The Shadow's Servant

The Shadow Magic Series, Book 2

By: Justin Swapp

Narrated by: Steve Barnes

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

If knowledge is power, then what's a secret?

A year after thwarting the Kabbahl's attempt to restore shadow magic, the impetuous Marcus Fith, denied the opportunity to help his family search for his sister, decides to take matters into his own hands. When the only meaningful clue his family has seen mysteriously shows up - a letter addressed to him... written in his own blood - Marcus escapes in order to work out the set of expiring instructions that promise to lead him to his sister.

Promises are slippery things, however. 

What follows is an adventurous tale filled with shady characters, betrayal, magical monsters, and an epic battle that is just beginning. 

If only Marcus and Ellie knew what they've started...

©2018 Justin Swapp (P)2018 Justin Swapp

Great sequel!

An outstanding book that picked up right where the first book left off. I found myself really enjoying my commute to work and sometimes I didn't want to get out of the car. There was much more action in this book compared to the first. The Shadow's Servant has an entertaining storyline and the narrator was fantastic.

Excellent Second Installment in the Series!

The Shadows Servant: The Shadow Magic Series, Book 2 written by Justin Swapp. The audiobook is narrated by Steve Barnes with a total running time of 12 hours and 2 minutes. During that time the listener is taken on an adventure with Marcus Fifth as he endeavors to save his twin sister Ellie one year after she was taken by the absent Mother Mirella. When Ellie’s guardian Ellamir; a talking cat, arrives and leaves a mysterious blank letter for him to solve to find his sister the story begins to really take shape. Marcus lets his impulsive nature lead him off on the quest to find his sister without telling his Grandparents or Aunt and Uncle.

The story truly holds the listener's attention through the entire audiobook. This was truly a story about Marcus and how who he is and the man he will become if is depending on the path he either chooses for himself or is forced by events caused by his own impulsiveness. This is also hopefully the start of his path on a hero’s journey to save his sister. The cast of new and old character is somewhat larger and their relationships complex. The main character Marcus is driven and overly focuses on his goal of saving Ellie at the expense of his own safety and those around him.

The narration by Steve Barnes was excellent. In this audio performance, he gave voice to a diverse cast of characters. Marcus was the lead, but some of the smaller characters were truly funny and memorable like Erasmus the monkey first mate. That is a character that just stands out even with a small role. Mr. Barnes did an outstanding job performing this audiobook. The production quality of this audiobook is also the highest quality. I heard no problems during the entire performance. There were not any detectable flaws that I was able to hear during the entire performance such as loops, breaks, or buzzing. The production was crisp and clear. Justin Swapp delivered an excellent audiobook production. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Good Sequel

In my review for the first book "The Magic Shop" (Good and you should check it out if your haven't yet) I stated that I wish there was more world building in it. This story had this covered.. bit I feel overcorrected and had to much of it. Didn't hurt the overall story, just an observation!

Closure

This is a good conclusion to the shadow servant storyline. But I’ve got a suspicion that Justin has left the story open for the Fifth to get into some more trouble. It was a great ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The only issue I had was that Ellamir and Ellie sounded like the same character, and it was a little annoying that Marcus learned no new magic in the year his sister was missing. And he had an uncanny luck that seemed frustrating, but maybe that’s his magic power.

amazing book

it was an amazing book my favorite part is on elemor got caught l looked it

Very good

I found this audiobook to be very good. It has a lot of action, suspense, danger and drama. The narrator does a wonderful job of bringing this back to life.

A good follow up to the first book

As a simple disclaimer: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

A good follow up with a larger scope and more character building. The story was good with a lot more visualization, more people, a few new twists and more magic. There was a lot to this one and I found it to be well evolved from the first book.

**spoilers ahead**

The overprotective family is at it again. The family's overprotective nature is irksome, but doesn't last well as Marcus escapes it yet again.

The magic system evolved only a little but the factions are better defined with new players in the game. Gunner was a good addition as he was hard to scope in. Though Marcus doesn't see, apparently, both what Gunner does for him as well as that his motives are similar to his (until the very end). And, it goes both ways. Both characters could use a little camaraderie, and I was hoping for it based on what happened to each.

I liked the darker additions and deceptions in this book. Made it more entertaining and a good move up from the more simple first book (by comparison). With this being the change, I will look for more from Justin Swapp as I love seeing a writer evolve and he definitely shows it.

A worthy sequel

This book picks up one year after The Magic Shop. With his sister missing, Marcus will do almost anything to her back, except sit and wait for the adults to do everything.

When an unexpected guest shows up his new adventure begins. The search for his sister.
This book shows what Marcus would do for family, including the hardest thing, forgiving them.

better than the first

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the new characters a lot. again, there were some good twists that slowly revealed themselves. nice read

Book two in the series

Enjoyed this book as well as book one. I would listen to other books by this author.

Narration was excellent. I would listen to this narrator again.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Better than the first one

I liked it much better than the first one. I felt it was easier to follow the story and i felt more engaged. I would like if the magic was more structured and had some rules, cause right now, to me it seems like, magic can do whatever is needed at that point and there are no restrictions. You should definitely read this one if you enjoyed the 1st.

Good sequel,brings us deeper into the magic world

It's been a couple of weeks since I listened to the Magic Shop, the first book in this series and although I remembered the just of what happened some things were spotty. I was unsure how I would slot back into the world Swapp created if there was no recap.

I need not have worried, I soon remembered who was who and where people ended up at the end of the last book.

Steve Barnes resumes narration and does a good job of the different characters, especially some of the more sinister ones, he has a good villain voice!

The magic shop wouldn't necessarily have been on my reading list but having read that I wanted to find out how things played out with the Fith kids and their family.

The book starts out a year after the last book and take maybe an hour to really get going. Once it does it is action packed. We meet quite a few new characters and some old ones too and it feels a little bit hunger games at some points.

I did notice some of the corny dialogue that got to me in the first book, but it didn't bother me quite as much as I think I was more invested in the story this time. Do me a favour though Justin change up some of the most common used phrases next book, "you owe me that much" :p

The book has several parts to it and towards the last part I was quite confused as to who was on which side and what people's motivations were, it all wraps up in the end and I still wasn't quite clear on what had just happened, so I skipped back a chapter or two just to make sure. Probably my fault for listening whilst doing other things.

All in all I liked this book better than the magic shop, with the origin story out of the way Justin was free to build on the world he created.

A solid sequel that if you enjoyed the first book you won't be disappointed in this one.

great story line

great audio book with a great team By: Justin Swapp who write it well
Narrated by: Steve Barnes who brought it to life can't wait for book 3

more magic and mayhem

we start from were we left of from the first book Marcus is trying to save his sister Ellie There's plenty of action throughoput the whole book and well worth a read

A good followup to the first

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The Book

Marcus is trying to save his sister Ellie after the events of book one, the cast of characters is good and I think the story is better than the first book. There's plenty of action and Marcus story is engaging and interesting as we see him develop as he does everything he can to save his sister. There's lots of different settings and the whole family situation develops well too as well as lots more magical things going on.

The Production

The narrator did voices well, his normal voice had an odd slightly nasal tone and occasionally a clipped kind of speech which took a bit of getting used to but once you did was ok.