The War of Words

By Amy Neftzger

Sometimes there's no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book - if you can find the right one.

Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what's real and what isn't, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.

As the youngest officer in the king's army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.

Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.

"Neftzger takes popular elements of modern fantasy...and creates a new landscape that will delight genre fans."
~ Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: FOG INK
• Release date: May 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781940894218

Amy Neftzger

Amy Neftzger (born June 23) is an American researcher and author who has published fiction books, non-fiction books, business articles, and peer review research. Her works have reached an international audience.Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company." She's also written "Confessions From a Moving Van" and "Leftover Shorts."In 2013, Amy released her first Young Adult book called "The Orphanage of Miracles." The sequel to this book, "The Orchard of Hope" is scheduled for release in June of 2014, and The Ferryman (adult fiction) is scheduled for release in October, 2014.

Book preview

Chapter One

Battle Scars

Shadows aren’t impossible to fight, but they do take all your attention. Kelsey was glad to have the focus, because these skirmishes kept her from thinking about the scar on her forearm and how she had gotten it. The experience had changed her, and when she thought about it too much, she doubted the change was for the better. The incident haunted her, but only when she dwelled on how it had happened. At the moment she was happy not to be thinking about anything except the battle with the shadows. War could be very therapeutic in that way.

Kelsey leaned to one side and blocked a sword thrust from the short creature attacking her. Although some people refer to ghosts as shadows, these beings were very much alive. They just didn’t have faces. They could bleed, and they died when cut with a metal sword, but no one knew exactly what they were or where they had come from. Kelsey had slain hundreds of them by now, but she’d never seen a face on any of them. If that weren’t unsettling enough, there was also the way the bodies of slain shadows sometimes disappeared after battle with no evidence of having been carried off.

Kelsey thought it was creepy the way these humanlike forms moved like people but were without distinguishing marks, features or identities. They could be anyone. Or no one. It was sometimes difficult for her to think of them as real, but they were, and so was the danger they posed. If she wasn’t careful, one of these dark creatures could easily take her life.

Kelsey sprang forward, and using both hands on her sword, she slashed an arm off the figure she was fighting. Blood poured out from the wound. As the shadow turned its head toward the missing limb, it paused just long enough for Kelsey to strike it through the heart. Then she placed her foot against the motionless body to remove her sword and immediately turned around to engage another opponent.

Another shadow came charging at her with force and knocked her backward a few steps as she blocked the attack. She swiftly regained her balance and braced herself by digging her foot into the ground, then threw her weight forward in a lunge. Her sword clashed with the shadow’s mace. When neither weapon made contact with flesh, the shadow reached up his free hand to punch Kelsey, but she managed to avoid the blow and locked the shadow into a hold with their heads close together. She could smell something foul coming from its face, and the stench came at her in puffs.

Ghosts don’t breathe, she thought as she held her breath and pushed back with all her might.

You’re afraid, the shadow hissed loudly.

Kelsey was startled for a moment because she had never heard one of them speak before, and she almost lost her grip on the creature. They didn’t have visible mouths, and yet the sound came from the shadow’s face. She was sure the horrible smell was his breath. Kelsey coughed and then tightened her hold.

I am not, she insisted. She wanted to kill him for suggesting it, but then she suddenly felt a strong wave of fear flowing from the center of her being and out into her limbs. The fear traveled like a trickle of cold water running from her heart and through her veins. She felt as if she’d been afraid all along but too busy to notice it.

Am I afraid? she wondered as she drew her brows closer together.

I can see it, the shadow replied. What do you fear?

Nothing! Kelsey snapped back at him. She felt her grip weaken slightly as she doubted her ability to maintain the hold on him.

It must be terrible to be afraid of nothing, because nothing is everywhere. You probably live in fear all the time, don’t you?

Kelsey felt her face turn hot as she quickly drew up her sword and cut the shadow’s neck open. His body went limp almost immediately once the blood started to flow out of the gash, and she dropped him. She ran a short distance to a cluster of bushes where she could hide for a moment to collect herself. She was shaking, and it was unlike her to tremble during a battle encounter.

What’s happening? she asked herself. Am I really afraid?

She looked down at the scar on her forearm. It was shaped like a flower, and the petals multiplied whenever she felt fear or doubt. There were six petals on the image now. The most she had ever seen were 12. When that happened, the image formed a complete flower.

