Lori M. Lee

The sequel to the hotly-anticipated Forest of Souls, an immersive fantasy, blending western-style tropes with Hmong cultural influences. Perfect for fans of Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas. The Soulless has woken from his hundred-year slumber, and now lurks in the Deadwood, recovering his power. Which has somehow infected Sirscha. It burns inside her and warps her lightwending. She fears the destructive ability of her Calling. But while Soulless is formidable, he’s still a shaman, which means his power must be channeled through a familiar. If Sirscha can discover what—or who—that is via their connection, she might be able to cut him off from his power before he returns to full strength. Meanwhile, Sirscha and her allies journey west to the shaman empire of Nuval to treat with the Ember Princess. They hope to rally the people into uniting against their common enemy, but that’s easier said than done. Queen Meilyr is pursuing her imperialistic agenda, and she claims to hold a token that gives her power even over the Soulless.

Broken Web

Liz Griffin

Moonchild

Thank you to Netgalley the Publishers, Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA, and the author Lori M. Lee for allowing me to review this book. Which, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.

Broken Web is the Second Installment of the Shamanborn Series by Lori M. Lee. It picks up where the last book left off, this book delves deeper into the richly imagined world of shamans, spirits, and dark magic, delivering a spellbinding narrative that captivates from start to finish.

One of the most striking elements of the author's writing is her skillful use of banter. The interactions between the characters crackle with wit and humor, providing moments of levity amidst the escalating tension of the plot. Whether it's the playful exchanges between the protagonist and their companions or the sharp repartee between rivals, the banter adds depth to the relationships and makes the characters feel vibrant and real.

At the heart of this installment lies a compelling fantasy premise that explores themes of power, identity, and sacrifice. Lee deftly navigates the complexities of her magical system, seamlessly blending traditional shamanistic practices with her own imaginative twists. The result is a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly original, where the line between the mundane and the supernatural is constantly blurred.

Our Characters:

Sirscha is the determined protagonist of the story, discovering her unique connection to the spirit world. Brave and fiercely loyal, she defies conventions to uncover the truth about her abilities, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. In the second book, Sirscha's character evolves further as she faces new challenges, deepening her understanding of her abilities and navigating the complexities of her world with courage and resilience.

Saengo, Sirscha's devoted best friend and fellow soldier, is characterized by her sharp wit, skilled fighting abilities, and unwavering loyalty. Throughout their journey, Saengo stands by Sirscha through thick and thin, providing unwavering support and friendship. In the second book, Saengo's character evolves as she confronts her own ambitions and fears, expanding beyond her role as a supporter to become a formidable force in her own right.

Theyen is a mysterious and powerful shaman with a troubled past, serving as an unlikely ally to Sirscha in her journey of mastering her abilities. His enigmatic nature adds intrigue to the narrative as he offers guidance and mentorship to Sirscha. In the second book, Theyen's complexities deepen as his past and motivations are further explored, shaping Sirscha's journey in unexpected ways.

Prince Meile is a significant figure in the "Forest of Souls" series, introduced as a character with a royal lineage and complex motivations. In the first book, his actions and interactions with other characters shape the narrative, hinting at hidden depths beneath his princely facade. As the series progresses into the second book, Meile's character undergoes further development, adding depth and intrigue to the storyline while remaining integral to the overarching plot.

The prose is lush and evocative, painting vivid images of sprawling landscapes, eerie spirit realms, and bustling city streets. Her descriptive language pulls readers into the story, immersing them in a world brimming with wonder and danger. From heart-pounding action sequences to quiet moments of introspection, every scene is crafted with precision and care, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Greatly enjoyable, with found family themes and a fast pace!! If you like Shadow & Bone, highly recommend this series!

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Broken Web

Author: Lori M. Lee

Book Series: Shamanborn Book 2

Diversity: Asian inspired epic fantasy and characters

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Young adult readers, fantasy, epic fantasy, Asian inspired

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: June 15, 2021

Publisher: Page Street Kids

Pages: 374

Recommended Age: 14+ (1
Violence, Death, Gore, Mass Genocide)

Explanation of CWs: Lots of fighting and gore. The book also has a lot of death, especially since it's a pivotal plot point of the book. There is also a mass genocide mentioned throughout the book about a certain group of people.

Synopsis: The Soulless has woken from his centuries-long imprisonment. Now, he lurks in the Dead Wood recovering his strength, while Sirscha and her allies journey east to the shaman empire of Nuvalyn. Everyone believes she is a soulguide—a savior—but Sirscha knows the truth. She’s a monster, a soulrender like the Soulless, and if anyone discovers the truth, she’ll be executed.

