*All quotes come from the ARC and are subject to change*

Overall: 4/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Burning Shadow is a fun read and a great sequel. It’s length definitely makes up for how long I was dying to read it, but it does drag a little bit.

“There are people out there who are so controlled by their hate and their fear that they will not think twice before harming someone in the name of whatever they believe in. Even people you thought you knew.”

Yeah this one hits too close to home

[ Related: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC Review) ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Gun Violence, Mature Content, Murder, Illness, Xenophobia //

Release Date: 10/8/2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Page Count: 649
Premise:

The Burning Shadow is the sequel to The Darkest Star. After the revelations of the first book, Evie must come to terms with everything she has learned, and piece together the missing pieces of her memory. Meanwhile, a new virus is spreading to humans and people believe it’s linked to the luxen. With panic spreading, peace between luxens and humans seems harder and harder to maintain.

”All I wanted to do is eat a damn grilled cheese sandwich, eat some freaking soup, and be normal for five seconds…”

( me )

Read more for all of my thoughts on The Burning Shadow!

Writing & Setting

This book’s writing style is classic Jennifer L. Armentrout. It’s quirky, funny, lighthearted, yet unafraid to tap into darker subjects. Speaking of which, there’s more of a focus on the darker/more serious themes that were hinted at in The Darkest Star that take center stage in The Burning Shadow. The political aspect is a much bigger part of this book than it was in the first, and while sometimes it was a little too much, for the most part it was really interesting and scarily realistic. And, of course, there was just as much entertaining banter and fun quips. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s sense of humor just fills me with joy each time I read one of her books.

Plot

So, I already talked about some of the themes in this book, which really is the majority of the plot. The Burning Shadow is a long book, and while there is definitely a lot happening, there is also a lot of emphasis on character relationships. Because of that, the book can feel a little slow, especially in the beginning. That said, it definitely picks up, and there’s plenty of action and plot twists to look forward to!

Characters

We all know I adore Jennifer L. Armentrout’s characters. They’re relatable, fun, and witty. I feel like every one of her main couples has completely mastered the art of bantering. This book brings in more insights into both Luc and Evie’s characters. I love that the major revelations of The Darkest Star aren’t just brushed aside, and Evie spends a lot of time coming to terms with what she has learned. There are no quick-fixes here. This book also fleshes out almost all of the side characters really well. Zoe and April spend more time in the spotlight, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Both of them were characters we knew a little about (enough to hate or like), but this book takes it to the next level. Luc also gets fleshed out more. I don’t know- sometimes I would get a little bored of him and he would become a bit predictable, but then he would say something I didn’t expect and I’d be back to loving him. Also, I loved the evolution of Luc and Evie’s relationship. While some aspects were a little predictable, it was so adorable that it didn’t matter.

“Death was a constant companion, with or without dangerous aliens.”

[ Related: Currently Reading: The Burning Shadow ARC by Jennifer L. Armentrout ]

Conclusion

Pros- The political themes were interesting, the characters are just as amazing as always
Cons- This book is veeerrryyyy looonnnggg (and therefore a little slow at times)
Overall- 4/5 stars.
The Burning Shadow is a fun book, but can feel a bit like a commitment. That said, I’m dying for the sequel, and to see where all of this is going!

If You Liked The Burning Shadow, I’d Recommend:

• Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – [ Review ]
• Alienated (Alienated #1) by Melissa Landers

Are you excited for The Burning Shadow?
What’s your favorite Jennifer L. Armentrout book/series?

She has so many books out and its so hard to pick a favorite. I think I’d choose either the Lux series or The Dark Elements.

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