I’m halfway to panic, she thought. How did he know? Did his suggestion that I was afraid cause my fear? Or was I already afraid when he noticed it?

She peered through the thick branches at the battle and felt the needles in the brush prickling at the skin around her eyes as she leaned into the greenery. Most of the shadows in this group weren’t terribly skilled, but there had been a lot of them – at least when the battle started. At the beginning they were equal in number with the king’s troops, but now, after several hours, the shadows were disappearing.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself while studying the motionless body of the shadow she had just slain. He was large and dressed in the nondescript brown tunic and gray loose-fitting trousers that most of his kind wore. She assumed he was a man because of his build and the deep sound of his voice, but it was difficult to tell with shadows. Kelsey reminded herself that she had defeated him despite his words about her being afraid. She slowly breathed in the warm, humid air.

Why did he speak to me? she pondered. Then she made a note to tell the general about the situation later. Everyone had assumed that the shadows weren’t capable of speech because no one had heard words come from them before. Most people didn’t believe that the creatures were human, either.

She watched one of her fellow soldiers perish and decided that she couldn’t take any more time to calm herself. She checked on her scar to see that there were only three petals now, and that would be sufficient courage for her to continue fighting.

Kelsey ran back into the thick of the battle, her energy and confidence increasing with each step. She quickly slashed another opponent to pieces and watched it bleed for a moment before turning to fight yet another. There was no time now to relish any victory or think about scars from past battles. She had to remain focused in combat with her fellow soldiers. For the next hour, she was successful, and the shadows were nearly finished. Kelsey stood back to estimate the losses on both sides so that she could report back to the king, as she did after every battle. It was part of her assignment.

This would be so much easier if they’d let us use guns, another soldier mentioned to her as she scrambled up a tall pile of rocks to get a better look at the situation. Kelsey paused long enough to catch a glimpse of the boy. He was close to her age and had long, blond hair.

Have you ever fired a gun? Kelsey asked. She didn’t bother to hide the skepticism in her voice.

No. I haven’t been issued one. No one has.

It’s nearly impossible to aim accurately while we’re under the sorcerer’s spell, Kelsey explained. We’ve wasted ammunition and destroyed some of our own troops when we’ve tried. I’ve seen how useless those weapons are in this war. It’s not worth the casualties. The sorcerer doesn’t even use them because he knows how dangerous his spell makes them. The distance between the shooter and the target causes severe distortions in reality and makes the weapons unreliable. In fact, the more you attempt to aim, the more inaccurate the trajectory becomes. It always works against you. We don’t use arrows for the same reason. The shorter the range, the more accurate the hit, but it’s not worth the risk of injury to our own troops.

Can’t we put a spell on the guns? the boy asked. Kelsey rolled her eyes as she lost count. Her face became flushed as she realized that she would have to start counting again.

What’s your name? she asked.

Eric.

Well, Eric, there are a lot of people working on this issue of fighting the sorcerer. There’s a spell on the entire land that makes this difficult for everyone. No one wants him to take over the kingdom, and while I appreciate your input, I also know that we’ve got highly trained military experts working on it.

Like you?

Kelsey felt the heat surge further down from her face and into her neck. She glanced down at the number of stripes on her uniform before responding. She had more than others her age because of her special training with the king’s army. She was the youngest officer in history.

No, she replied. People more experienced than I am. She pulled a pencil and a small tablet out of her backpack and made a rough sketch of the battlefield. She drew lines through different segments and filled in the numbers so she wouldn’t lose count again. When she finished making her notes, she stepped off the rocks and faced Eric again.

We can’t possibly create a spell that maintains accuracy in so many varied conditions, Kelsey said. It would initially work for the situation in which the spell was cast, but we can’t predict all types of weather, terrain, or other circumstances. So, ultimately, that type of spell is useless. Instead, we’re focusing our efforts on tackling the main source of the problem."

Which is?

The spell that prevents us from seeing reality clearly. If we can block the spell, we remove the source of his power.

Oh.

Kelsey turned away as she made her way up the side of a small hill. Eric followed her.

What? she snapped as she turned abruptly to face him.

I’m just trying to help, he said. His blue eyes were large and round, which made Kelsey think of him as a giant beagle.

You think you’re trying to help, but you’re preventing me from sending a report back to the castle, she retorted. This is part of my job.

