Book Review: Break of Darkness by Ryanne Glenn

Below is my Goodread book review of Break of Darkness by Ryanne Glenn and her biography and contact information.

Break of Darkness by Ryanne Glenn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Break of Darkness by Ryanne Glenn is the final, most compelling book in the Descent of Shadows epic fantasy series that has followed the journey of Anna, a young general battling shadowy creatures known as wraiths. In the third book, survivors from the sanctuary city that King Ramiere destroyed are in the depths of despair. Disheartened by the devastation, Anna escapes to a foreign land, hoping to erase her memories of the ravages of relentless war with the wraiths. Her regiment is in disarray and struggling to survive the continuing wraith onslaught. Anna seeks insight from her ancestral past to help her overcome the dark magic of King Ramiere. However, the light Anna finds also has shades of darkness that she must embrace to defeat him before he destroys the human race. Not only is the tale about battles between sworn enemies, but it is also about Anna’s inner struggle to accept herself and to unify her troops to do the impossible—overcome King Ramiere.

The final book has a heart-wrenching but satisfying ending to the series. Author Ryanne Glenn has masterfully written an epic journey of a young woman struggling to find herself and to regain loyalty from her soldiers who believe she had abandoned them. It is a multi-layered tale that explores human frailties and friendships which can forge during times of despair. The three-dimensional characters are engaging, particularly the eighteen-year-old heroine, Anna, who must come to terms with her darker side. King Ramiere is a complex villain with a diabolical plan to destroy humans so he can save his wraiths from the destructive forces of light. The book is rich in detail, setting the mood, and has a heart-throbbing climax that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I highly recommend the series to both teens and adults. Break of Darkness realistically depicts the consequences of war on the souls of individuals, but it is also a morality tale of how friendship is the ultimate victor in times of despair.

About Ryanne Glenn

R‌yanne Glenn is a member of the Northern Colorado Writers in Fort Collins, CO, where she attends Colorado State University. She is pursuing a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. She loves to golf, though after playing for twelve years, her handicap should be much lower than it is. Between writing and classes, she often visits her hometown of Fruita, Colorado, to spend time with her family and two dogs, Coco and Pebbles.

Ryanne started writing short stories when she was ten and was first published in Fruita’s local newspaper. She took her first creative writing class in high school and was inspired to expand her writing into poetry and longer stories. After struggling with depression in her first year at college, she turned back to writing as a healthy outlet for her emotions. She wants to write strong female role models and is excited to share her stories with the world.

You can purchase Break of Darkness by clicking on the following:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Atthis Arts, LLC

You can contact Ryanne Glenn by clicking on the following:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
BookBub

 

View all my reviews

Book Review Left Horse Black by S. J. Reisner

Left Horse Black by S.J. Reisner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Left Horse Black by S. J. Reisner is an epic sword and sorcery fantasy that interweaves the story lines of various characters from different kingdoms in the West Ocean Mainlands. The tale begins when a sheltered young prince escapes with his cousin to get reinforcements from Danaria to help counter a sinister threat from of a foreign prince who is betrothed to the king’s daughter. Meanwhile, a rebellious Fifth-Gens warrior-sorceress from Danaria is drawn into battle against the nomadic Kersian foes who have kidnapped one of their warlord’s daughters as a sacrifice to the “no name” god. Unbeknownst to them all, zealot Kersian sorcerers are plotting behind the scenes to usurp the thrones of human-ruled kingdoms so they can build a massive army to destroy the Danaria sorcerer bloodline in an attempt to save their own. The destinies of the troubled prince and the inept Danaria sorceress finally join in the labyrinthine plot. Hold on to your seats to the climax. Armed with nothing more than meager weapons and with the help of their friends and instinct, these unlikely heroes are the last hope to stop the Kersian sorcerers.

S. J. Reisner has masterfully weaved together a complex epic fantasy with engaging characters and unique world-building. This fast-paced tale challenges the reader to keep track of the various characters and plot lines. However, in the end, the various subplots tie together for a satisfying and heart-wrenching climax. Author Reisner masterfully brings the myriad of characters to life on the page. These are flawed, three-dimensional characters with distinct attributes and motivations, including the villains. My favorite character is Tnasha fen Schoitt, the rebellious Danaria sorceress who must learn to use her powers which she originally rejects. It is fun seeing her fumble as she learns how to use these powers as a weapon against the Kersian sorceresses.

I highly recommend Left Horse Black for readers who enjoy a complex, fast-paced fantasy with a myriad of engaging characters, including strong female protagonists.

View all my reviews