It just felt like her magic was always the answer, and that answer always came a little too easily. What The Shifter did so well was force Nya to make tough moral choices about how and when to use her strange magical abilities – but in Darkfall, Nya’s power is almost old hat, and though she discovers new ways to use it, it comes to the rescue with rather predictable regularity. Still, Darkfall is a solid conclusion to the Healing Wars trilogy, and a highly readable, fast paced fantasy adventure – but I just wish it had a bit more depth and emotional heft.ĭarkfall is certainly an entertaining read, as Nya sets off on another non-stop adventure, but I did find myself wistfully thinking back to The Shifter more than once.

On the one hand, I think this series is criminally underrated – but on the other, I can’t help but wish that every book in this trilogy was as good as the first ( The Shifter). Past hurts must be healed, past wrongs must be righted, and Nya must decide: Is she merely a pawn in the rebellion, a symbol of hope-or is she ready to be a hero? To save her sister, her family, and her people, Nya needs to stay ahead of the Duke’s army and find a way to build one of her own. And they are on the move, destroying anyone who gets in the way. The Duke, desperate to reclaim the throne as his own, has rallied his powerful army. Nya is guilt-ridden over leaving her sister behind and vows to find her, but with the rebellion in full swing and refugees flooding the Three Territories, she fears she never will. With Baseer in shambles and Geveg now an impenetrable military stronghold, Nya and the Underground have fled to a safer location-without Tali.

The shifter by janice hardy