Eric took a step backward and waved his hands as if erasing an invisible whiteboard between them. He moved slowly, but it still had a slightly comical appearance.

Sorry, he said. I really am.

Kelsey maintained her stoic expression as she continued up the hill. She didn’t check to see if he was still there until she glanced over her shoulder at him when she began climbing a tree.

I enlisted because I wanted to do something, he explained as his voice cracked slightly. Kelsey grinned faintly at this sign of nervousness. I can see there’s something wrong with the world, and I didn’t know what else to do. I’m not bad with a sword, but I think I could do more to help.

Kelsey paused before pulling herself up another branch. She gripped the rough tree branches firmly as she turned to look down at him.

So why are you bothering me? she asked. The general is on the other side of the field. She nodded to her left as she spoke. He’s the one in charge. He makes the assignments.

He seems to prefer talking with adults. I can’t get near him, and you know what’s going on. I don’t know your story, but I can tell that you’re connected to things. You’re given assignments and responsibilities above the rest of us, and I can see that you’ve been trained. You know more about fighting than most of us.

Kelsey turned her face away and grinned to herself.

Hold on, she said after a brief pause. Let me finish this count.

She climbed up a few more branches to where she could survey the far edge of the field more easily. The surviving soldiers were stacking the dead shadows in neat rows that looked like short, thick walls of darkness. Kelsey wondered if the shadows’ eyes were open or closed when they died. She was certain they had eyes because she saw the way they turned their heads to look around when they were fighting, but she couldn’t see any physical eyes on these faceless creatures.

Why didn’t they have faces? she wondered. Was there ever a time when they had distinguishing features? Or were they made like this?

She was fairly high up in the tree, but the branches were strong, and she had the urge to continue climbing to the top to see what else was in the area. She hoped to be able to spot more of the enemy or gain some intelligence, so she continued upward. She liked being up high. She would climb into the sky and sit on the clouds if she could.

Kelsey paused near the top of the tree to feel the wind on her face. It was warm but refreshing. She felt calmer up high because it was one of the few places she could be alone and there was so much to look at that her mind didn’t dwell on unpleasant thoughts. During the past few weeks, she’d been in close quarters with the troops, and time alone like this had become scarce. Climbing above the world was one of the few situations when she was neither thinking about her battle wounds nor creating new ones. It was precious. She took an extra moment to breathe slowly and enjoy the momentary peace. Then she opened her eyes to see a small white bird landing next to her.

Do you have a report? the bird asked.

Two hundred shadows slain, and 30 of our own, Kelsey replied in what she thought was the bird’s native tongue.

Blue pain and dirty sorrow? the bird asked as he jerked his head from side to side. What does that have to do with anything?

Kelsey took a deep breath. Her ability to communicate with birds had never been strong, but they were the king’s messengers and the fastest way to send him information. She tried again.

Two hundred opponents died. Thirty of the king’s men are also dead, she squawked.

Bone is dried. Dirty dinglings in the head? What is wrong with you? the bird asked as he took a few cautionary steps away from her on the branch. Have you been eating rotten mulberries? And why do you speak with a giraffe accent?

Kelsey took another deep breath and tried to remember everything she was taught about speaking with the birds. She knew that the pitch of her voice was just as important as the pronunciation of the sounds, and so she listened to herself carefully as she slowly formed each word in the bird’s language.

Thaaaaaank yoooooouuuuu, the bird replied in an exaggerated slow cadence of speech. Twoooooo huuuuundreeeeed eeeeeneeeemiiiees deeeeaaad. Thiiiiirteeeeee of oooouuur oooooown.

Kelsey nodded. She didn’t want to risk any additional confusion by attempting to speak again. The bird nodded in return and flew off.

Are you singing? Eric shouted from down below.

Yes, Kelsey replied. It was easier than explaining. I’ll be right down.

She paused in the upper branches and surveyed the area just beyond where they’d been fighting. She studied the patterns of the trees and watched a few travelers who were mostly lone figures carrying goods along the main road. Then she spotted a dark figure near a fire and took interest. She couldn’t see a face from so far away, but it didn’t appear to be a shadow, despite the darkness. The person was tall and cloaked. Whoever it was also wore gloves. The weather was extremely warm, and so this caught her attention. She pulled a small pair of binoculars from her belt and focused on the figure. At first she studied his face because it was so beautiful: perfectly formed features and a flawless complexion. Then she moved the binoculars to look at his hands and immediately forgot what he looked like, so she turned the glasses back to get a better look at his face again. His skin was so smooth, it appeared to glow in the reflected light. When she realized what she was doing, she forced herself to study his hands. She could tell there was something wrong about the way the memory of his face was erased as soon as she looked away. She’d been trained to notice odd circumstances like this. It was one of the ways she was taught to help discern reality in battle situations.

