Customer Reviews

Master Of Shadows

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This book is great fun. In some ways it reads like an amalgamation of a magical story of a woman who finds a strange world within a forest and a modern criminal story of searching for a murderer. The book contains both aspects woven together with a certain element of mystery still at the end.

Ariel McPherson's life has been turned upside down with the disappearance of her father, especially when she and her mother discover that her father had a gambling habit and that they are ruined. They have had to move to a cottage in a holiday village that her mother owned but are finding that life in a tourist village is very different for people who don't have money any longer. Ariel is unable to find work and her mother is retreating into fantasies to cope with the devastation of her life.

When Ariel's mother sends her out to collect water from a noted local spring deep in a wood, Ariel's life changes. She meets a strange person at the spring who doesn't let her see his face but who talks to her, warning her about dangers in the wood. However Ariel has to return, despite all the scary tales told to her by a local village woman who looks after them. Soon Ariel finds herself spending much more time with the mysterious man, Louvel, as she goes to work for him in his enormous house within the wood. Louvel's servants all seem to be strange people - either very tall, very short, fat or otherwise unusual. And yet the bars on the windows suggest that the house might also be a prison, there are strange noises on full moon nights, there are lots of odd rules and Ariel still has never seen Louvel's face, despite them spending time together.

When Ariel has to return home to deal with new leads on the disappearance of her father she finds herself cut off from Louvel's life and somehow back in an engagement with her former Fiancé, Michael. However the threads of her life seem intertwined, Louvel appears to still be watching over her, there are links between a woman living in Louvel's house and the death of Ariel's father. Can she find out who was to blame for her father's disappearance without imposing on Louvel's privacy, can she keep her mother and herself safe, has she brought danger to Louvel's people - and who are those people. And why won't Louvel let her see his face?

The story is written in a great manner with atmospheric descriptions of the wood and Louvel's mansion contrasted with the very everyday life when she is in the village or back living at Michael's house. Ariel's investigation into the events surrounding her father's disappearance seems to occur rather easily with her finding out the necessary information without too much trouble and yet Louvel's hand is always in the background, guiding her and keeping her safe. We never really learn how Louvel is able to do many of the things he does and yet that mystery is part of the fun of the story. The revelation of Louvel at the end of the story wasn't a particular surprise to me but the book's discussions of the nature of beauty and treatment of those with disabilities or disfigurements was food for thought.

In conclusion, this was an excellent read with interesting characters, several mysteries and a satisfactory ending.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

After her father disappeared, Ariel McPherson learned that he was a gambler who left them in poverty except for a cottage in the village. Her fiancé Michael broke up with her and his father Daniel Gilchrest is struggling to keep the business afloat because her father, who was his partner, embezzled finds to fund his addiction. In the village, Ariel goes to the stream in the woods to get water for her ailing mother who believes it contains medicinal qualities.

It is there she meet Louvel who is kind to her even though he doesn't let her see him. He offers her employment in the form of fixing up his library and she accepts. After a time, she tells him she loves him but he rejects her and sends her back to the cottage where Michael is waiting for her. He reminds her of their engagement and tells her that her father's body has been found; washed up from the sea. She and her mother return to the city where society accepts them. Her mother is happy but Ariel is uneasy in Michael's presence and misses Louvel, a man she never even saw. Eventually she learns the truth about Michael and Louvel and discovers the true meaning of love.

When Ariel is in the city, there is a modern day feel to the storyline; but when she is in the woods and at Louvel's castle readers feel as if the characters are in a fairy tale. The heroine is determined to learn the truth about both men in her life even if it means going against Louvel's decrees. Readers will enjoy this enchanting romantic fantasy as the audience will hope Ariel obtains her happily ever after.

Harriet Klausner

I am very partial to fairy tale retellings. I love the unique ways modern authors come up with to treat such old stories. In particular, I have a difficult time turning away a Beauty and the Beast retelling. My favorites (Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast and Rose Daughter) tend to be traditionally set versions of the tale. Although Alex Flinn's Beastly is a wonderfully modern retelling of the tale set in present-day NYC. MASTER OF SHADOWS resides in a rather odd place somewhere between the two. Set "Once upon a time toward the end of the 20th century," the story is definitely set in our modern world, but Lorimer keeps places and details purposefully vague so as to retain that timeless fairy tale feel.

And it works. A bit too well. I got the feeling this book wasn't sure what it wanted to be. Fundamentally a cross between The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel and the tale of Beauty and the Beast, it works really hard to be a rather creepy murder mystery as well, with the result that I felt confused and a bit jerked around for the majority of the book. I wanted to fall in love with the characters, but Louvel (the Beast) is kept at such a distance from the reader that it's difficult to care about him. All we know is he has a deep, dark secret and that he can somehow be in ten places at once. Ariel (Beauty) is likable enough, but she does seem a bit more overwhelmed than I would have expected by her loss of fortune and rich fiance.

I liked that Ariel had to unravel the many threads of the mystery before she could truly understand Louvel and the motley cast of odd characters he surrounded himself with. I liked that Louvel wasn't suffering from an evil spell, but was simply a man born into a pack of troubles. I liked the frequent references to the many other fairy tales that made up the fabric of Ariel's life. I think my main concern with the story was that these two characters spent a total of five days together (a week at the most) before Ariel was unceremoniously sent back to the world. And already they're soul mates. There was no time to develop a bond. It was simply there and, apparently, unbreakable. The whole book followed that pattern. Logical, at times gruesome, explanations for everything. Until finally, there was just no "magic" left. I am a consummate willing suspender of disbelief. But, unfortunately, the whole thing was too big a leap of faith for me.

Master of Shadows was a wonderful book that kept me hooked until the end. Ms. Lorimer knows how to build suspense - not giving you too much or too little. And the surprising twists shake you up as soon as you think you know what will happen next. The descriptions help you picture exactly what is happening.
A fun and interesting read - a vacation in a book.

I read this in one day, I couldn't put it down! The author tells a very colorful story that's placed in an enchanted world. It's a cross between a dark fairy tale and a murder mystery, with a healthy dose of paranormal romance for good measure. She paints a very vivid picture of places that combine both an old-world feel and modern-times.

My one and only complaint is that it went by so quickly. Hopefully there will be more from this author very soon!

Janet Lorimer is a masterful writer. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to pick up a book and be immediately sucked in by a great voice, a wonderful eye for detail, solid, compelling characters and a terrific story that hooks you immediately. Many years ago, I read some of Ms. Lorimer's children's books and am thrilled that she has moved to the world of adult fiction. If you like mystery mixed with a little fantasy, this is the book for you.

Only when I was nearly finished the book did it come to mind the story of Beauty and the Beast. This is a great romantic story of almost forbidden love and it reminded me of the characters, Catherine and Vincent from the television series "Beauty and the Beast". I loved those characters then and I love the characters portrayed in Master of Shadows. It is full of mystery, shadows, and suspense. I found the book hard to put down.