THE SHARPEST BLADE picks up from the previous books of the Shadow Reader series in an almost serial fashion. After King Atroth has been overthrown by the rebel Fae forces; Lena is installed as the Queen of the Fae. She does not have the support of all the nobles however, so her hold on the throne is shaky at best. After the events leading up to being forced into a life-bond with the Fae warrior Kyol; human shadow reader Mckenzie Lewis retreats back to the human plane to mourn the loss of her true love Aren. Although the Fae rebel still loves her desperately; Aren is not willing to come between the mate bond McKenzie now shares with Kyol.

As the rebel forces try to solidify their hold on the Fae realm, they discover an insidious new threat. Fae known as the elari are being recruited by the 'False-Blood' Fae who wishes to wrest the throne from Lena. The elari have resurrected the 'sight serum' to recruit humans to their side. The serum gives these human recruits the foresight abilities needed to help these Fae; but ultimately kills them. McKenzie is brought back to aid the Queen in her attempts to hold the throne, as both a shadow reader and training to become a warrior. The Queen also gains unexpected support from the tor'um; a little known segment of the Fae world. The tor'um have little to no magic, and are considered to be the dregs of Fae society; but their sheer numbers are a great benefit to Queen Lena.

THE SHARPEST BLADE is the latest installment in Sandy Williams Shadow Reader series about a young human woman who has the ability to track Fae by reading their shadows (tracking their movement) after they fissure from one part of the Fae realm to another. The story is full of magic, war, and politics in the Fae world. The stories in the series build directly on the previous books; so are best not read as standalone stories. THE SHARPEST BLADE brings a satisfying close to a number of the main plotlines running throughout the series, and introduces some intriguing new plot threads. This is an excellent UF series, however; one well worth starting at the beginning of the series.

Book Summary

McKenzie Lewis’s ability to read the shadows has put her—and those she loves—in harm’s way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined? After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she finally has a regular—albeit boring—job. But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm. With the fae she loves and the fae she’s tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, her actions will either rip the Realm apart—or save it.