An enjoyable, fast paced sequel!

Greatly entertaining, humorous, enjoyed the speck of romance, and loved the plot/mystery. I'm looking forward to the third novel in this series - it just seems to keep getting better and better as it goes along.

There's always a fear with second books that they usually aren't as good and fall into the "second book syndrome" category. This one in my opinion was way better than the first book.
While I enjoyed Spellslinger, I had issues with the lack of character development and details. The second instalment really stepped it up, I felt like I got to know Kellen, Ferius and Reichis on a new level in this book. The relationships between these characters developed at what felt like a natural and realistic pace and really helped draw me in to the story.

I love Sebastien de Castell's writing style and his humour works really well in this. It helps set the tone and also relieve the tension that slowly builds up.

I'm so glad I kept on with this series and I think I'll read every book in this series.

4/5 Stars

I read the first of the Spellslinger books back in 2017, so it's been quite a gap.
I quickly got into the story, however, even without remembering a lot of the detail of the first book in which Kellen, a failed Jan'Tep mage is exiled from his home and family, largely due to having been infected by Shadowblack, a magical ailment which allows his own people to execute him on sight. Shadowblack, as it develops, will eventually open Kellen up to demons, but it hasn't yet and Kellen can cover up the marks around his eye with some clever makeup. Though always looking over his shoulder for the next assassin, he's travelling with Argosi wanderer, Ferius Parfax, and a murderous, thieving squirrel cat, Reichis. He and Reichis can speak to each other, though no one else can hear Reichis as Kellen does. Think of this as a fantasy western with Ferius playing the lone traveller/card sharp. In this book, Kellen is learning, and growing into adulthood. He's mastered what little magic he has left (after his parents prevented him from growing into a full Jan'Tep mage) and he's learned a lot from Ferius about the Argosi ways. This book centres on the discovery of a shadowblack plague and introduces new characters, Seneira (also plague-ridden), Rosie, a new Argosi with very different way of doing things from Ferius, and spellslinger Dexan, also outlawed from the Jan'Tep. This is intriguing with good plot twists and character development. Reichis often steals the show with his humour and his 'I want to eat their eyeballs' attitude.

This series continues to deliver heart-stopping action and unforgettable humour! I started reading Sebastien's first series and he has a wonderful talent for crafting unforgettable characters and worlds that leave their mark on you!

Shadowblack picks up Kellen's story several months after the end of Spellslinger, now an outcast amongst his own people, Kellen is currently travelling through the Seven Sands with his mentor the Argosi Ferius, and Reichis, his violent squirrel-cat sidekick. Life isn't easy as an outlaw and the group are living by their wits trying to stay ahead of the Jan'Tep mages who have been sent after them but life gets even more complicated when they come across another Argosi and her charge. Seneria isn't a member of the Jan'Tep but she has been afflicted with the same mysterious Shadowblack illness as Kellen, it looks like a plague has broken out in the Seven Sands and both Kellen and Ferius feel duty bound to investigate it.

I was a little surprised at the direction that this book took, I think I was expecting to see more of the Jan'Tep and a confrontation with Kellen's family but I actually really enjoyed getting to explore a bit more of this world and having the chance to meet other characters who aren't mages. Seneria was an great character but it was Dexan, a fellow Spellslinger like Kellen, and Rosie, another Argosi, who I was most interesting. I've been wanting to know more about the Argosi way of life and we did start to get answers to some of my many questions here, Ferius is as closemouthed and guarded in her answers as ever but Rosie is a little more willing to explain herself. It was really interesting to see how both Argosi interpreted their roles so differently and were on completely different paths despite having very similar beliefs. Dexan was one of those characters who always looks out for themselves but he definitely made life interesting so I hope we'll get to see more of him.

Of course Reichis continues to steal the show for me, he's just such a funny character and I love how he always thinks violence is the answer. His constant threats to eat people's eyeballs always have me laughing and I really do think that every book should have its own murderous squirrel-cat to lighten the mood! Shadowblack has raised the stakes for the series, we're starting to uncover more about what is going on in the wider world and now it's up to Kellen to decide what he is willing to do about it. He has several options available to him at the end of this story and I think the decision he makes says a lot about the kind of man he's turning into. I'm already enjoying this series a lot and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Received copy from Netgalley for honest read and review.

