Customer Reviews

The Shadow Thieves (Cronus Chronicles Trilogy)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Anne Ursu has penned two adult novels as of this review. With the understanding that adult authors are often completely incapable of writing children's books (to say nothing of children's fantasy novels) I approached, "The Shadow Thieves" with the greatest of trepidation. The first in a series called, "The Cronus Chronicles" (a particularly interesting name when you consider that Cronus never makes an appearance), the book yet another addition in the Greek mythology trend sweeping libraries and bookshelves nationwide. "The Lightening Thief" and "Corydon" were just some of the first of these. What sets "The Shadow Thieves" apart is that we're looking at a whole new setting. It's Hades, ladies and gents! And Ursu, for the record, is doing a fabulous job of bringing its various charms to our attention.

Two kids. Two stories. On the one hand you have Charlotte. She's been having kind of a crappy time of it at school. She's not popular, she doesn't like her new English teacher, and she didn't get into the school play. So when she finds a new kitten, she feels a little better. And when her cousin Zee comes to live with her family (and he's cool) things seem okay. Of course there's that thing where all the kids in school have started getting some bizarre wasting disease. Add onto that Zee's story, and suddenly things don't seem so hunky-dory after all. Apparently Zee has provided a supervillain by the name of Philonecron (call him Phil) with the means of raising the ultimate army. The army is made out of the shadows of children and with it he means to conquer Hades. Yup, you heard me. Hades is real. The Greek gods are real. And it's basically up to two kids to save humanity from a fate worse than death.

I got one word for you: compelling. Ursu knows how to set up suspense, drama, and a great deal of fear. Her bad guy is bad. Her good guys are conflicted. And most importantly? The entire endeavor is shot through with a healthy dose of humor. Sometimes this can be a little much. The narration is fond of putting in a word or a joke where words and jokes are not necessarily needed. But by and large I was relieved to find myself enjoying the story thoroughly. Standing at a healthy 424 pages, the book is actually quite a quick read. The illustrations at the beginning of the chapters don't hurt a bit either.

One of the nicest things about, "The Shadow Thieves" is the fact that while you can see a sequel as coming, the first book doesn't leave you hanging. Some fantasy series ("Door of Time" I'm looking at YOU) use their first book merely as a set-up for future titles. Ursu doesn't do that. Honestly, "The Shadow Thieves" could be a stand alone novel and it wouldn't be any the worse for it. Maybe a little depressing, considering what happens to us all when we die (think harpies), but no more so than the existence meted out in Philip Pullman's, "The Amber Spyglass". Ursu writes at a steady clip without sacrificing character or emotional resonance to plot.

Being a former resident of Minnesota I was pleased as punch to see that wonderful area of the country finally given a little attention kiddie lit-wise. And what better place to put the door to the underworld than in The Mall of America? Oddly, Ursu never calls it "The Mall of America" in so many words. It's just "The Mall" (which makes me wonder if legal issues came up in some way). Not that it's hard to recognize. Legoland and the late-lamented (but now glorified forever thanks to this book) Cereal playground. The amusement park, the movie theater, and the fact that The Mall is located near the airport? It could only be one place and that place could only contain the door to the Underworld itself.

2006 seems to be the year of the shadow thefts. You have it in "The Shadow Thieves", Dave Barry's lamentable, "Peter and the Shadow Thieves", and Larry DiFiori's amusing picture book, "Jackie and the Shadow Snatcher". It never rains but it pours. Now far be it from me to point out some of the more familiar aspects in this tale, but bear with me. In this book the villain Philonecron has multiple deadly servants. They are tall with bald heads and they wear superb tuxes. They also go around stealing shadows from children, sometimes by reaching into those kids' very chests. Oh, and by and large they do not speak. Now anybody who's ever seen the best-known "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode entitled, "Hush", will realize that I'm describing The Gentlemen. I don't think Ursu actually ripped off "Buffy", but the similarities are striking. Add onto that the fact that Phil likes to call Zee "Zero". Zero is a black character in "Holes" of African-American descent. Zee too is black. And then there's the whole shadow stealing business. That in particular seems similar to the work done in "His Dark Materials" by the Oblation Board. But again, these are just some tropes of the genre. Ursu has a highly original head on her shoulders. Just don't get too surprised if something becomes familiar here or there.

