Master Of Shadows - Jayne Thorne CIA Librarian Book 2, Joss Walker - ARC Review

I recently had the privilege of reading Master of Shadows, the second book in the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian series, and it was even more enjoyable than the first one.  As a self-proclaimed nerd, I love all the fandoms, and adore reading fantasy and magic novels, especially when they are done well, and this series definitely falls into that category.  I adored the first novel, and when I found out I would be able to get my hands on the second one early, I literally squealed, and did a happy dance, then pouted for a few minutes realizing I would have to wait for the craziness of school to finish so that I could devote all my mental energy on enjoying this book.  The wait was long, but well worth it.  I finally had time without children or my husband to bug me to curl up and fall back into Jayne Thorne’s world.

I devoured this novel.  It was just as captivating as the first, and the story just keeps getting more and more intriguing.  The references to so many fantasy novels and movies are still there, which is definitely one of my parts about reading this (the librarian's name! Totally made me giggle!) The writing and story flowed smoothly, and there are plenty of little twists and unexpected events to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. The characters in the story reveal more details about themselves and their backstory in this book also, which I like. It wasn’t bogged down with too much detail, but answered some questions I had after reading the first book, yet still leaving others a mystery, making me crave the rest of the story.

One thing that really stood out to me in this book was the ending.  I’m one of those annoying people that is almost always able to predict the ending of a book right after starting it.  I love everything that goes into a good story though, and reading how the author chose to get there, rather than being disappointed when I’m right.  I thought this one was going to be the same, had the ending figured out in the first 4 chapters, and then sat back and enjoyed Jayne’s journey.  Except I was COMPLETELY WRONG and the ending was something I never even  considered, and has made me even MORE excited for book 3!

Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian is a series I have proudly and excitedly recommended to all my friends, especially my nerdy ones that will appreciate them.  I only purchase physical copies of books if I really enjoy them, and have already pre-ordered my hardcover copy of Master of Shadows for my bookshelf to sit next to Tomb of the Queen.  I know I’m in a bit of a wait for book 3 to come out, but I know when it does it will not disappoint.

Posted by Book Lover: Brooke T. 

Summary:

Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian, is back for another exciting mission. When her mentor goes missing, Jayne is sent to Paris to find him, only to land in the crosshairs of a deadly terrorist organization and their diabolical weapon, a mysterious poison that renders their enemies powerless.

Fighting to combat this weakness, Jayne struggles to make peace with her sister, who has been hiding the truth of their family history for years, and overcome difficulties with her shifter boyfriend, who can't quite sync up with Jayne's new powers. Even worse, the terrorists demand she locate a necromantic grimoire in France, or they will kill her mentor.

As Jayne hunts for the grimoire, she unlocks the secret to summoning the Master of Shadows—a long-dead master magician possessing a dark and destructive magic. With this lethal power unleashed, she must protect her team from the worst magical threats they've ever faced...or suffer the deadly consequences.

About the Authors:

Joss Walker is the fantasy pen name for New York Times bestselling thriller author J.T. Ellison, where she explores her love of the fantasy genre and extraordinary women discovering their power in the world. With Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian, Joss has created a brilliant new lighthearted urban fantasy series perfect for lovers of books, libraries, romance, and of course, magic.

Master of Shadows was co-written with fantasy author R.L. Perez.

R.L. Perez is a YA fantasy romance author, perfectionist, anxious Type A worrier, and proud Hufflepuff. She's published three series: the Timecaster Chronicles, the Nightcaster Chronicles, and the Bloodcaster Chronicles—all set in the same world, featuring witches, romance, and time travel. When she's not working on her books, she's either napping, diving into a good book, obsessively watching Netflix, or playing with her two kids. She loves chocolate, loud laughter, and alternative rock music.