Lightfall – Shadow of the bird by Tim Probert
Rating: 
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.
In my last review, I talked a bit about the first book in this series, The Girl and the Galdurian and mentioned you’d want the second book at the ready, well, here is my review of it because I couldn’t leave you waiting.
As per the first book, the art is still wonderful, but the tone of it is slightly different, obviously, we have already met most of our main characters and gone from the nice life we used to have to a much more complicated plot and a darkness spreading across the land kinda vibe. This translates both in tones in the comic, but also in the storyline. There is growth or at least what may seem like it at first, but also a lot more conflict.
Bea has overall still her anxiety and the nerves, everything that she fears slowing her down and causing her to doubt, whereas Cad is so confident that it almost jars her and they seem to be finding points of disturbance, but in the end, this gets resolved.
What got me the most was the compassion and empathy Bea displays as the story goes and that she is willing to try to understand both sides of the story not just the one the “winners and survivors” have written, but that of those that lost. Were they genuinely evil or were they just defending their nest and home? What was the reason behind them behaving that way, and are they misunderstood or are they not?
Overall, the soothing vibe is still there but now you see a different more personal side, some more growth and empathy and compassion, things that sometimes we forget. The biases we have and the stories we are told against what the other side may be actually experiencing. It is also a way to show Cad that he may need to consider Bea has also value in her own way and he doesn’t know it all, as he sees himself as an unshakeable hero, but there is something he doesn’t know or understand and his truth may not be the full truth of how things were.
Highly recommended, and sadly the next book isn’t out yet or I would be reviewing it next, but do invest in this series as it is one I plan to re-read and enjoy!