"Dark Shores" by Danielle L. Jensen

This book was an unexpected gem. After the fiasco with the Otherworld audio book (see my earlier review), I checked out Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen. The story immediately pulled me in. It is a YA fantasy with a very interesting world based on the Greco-Roman civilization. The main male character Marcus is a legionnaire whose service to the Empire involves exploring and conquering new lands. The main female lead Teriana comes from the seafaring nation called Maarin. Her people are the only ones who possess the secret knowledge of how to cross the sea to Dark Shores – an area of the world where the Empire would like to extend its reach.

The book is filled with political intrigue, betrayals and manipulations. The world is expansive and complex. The characters are interesting and the story is action packed and fast moving. I really enjoyed the adventure Marcus and Teriana embark on. The book is the setup for a much larger story. There is definitely going to be a sequel and I for one cannot wait to see where the story goes.

One note on the audio book. The book alternates Teriana’s and Marcus’ points of view, and the audio book is read by two actors. The male voice was fine, but the female voice actor, especially in the beginning, sounded almost like a computer reading the text: very emotionless and with a machine like inflection. I am not sure when the next book comes out, but I will likely opt for reading it rather than listening. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book.