Shadows Over Kaighal By Joanna Maciejewska

Blurb:

When one’s plan to save the world includes setting a powerful demon free, one might want to consider what happens afterwards. Kamira was hoping she could just go about her life again, and that was a mistake.

To finally have a chance at freeing Veranesh, Kamira had made some risky decisions, surrendering herself to the mercy of the archmages and trusting that her companions, Veelk and Koshmarnyk, would carry out other essential parts of their plan.

In her wildest dreams she hadn’t expected that her actions would leave her with more trouble than less. Now she has a whole city on her shoulders, two demons around—one shrewder than the other, and plenty of enemies to pick from. Even with the demon invasion imminent, Gildya is fussing about Koshmarnyk’s presence in the city, the kingdom of Tivarashan is making its moves to conquer Kaighal, and Kamira would love to toss it all out for a lone journey to find out whether Veelk is still alive. But first, she will need to clean up her mess, one way or another.

The archmage is dead! Long live the archmage…! That is, if she can survive assassins, politics, and the lack of Veelk’s biting humor.

This is book 3 of Pacts Arcane and Otherwise. If you’re new to the series, check out book 1, By the Pact, instead!

Review:

This review will be relatively short because this is the third book of the series. You absolutely need to read the other two before this one - and if you have made it this far, you are likely already invested in the plot and characters. All the attributes about this series that I have been raving about in my reviews for the first and the second, do carry over in this book too. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed. 

Having said that, I think this is the book where much of the world-building we see in the first book truly begins to shine. So far this is my favorite in the series, but I have a feeling I’ll be singing a different tune once I have read the next book, which brings us to a conclusion.

The second book took a step back from the sprawling world-building that we saw in the first to focus on Kamira’s quest against the high mages. Now that that is behind us, quite a few tangents that I had been waiting for actually begin to unfold. And new, interesting players who had been sitting on the sidelines step up their game. In addition, some of the characters who hadn’t been as interesting in the first two, rise up to their full potential. 

Even though she is now at the helm of Kaighal, and a powerful ancient demon is backing her with all his might, Kamira still has an unfathomably long list of challenges before her. The demon army is all set to encroach upon Kaighal, and neighbors from all sides are ready to take advantage of the turmoil. This is a book about action, politics, and treachery—and boy does it deliver!

‘She stared at the icy corpse, trying to conjure some appropriate feelings, but the only one to manifest was relief.’

I had been eagerly waiting for the four demon protectors worshipped by Tiravashan to make an appearance, and in this book they finally do. Also, for the first time we get a good look into the inner machinations of the Gildya Magna, politics on the Tiravashan side, and the Yalari power-games. And it all comes together really well.

The western kingdom emerges as a new threat, and Ryell getting entangled with them was an interesting tangent I didn’t see coming. But it was good to see Ryell discover his backbone and Atissa evolve into a more interesting character. Veek’s timely arrival was something I did anticipate, but still it was incredibly satisfying. And Kamira and Koshmarnyk, of course, remain an amazing duo through and through—her treatment of the Tivarashan entourage was fun.

‘And if she were a woman who prided herself on higher morality, this would be the time to show her benevolence, but since the first archmage of the High Towers was foolish enough to use deception after losing a fair duel, he didn’t deserve mercy.’

My only complaint at this point is that I wish the book had a glossary or linked to a wiki. I kept forgetting the names of the minor demons and side-characters, and while the author does do a great job at linking back to the past references wherever needed most of the times, at points I did feel it would have been good to have a concise reference.

And of course, right as soon as the demons actually arrive in the city—the book ends. Yes, after that cliffhanger in the second book, I should have seen it coming. Well, I didn’t! So forward we march towards the finale.

‘There’s coin in being curious.’