As known I am an avid reader of all Sebastiens books,and this was a delight as usual.

Following on directly from where book 1 left off,our heroes are once again up against all odds and must fight their way out,often with hilarious outcomes.

Another stunning book,and I cannot wait for the next instalment to come out

Months after leaving the Jan'Tep, Kellen is failing at being an outlaw and learning the Argosi ways. He is also trying to avoid being found by special mages that track magic.

The author's easily flows, witty writing sucks you in from the beginning. You get so involved in Kellen's and company's adventures you seriously lose track of time. And you smile a lot! The distinct, more than likeable characters help with that.

Ferius remains a mystery, even after that reveal at the end of book one. And we gain a new on in Seneira, the blindfolded girl. And let us not forget the Shadowblack.

The sequel if more of a road movie, with their constant traveling, but still has that flair of and old Western, maybe even more than its predecessor. The mythology expands, making for an even richer experience, and the story does not stay stagnant (even though it does get slow at parts in Teleidos) But nothing is rushed, even in the action sequences, it sufficiently breathes.

Taking a whole new unexpected course for the story, Castell delivers another highly entertaining entry to his series, which is quickly becoming a fave.

I enjoyed this title just as much as the first book! The characters are great and believeable, and of course Reichis always steals the show! I can't wiat for the next instalment!

I really enjoyed this book. Brilliantly builds on the work of the first and establishes what will hopefully be a long series.

Kellen of the Jan Tep, Ferius the Argosi and Reichis ths squirrel cat are on the run. Kellen's family have disowned him and his grandmother has banded him with the Shadowblack so he can't use any magic but breath magic and he has a price on his head to boot. Just when things can't get any worse, Kellen, Ferius and Reichis meet another Argosi travelling with a young lady also marked with the Shadowblack. Only Seneira's marks aren't the same as Kellen's, in fact they're moving and growing. So Kellen and his friends must try and help Seneira by tracing the Shadowblack back to where it came from. Which turns out to be a lot closer to home than any of them would like...

I do enjoy reading about Kellen and his friends, mostly because the characters are so likeable and the story so straightforward. It certainly isn't a series to make you really think hard, but it is a set of really well thought out characters having some fun adventures which is great to read when you need something not very taxing.

I like that we had more interaction with Reichis this time (aside from his general biting and fighting) and that we learned more about the ways of the Argosi. I shall certainly very much look forward to the next adventure for our (now 4) brave travellers.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2017/11/06/shadowblack-spellslinger-2-by-sebastien-de-castell/
Shadowblack is the second instalment in Sebastien de Castell’s Spellslinger series. I’m loving this series, it’s fun, it seems to have an independent storyline running through each book (well, so far anyway) and yet still brings in snippets from the previous story, it’s populated with great characters who, even though I had no trouble in liking them in the first book, have grown on me even more now and it’s just basically a book that makes you feel good when you’ve finished reading. So, if you want to feel good, then what you waiting for? Go, pick this up. I’d say that this can be read as a standalone but personally I would suggest reading the first one – that way you’ll have twice the fun to look forward to.

Shadowblack seems to start a few months after Spellslinger concluded. Kellen, Ferius and Reichis seem to have spent their time mooching about the Seven Sands trying to stay one step ahead of bounty hunters. Being an outlaw isn’t all it’s cracked up to be after all and Kellen misses his home, his family and more than that the young girl who he was sweet on from school. He manages to put Nephenia out of his mind however once he and his motley crew meet up with another Argosi female and her charge – Seneira. Seneira wears a blindfold but it doesn’t take long before Kellen uncovers that this is simply a bluff to hide the black marks that he also carries and keeps hidden. It seems that Seneira is similarly marked by the Shadowblack and Kellen and his companions undertake to try and help her – a job that soon turns into something much bigger once they reach Seneira’s home town and find this seems to be a plague that is affecting more than just one. Is the Shadowblack spreading??