His beauty may be an illusion designed to distract, she thought. If he was up to no good, this sort of enchantment could prevent people from seeing what he was doing.

As she studied his hands, she felt the image of his face being pulled from her memory like a loose hair from her head. It had drifted from her almost without notice.

"Very clever," she said quietly with admiration in her voice. Very, very clever.

Kelsey resisted the urge to look at his face again and saw that he held something in his hands. After a few moments, he leaned forward and began feeding pieces of the object he was holding into the large fire in front of him. She couldn’t make out what it was that he was burning, but he was moving slowly, as if he were in no rush.

What are you up to? Kelsey thought. This odd character was cloaked and disguised but didn’t feel the need to move quickly – a bizarre combination. It piqued her interest so much that she began to move her gaze outward to study the area around him, hoping for more clues.

He had three large burlap bags that were tied securely. The bags weren’t moving, but they were large enough to contain an animal about the size of a fox. The bags were resting on the ground a few feet from the fire, and as Kelsey scanned the area, she spotted a shadow standing, watching near the bags.

A shadow! So you must be helping the sorcerer in some way, she reasoned to herself. But how? And why?

She sighed as she continued scanning with her field glasses. She couldn’t understand why anyone would be burning something out in the open and so close to where they were fighting. Were these discarded battle plans? Was the sorcerer afraid that the king was gaining on him? Kelsey smiled at the thought. She hoped that was the case.

She woke from her brief reverie as she saw the cloaked figure stirring. He first picked up a shovel and then stabbed deep into the base of the fire. He lifted a heap of ash so that the shovel was almost at his eye level. It was unusually high, and he held it there for a prolonged period. Wasn’t he worried about getting ashes in his eyes? Kelsey trained the glasses on the shovel to get a better look at the contents, but before she could focus clearly a gust of wind blew the debris from the shovel. The view through the binoculars was blurry, so she couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw letters and bits of print flying out on the breeze. It looked as if words had blown off the page of a book and gotten mangled in the air as the wind took them away. It all happened so fast. Did she imagine that? She wondered. The cloaked figure turned away from the fire to address the shadow, so she decided to look around a bit farther out for any additional clues.

She trained the binoculars on the main road and scanned out several miles. There were the usual things, such as traveling salesmen and villagers walking toward or away from town. Then she spotted movement quite a distance away, and this made her nearly forget about the strange hooded man. The army of figures looked like a small snake making its way over the roads toward them. She didn’t have to see them closely to know what they were. More shadows were moving in. They were more than two hours away by foot, but there were just as many as in the last group. Kelsey needed to warn the general, but first she studied the land between her current position and the approaching shadows. She hoped there might be a way to gain an advantage. If she could offer some strategic insight to the general on the situation, he might respect her more. So far their relationship had been civil but strained.

After making a few mental notes, she quickly but carefully crawled back down the tree and jumped from the lowest branch, landing skillfully on her feet.

I could be of use to you, Eric said energetically as they began walking together. Kelsey was taking large, swift steps toward the general’s tent. I’m from this area, and I know the land very well.

We have maps, Kelsey answered.

I also know the people and how to talk with them to get what you need. I know where to buy the bread of strength.

That’s a myth, Kelsey replied. It’s not real.

Perhaps. But if the soldiers believe the bread gives them unnatural strength, then maybe their belief is enough to make it happen.

That’s ridiculous.

Well, it seems to work, Eric said with conviction. I heard other soldiers talking about it.

It doesn’t matter. I don’t believe it, so I’m not buying it.

There are rumors that truth is buried here somewhere.

Exactly – rumors, she replied. I don’t have time to waste chasing down legends and rumors.

Well, I know the book is supposed to be buried around here somewhere. Maybe I can help you find it.

Book? she asked as she turned her head to look at him.

The book that no one can read. It’s supposed to hold the key to winning the war, or so the people around here say.