So how old a readership are we talking here? Well, this puppy fall squarely into the middle readership category. Which is to say, kids anywhere from eight to eighteen might get a kick out of it. There's a kind of gruesome sequence involving someone getting Prometheus's fate (though you never actually SEE his liver get gnawed on) and some threats lobbed by the bad guy, but all in all this puppy's fairly gore-free. Definitely a good title for those kids suffering Percy Jackson withdrawl. Fun book. Fun new author. Fun time.

OK, I'm not a kid. In fact, I am a 65-year-old grandmother.

That said, I am also looking for a summer read for the various DGC's who stop by for a chapter or two most afternoons. You know, front porch, fan breeze, iced tea and soft drinks, sometimes a store-bought cookie or two. Or even a homemade something-or-other, if the older DGC's want to make one, then eat it.

This is it. They'll LOVE it!

I like the idea that the story can stand by itself--no cliff-hangers here. Especially since we're going to have to wait a year for the next volume, then another year for the third one. (Harry Potter, anyone?)

Then, the humor will definitely appeal to my pre- and early-teen DGC's--it did to me! Having worked many years in bureaucracies (as we all do, these days) Hades was very familiar, and more apt than most kids are likely to realize!

The writing is good. There's enough suspense to prickle the neck, but not so much as to give nightmares to the littlest ones. (I wouldn't give Neal Gaimon's CORALINE to a really sensitive child, for instance, and I hae me doots about several others . . . .) On the other hand, have you SEEN what cartoons are like on TV these days? Sheesh.

I suspect that many conservative Christians will have great trouble with the premise of the book--that the Greek version of the afterlife is the 'real' one, but remember, this is fiction!

I think kids ALWAYS understand the difference, if one explains.

The Cronus Chronicles is another addition to the group of Y/A fantasy novels that incorporate Greek Mythology into the present day. Unlike the Percy Jackson books however, none of the human characters are actually related to gods or demi-gods, and in this first novel of the series, the young protagonists Charlotte and Zee have to travel to the underworld to find a cure for a mysterious illness that has incapacitated many of their friends.

Armed with their school-acquired knowledge of Greek myths and legends, the youngsters learn how to bargain with Charon, get around the office politics of Hades, Persephone and Thanatos, and defeat the evil scheme of Philonecron, the Assistant Manager of the Underworld Department of Sanitation, who has great aspirations of becoming the Head Honcho of Hell.

White faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedos, a psychic kitten, Harpies, Erinyes, Griffins and others add to the excitement of this adventure, which also has more than its fair share of humor. Written in simple language, and devoid of complicated scenarios, this book seems to target a younger group of readers, and is recommended for ages 9 - 12.




Amanda Richards, September 8, 2008

I'm lazy, so if I take the time to write a review, you can take it from me, I loved the book. I'm a fan of Anne's books for grownups (Spilling Clarence and The Disapparation of James) so I've waited impatiently for this one. And it was worth the wait.

The book's exciting and occasionally creepy and sometimes scary but the humor kept me laughing out loud, even as I was worrying that Charlotte and Zee had gotten themselves into bigger trouble than they could handle. Charlotte and Zee both come across as real kids, with real worries, who find the courage they need to face the Underworld and save us all from the horrors of Tantalus.

I think the idea of basing the adventure on the Greek myths is wonderful...fresh and interesting. I can't wait for the second volume in the series.

(Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure...yup, that's me on page 143, though I'm not really a 13-year-old English soccer player. I've never met Anne in person but we know each other through the Miracle of the Internets.)

Fantasy is a popular genre nowadays, there's no denying that. Almost every young adult or "children's" book that has been released over the past few years have been a "Book One of ___" or "The First of a Trilogy" and that does not exclude "The Shadow Thieves" the first of a planned Trilogy called "The Cronus Chronicles."

This book is different, though. Very different. Upon reading this book, you (a normal person, I assume) take a trip into the Underworld of Greek Mythology, along with two other normal kids. "The Shadow Thieves" gives new lives to the well known characters of Greek Mythology, and finds a great villain in the power hungry and over-the-top Philonecron. And trust me folks, I've read a lot of fantasy, and it's HARD to come upon a good villain.

I'll keep it short--this book is amazing. The two main characters, Charlotte and Zee are believable and likable. At first, I decided to hate Zee, but could not keep up with my dislike of him for long, because I soon found myself relating to him and growing quite fond of the character. The relationship between Zee and Grandmother Winter is beautiful, as is the nervous relationship between Zee and Charlotte--my only negative comment about the characterization is that Zee and Charlotte do too much hand holding and arm rubbing for cousins. But on a brighter note, the narration is funny and flowing, and the imagery is clear and precise.

