Manga Maniac Cafe

4.25 stars

This was a great start to the series. The Shadow Reader is fast-paced and the action rarely lets up. McKenzie kicks ass and isn't one to wait around to be saved; she saves herself, most of the time.

When she's abducted by the rebels she's been helping the king of the fae fight for the last ten years, she has many uncomfortable realizations. Maybe she's fighting on the wrong side. Maybe the king isn't as good as she thinks. And maybe she's been pining after the king' Sword for ten, long, wasted years.

I enjoyed the world-building, and liked the rebels. Heck, I even liked Kyol, whose biggest fault was his unyielding loyalty to the king. The fight scenes were intense, McKenzie's confusion made her relatable, and the pages flew by; I had a hard time putting this down. I think fans of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series will find something to like here, and at only three volumes, it's not as much of a time investment.