This book was one I stumbled upon but was happy that I did. The epic tale of augurs and shadows, the gifted and their enemies, tantalizes the palate of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fans with bold flavors of adventure, magic, and mystery. This coming-of-age epic adventure delights with page-turning pulses.

James Islington does a superb job building the intricate world, its political structure, and cultural paradigms throughout the narrative by immersing the reader in puzzles that can be difficult to decipher at first glance. While the story requires a detailed perusal, it still moves at a decent pace and keeps you wanting to turn to the next page for more information. In that way, Islington truly connects his readers to the main characters as they journey toward understanding the role they play in saving their world through unprecedented events.

The novel provides just enough closure while leaving a few things open to keep you wanting to read the next installment. For lovers of fantasy in a Brandon Sanderson sort of style, The Shadow of What Was Lost is a must-read!