Review of Shades of Doon

Shades of Doon (Doon #3)

Authors: Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Publisher: Blink

Format: HC

ISBN:978-0-310-74235-7

Summary (from book jacket)

After cheating death, Veronica Welling is determined to savor every moment in her idyllic kingdom with both her true love and best friend by her side at last. At the same time, Mackenna Reid is enthusiastically building her new life and a theater with her prince. But just as their dreams of happiness are within reach, the world Vee and Kenna have chosen is ripped away, leaving them to face their most horrific challenge yet—their old lives.

Thrust out of Doon, the best friends are confronted with tormentors from their past and no way to return to their adopted land. When the MacCrae brothers rush to their rescue, the girls’ situation turns from nightmare to modern-day fairy tale. But their happiness could be short lived: unbeknownst to them, someone in their closest circle is aiding the witch of Doon in her bid to destroy the kingdom once and for all.

Review

After Mackenna has finally accepted life in Doon and Veronica is settling in as Queen, both girls are forcefully ripped away from Doon and sent back to their old lives, leaving them desperate to get back to save Doon from the witch, Addie, who is now in Doon’s borders. 

After being let down by the second book, Shades of Doon was much better. Veronica’s mother has never been the best mother to her—described as being cold and distant with a horrible choice in boyfriends—and her dad is MIA. Back in her old life, Veronica confronts her mother again, and though they do not fully resolve their differences, the meeting allows Veronica to finally put her fears about the future behind her and really consider her life with Jamie. 

Mackenna, who once only wanted to be back in her old life, now wants to get back to Doon and Duncan. Now gone is the whinny and needy Mackenna from the second book, making her much more interesting as a character. Veronica also plays a much more central role, and as I find her more interesting, this definitely helped move the book along.

The character development for both Veronica and Mackenna is one of the strongest aspects of the books, as they grow and develop both in their friendship towards each other, their family, and their romantic relations. Though, speaking of romantic relations, everything is surprisingly clean despite the lovey-dovey atmosphere. 

My biggest problem with the book: it’s disgustingly romantic and sappy, but I can see why teenage girls might really enjoy it. Way too gushy and romancey for my tastes, but as the girls and their princes begin to discover Addie’s threat—and more importantly who she has been posing as while in Doon—romance takes the back burner and the more fun magic stuff takes over. (And as a side note, there were no surprises when it came to who was Addie in disguise.) 

And what a cliffhanger there was at the end. I finished the book wanting more. I’ll definitely have to read the fourth and final book in this series. 

Cover: 4/5

Writing style: 4/5

Characters/character development: 4/5

Plot: 5/5

Overall: 4.3/5