Kelsey’s mind immediately thought about the shovel of ash that looked like mangled words. Could there be a connection? She’d never witnessed anything like it before. Of course, she wasn’t certain what she’d seen, so it might not have been real, either. That was always a danger.

They’re unable to read it because they don’t understand the language? she asked.

I don’t know. I’ve never seen it.

Then how do you know it exists? So many things weren’t real. Kelsey understood the power of illusion, and she was skeptical of anything that people believed to be an easy answer.

I know the wind exists, and I haven’t seen it.

Kelsey scrunched up her eyes and shook her head. She’d heard that argument too many times, and it was used just as often to support fantasy as reality.

What exactly is inside this book that no one has seen and no one can read? she asked.

"I don’t know, but I’ve heard about it my whole life. It’s

Reviews for The War of Words

[ignolopi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like others, I had no idea this was a sequel, which is annoying but actually I thought it did ok introducing the story as if it were a standalone. But perhaps I would have felt more involved if I had read the previous installments. So, I hope others will know... THIS IS A SEQUEL.I was interested in the premise of the book, but soon frustrated by the short chapters and repetition. The chapters with the magician kids could have been axed at the beginning until the story had started a little more. As it was, it felt like the first 5 or so chapters were ALL introduction, and I couldn't wait for the actual story to start.I think a younger reader... who perhaps has read the previous books... (I believe it starts with The Orphanage of Miracles)... would enjoy this as a different kind of story. A war against shadows, where words are messed up, is a fun idea.Also I love the cover. It's a beautiful publication. (Although my review copy was missing page numbers.)(Received through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.)

[perkypup36-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this story, there is a war going on that has been brewing for what seems many, many years. The young girl at the center of this story, Kelsey, engages in the battles of the war every day...battling something referred to as shadows. She is also on a quest to find a way to end the war permanently. There are many interesting characters, like Maggie the snow leopard that can heal, or Roland as he is known which is Death. Much of the story bounces back between Kelsey on the battlefield or in her searches and a group of her friends back at the castle trying to help her in their own way in winning the war. There are kings, sorcerers, wizards, talking gargoyles and the like. Eric, one of the other soldiers, befriends Kelsey and ends up being her partner in the quest to find a book that no one has ever seen, but many have heard of...the book that no one can read.After many adventures in trying to find this book, the sought after knowledge is finally found and the remaining battle between the king and the sorcerer ensues. After the battle is won, by the good side of course, the characters all retire to the castle to discuss how they can prevent something similar happening again. The victory in this story winds up being....truth. My personal take on the moral of this story is how powerful words really are and can be. How words, rather true or false, can affect so many aspects of life and how what we all really seek is just the truth. The battle for truth. Good story line, likable characters, some action, twists and turns are all present. Some fantasy plays in. The one thing I found a little confusing, esp. in the beginning, was the bouncing from one setting and group of characters to another. It took several chapters (which aren't very long) for me to start to place which group of characters were where. Overall, I really liked the story.***I received a free preview copy of this book in exchange for my review courtesy of Library Thing***

[hrrivera44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book (ARC) as part of Early Review for my opinion. My first reactions to the book where puzzled as to what was going on. I did not get any introductions of characters, place, setting, or plot. I was in the middle of a war with no clue as to what was going on. Later we learn we are next to a non-descript forest with a military camp and town nearby. The war is raging and what I took as the main character (Kelsey) is involved in it. In another non-descript castle and later and academy (other location from the castle) a group of wizards (I presume as much) are trying to counter the effect of an evil spell cast on the land by the Sorcerer. The Sorcerer controls the opposing faction which we eventually find out and I am not sure what his motives are to be honest.There are teachable moments, funny interactions (Newton is the best), and truism peppered around the book. Nevertheless, there are also awkward moments, flat liners, and confusing moments in the book. Out of the confusing moments some are explained as you read. Others, I am still wondering about whether to chuck it to evil magic, character flaws, or simple normal happenstance.As an end note, personally I read a lot of fantasy. What is not said explicitly by the author, I tend to fill in with my own thoughts for the story to work. To me the lack of magic rules for example, like how it works, limitations, power, what you can do and not is not a stop reading scenario. Reading other reviews, I see that this is not the first book in a series (which was not mentioned or if it did, I am sorry, I missed it). That being said the book cannot stand on in its own and must be read after possibly reading the previous books. Like myself, you might find yourself missing those moments where the characters built relationships between themselves and why they work so well together in this book in fighting the opposition.