So, we once again have the same trio of characters and spending more time with them helps to tease out more about each of their whims and foibles. Information about Ferius in particular is a lot more forthcoming in this instalment as the inclusion of another Argosi character seems to bring out some of her background. Rosie is a really good addition, although she didn’t stick around for the entire story. She’s feisty and I just loved the way she handled herself when in a tight spot. It was good reading the two of them bounce off each other and argue the toss – it seems that being Argosi doesn’t mean you all follow the same path. I’m so curious about the Argosi and want to learn more. Kellen finds himself once again becoming a little bit smitten – the boy is literally a walking hormone, and it was quite funny to watch his attempts at blending in with other people his age and attempting to talk to females. The flying squirrel cat Reichis, remains a muttering, chattering force of nature who’s developed a love of hot baths and butter biscuits, and why wouldn’t you, sounds like a good combination to me too.

Aside from all this fun and banter Shadowblack is, I thought, a much more serious plot this time round. It certainly isn’t all light entertainment. A much more sinister plot unfolds and we realise just how serious the situation truly is when we have an unexpected death. The actual bad guy is really only the tip of the iceberg. I’m not going to elaborate on him further but he’s conceived a rather horrible scheme and he certainly isn’t shy of killing people or using them in quite nasty ways in order to further his own needs.

In terms of the world building it was interesting to spend time in the Seven Sands and to listen to the people who live there who seem to be underdogs really with very little true status. It builds on the information provided in the first story about Kellen’s people and how they found themselves living near such a powerful source of energy and starts to highlight the fact that not everyone in this world has found themselves so luckily situated (although, truthfully luck had nothing to do with it).

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It’s a lot of fun – this always sounds like a disparaging remark somehow as though the book is not deep and meaningful – but, to be clear having an entertaining series to follow is something I love and I’ve found just that right here. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the next book or to recommend this to others. It’s a very ‘clean’ read, the violence isn’t graphic and there’s no sex or bad language and so it could be enjoyed by young adults as well as adults which I think is another definite plus.

I know that a third book is planned but I seriously hope that there are more adventures in the offing. I’m looking at you hopefully Mr deCastell???

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

The Spellslinger book arrived to me in a book subscription box. While I enjoyed it, and had a great time discussing the book with the author, I didn't think it was put-down-everything-and-read amazing. Sure, it was cool, and the inclusion of a violent squirrel-cat definitely made it a page-turner, but it just didn't seem all that different from the mountain of other YA books strewn around my room. So when I saw book two, Shadowblack, on Netgalley, I thought it was a very good way of deciding if I wanted to continue reading the series, or give it up in pursuit of other reads. And I'm super glad I did. Shadowblack was, IMO, a lot better than book one. For one, I found the plot more focused. There was more direction, a better pace, with lots of fight-scenes and high-stakes drama along the way. Some of the twists were fabulous, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next. But for me, the real selling point was the characters themselves. I thought there was some serious growth in this book, and whenever it got uncomfortably intense between characters, there was always the squirrel-cat around to make a joke. There's also something quite refreshing about a protagonist who is not a chosen one, whose magic is weaker than other peoples', rather than the overused 'chosen-one' trope. Kellen was so unique, and I thought his sarcastic teenage voice came across really well in the tone of the book. Perhaps the only drawback to Shadowblack was the settings. There were moments when I felt like I could almost breathe in the desert dust or the paper and ink smell of the Academy, and then at other times I struggled to even picture a background to the drama. Maybe it was because the action was so attention-grabbing, but I suspect it was more a lack of detail than anything else. A shame, but all in all, I found the book a really interesting read, and it has convinced me to continue buying the series.

Shadowblack is a very worthy and wonderful sequel to the fabulous Spellslinger!

This book picks up after the events of Spellslinger and throws you back into the action with a brand new and quite gripping new rip-roaring adventure with our intrepid and quite messed up young hero, his ferocious little squirrel cat and his new card-wielding mentor.

de Castell has written yet another rare and vivid fantasy for young adults that easily read by older too. His imagination knows no bounds and it shows yet again with this entry, his world building and character creation are phenomenal with prose that is easy to read, follow and more importantly to thoroughly and completely enjoy.

I simply cannot wait to see what will happen next.......

I was lucky enough to be accepted from Netgalley to be sent an E-book copy of this, so you can imagine my excitement when I also won a hardcover copy from Reader’s First.

Shadowblack continued on a few months after Spellslinger. Ferius, Kellen and Reichis having been on the road, living rough.

As is the case with many sequels, I found this one lagged in a few places, but if you push past them, another great plotline appeared.

