Jack of Shadows

so-so

Fantasy/sci-fi/horror with a tidbit of parable thrown in?
There are a number of aspects of the premise that I find really intriguing. A mystical thief who draws powers from shadows, a world that is half science, and daylight, as we saw the 20th century, and half hellscape, a place of immortals and darkness and soulessness, with some Biblical imagery for good measure. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? The trick is, to say what it wanted to say, the majority of the book has to be kind of a dreadful tale, and the main character amoral if not outright despicable. So, not a very fun reading experience, for all that I appreciate the imagination and the messaging. The pacing felt a bit off for something novella-length too, some of that classic world building, lengthy descriptions of journeys and beasties, slowing down the action of the story. 6mo

Robotswithpersonality 3/? And in a story that felt a little short on character development until the very end, lengthy descriptions punctuated by action scenes meant I was struggling to maintain my focus on the story. (Entirely possible it's just a me thing with patience levels). 6mo

Robotswithpersonality 4/4 And yeah, it's probably as much an early 70s thing, as something I can lay on this particular author, but the only two female characters basically having a rough go of it to further the main male character's development, not a fan. 🤷🏼‍♂️

⚠️ Suicide, mention of SA (edited) 6mo

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bekakins

Jack of Shadows, 23 | Roger Zelazny

pick

70s sci-fi is so bonkers 😂 weird little book about an alternate Earth which is stuck on its axis - one side perpetually light & led by science, and one in constant darkness, governed by magic. Enjoyable. Plus #ScarathlonDailyPrompt (magic) and more pts for #Scarathlon #TeamMonsterMash Has also got me into a perpetual loop on #PromptMaze but hoping my next book gets me out of it 😬

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