Book Release Calendar » The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington Book Review

Title: The Shadow of What Was Lost
Author: James Islington
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2017
Date of Publication: May 9, 2017
Pages: 736
ISBN-10: 0316274070
ISBN-13: 978-0316274074

Summary of The Shadow of What Was Lost

The Shadow of What Was Lost is the first book in James Islington’s The Licanius Trilogy. The story takes place in a world where those known as the Augurs, who were once considered all powerful have been overthrown. Their followers, known as the Gifted, now live in a world known where they are oppressed. The story mainly follows a young man named Davian.

At the start of the book, Davian is a student at a Gifted school at Caladel. The school is run by a council known as the Tol Athian Council and is located in a place called Andarra. Davian is struggling to use Essence, which is the magical force that Gifted individuals are expected to control. He has only three weeks left to be tested at the Trials, a mandatory test for all Gifted. If Davian is unable to wield it, then it puts him at risk of failing the Trials. Failure means being turned into a Shadow and that entails being stripped of his free will and being prevented from wielding Essence forever.

The story also follows the lives of other characters including a young man named Caeden who has lost his memory, and Davian’s two closest friends from the school, Wirr and Ashalia. The majority of the story is about Davian’s journey to uncover the truth about his powers and confront an ancient enemy threatening their world.

Main Plot & Characters

• Davian – He is the protagonist. Davian is a Gifted student at Caladel who discovers he is actually an Augur, capable of wielding the forbidden power of the Augurs.
• Ashalia “Asha” Chaedris – Davian’s childhood friend, who survives the school attack and becomes entangled in political intrigue.
• Torin “Wirr” Wirrander Andras – Another friend from Caladel, a skilled swordsman and tied to the royal line.
• Caeden (aka Tal’kammar) – Found bloodied and amnesiac in Desriel, later revealed to have a dark, ancient identity.
• Taeris Sarr – A former Gifted and rebel who rescues Davian, Wirr, and Caeden after a military ambush. He becomes a trusted ally with deep knowledge of the Tenets and Augur history.
• Ilseth Tenvar – He initiates Davian and Wirr’s journey.
• Elocien Andras – The Northwarden and secretly a patron for Augurs, also Wirr’s father. He created the tenets, which are the rules that bound the Gifted.
• Aelric & Dezia Shainwiere – Siblings in royal service; Aelric is a talented swordsman.
• Erran, Fessiricia (“Fessi”) and Kol – Augurs working within the Administrators, linked to Elocien.
• Asar Shenelac – A powerful Augur (also called Tae’shadon or “The Keeper”) who helps restore Caeden’s memories.
• Breshada – A Hunter who unexpectedly aids Davian and Wirr.
• Aarkein Devaed – The ancient Augur whose past deeds set current events in motion.
• Malshash – An ancient Augur from Davian’s visions.
• Nihim Sethi: He is known as a priest. Nihim helps Taeris Sarr’s group, including Davian, Wirr, and Caeden, by sheltering them in the temple and escorting them as they cross into the mist-shrouded Deilannis.
• Scyner: He presents himself as the Shaedrahin.
• Driscin Throll: He is a gifted elder affiliated with Tol Shen and the Sig’nari. The Sign’nari, also known as the Prefects, served the Augurs.
• Dras Lothlar: A Gifted Representative for Tol Shen. Dras plays a part in the administration and guidance of Gifted individuals.
• Princess Karaliene Andras (Karaliene): She is a cousin to Wirr, and is the Desrian princess.
• Alaris & Havran Das: Alaris is one of the Venerate, ancient Augurs, who briefly appears to Caeden, and tells him to look for Havran Das in Ilin Illan. Alaris tells Caeden that they are like brothers.
• Elder Hashrel, Elder Haemish, Elder Eilinar: Members of the Tol Athian Council (the governing body that oversees the Gifted at Caladel).
• Elder Olin, Administrator Talean, and Elder Seandra: Some of the elders from Davian’s school.
• Laiman Kardai: The king’s closest friend and trusted adviser.
• Ionis: (pronounced “Yon-iss”) is a member of the Administration. One of his main role is to enforce the Four Tenets on the Gifted in Andarra. He serves as the Administration’s second‑in‑command and is hostile toward the Gifted.

Writing Style

Islington tells the story using a narration style. He writes in a way that the focus is on developing each character over the course of the story.  The world-building in this book is absolutely fantastic and even though this is the book 1 in the The Licanius Trilogy, it really creates a new world with so many detailed places, new terms, and very memorable and extremely likeable characters.

Memorable Quotes

• “The only secrets a mind cannot give up are those it doesn’t know.”— Malshash
• “That it was worth it. It changed me. And…I am so very sorry.”— Malshash
• “The message is that Tal’Kamar is going to take Licanius to the Wells.”— Asha relaying Davian’s message to the Shaedrahin
• “Every man who holds a sword in his hands, holds murder in his heart.”— Caeden
• “Everyone has a darker nature, Caeden. Everyone. Good men fear it, and evil men embrace it. Good men are still tempted to do the wrong thing, but they resist those urges. As you did. You have nothing to worry about.”— Nihim
• “Because it strikes me that a man needs to know what he believes before he can really know who he is.”— Nihim

Final Thoughts on The Shadow of What Was Lost

The Shadow of What Was Lost is a beautiful start to James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy. It is a story that mixes some fantasy elements with character-driven storytelling. The characters in the book are so well developed and as reader you care for them and are invested in their journey. It’s one those books you read and re-read and each time you do you discover something new and connect dots that you may have missed. The book will appeal to fans of intricate plots and character-driven fantasy. It is the prequel to An Echo of Things to Come.

Rating

Have you read The Shadow of What Was Lost or is it on your list? And if you’ve read it, which scene or chapter left the biggest impression on you, and why?