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Book Review: House of Shadows by Rachel Neumeier & Giveaway (US/Canada)

August 9, 2012 by Darlene

House of Shadows by Rachel Neumeier is a mix of fantasy and magic that will delight readers of this genre. As the novel opens a merchant with eight daughters passes away unexpectedly. The girls are devastated and trying to figure out a way that they can hold on to the family business. One of the girls was to be married but now without their father it’s unlikely the boy will want to marry her unless somehow the girls can come up with a dowry for her. Ultimately they decide that at least two of them will have to be sold and it is on these two girls – Karah and Nemienne that the story focuses on.

At the time and place that this novel takes place there were places called keiso houses. These girls are groomed to be flower wives (a second wife you could say) and they are treated very well. This is the best place for the gentle Karah as she is stunningly beautiful although at seventeen already a bit old for the keiso house. However as soon as the house mother sees her, she knows she has to have Karah for her house. And while it’s true the girls are treated well by the house mother that doesn’t necessarily mean that jealousies don’t run rampant with the other girls in the house and such a pretty girl coming in the house is sure to set everyone on edge.

Nemienne however is not ugly by any means but her beauty isn’t such that would make her successful in a keiso house. She is noticed tough for her very unusual eyes and sent instead to the house of a mage in the hopes that she can become his assistant and learn magic. While Nemienne’s older sister is horrified by this and the creepy house that they find themselves in Nemienne assures her that she will be ok. Truthfully Nemienne has always felt she was different and as soon as she sets foot in the Mage’s home she knows she is in the right place and wants to stay.

As both sisters learn to get along in their new surroundings there is a war brewing behind the scene in which we have mages, sorcerers, kings, princes, and even a dragon. As that heats up both girls find themselves mysteriously being pulled into different worlds. Who can they trust other than each other? Into this scene we also meet the Mage, Taudde who was a pretty good character and Leilis from the keiso house. Leilis at one time was to be a keiso girl but something happened to prevent that but she stayed on at the house helping out. She manages to catch the eye of Taudde and gets drawn into a scene quite beyond her imagination.

House of Shadows was an okay read for me. I enjoyed it while I read it but it isn’t a story that will stick in my mind. I did like the three girls though – Karah, Nemienne, and Leilis. I think I may have enjoyed the story more had it focused a bit more on the magical element. I liked reading about the Mage and his magic or about the different doors that would appear from nowhere so I would have liked more of that. If you’re a reader of fantasy and love magic then House of Shadows is one you may enjoy!

I read House of Shadows by Rachel Neumeier for her book tour with TLC Book Tours.  Be sure to pop by and check out the other tour stops and Rachel’s website as well.  Your own copy of House of Shadows can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have one copy of House of Shadows by Rachel Neumeier up for grabs to my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, August 25/12.  Good luck!

Source: Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher via NetGalley. No compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: 2012 - 100+ Books, 2012 ARC's, 2012 Book Reviews, 2012 eBooks, NetGalley, TLC Tours

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily R. says

    August 9, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Great honest review!

    I follow via GFC – Doodle
    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/erencich/status/233574912491663360

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Doodle @ Doodle’s Book Blog

  2. anne says

    August 9, 2012 at 8:53 am

    A unique book which I would enjoy. Many thanks. I subscribe via e-mail.

  3. zibilee says

    August 9, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Oh, Dar! This was a wonderful review, and I would LOVE to read this one! It is going on my list and I am going to grab it at the end of the month. Fantastic review today! This book is focused on two things that interest me very much! I would love to be considered for your giveaway!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  4. nan says

    August 9, 2012 at 10:43 am

    I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy this story. Thanks for the giveaway.

  5. ellie says

    August 9, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    Interesting and fascinating. I am an e-mail subscriber.

  6. CassandraG says

    August 9, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    looks like an interesting read.Thanks for the giveaway
    GFC/Email subscriber
    divavixenqueen(at)gmail(dot)com

  7. Lisa Garrett says

    August 9, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. I think I would enjoy this one.

  8. Lisa Garrett says

    August 9, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    I follow via gfc and

  9. Lisa Garrett says

    August 9, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lag32583/status/233681381379678210

  10. Brenda Rupp says

    August 9, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    I’m a follower through google and through email.
    I would absolutely love to win this book!

  11. LilMissMolly says

    August 9, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    I always enjoy a good story with a bit of magic in it!
    GFC follower

  12. Lisa Palmer says

    August 9, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    I would love to enter. I follow via GFC – Lisa

  13. Kim@Time2Resd says

    August 9, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    What a beautiful cover! I’m not so surevaboutbthe book, but I’ll probably try it. Thanks for the chance to win,

  14. Kim@Time2Resd says

    August 9, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    I forget to mention..l’m a gfc follower.

  15. wendy hoffman says

    August 10, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win. I follow via email and gfc also tweeted. wendynjason04@gmail.com

  16. Staci says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:58 am

    Interesting premise but with it just being an okay book for you it’s not going on my TBR list. Can’t win them all can we?

  17. pamela james says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    This sounds interesting.
    pjames330 at aol dot com

  18. pamela james says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    gfc follower
    pjames330 at aol dot com

  19. pamela james says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    https://twitter.com/pj436/status/235156219868872705

  20. Beverly S. says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    Sounds like a good one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of House of Shadows. 🙂

  21. Beverly S. says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    I follow your blog (Google/Beverly S.) plus I tweeted. 🙂

    https://twitter.com/DesignerBev/status/235212708981649410

    Thanks for the extra entries. Looks like a good book.

  22. jennygirl says

    August 14, 2012 at 8:08 am

    This is not your usual book Darlene! Glad you tried it though, even though it was just okay.

    +2 follower

  23. tammyjackson says

    August 17, 2012 at 8:56 am

    thank you for the chance
    tammyjackson75@yahoo.com

  24. Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours says

    August 17, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks for being on the tour!

  25. Carol M says

    August 19, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    I love the cover on this book! It sounds good, too!

    I follow on GFC.

    https://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/237311970255183872

    Thank you!

  26. Suz Reads says

    August 21, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!

    klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net

  27. Suz Reads says

    August 21, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I follow you by e-mail!

    klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net

  28. Suz Reads says

    August 21, 2012 at 11:29 am

    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/SuzReads/status/237958083505168384

    klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net

  29. Maureen says

    August 24, 2012 at 8:29 am

    Please enter me.
    I follow on GFC
    tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/239006411638579200

  30. LilMissMolly says

    August 24, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Sounds great!
    lvsgund at gmail.com
    GFC follower

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