Series: Shadow Magic - I'm happy to say that Dream Magic, the second book, will be published in April!
Age group: everybody, from young kids to adults
Page count: 321 pages
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Summary from Amazon:
Thorn, an outlaw's son, wasn't supposed to be a slave. He's been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they're headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire.
Lilith Shadow wasn't supposed to be ruler of Gehenna. But following the murder of her family, young Lily became the last surviving member of House Shadow, a long line of dark sorcerers. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way she can save it is by embracing her heritage and practicing the magic of the undead. But how can she when, as a girl, magic is forbidden to her?
Just when it looks like Lily will have to leave her home forever, Thorn arrives at Castle Gloom. A sudden death brings them together, inspires them to break the rules, and leads them to soar to new heights in this fantasy with all the sparkle and luster of a starry night sky.
When I started this book, I was immediately pulled in by the descriptive writing, the amazing plot, the characters, and the way the conflicts build on each other.
The setting at Gehenna, "the land of the undead" and the illustrations added a creepy and mystical feel to the story. One thing I liked in this story is that even though they live in a land of darkness and shadows, people still care about each other and are friends.
I could really relate to the characters. They responded to the conflicts in the story in a way that seemed so realistic. Thorn tried to make the best of things by being optimistic and making jokes.
Lily was my favorite character because she was a strong female character. She knew what she wanted. She may have had moments of doubt, or despair, but she kept on trying because she knew it was right. She based what she chose to do on if it was fair or not.
The conflicts keep building on each other, each one answering one mystery but providing another question. They are so captivating and are written so well.
I give Shadow Magic a nine out of ten! It was one of the most captivating books I've ever read. This book is one you definitely want to read because it is so good! I'm so happy that another book is coming out in the series: Dream Magic!
Author bio:
So, his head stuffed with magical stories, it was inevitable that Joshua would want to create some of his own.
Hence Shadow Magic.
Josh lives in London with his family, but he'd rather live in a castle. It wouldn't have to be very big, just as long as it had battlements.
Taken from the back of book.
Click on the link below to go to Shannon Messenger's website for more MMGMs!
Thanks so much, and have a great week,
Vi