I loved meeting even more new people and seeing the way others lived and interacted. The setting for this book was very different but clearly in the same world. I really enjoyed the plotline for this one, and how each truth that came to light changed the way Kellen went on to see the world, things and people.

Again, Kellen continued to grow on me, and I love Reichis. There were a few laugh out loud moments and a few that had me on the edge of my seat.

4 out of 5 stars.

I thought this was a fantastic continuation of this series. It was great to be back with these characters and in this world again. The writing is good, the plot is compelling and the characters are well written. I enjoyed the character development in this sequel. The new characters introduced are also great. I find these books so easy to read and are so enjoyable. Overall I thought this was great and I am very excited for the next book in the series.

I'd noticed this book in my Goodreads feed with people recommending it, or lamenting that it wasn't out yet. What I hadn't realised was that it was a Young Adult novel, and in fact, I didn't actually notice until the novel stalled at about 40% of the way through. I started to wonder what on earth I was reading and quite frankly, why I was continuing to read it. This is the reason it took me two weeks to read a really quite short novel.

This is a shame. The novel starts really strongly - the three main characters are great and their interactions with each other are a joy to read. Sadly, it all goes wrong when they arrive at The Academy, and a novel that I hadn't been considering a Young Adult novel at all, becomes mired in unnecessary scenes in the Academy, the badly handled 'romantic' aspect of the novel, and what I would, quite cruelly call, 'filler' to take the novel to a required length.

Near the end, the novel picks up speed again but by then I confess, I was really not interested anymore and was only reading because I was being stubborn about getting to the end.

In conclusion, I would say this novel would be far more successful if it just consisted of its beginning and ending, and even then, there is, despite hopes to the contrary, nothing new in this novel and I was left disappointed and feeling as though I'd wasted my time. Apologies I couldn't enjoy it more! Perhaps a stand-alone novel with Reichis would be a good step forward.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have very much money for comics. As such I decided that I should stick with the one comic franchise I was really enjoying, the X-Men, and get as deep into their story as I could. While reading the X-Men, I fell in love with one of their classic villains: Gambit. Gambit is a smooth talking mutant from New Orleans who was the coolest because he threw playing cards as a weapon and could make things explode. So when Sebastien de Castell’s newest protagonist, Kellen, developed a penchant for throwing playing cards and making things explode, describing me as ‘thrilled’ would be an understatement. Shadowblack is the second title in de Castell’s new YA Spellslinger series and is the third of his books to come out this year – a very impressive feat. I reviewed the first novel in this series, also titled Spellslinger, earlier this year and really enjoyed it – but does the sequel continue de Castell’s stellar publishing record?

Unsurprisingly, yes it does. Avoiding spoilers as best as I can for book one, when we last left Kellen he was setting out on the road with his Argosi guardian, Ferius, to learn the ways of the world. The Argosi are wandering annalists who find and record great events in the world by remaining neutral. However, their tendency to stalk world events mean that they often find themselves embroiled in conflicts due simply to their proximity to arguing parties. In Shadowblack our protagonists soon meet a plague victim suffering from the famous ‘shadowblack’ – a magical malady that kills quickly. Sensing that the plague might not have occurred naturally, Kellen and Ferius head to The Land of Seven Sands to investigate the mystery of the plague’s occurrence.

The mystery of the plague created an exciting page turner that resulted in me burning through Shadowblack in a weekend. The plot of the series continues to get more complicated and exciting and though I have read two books in this series this year – I already can’t wait to find out what happens next. Kellen’s constant ineptitude with magic and learning Argosi skills has continued to endear him to me immensely – which is surprising given that inept characters tend to drive me insane. As I mentioned in my review for Spellslinger, de Castell has gone in a very different direction with the personalities of his characters compared to his first series The Greatcoats. However, the earnestness and vulnerability that sucked me into his first cast can still be found in his writing, and the more you get to know Kellen and Ferius the more you will adore them.

