Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima

Alyssa ana'Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn't pay off, she could lose her queendom before she even ascends to the throne.

Across enemy lines in Arden, young rising star Captain Halston Matelon has been fighting for his king since he was a lýtling. Lately, though, he finds himself sent on ever more dangerous assignments. Between the terrifying rumors of witches and wolfish warriors to the north and his cruel king at home, Hal is caught in an impossible game of life and death.

Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series, this is a thrilling story of the unfathomable costs of war, the allure of dark magic, and two principled and conflicted characters, drawn together despite everything they stand to lose. @goodreads

MY REVIEW:

5 STARS 

Nooooooooo, cliffy! I need that next book now!



This book is so bad @assed! I'm loving all of these strong women fighters!



Lyss is the princess and heir to the Gray Wolf throne. (Hell's Yes!) But she likes fighting with her peeps which are men and women. They are all awesome fighters. And Lyss moves up to Captain, she's not a dress wearing society girl, she is in there fighting with her people.

The mages hadn't seemed to notice her yet. In fact, they seemed distracted, aiming off to one side.

Well, then, Lyss thought. "For the queen in the north!" she cried, spurring her horse forward. Behind her, she heard Sasha and Cam shouting at her, then the rattle of hooves as they followed.

The mages never saw them coming. Mincemeat crashed into the nearest mage, sending him flying. He landed flat on his back nearly under her pony's hooves. Leaning low out of the saddle, Lyss finished him with a sweep of her ax, then ducked as a mudback aimed a blow at her skull. She could feel the buzz as bolt after bolt of attack magic sizzled into her talisman. And then, blessedly, the bolts stopped coming.

The book goes back and forth through different POV's so I got confused a little bit but I got back on track. The only reason is because the chapters had titles and not that person's particular POV at that time and my little brain had to keep up with where I was at. Lol

Lyss and her crew end up fighting pretty much through the whole book. There are other things going on as well.

We get some sneak peaks of Cas and Jenna! Weeeeee, I hope only good comes out of that one.

Lyss had a crush on one of her friends she has known forever (yes, bad @ss girls can still do that) but he got married to her cousin and there was that. Lyss went on with fighting and not worrying about it. She's so cool!

Then,

Lyss and the crew capture Hal and his men and keep him prisoner, but then he becomes more than that. It's sweet and I hope something really does come of that because things weren't even looking too good on Hal's own side to begin with. What was up with all of that besides evilness!

Queen Raisa is still in the book from time to time dealing with the politics and praising her daughter, Lyss. I can't believe so long ago Queen Raisa was just a little girl herself, but I lose myself.

I love Cinda Williams Chima, she just makes and breaks my day but I love her. I love her characters so much. 

GOODREADS REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1872673821