The Shadow Wand

The Black Witch Chronicles, Book 3

By: Laurie Forest

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Her World-Altering Secret Can’t Be Hidden Much Longer

Elloren Gardner hides the most powerful secret in all Erthia - she is the Black Witch of Prophecy, and destined to triumph…or be used as the ultimate weapon of destruction.

Separated from everyone she loves, isolated and hunted, Elloren must turn to the last person she can trust - her fastmate, Commander Lukas Grey. With the Mage forces of Gardneria poised to conquer all of Erthia, Elloren has no choice but to ally with Lukas and combine their power to keep herself out of the hands of Gardnerian leader Marcus Vogel…the holder of the all-consuming Shadow Wand.

With just weeks to train to become a warrior, and no control over her magic, Elloren finds unexpected allies among those under orders to kill her. It’s time to step up. To fight back. And to forge onward through the most devastating loss yet.

Critics are raving about Laurie Forest’s incredible debut, The Black Witch:

“Forest uses a richly imagined magical world to offer an uncompromising condemnation of prejudice and injustice.” (Booklist, starred review)

“Exquisite character work, an elaborate mythology, and a spectacularly rendered universe make this a noteworthy debut, which argues passionately against fascism and xenophobia.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“This briskly paced, tightly plotted novel enacts the transformative power of education, creating engaging characters set in a rich alternative universe with a complicated history that can help us better understand our own.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Books in The Black Witch Chronicles:

The Black Witch
The Iron Flower
The Shadow Wand
The Demon Tide
Wandfasted (ebook novella)*
Light Mage (ebook novella)*

* Also available in print in The Rebel Mages anthology

©2020 Laurie Forest (P)2020 HarperAudio

4.5 star listen

I personally don’t know why there are so many one star reviews on this book! I really enjoyed it.

4.5 listen, I love the narrator they chose for this series. Julia does a fabulous job.

Yes elloren is meak for most of this book but not because that’s who she is as a character it’s because she’s not trained in anything.

I understand that there are many who don’t like love triangles. I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen with this I do enjoy both mmcs. I have a feeling there won’t be a choice and one will die.

It took me forever to listen to this one as the series isn’t complete and I hate cliffhangers. Luckily for me the demon tide is out now so I’m looking forward to that.

This series has a great world building aspect and strong and loveable secondary characters.

I liked it **(SPOILERS)**

The reviews I read for this book talked about how much they hated how Elloren was quick to believe that Yvan was dead and how whiny she was. I will agree that the whiniest was annoying but the reason why Elloren believed that Yvan was dead so easily was because Vogel is super powerful and she knows what he can do so when he said that Yvan was dead, she believed it. I thought this book was good.

excellent addition to these Chronicles

This is such a phenomenal series and this book is an excellent addition to Forest's work.

It has a lot of the passion and great descriptions of her previous novels. I love that she engages with her reader intellectually, as well.

Whelan is the perfect narrator for this novel and really opens my mind to the world that Forest writes.

They’ve done it again!

What a great ride! Thank you Laurie and Julia for taking me into the world of my favorite literary characters. Cannot wait for the next edition.

well damn...

I cant believe she tore out my heart again... amazing book and amazing characters. I need the next book right away 😭😭😭

Slap Elleran.

Least fav of the three. Narration great! Character development-Lordy, this is the third book! Elleran makes me want to slap her. Weakest character ever. Dang.

Captivating story!

This story is grounded in strong themes with unique, well developed characters. I love this series.

My favorite book in the series

this is a really well written series, the magical plots make sense and the love story is really surprising in this one

still great.

such a great story I'm sad that I have to wait several months for the 4th installment.

the only thing that I wasn't fond of was the different way this book was structured. with the jumping perspectives and people and in the very beginning I almost wasn't sure I was even reading the right book. I thought I may have somehow stumbled into one of the prequel ones or something and had to go back and check several times that I was indeed on the correct book in the series but once I I got past the prelude I figured out what was going on with the shifting story lines and stuff it made more sense.

overall though great story and lots of moments that keep you engaged and wanting to hear more. I tried to Pace myself through it but I feel like I burned through it too fast.

I've also very much enjoyrd the narrator and that she's been consistent through all of the books. she does a great job portraying all the different voices

Keeps you on your toes!

I dont understand all the hate for this book. I loved all the other povs. knowing what was going on with the others. This book was very intense. I do kinda hate how the author messed with my emotions. But that's how a good book gets ya. Don't listen to the haters, I'm ready to read the next book!