[bgnbrooks-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.I'm so conflicted about this book, so much to love, so much to grumble about.I had a tough time really getting into this book. Right away, I felt as though I'd been dropped in the middle of a series without having read the first book. Nothing was really explained, the world wasn't really fully formed, and I found it incredibly difficult to root for a heroine that was so minimally fleshed out. All I knew was she was having major issues with her wound, a flower shaped physical form of self fulfilling prophecy, and that she was a soldier. Even by the end of the book, that was all I knew about her. I kept getting character names confused and I had no idea how these people were connected other than the fact that their names were all included on the same page.I had a bit of a hard time pinpointing exactly who this book is intended for, by the middle of the book, I figured it must be a middle grade book. (At least, I hope so?) This made enjoying the novel much easier. Obviously, I expect different things from adult fantasy and middle grade fantasy.As for what I liked? I quite enjoyed the many quotable moments throughout the book. I'd include some, but as I only have the ARC of this book, I shouldn't/can't.The best thing about this book would definitely be it's message, the power of words. How words can harm, how they can be misconstrued, and the good they can do. And this might sound odd, but as I was reading this book, I kept thinking that it would sound great read aloud. At times it was poetic and others, just downright funny.Not for everyone, but worth the read.

[imagiphantaria · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for review.Unfortunately it was not indicated that this was part of a series or I wouldn't have entered to win.However it is a good story with an elaborately built world and many colorful characters. Kelsey makes a terrific lead, and there are many moments throughout which are humorous, as well as informative for young readers. There is magic, adventure, important lessons, and lots of humor.

[lessthn3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.This continuation of the Orphanage of Miracles series was absolutely delightful. I love the way the author showcases the life behind words and truth, and how both can be helpful and harmful. The world built here is fascinating, and I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this series!

[anvity-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I was very excited to win this book and couldn't wait to read it. However, I was extremely confused throughout this book. The story seems to start part way through and I felt like I was supposed to already know most of these characters and the world. It wasn't until after I finished this book that I found out that this is third book in this series. It wasn't mentioned anywhere in the book, nor on the Early Reviewer's page.I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read the previous books in this series. I did receive an advance review copy so its possible that the first edition that comes out will have something written on the cover explaining that this is not a self contained story but part of a series. I did enjoy the characters, especially Newton. Kelsey's scar was fascinating and I thought the shadows were really interesting. I will probably look for the other two books so I can fully understand the entire story.

[kristinah-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. When I first started reading this book, I was really upset because I felt like there was so many details that were being left. Once I finished the book I realized it was not the first in the series. With that being said, this was an awesome book. I loved the characters and will definitely go back and read the first installment!

[paperbackpropensity · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for review.Unfortunately it was not indicated that this was part of a series or I wouldn't have entered to win.However it is a good story with an elaborately built world and many colorful characters. Kelsey makes a terrific lead, and there are many moments throughout which are humorous, as well as informative for young readers. There is magic, adventure, important lessons, and lots of humor.

[andreablythe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kelsey is a young women (I'm not sure how young – teenager? 20-something?) playing an integral part in a war against an unnamed sorcerer, casting spells of confusion and misinterpretation into the world. In between endless battles with the sorcerer's shadows, Kelsey discovers a secret book, supposedly unreadable, that may help the kingdom win the war. She calls on her friends back at school (through scrying and bird-carried messages) for help in unraveling the mystery.There are some interesting concepts in this story, playing words, truth, and lies. But I got kind of lost from the beginning, as I kept trying to figure out what kind of world this was — a kingdom, but what kind and in what sort of an era? It almost seems generically medieval, except that there are guns (not used in battle) and the book references vaccines, which makes it seem more modern (like 1800s). Without enough sense of the world to anchor me, I couldn't quite get fully into the story — which was unfortunate. Apparently, this is the third in a series — something that is not made clear in the description and would have been good to know before I requested the book. It does make me wonder if all the things that felt glossed over in this book (like setting, world building, etc.) might have been covered previously in the first two books. It would make sense, because the development relationships between the characters — which I also couldn't get a handle on, except that their friends at some level — might have been covered in previous books as well. But I'm probably not going to go back and read to find out.