This book came as a recommendation through the Voracious Readers Only website, which the Book Dragon has recently joined as an avid reader and lover of books.
The Heart Casts No Shadow was received from the Author Susan Holt in an E Book format and falls in the young adult dystopian genre. The story focuses on the female protagonist Rhonwyn and her under cover mission to spy on a man who is responsible for her fathers death. Rhonwyn’s efforts to discover information to aid the mysterious Resistance, and save her people, lead her to fall in love with a young man, whom the antagonist, King Risick, keeps locked away in the palace. Her romance is however short lived as Rhonwyn is soon forced to choose between saving her love or saving her people.
The Heart Casts No Shadow is an enjoyable read, with a number of twists and turns, as it reveals the truth behind the identity of Rhonwyn’s love interest and her enemy King Risick.
The story has some strong and likeable secondary characters in Kymra, and Felenya, who Rhonwyn forms a friendship with, and her father, who appears in spirit. These characters make Rhonwyn’s time in the palace more bearable, and provide her with support and encouragement. Although the story focuses on Rhonwyn, I would have liked to learn more about the particular events that befell the character Kymra, during Rhonwyn’s, time in the palace, and as to why they happened to her. The story hinting of a significant trauma she endured. Whilst it can be left to the readers imagination as to just how horrific the events were, I do feel that it would have strengthened the darkness surrounding King Risick’s, character further, by highlighting these events within the book.
Likewise, once Rhonwyn enters the palace, it would have been interesting to know more about what was happening on the outside with the mysterious Resistance, the continuing misery and fear people were still being subjected to which in turn would have emphasised the urgent pleas from Rhonwyn’s contact for her to take immediate action.
I do love a strong female protagonist and the book does highlight Rhonwyn’s specialised skill as a strategist, but I did feel that something was missing from her character development to enable the reader to connect to her, and understand her ability to fight such a powerful man. There are hints later in the book that her ability to strategise will ultimately be of benefit to the Resistance but it isn’t apparent in this story as to how.
The ending of the book did not disappoint and suggests there is much more to come for Rhonwyn and the Resistance.
I award, the Heart Casts No Shadow, 4 Stars.
Not Available to Buy at The Book Dragon
