the calm afterwards. Though jam packed with action and suspense, Sylvan takes it easy on us in this installment. Though we aren’t promised all is well in the Haven, we are granted some reassurance that it will all work out. Miranda learns that  the coming war is not without allies. Questions are answered and a long standing story arc is concluded while Sylvan lays the framework for a new one. A heavily character driven installment, we share an intimate connection with Miranda in here. Her pain, sorrow, and triumphs are also ours. Experiencing her grief tugs at your heartstrings as you see her recount her love for David in each memory. It has been a thrilling ride as we have watched her grow from a solitary broken figure to having found a home, family, and love. Her personality shines through more and more with each book. She has grown tremendously throughout the series and this installment highlights that growth. She is the Prime’s Queen.The world building stays fresh and exciting with constant evolution as Sylvan introduces mythology and legend to create a new storyline.

Dianne Sylvan lights up your emotional grid in here as we see the ramifications of past decisions. Devon and Jeremy, especially. Dynamic characters and a well crafted world demand your complete surrender. These complex people will make you care regardless of their intentions. It’s the sign of a gifted writer who can force you to live through a varied array of emotions when reading their books. In reading this installment, I have found myself shaking with anger, crying in sorrow, and laughing with sheer joy. There were times I wanted to skip through scenes at warp speed to see what would happen and other times I wanted to stop because I didn’t think I could bear anymore.

Though this series is touted as a Urban Fantasy, I feel it walks the line between a UF and a PNR due to it’s strong balance between the storyline and the romance. The plot and romance blend so effortlessly you’re often not sure where one starts and the other ends. While the plot is engaging and action packed, it takes second place to our main two protagonists-David and Miranda Solomon.

David and Miranda have run a harsh relationship gauntlet from the beginning. Love, death, betrayal, and forgiveness have all played equal parts as these two struggles to come together beyond the bond that tied them together. What has always appealed to me about this particular couple is the reality of their relationship amidst the fantasy of the story. Sylvan doesn’t make their love perfect, especially for Miranda. Being in love with a man over 100 years old isn’t easy as she learns the hard way. However, Sylvain gives them the tools to repair any and all damage if they are willing to try.

The secondary cast continues to grown in leaps and bounds, further elevating the arc and our protagonists. Devon and Jonathan features predominantly in this story and more clues are given that further divulge into Devon’s history. Stella and her “witchy ways” also play a major role and I look forward to seeing more of her inclusion into the arc. The story is filled with intrigue, murder, and mayhem as Ms. Sylvan cleans up this storyline arc and starts a new one. Old and new characters join the fray and soon the path Sylvan is going down begins to show itself. Like a puzzle with missing pieces, this installment is a major piece we needed. As we lay this piece in place, a shining moment of clarity is revealed.

Of Shadow Born is a well executed followup to Shadow’s Fall and delightful addition to Ms. Sylvan’s wonderful Shadow World. I look forward to the fifth installment-title and release date to be announced.

Overall Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Vampire Bookclub
Urban Fantasy Investigations – 3.5/5
Goodreads

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