Title: Immortal Shadow
Author: Anderson Atlas
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
About the book: A slave earns the right to rule a planet. He does so without empathy or mercy. Then a human being comes along and challenges authority. Immortal Shadow is book number three in the Heroes of Distant Planets series. If you haven’t read the first two, which I didn’t, you can still read this one on its own without a problem. More than anything, the story is a prequel to the first two novellas, providing a bit of backstory.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
First impressions: When I received my copy in the mail, I was initially surprised at the length. It’s shorter than I thought it would be, especially for a fantasy novel. Then I came to realize Immortal Shadow is supposed to be a novella. That said, I think there’s potential for it to develop into a novel. Part of me wishes Atlas made the book longer or at least included more description about the world. Additionally, I didn’t expect to find illustrations to go along with the story. In my opinion, the images added to the reading experience in a good way. They helped me visualize the fantastical elements better.
Summary:
Characters: The main character, Jibbawk, gets less likeable as the novella goes on. There weren’t many redeeming characteristics that made me want to root for him. At one point, I started to believe the author intended for him to be the villain, so to speak. On the other hand, the human from earth, Adam, is much more likeable. He’s smart and resourceful, probably also the hero of the story. A good portion of the book centers around the relationship between these two characters.
Quote:
“Greatness means never having to fight your own battles.”
Writing: I spotted several writing errors scattered throughout the novella. Overall, there’s some world-building, but the scenes could have been fleshed out in greater detail. The plot advances quickly, sometimes too quickly. It almost felt choppy. Still, I came to appreciate the fast pace and hard action.
Final thoughts: It’s different from anything I’ve ever read before. I don’t think the book would appeal to everyone, but if you’re looking for a fun fantasy read, you might enjoy Immortal Shadow.
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Herminia Chow 