This book finds a perfect median between SHOWING and TELLING, and it's a fresh start to a new series. I highly recommend. (I also must add, the epilogue is beautiful and it sums up all of the loose ends.)

9 out of 10.

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Mielswetzski wouldn't call herself a liar --- she prefers the term "storyteller." By adding just a bit of imagination and a good straight face, she can weave herself out of any trouble she finds herself in --- at least until now. Strange and unbelievable circumstances begin to alter Charlotte's world, and nothing could have prepared her for what she must face.

First, Charlotte discovers an adorable kitten --- or does the kitten discover Charlotte? Then, the weird, tuxedo-wearing fellow hiding in the bushes doesn't seem very normal. Plus, Charlotte's new English teacher, Mr. Metos, resembles a vampire a little too much for comfort. And when Charlotte's cousin Zee comes to live with them, one of the first things he asks her is if her friends are getting sick. But then Charlotte's classmates do start becoming ill, one by one, until the education board decides to close the school. Zee tells her that the same thing happened at his school; all the kids except him came down with some mysterious disease.

One evening, on the way home from a friend's house, two creepy fellows attack Charlotte and Zee. But thankfully, Mr. Metos screeches by in his car and they are rushed away to safety --- at least for the moment. Afterwards, Mr. Metos explains everything to them, but these explanations are quite difficult to believe. Those Greek myths they had been studying in English class? Well, they aren't myths at all, but real! One of the characters in the Underworld is trying to take over, and he's launching his evil quest by stealing kids' shadows to man his army! Charlotte and Zee must embrace as much courage as possible in order to set out on a rescue mission that takes them down into the depths of darkness.

In book one of The Cronus Chronicles, Anne Ursu expertly weaves her entertaining story in and around the famous Greek myths, and includes such characters as Zeus, Hades, Prometheus, a three-headed dog, harpies, and lots of other well-known accomplices. She writes with a smart, hilarious flair that pulls the reader through the pages quickly, while her in-depth descriptions bring the story up close and personal.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author

"The Shadow Thieves" is a refreshing stand-out in the current deluge of children's fantasy. It stands out for an engaging and lively narrative as well as its source material. Ursu writes as if she's never written for children and has no intention of doing so (which is a good thing): there's nothing precious or patronizing in the writing, she doesn't hold back on vocabulary, and the humor is clever and character-driven. It's just like her other writing, only featuring young protagonists. The source is Greek mythology, which is surprisingly (and sadly) underused as inspiration for contemporary fantasy, but is lent a nice modern air through Ursu's reinvention -- for example, Hades is described as a prosperous but poorly managed bureaucracy, somewhere between hell and Microsoft.

The story involves two kids descending to Hades to save mankind from the schemes of an ambitious middle manager, and there are enough amusing asides and suprising twists to keep a quick pace. For those reluctant to read the first book in a trilogy that isn't complete, you might be happy to know the book is completely self-contained and won't leave you hanging (though it will leave you eager for the next volume).

The number one thing about this book I didn't like is that it was such a fast read it was over too soon. Like an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day, you have to eat it fast to enjoy all of it without sacrificing any of the creamy cold goodness. The storyline in this book moves quickly and keeps you involved from the moment you pick it up. The good news is that it's a trilogy, so there's more to come.

The things I love about this book:
1. It was written for children, yet is entertaining enough for an adult.
2. It was written for children, yet it is not condescending.
3. It has just enough challenging words, plot twists to still be an educational tool for its audience and not a mindless trudge through the story.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was lucky enough to read a pre-published version of it, and I couldn't wait for the real thing to come out! The plotline is really interesting and the characters are complex and realistic. I love the writing style, and the splashes of humor make it better. You should definitely read it! <3

This book slots straight into my personal top 10 list. I can't tell you how fantastic it is.

The best thing about this book is that it respects and entertains the reader, no matter what age. Ms. Ursu uses the occasional big word, and trusts that the reader will know it, or will take the time to learn it. And adult or child, this book will teach you so much about British terminology, without you ever knowing it's happening.

And the story! This is truly a story written by someone who loves stories. I was torn - keep reading reading reading til it's over, or set it aside after every chapter so it isn't over soon.

This is a great book for adults and kids, and it's a great book for teachers.