But there’s nothing Sirscha won’t risk to stop the shaman responsible for the rot that’s killing her best friend. While the Soulless is formidable, like all shamans, his magic must be channeled through a familiar. If Sirscha can discover what—or who—that is, she might be able to cut him off from his power.

With Queen Meilyr bent on destroying the magical kingdoms, Sirscha finds herself caught between a war brewing in the east and the Soulless waiting in the west. She should be trying to unite what peoples she can to face their common enemies, but instead, her hunt for clues about the Soulless leads to a grim discovery, forcing Sirscha to question who her enemies really are.

Review: For the most part this was a very enjoyable sequel to Forest of Souls and I can't wait for the third book. I loved the world building and the character development. The characters were also well written, each sounding different and distinct. I also loved the writing and if you're looking for an epic YA fantasy series, this is it!

The issues I had with this book is that the book immediately jumps into the story, straight from book 1. Normally, this would be awesome if you were reading them back to back, but it was a bit confusing for me until I started remembering everything. I also felt like the pacing was wonky, it was fast and slow, and I felt like the battle scenes were a little confusing.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Leelynn Brady

Full review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Lori M. Lee and Page Street for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

As you may have seen from my review of Forest of Souls, I already loved this story to begin with. I knew I was going to like the rest of the trilogy, and I wasn’t wrong. If anything, I may have loved Broken Web more!

The aftermath of the final few chapters of Forest of Souls finds Sirscha and Saengo traveling to the Empire of Nuvalyn with some escorts, since everyone believes that she is a soulguide – a kind of lightwender that hasn’t been seen since the founder of the Empire. According to prophecy, a soulguide is supposed to save the world from the Soulless and the Dark Wood, that threatens to expand and take over the lands of Thiy. Nobody would be safe if this happened, and yet until now there has been no way of completely destroying the Soulless. Sure, Ronin the Spider King may have kept the Dead Wood at bay for centuries, but… yeah that’s not happening anymore.

The relationship between Sirscha and Saengo also starts to change a bit, with Sirscha feeling even more guilt about what she did to Saengo and her future. Their loyalty for one another is strong to a fault, and never once has this been in question between them. But will that stick now that their dynamics changed from partners to shaman-familiar? With disturbing messages getting into Sirscha’s mind, doubt ends up clouding her judgement and it’s only a matter of time before these thoughts come to light. For better or for worse, these two have each others backs… for now. I personally don’t see their relationship turning sour because of how tight-knitted they have been from the beginning. From the way that Lee shows us their bond after going through some of the worst things in the world for them, to me there’s just no way that their bond is going to weaken. That’s just me though, me being hopeful that this bond sticks together no matter what.


EDIT: Oh wow I feel like I wrote that review super quickly. Full review will be posted on my blog (parts will be posted on Goodreads) at 9am EST on my birthday, June 11th, 2021. 

OMGGGGGGGGG

RTC BUT HOLY SHIT! I’m shooketh

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

A worthy sequel to one of my favourite books of 2020.
Filled with intrigue, politics, magic, found family, twists and turns, betrayals, banter, big dog/horse/dragon sidekicks, and cliffhangers.
Can’t wait to read the final book. 

Thank you to Page Street and Netgalley for the eARC.

Ashlee Kritenbrink

The sequel to the hotly-anticipated Forest of Souls, an epic and immersive tale of destiny and sisterhood. Perfect for fans of Susan Dennard, Sara J. Maas, and Netflix’s The Witcher! The Soulless has woken from his hundred-year imprisonment. Now, he lurks in the Dead Wood recovering his power, while Sirscha and her allies journey west to the shaman empire of Nuvalyn. The whole world believes Sirscha is a soulguide—a savior—but Sirscha knows the truth. She’s a monster, a soulrender, just like the Soulless, and if anyone discovers the truth, she’ll be executed. There’s nothing Sirscha won’t risk to stop the Soulless, since his magic created the rot that’s killing her best friend. While the Soulless is formidable, he’s still a shaman, which means his power must be channeled through a familiar. If Sirscha can discover what—or who—that is, she might be able to cut him off from his power. But that's easier said than done with Queen Meilyr pursuing her imperialistic agenda. Sirscha finds herself caught between a war brewing in the north and the Soulless in the south. She should be uniting who she can to face their common enemies, but instead, Sirscha's hunt for clues about the Soulless leads to a grim discovery, forcing her to question who her enemies really are.

Broken Web

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