Shadows of Aizai

The Soul Wanderers YA Fantasy, Book 2

By: Mary-Jean Harris

Narrated by: Austin Vanfleet

Wolfdon Pellegrin and Toulouse Saloman, two 18-year-old boys living in 17th-century Spain, have recently discovered they are to become founders of a future paradise called Aizai. It will be created by the Magicians, who form a secret society scattered throughout the world. However, they are threatened by dark magicians called the Magi, who have for many ages been impeding the Magicians’ success.

While Toulouse is initiated into an order of Magicians and must learn from a spirit-commanding sorceress and a misanthropic Magician, Wolfdon is trapped in the Middle Ages by the haughty son of a great Magician and must find a way to return to the present. Yet what he finds in the past may have great bearings on the formation of Aizai itself. As the shadow world of the Magi encroaches upon them, Wolfdon and Toulouse must discover the remaining founders of Aizai and its magic before it is too late.

©2018 Muse it Up Publishing (P)2019 Mary-Jean Harris

Loving it!

Wolfdon and Toulouse embarks in another adventure to get to Aizai and fighting the dark forces that are keeping them from reaching their goal. Mary-Jean Harris twists and turns in this adventure will keep you reading or listening to it to the bitter end and waiting for the next book to see the these teenagers finally gets Aizai! If you are a fan of fantasy novels this one is for you!

So enjoyable

Like book one book 2 is just so enjoyable to listen to. I'm really loving listening to these books by Mary-Jean I was so into this audio I didn't even notice the time passing by. Wolfdon Pellegrin and Toulouse Saloman are just great characters and I love the twists that goes on.

Shadows of Aizai

I have to say that Mary-Jean Harris has an amazing writing talent. The details that go into the descriptions and how she intertwines the storylines together are all so wonderful. It makes you feel like you're part of the story.
I had the honor of listening to Book 1 that caught my attention right away, this book for some reason didn't catch it as well as the first but it was still a very fascinating listen.
I enjoyed it immensely and am very interested in continuing to listen to the quest to form Aizai.

Very good. Wanted more.

** I recieved a free copy of this book for review purposes, my review is voluntary and unbiased. **

* I did not read the first book. so this review stand solely on the merits of this book and not the series as a whole.

First I'll say I didn't feel like I was missing much from the first book. There were a few references to things that happened in book one, but the context is clear and you can easily infer the salient information. The only things that could have used a more thorough explanation towards the beginning are "what and why is a word warrior" and "what a wert is and why it's important?" So I'll answer that here.

Word Warriors are adventurers who specialize in retrieving books and lost lore, far as I can tell they are half thief, half archeologist. They steal secret books copy, the information and return them if possible, and the go searching in ancient ruins for lost histories and stuff.

A wert is a wizards staff apparantly most magic users need them to control their magic, they can do simple things without them but the wert seems to be pretty important.

Okay all caught up.

So this is a pretty good fantasy novel there's some time travel, a large cast, multiple smaller quests going on in the shadow of a big quest. This feels like an epic fantasy series where the actions of the MCs are literally going to reshape the universe when they are done. For all that it is fairly basic, there's a dark magic that is corrupting and sinister forces with shadowy evil intentions muwahaha.

The ensemble caste is entirely made up of chosen ones each has a special power that isn't replicable by others. there is a variety of different magics though the differences aren't made exceptionally clear.

The characters are mostly likable, they have some good drama and the adventure moves at fair pace throughout.

There were surprisingly few issues to take with it. It was a solid enjoyable listen and I will pick up the next one even if I don't get a review copy.

Shadows of Aizai

I have to mention that I have not read/listened to the first book but I did not feel I was missing anything.
This book felt more like an epic fantasy not what I was expecting but I still liked it.
The book is predictable however, it is well written and I found that I enjoyed listening to it.

The Saga Continues

The founders of Aizai continue on their paths of enlightenment. The book slows down a bit, the characteristic 2nd book slump but does continue to whet our appetite for when all the pieces of the puzzle will come together. Waiting for the 3rd installment! I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion in a written review.

This is a unique idea

I typically don't read fantasy because even though I love to get into the heads of other people, sometimes it seems like it's too much for my own simple brain to handle or wrap my mind around (all the new worlds, new "things," new creatures, etc.). But on occasion when I'm in the mood for something different from what I usually read/listen to, I'll go with fantasy. Needless to say, I listened to book 1 last year and enjoyed it because it was so different.

I love the narrator and his accent; he did an awesome job. I'd definitely listen to him again.

I love the idea of books being a garden of leather and ink; that was unique and fits the idea of books perfectly.

The way this story started with the little spider on his web was cute. That caught my attention. Thankfully, unlike a lot of fantasy stories, I was able to follow along with the characters. I think this book was more in-depth when compared to the first; I guess because there was less traveling. Overall this was a good story and I'm definitely interested in what's going to happen to Wolfton, Toulouse, and how they manage to create a new world.

The most questioning part of the story (for me):

Chapter 18, the end of 14:01, Wolfdon and Toulouse are talking in the shadow realm. Wolfdon asks if Tulouse can hear him; he responds saying that he can hear and see Wolfdon. Wolfdon tells Tuloise that shadow creatures are after him. Spirits end up surrounding Toulouse right after as he tells Wolfdon that he's in Baltana(?) and magicians are missing. He asks if Wolfdon can get back. Toulouse ends up losing his connection with Wolfdon.

Then in chapter 19, around 13:46, this conversations starts again, except this time instead of being surrounded by spirits and losing his connection with Wolfdon, Wolfdon is the one to lose the connection and gets distracted by hoofbeats that he hears in the distance. I'm not sure what was going on with this. At first, I thought the author was changing perspectives or something, but given the amount of time between these occurrences, that wouldn't make sense.

another beautifully written story

I absolutely adore this author's writing style and the narrator does a beautiful job bringing the world to life. It was very hard for me to put it on pause to go about my life and job. I can't wait to see what adventures unfold for the founders in the continuation of their stories.

I have been given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Great Second Book - More Mystery & Intrigue

I loved the first book in this series, so when I was asked if I'd like to read (listen to) the second for an honest review, I jumped at the chance!
It started off a bit slow and I'm still a bit unsure about the narrator's accent sometimes, but once it got going, the mystery and intrigue of this fantasy world swept me up and I couldn't put it down. I love the way the author uses just enough of myth, religion, history, to create a connection to the world we know (or maybe we just think we know!).
This second book in the Aizai series has all the necessary bits for a great story - revenge, secrecy, evil ones, romance, ones who you can't quite figure if they're evil or not...conflict, magic, far off lands and familiar places
I highly recommend this series and am so looking forward to the next in the series

unbelievable

this continuing story is simply unbelievably good!
Props to the narrator too, I really like this guy!