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This book!!!!! I have literally no words. I thought I was so smart. I thought I had some sort of clue as to what was happening. Here I was, happily reading along and rooting for my favorite hero… then BAM! My whole concept of what was happening changed on its head in the last 50 pages.
I have never been more surprised by an ending, or by what I thought I knew, than I was with this book.
Mr. Woodbury…. You have a fan for life. I will read anything you write, regardless of the genre it’s in.
Very impatiently waiting A Shadow Watching… the second book in this Banger of a series opener.
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Wow, I don’t know where to begin. This book, part 1 of a 3 part series, is simply a masterpiece. The world building and characters are reminiscent of J.R.R Tolkiens Lord of the Rings novels in the best way possible. The realism and plot of A Shroud Undone could stand against that of William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, my favorite movie and once of my favorite books. What A.M. Woodbury has done is create a world that I truly believe fans will enjoy for generations to come. If you are a fan of reading, no matter the genre, pick this book up and allow yourself to experience the world he created. I promise you’ll love it just as much as I do.
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Wow! Just, wow! I’m not sure any words will be appropriate for how great this book is! It will hook you from the very beginning and it’ll keep you in a death grip until the very end! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel when you read it because it’s so good! I have immediately ,over this author to my “if they write it , I will read it” list!! If you’re even slightly hesitant on reading it, let me tell you they this is not a genre I’d typically read and I absolutely love this story. You’re in for an absolute treat! The character development, the plot, the world building, the way the author not only captures your attention but holds onto it on every single page is amazing! This is a must read! For sure!
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Ahhhhh this book was so gooooood! I loved every minute of it and I cannot wait for the next book! The story telling was magnificent, the characters were so unique. And the magic use was something I’ve never seen before! I loved this book so much!
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Amazing story!
The prologue immediately hooked me. It’s grand in scope, cinematic, and propulsive, with a tone that feels reminiscent of Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson.
After the prologue, the story narrows its focus, following Theron in a small, forgotten village. The worldbuilding unfolds gradually, grounding us in the story before escalating in scope. What starts small builds with intention. The stakes rise, the action intensifies, and the band slowly comes together, forming a compelling ensemble. By the time we reach the climax, the story delivers on its promise, secrets are revealed, and pasts are confronted. The path forward feels exciting, new, but unclear, and full of questions.
There’s a lot that I appreciated in this book. The characters feel real in their imperfections and their journeys, especially their fight for survival, are engaging and emotionally grounded. The prose is rich, descriptive, and cinematic without losing momentum, making it easy to stay immersed in the world.
Overall, this was an incredibly satisfying read and a strong start to what promises to be an epic journey. I had a great time with it and can’t wait to dive into book two!
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I signed up for this ARC based on a friend’s high praise of the series, and I’m so glad I did!
This book is a continuation in the fantasy series from A Shroud Undone.
Book 2 picks up where Book 1 left off. The first 17% of the book gives clarity to the mysteries from Book 1. So much is explained as to why and how the world has changed after experiencing an attack from the Veydran.
In book 1, you’re told of an age old battle between the humans and the Slyphars. In this book, the stakes are higher. We learn of a greater threat that pushes each character to their limits.
The side quests of the varying characters were so entertaining, and at times unsettling. The way I devoured it
The visual imagery written by Woodbury is elite! This book was filled with epic fights comparable to the savagery in George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series. I was on the edge of my seat, and I seriously couldn’t get enough!
The twists in the final act left me speechless! The ending was so well done! The author’s note says Book 3 comes out in the autumn, and I honestly cannot wait!
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I am OBSESSED! No Notes! SIX STARS! How did I get so lucky to find this series and get to be an Advanced Copy Reader?!
I Loved Book One, A Shroud Undone. Loved it. Incredible book, truly 5 stars. If Branden Sanderson and J. R. R. Tolkien (LOTR) wrote a book together, this is that book! And somehow, this book blew that one out of the water!
This book gives so much more. More background, more character depth, more heart, more EMOTIONAL DAMAGE, more terror, more heartbreak, more sacrifice, more perfectly lined up plot twists and secrets that just absolutely blew my mind, and just all around MORE.
I thought I knew what was happening, the direction the story was taking, I was NOWHERE even close! This was so wonderfully dark and terrifying and emotional. I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat with tears welled up in my eyes. This is absolutely EVERYTHING I want in an epic fantasy and then some!
I think I highlighted half of this book (and only posted the non-spoilery ones on here) because the imagery and descriptions are haunting and amazing.
If you aren’t reading this, you are missing out. This is my Roman Empire. I will shout about this series from the rooftops forever! READ THIS SERIES! (And then message me because I wanna talk about it!)
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Love to say that this was a prime example of a sequel that surpasses book one! While a Shroud Undone explores the world, lore, and Theron’s character, A Shadow Watching takes a deep dive into the world giving the reader so much more detail and depth to sink their teeth into. A. M. Woodbury writes a really gritty, almost dark story that isn’t afraid to shy away from human emotion and determination, or to flip the readers expectations on how they thought the story would go. Thoroughly enjoyed the ‘magic’ system in play as it’s something I’ve never seen before (and that’s after 100s of fantasy books!) as well as the play on the system of gods and religion. Already can’t wait for book 3!
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This book was absolutely amazing! There is so much packed into this book. A. M. Woodbury just has a way with words!
We get descriptive world building, new characters such as the Hunter and man is he grotesque, and you really get to understand what is happening in the world, how it came to be and watch the characters navigate fixing the mistakes made. The suspense and emotional damage in this is , and the touches of horror in this dark fantasy really brought the story to a whole new level!
This series is a home run, but book 2 really exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait for book 3! Thank you for the opportunity to read this early.
Release date: 07/01/2026
Rating: 5 ️stars (6 stars really!)
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I was lucky enough to be chosen as part of a group of ARC readers to read A Shadow Watching before it’s release. I went into it very excited as I loved A Shroud Undone but was interested to see if the sequel matched the quality of the originals. Well, without giving anything away, I’m here to tell you that A.M. Woodbury’s A Shadow Watching not only matches everything I loved about A Shroud Undone but surpasses it. If you love fantasy novels with grit, determination and heart where actions have realistic consequences and every page keeps you on the edge of your seat, then this series is the one for you.