The Shadow of What Was LostThe Shadow of What Was Lost
Score Modern
What it's about
Twenty years ago, the godlike Augurs were overthrown and killed. The Gifted who served them survive only by accepting the rebellion's Four Tenets, which strictly limit their powers. Davian, a young Gifted despised outside his school walls, can't control his own power, and his final test is approaching.
Why it's worth reading
It's the start of James Islington's Licanius trilogy, a favorite of epic fantasy readers.
You'll love it if you liked
The Will of the Many
The Eye of the World
The Name of the WindGood to know
It starts slowly and has a complex time-travel plot.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #227 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #846 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1567 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
More by James Islington
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
The Golden Compass
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Shadow of What Was Lost worth reading?
Yes. It's the start of James Islington's Licanius trilogy, a favorite of epic fantasy readers. It ranks #1,567 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Shadow of What Was Lost about?
Twenty years ago, the godlike Augurs were overthrown and killed. The Gifted who served them survive only by accepting the rebellion's Four Tenets, which strictly limit their powers. Davian, a young Gifted despised outside his school walls, can't control his own power, and his final test is approaching.
How long does it take to read The Shadow of What Was Lost?
About 15 hours (608 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Shadow of What Was Lost?
If you liked it, try The Will of the Many by James Islington, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.