Synopsis:
From the ashes of the old, the Shin-Kami will rise.
The cult behind the demons’ resurgence is defeated, their leader slain and their remaining numbers scattered. But every victory comes at a cost. And that victory will amount to nothing unless Shura can destroy the demons at the source of their power. All that stands in her way are two kings foolish enough to have made an enemy of her. Their betrayal will not go unpunished.
Before she can embark on the road to vengeance, she must bring an entire kingdom to heel, but Ōkoku’s noble clans will not be coerced so easily.
Jin wanders Kinza’s streets, bitter and broken, awaiting the darkness that will consume the world. He knows the prophecy. There is no hope. And even if there was, these people don’t deserve salvation. They deserve to burn. Or so he tells himself in an effort to escape the truth—that he may still have something left to fight for.
While Shura sets her schemes in motion and Jin wallows in sorrow, a shadow stirs within the city’s slums. Whispers of a score to be settled drift upon the winter wind. It’s possible the Shin-Kami are truly defeated, these whispers merely a dying echo. It’s also possible that, in a reckless gambit for retribution, the surviving cultists have summoned an evil so terrible, so ravenous, that even the demon lords of the deepest hells dare not set it free.
Review:
Gonna go on a limb and call it now, ShadowVein by Cal Logan is gonna be a Top 3 book this year, it’s really that good, folks. ShadowBane, book one, was one of my fave reads of 2025 and Logan does not let up in book two, nor does it suffer from a sophomore slump. This book is grimdark to perfection. The creep factor of these sinister demons oozes from the page while the betrayals cleanly sever like a katana in this gritty and dark sequel, setting up what can only end in a cataclysmic conclusion.
Taking place a short time after the harrowing conclusion of ShadowBane, twins Shura and Jin are in two different places emotionally and mentally. With the war initiated in the fallout from their failed mission, both have to navigate something other than just oni infiltrating the capital: court intrigue. With schemes aplenty, betrayals at every corner, and blood on the horizon, these two need to figure their shit out, and figure it out fast.
One of the things that I loved about ShadowBane was the dichotomy of Shura and Jin. Sure they are twins, but they couldn’t be further apart. In simple terms, Jin is the aggro muscle and Shura is the crafty politicker. They are much more than this but think of them this way. At the end of book one, Bad Things :tm: happen and their arcs are forever changed…let’s just say it, they hate each other. Jin blames Shura and Shura blames Jin. Logan could have fallen prey to the off-page make-up between these siblings for book two, but he doesn’t and that’s why this book is amazing. For the entirety of the book, they are at wit’s end with each other, moreso from Shura whereas Jin is more apathetic. The dynamic between these two and the growth (not always positive) in this book is downright amazing. Logan deftly delivers characters we both love and are infuriated with. And while there are a number of great characters in this book, everything hinges on Shura and Jin, and Logan nails it.
Where book one was more episodic oni slaying, book two firmly keeps our characters in the capital city and they have to deal with a ton of political intrigue. Oh there is oni here, don’t worry, the slaying still exists, but the crux of this plot is all about the court and war. The schemes are scheming and the backstabbing is stabbing repeatedly. The dialogue is where this shines, the red herrings are there, the lies are plenty. The reveals are excellently placed and the few twists twist hard. The vibe feels different from book one and I believe this was probably Logan’s best decision.
The pace of this book is top notch. Similar to book one, we get alternating POV chapters from the twins and in a step up from book one, there was never a moment where this style hindered forward momentum. Instead, each scene built upon another like blocks waiting to be toppled. And when the fight scenes or the oni appeared, we were ready to ride that tension.
Let’s talk about the oni. This is a feudal Japanese inspired world, and Logan has crafted something stellar here while still respecting the inspiration. ShadowBane had a number of different oni (demons if you haven’t gathered by now) and here he pulls it back some. I think this was a brilliant move. The oni we do get here are just downright creepy as sin. There is a scene with one oni that sheds flesh and it is just visceral and gross but still disturbing and frightening. And in the climax, Logan touches on some things built up in book one and then destroys us in a perfectly placed reveal, leaving me both in awe and giving him a round of applause for a job well done.
Can we also agree that this cover (and ShadowBane) are just some of the coolest covers ever made??? Right??
This series just keeps getting better and better and it’s one any grimdark fan needs to be reading, like now. If only book three was ready tomorrow… ShadowVein releases on June 3, 2026. Don’t miss you, friends!
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