The Shadow Garden is the second installment in the Nightfall Gardens series. You can see our review for the first book, Nightfall Gardens here....

https://bookwormcoalition.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/nightfall-gardens-by-allen-Houston/

  Everything that I loved about the first book, was still present in this addition. The setting is really the most intriguing thing about this story to me! I love this dangerous, magical place that Houston has created. And I really enjoyed getting to see further into it, the Shadow Garden is a terrifying place, but I couldn't look away! In Lily traveling there we also got to see some huge character development with her. The most frightening thing about the Shadow Garden  might have been it's way of looking deep into a person's soul and using every desire, fear, hope and worry against you.

 

"Every lie, every sin, every foul or petty thought preys on a person's mind. It grows and spreads like a cancer that consumes the soul."

 

It was quite a journey Lily went through there, and I've grown to really like her, I couldn't help but to root for her to pull through and come out of this situation stronger than ever.

 

 I also enjoyed Silas's journey into the mist! We got to meet a few new friends, as well as a few new chilling adversaries. As you know so far, the night itself is something to be feared in Nightfall Gardens, and we get up close and personal with some of it's worst inhabitants in this book. I was glad to see some glimpses of hope and light amidst the seemingly all encompassing dark of the night. It was nice to be reminded that goodness has a strong power too, which is something easily forgotten in this bleak place.

 

The alternating POV's between Lily and Silas are perfect for this story. Each of them have equally interesting voices, and stories to tell. I was happy to see the character depth that I was hoping for in this addition. It was just what I wanted, and it took this story overall up a notch in my opinion, because I now feel emotionally invested in these characters and their outcomes. I really look forward to seeing what the next book, The Labyrinth, has to bring!

 

       I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

3.5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received my copy of this book from the author in return for a review.

I didn’t know anything about this book when I received it, and I was quite please with the pace and action. Jon Rider is a former soldier turned bounty hunter for Space Force, and he is the best in the business. He was tracking down the slippery Max Decker when he gets called off the case to help save Earth and possibly the entire solar system.

Rider and two others are sent out to infiltrate a terrorist organization and try to get their hands on a weapon of mass destruction. All of them are the best at their trades and each one brings a past that they must come to terms with to accomplish the mission. They head out with the best ship and unlimited resources to promptly start a few international (galactic?) incidents, do some spying, save some slaves, and maybe complete their intended mission.

Overall, I enjoyed to story and I look forward to the next installment. My only concerns are with character development and editing. The characters do come across a little under developed, the story does make up for this but I found myself thinking that they were a predictable. The book is in need of an editor. I found myself getting tripped up over a lack of punctuation a few times. I would have rated it higher if the editing had been better.

I recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good, fast-paced, action story.

I read the first collection and really liked it.  I was given the second collection by the author for an r2r and LOVED it.  I've been looking forward to reading this - the NEED to find out what happens - but, as often happens with life, I kept having to put off sitting down with it.  When I found out that collection 4 will be out (like SOON!), I decided I needed to find the time.

I'm glad I did.  What a great story this has turned into.  The garden, light, dark, the forbidden fruit, the serpent, the tree of life ... everything is coming together nicely and we're starting to see where the story is going.  That, plus a couple of appearances by the Man with No Eyes, an angel, some little creatures Tib isn't quite sure of and, as usual with fathers, the unanswered questions ... I can't wait to see what happens next. :)

This is easily my favorite part of the collections thus far. Collection 3 takes us to the Center, a pseudo-Christian-based Garden of Eden (complete with snake and forbidden fruit). The descriptions that hooked me in the first chapter finally make a comeback, truly breathing life and energy onto the page, and all of the emotional distance is closed, with Tib and Michael expressing their regrets and anger about a lost relationship. There is also a whole lot more of the story to read in this collection, which made it far more satisfying than previous collections.

The depictions of angels were also truly awesome. The Man with No Eyes and the Watcher return, in less antagonistic ways. The Man with No Eyes remains more "cartoony" than his initial appearance led me to believe, but as a YA villain, he's interesting enough.

The additional story, "A Nightmare Named Ricky", by Rusty Carl, is an interesting addition, but for the first time, I definitely enjoyed the "main dish" more than the bonus short. That isn't to say that "A Nghtmare Named Ricky" isn't good; I enjoyed it immensely, though the greasy, oily feeling that comes with a demented child story (think "The Good Son") is sort of hard to shake off.

All in all, a great part of the collection. I'm looking forward to Collection 4.

Braden McElroy has a wonderful gift of storytelling. His writing style reminds me a bit of C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll and George MacDonald all wrapped up in one - but still with a flair of his own uniqueness, which creates a captivating and enchanting tale. His story is heart-touching and has a wonderful lesson about loss and grief. The main character, Luna is a child who has suffered a loss and is a totally endearing character. She is a very dimensional and someone that every child (as well as adult) will be able to identify and connect with.

Although written as a child's story, this is a tale that all ages will appreciate. Even though it's geared to those that can read chapter books, don't over look it for the younger child. I suggest considering this as read-aloud story for the whole family, as the detail and imagery will captivate all, and Luna's adventure could create some great discussions - especially if you are having a hard time helping a child with dealing with the loss of a loved one.

I loved "The Shadow in the Garden" and look forward to seeing more from Mr. McElroy in the future.

I received a complimentary copy for review. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.