The Wounded Shadow ~ Review

The Wounded Shadow
The Darkwater Saga #3
By Patrick W. Carr

Oh, my! This is a fantastic conclusion to the Darkwater Saga. Picking up where The Shattered Vigil left off we are again faced with the utter collapse of the northern continent unless the Vigil can somehow overcome their loses and access the knowledge that Willet Dura has hidden away within his vault.

But the darkness that is the Darkwater is spreading and the Vigil and the Kings and Queens of the northern continent are being hunted. The Vigil know why they are a target of Cesla's now corrupted nature. But the reasoning behind the targetting of the rulers is unknown. If they can solve this mystery perhaps they can stop the darkness or at least halt its spread.

But nothing is ever easy and still Willet hasn't earned the trust of the Vigil have a scrying stone. With Willet, Bolt, Rory, and Gael out of contact with the remaining Vigil they are on their own as the coming battle with the evil of the Darkwater Forest draws ever closer. Using his skills as a reeve Willet follows what they do know - hoping that some long-forgotten truth will be discovered giving them the answers they so desperately need.

Meanwhile, Pellin, Allta, and Mark are on a quest of their own. But the knowledge and aid that Pellin seeks will come with a heavy cost. Along the way they make a discovery that changes everything they thought they knew about those who carry the dark vaults of the Darkwater. But is the knowledge something to which they use to their advantage or has it come too late to make a difference.

Toria Deel and Fess are own their own mission to help those guarding against the Forest. With Wag to aid them, they are a formidable force. But the Forest is vast and the boundaries ever growing. And the enemy - well, let's just say that he is not about to follow rules when victory is his aim.

Ealdor, whom the Vigil view as a symptom of Willet's mind slowly succumbing to his time within the Darkwaters, is a pivotal part of the story. Not to give anything away and spoil it but it is quite interesting.

I really believe this is the best book of the series - which is really saying something because I've thoroughly enjoyed them all. Now you can't read these out of order they must be read as they were released or you'll totally miss out on key moments that explain later scenes. The Vigil can't be fully appreciated in relationship to Willet without the previous books. This would be an excellent summer reading project if you have the time.

For those who have read Carr's previous series, The Staff and The Sword, you will not feel as if you are in the same story with key names of characters and places changed. No this is a unique and unto itself story world. The characters come to life under Carr's skillful craftsmanship and will stay with long after you have closed the book. This is a fantasy but should appeal to a wider audience as the fantasy is not an over the top smacking you in the face not letting you ever forget it fantasy. There is a subtle thread that hints at the Fall throughout providing an additional layer to the overall story. Those who enjoy the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis should enjoy this book and series.

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book by the publisher - Bethany House with no expectations of a positive review ~ all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

The Final Battle over the Darkwater Has Begun. 

Will Anything Be Able to Stop the Evil Sweeping across the North?

The kings and queens of the northern continent lay siege to the Darkwater Forest, frantic to contain its evil. But rumors of gold and aurium have lured deserters and the reckless into its shadow, creating a growing army that can see in the dark and fight like the gifted. Desperate after the death and dissolution of their greatest ally, Willet and the rest of the Vigil seek the truth of what lies at the heart of the evil they face. They delve the mind of an ancient enemy and find an answer far worse and more unimaginable than they had feared. 

But while they seek to understand their past and peril, danger stalks the cities of the north striking at the rulers of the kingdoms. As Willet and the rest of the Vigil search for answers, the Vigil is scattered with an ever-growing darkness around them. They must discover a path to keep their land safe or risk losing the world