Shadows of Nyn'Dira (Fallen Light) Paperback – September 18, 2023

Once again H.C. Newell gifts us with another installment in this quickly rising "Fallen Light" series. Book 3 "Shadows of Nyn'Dira" showcases Newell's continued progression in her craft! The story is deeper, world building expanded, stakes higher, and the loss...you guessed it, even more heartbreaking and brutal. So pumped to have gotten a eARC for this rollercoaster of a book!Neer, Aella and their busted, beaten band of warriors continue their quest through dark lands and little hope, to reset the balance for everyone in Nyn'Dira. While the pace does seem to back off slightly from books 1 and 2, we get a bigger, longer story this time around that fleshes out the relationships and backstories to even more of our characters. However, not to deter from the main theme of this dark series...when the action and trials are front and center, we are smashed in the face with brutality, horror, heroism, loss and sheer grit! Our group is reunited again from the separation we saw them go through in book 2 and the Novella "The Banished" and every single one of them is tested time and time again in Shadows. Families are reunited and strained relationships are tested even further. If they are to see this quest to the end our group is realizing that no matter their past differences, they will need each other to hopefully succeed.The enemies overwhelming strength in dark energy is on full display in this one, and we get a understanding of who and what our mixed band is facing. Ruthless, powerful and closing in from every direction, war has found our hero's. With the balance shifting to the dark...can Neer, Aella and the rest overcome personal, physical and magical loss to take on this strengthen threat?! The path forward is perilous and riddled with probable loss and pain...but having basically lived their lives through just that up to this point, our group is the only ones that hold hope in seeing this through.More emotional writing and deeper world building push this book and series to new heights. Doing that and still holding the darkness that this series is built around is a testament to the level of writing Newell has reached. I can only assume the story gets bigger and badder from here, especially with the ending we get here! 🤯 Grab a drink cause your gonna need it for this ride! 🥃 Wow! 🔥5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and seriously...book 4 needs to be in my hands like now! 😋📚

Shadows of Nyn'Dira is the continuation of the Fallen Light series, and if you're not reading this series...what are you even doing?? Do you like Tolkein and others like him? Yes? Then grab this book!This author's storytelling is absolutely sublime and is going to engage you from the first page of this book and the other previous.Shadows of Nyn'Dira starts out with a prologue that will have questions bubbling inside of your mind. What is going on?! What is going to happen next?! The stage is being set, and my recommendation? Clear your day, because you won't be putting this book down once you start. Trust me. My intent? To clear a week of my life to sit and simply soak in these books as I reread them from the beginning.Okay, back to the book - the next thing after the prologue? A "Wanted" poster. The Order is striking up their attempts to track down Neer. Can she just get a break? No? Fine. LOL! Because when this book picks up, Neer has been separated from her friends, and is now trying to find them. Things aren't going well in that respect, but not all is bleak! She makes a new friend! Thurandir! You're going to love him. I promise. He's a touch innocent, but he's a character who is going to grow on you the more you learn about him.Prepare for hair-raising moments. I don't mean crazy scary either. I mean the sign that this book is going to be truly amazing! Yeah, when that happens I just know that a book is going to be crazy good. Brace yourself for a cliffhanger, but this author has yet to disappoint so you'll be looking forward to the next when it comes.Exceptional novel - 5 out of 5 stars

In "Shadows of Nyn'Dira," H.C. Newell propels readers back into a world teetering on the edge of darkness.One of the commendable aspects of this installment is the evident drastic growth in the author's writing skill level. The narrative takes a significant step forward, with a noticeable reduction in pacing issues. The author's increased proficiency in storytelling allows for a more immersive experience, keeping me engaged without the distraction of confusing narrative flow. These don't fully disappear, but they barely register now. An appreciable adjustment comes in the form of clarified terminology. The author wisely addresses potential confusion, recognizing that while the immersive language contributes to world-building, occasional reminders through footnotes serve as helpful guideposts for readers. This thoughtful approach enhances the overall reading experience, allowing the intricate details of the world to be absorbed more seamlessly.The world-building itself continues to impress, expanding with each chapter. The immersive quality of the narrative, coupled with the deepening complexity of the characters and their relationships, contributes to the overall richness of the story. The grimdark nature of the world is palpable, creating an atmosphere that grows darker with each turn of the page. A noteworthy element is the exploration of the found family dynamic, adding layers of complexity to the characters' relationships. These aren't perfect people and that feels so realistic. As the characters navigate the brutal and unforgiving landscape, the bonds forged in adversity add emotional depth."Shadows of Nyn'Dira" stands as a testament to the author's evolving storytelling prowess, offering readers a gripping tale set in a dark and brutal world. As the story delves deeper into the complexities of its characters and the ominous forces at play, it leaves readers eager to accompany these characters on their perilous journey in the books to come.Thank you to the author for the review copy. This is an honest review.

Newell knocks it out of the park again. One of the brightest new talents on the scene, a new Newell always go straight to the top of my reading pile. Cracking writing and top notch cover art make this a definite winner for me.

If I was impressed by books 1 and 2 in this series, book three knocked it out of the park for me.I don't want to give away too much of the plot being a book three, so let me share some overall gushing and feelings about Shadows of Nyn'Dira and the craft progression thus far.This is H.C. Newell's strongest work to date, this world bursts off the page and it shines through, it's vivid, immersive and ready to be explored.Throughout the series H.C. Newell has been working to balance banter, action, worldbuilding and characters, this book does all of that and more. This is the type of book that excites me because I can see the past lessons learnt coming to fruition and making a solid read. When people say "X could be the next Tolkien" this is it. Not in the classical fantasy over the top description of trees sense but the sheer amount of effort that has been poured into this world. The races, the locations, the deepening of the lore and backstories continually increase with each book in the series.Book three also does a great job of slowing down character moments and letting them breathe, there is far less reliance on fade to blacks and actions to make these scenes move. I cannot wait to see where this series goes because it is already a banger.Watch out fantasy fans, H.C. Newell is coming.