Shade of Light
Three Shades Trilogy
Kimberly Grymes
Young Adult Fantasy
Tractor Beam Publishing
October 24, 202
320
Not all monsters are evil. Some choose to do better. So, which one am I? Eighteen-year-old Adele believes she’s a monster because of her ability to infiltrate minds. She has come to terms with the fact that she may be alone for the rest of her life in order to avoid hurting others. For years, she’s been kept captive at Castle Forge, living comfortably under the watchful eye of a tyrant general. But after secretly witnessing her aunt heal someone with her blood, Adele knows the only way to get answers is to escape. Even if that means leaving behind the one person who’d shown her compassion during her captivity. She travels far to her childhood village, and while trying to uncover the mysteries of her past, she encounters the Shade. The same mysterious attackers who changed her life eight-years ago. The Shade have been raiding Adele’s childhood village, capturing its inhabitants for their queen, the ruler of the Under Realm. It isn’t long before Adele realizes these attackers possess similar powers, drawing more questions about who she is, where she comes from, and how she’s connected to these evil beings. After a childhood friend is captured and taken to the Under Realm, Adele must decide whether to stay and help the village or return to Castle Forge, where a dear friend might be in danger from the general’s wrath. With evil all around, Adele must choose who she wants to be and what her future holds. This young-adult dark fantasy story promises a captivating and thrilling journey filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists. Book one in the THREE SHADES TRILOGY explores themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the power of choice as Adele navigates a dangerous medieval world to find her place in it.
A Shade of Light somehow packs a big punch in a small package. Being a shorter fantasy novel, I was worried that lack of description would leave something to be desired, however, Kimberly Grymes does a great job detailing this world she has built!
Adele is our morally-gray heroine who kicks ass and takes no mercy. She is self-reliant and is her own weapon. However, with her unique power to infiltrate minds Adele believes she is a lost soul and as such, doesn’t allow herself to get close to others. She is self-assured in all things except when it comes to her power.
“It wasn’t until my abilities manifested over in Fayatin that I started wearing gloves. And now I rarely take them off.”
We find Adele as she’s escaping the country of Fayatin and the general that captured her as a child and has used her abilities as a weapon of war. She wears her gloves at all times, not trusting of her own powers. With questions about her past, Adele flees to her home town to get answers leaving behind the only friend she has known the last few years.
Adele’s journey leads her on an amazing journey of self discovery. Learning that others may share her ability, but how? Enter Rune, another powerful young woman whose POV begins to alternate with Adele’s throughout this story. Rune lives in the Under Realm, a dark place void of any niceties, but somehow it’s inhabitants feel bliss. As Adele is searching to find out what the Under Realm is and how to get there, Rune is fighting her own battle to escape the brainwashing that keeps her there. The twists and turns the author weaved into this book were well done.
“She continues as if nothing’s changed, and gracefully sits upon her pile of bones. From beneath her, a long slender bone cracks at the center, releasing gray dust into the air. When I look at her, her expression remains loving and welcoming, but within her soulless eyes, I sense hunger and deception.”
One of the main aspects I enjoyed about this book is that as the story progresses we learn more and more about the main antagonist, Merigoth, There isn’t just a simple explanation of who she is and why she’s evil, no. Her story takes you on a journey of her own where we find out that she does have a valid reason for being the way she is. She was broken and because of that she decided that she would break others. I think this gives a does of realism to the book, as the saying goes – Hurt people hurt people.
The book was lacking romance, not even a slow burn – it focused solely on other relationships for the FMC which works in the context of this plot. However, there is some hinted feelings between characters that could occur in the next book in the series.
The book features:
Found Family Magic Paranormal Interactions Head Strong FMC Revenge Plot
I am very excited to see where the author takes us in the rest of the Three Shades Trilogy!
Hi, I’m Rebecca! I’m a Maryland girl at heart, but currently live in South Central Pennsylvania. The greatest loves of my life are my husband, my three daughters, and our Alaskan Klee Kai, Yoshi. The best time I find to read is when my kids are busy with one of their numerous extra-curricular activities and my husband is gaming. Let me tell you, a reader and a gamer make an excellent partnership! Aside from quality time with my family, I believe my day is best spent with a good book in one hand and an iced coffee in the other. My hobbies include reading books, buying books, and adding books to my TBR. And yes, those are three separate hobbies, don’t @ me. I’m obsessed with YA fantasy, extra-spicy romantasy, and everything in between. I’m insatiable when it comes to reading and if I love a book – I devour it. It becomes a part of me forever.
Shade of Light