On a different note, worldbuilding always has been, and likely always will be, one of de Castell’s greatest talents. The world of Spellslinger continues to get bigger and better as we get to meet a number of cultures that were only alluded to in the first novel. The Land of Seven Sands sits in a borderless dead zone that lies in the center of the four major countries in the Spellslinger world. As such, it is used as a dumping ground by all four countries and gives de Castell a great way to show us the various cultures he has created and how they interplay. The political machinations of the book are particularly impressive for a YA book and should keep any adult reader interested and invested in the story. Given how short these books are and the fact that I want to spend more time in this world, I hope de Castell makes a boat load more installments in this series.

Shadowblack only had one major problem in my opinion, and that is that the first few chapters of the book feel fairly awkward. It seems to me that de Castell had some difficulty transitioning his characters from the previous plot line into his new one for book two, and as a result the hand-off feels jarring. Kellen and Ferius have a plague victim walk straight up to them and lay out the start of their quest for the rest of the book in the first few pages and it felt a little unnatural to me. However, once over this initial hump, the book smooths out completely and nothing felt out of place for the rest of the book.

Sebastien de Castell proves that you can accomplish both quantity and quality with his third book this year. Shadowblack’s story continues to develop Kellen’s character, builds out the world around the cast, and has convinced me I want to be an Argosi. The Spellslinger series is a fun and heartwarming adventure for all ages that teaches you that all you need to be successful is hard work and a little of sleight of hand.

Rating: Shadowblack – 8.5/10

-Andrew

Shadowblack takes up Kellen's story from Spellslinger soon after his flight into exile from his homeland and the haughty magicians of the Jan'Tep, accompanied by the mysterious Argosi woman Ferius (whose real name, we learn here, is The Path of the Wild Daisy) and the thieving squirrel cat Reichis.

The story is rather simpler, rather more pared down than that of Spellslinger, which introduced not only the Jan'Tep and their magic (most of which Kellen has been blocked from) but their world (and especially the freespirited Argosi). It's all about the shadow black, the demon-haunted marking which has cursed Kellen and caused him to be exiled. Others are beginning to show the signs too. is this the start of a plague? If so, Ferius's fellow Argosi, Rosie, maintains that the ominous-sounding Way of Thunder may need to be invoked. Kellen, Ferius and Reichis must investigate.

The book is well written and the story fairly rattles along, presenting Kellen with successive challenges: combat, new forms of magic, and, perhaps, the stirrings of romance when he meets Seneira (the scene where Ferius tries to teach Kellen how to be "handsome" is both funny and touching). Like Spellslinger, it consciously has some of the atmosphere of a Western - most obviously in the outlaw setup and in Ferius's drawling language, but also in Kellen's response to his surroundings: "I might have found the landscape pretty if people here would just stop trying to kill me". Unlike Spellslinger that comes across as... perhaps if I say it's a bit purer? We don't have the Jan'Tep ritual magic setup, we open with the outlaws attempting a heist and move on quickly to them riding the scrub and sage of the Seven Sands. The theme seems clearer, perhaps (not that I'm saying Spellslinger isn't great, it is, but I think Shadowblack is slightly better).

The secondary characters here are also well drawn, from Seneira and her father to Dexan, another spellslinger who knows the trials kelley's going through and offers help - at a price - and the Whisper Witch, about whom I'd like to know a LOT more. They people this world convincingly, and present kelley with new kinds of challenge and as has to ask himself what path he will follow. That of the Argosi? Of the spellslinger? of the student, with people of his own age and background?

Kellen is starting to grow up, to become more confident in his power and in who he is. he is still angry at what has been done to him and at the danger his friends and family are placed in, but we can begin to see him mature into somebody who will be able to do things about that.

I can't wait for Charmcaster, due next May.

Travelling with Ferius and Reichis, Kellen continues to battle his insecurities as he comes of age. When they stumble across what appears to be a shadowblack plague, they pause in their journeys to investigate.

Spellslinger was a high bar to kick off a series with. While Shadowblack is fun, it never quite matches its predecessor, at its best in its comic asides and episodes of squirrel cat belligerence, but I would have liked to see the same depth of world and character building that made the first novel stand out.

That said, Shadowblack is once again loads of fun - good for giggles and highly cinematic. Kellen remains a likeable narrator with a good heart, and both Ferius and Reichis are a delight to spend more time with. And because I like my characters spiky and unexpected in their ethics, Rosie intrigued me more than she was perhaps intended to. There's no such thing as your average Argosi, and that alone may keep me coming back for more.