A Game of Shadows

The Hands of Time, Book 4

By: Irina Shapiro

Narrated by: Fiona Small

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s 1624, and the Whitfields finally arrive in England. Eager to spend time with Louisa and Kit, their visit is not the happy reunion they’d hoped for.

In the meantime, in 1777, Abbie and Finn go behind enemy lines to spy for the revolution, putting themselves in grave danger. The slightest mistake can mean the difference between life and death, tearing them apart forever. Even Finn’s knowledge of what’s to come is not enough to keep them safe from their own carelessness.

Unexpected revelations, long-buried secrets, and unforeseen reunions threaten to destroy everything the Whitfields and Sheridans hold dear, throwing their lives into turmoil once again.

©2020 Merlin Press LLC (P)2020 Irina Shapiro

Intrigue and complex situations to snatch the attention!

As always Irina Shapiro grabs your attention from the first paragraph and won’t let go until you complete the story. She continues to weave the intricate tales of families in two time periods, intertwining the relationships and ties that holds everyone together. This story does a great job of giving you a peek into the complexities of the royal court of England and the revolutionary war in the colonies. Highly recommend. Not as fond of the particular narrator of the story as I am of others, but it does not diminish the story

Good story mixed in with dome historical events

Good story with some historical events mixed in with love, treachery, rescues, family, suspense, lust.

Can’t get enough 🎉😘😍🎧

I started with book one and each book gets better. It has been a while since I have found something this good. Anna

Couldn’t stop listening!

This by far is my favorite one of the series. I couldn’t stop listening! Ms Shapiro has out done herself on this one.

Addicted!

I can’t wait for the next book! Love this series! It’s riveting and keeps me coming back for more!

my New Favorite

I Loved this series! I want more and more! captivating funny so interesting time travel adventures

Love the storyline

The only thing that could make this series better would be a different narrator. It doesn’t change my opinion of the book however.

Disturbing Sexual Grooming

I realize there is a great deal of Outlander-cachè in graphic rape scenes, particularly of the beloved male main character. But the male rape in this book, though not violent, is more psychologically disturbing because it isn't a one time violation - its a perversely long lasting affair, beginning with secret grooming and coercion, and ending with the twisted Stockholm Syndrome-esque nostalgia of the married victim. Its a mind-f* and betrayal worthy of GOT or Outlander, but NOT why I read Shapiro.

I've listened to 3 full series by Shapiro and this is out of character for her. Was it her publisher's doing? IDK, but if I'd known I never would have purchased it.

Who is writing these reviews?

I started this series after finishing all the other Shapiro titles available. Some are better than others, and some are really enjoyable. Her books are easy reads with typically good story lines, character, and plot development. This series has none of that. The stories are rushed and feel like first drafts that never quite made it through the editing process. The characters don’t feel fully developed or 3 dimensional. I don’t care about any of them. The plot holes are innumerable and she seems to be borrowing too heavily on other better known time travel epics, with much poorer results. The narrator is downright BAD- who cast her? She lacks the ability to differentiate her characters trough any type of voice acting and doesn’t have any form of passable English accent. The sound editing is awful, with sentences edited too closely together but chapter breaks so long you think your decide has stopped working.
But for me the killer of the series is when one of the main characters forces non-consensual anal on his partner after she clearly says “no”. No means no even in marriage, but Shapiro writes it with the wife left quivering in ecstasy after she’s basically abused by her husband. Just… no.
Returned the book, and won’t be wasting my money in anymore. Sometimes boredom is better than being made more stupid by our entertainment.