Shadowfell [Hardcover]

Juliet Marillier (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 11, 2012 | Series: Shadowfell (Book 1)

Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec.

During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-An engaging read for fans of traditional fantasy. Neryn's father, her only surviving relative, has just wagered her in a game of chance-and lost. For years they have been on the run, living cold and hungry at the margins of society in an attempt to hide Neryn's dangerous secret: she has the magical ability to see and sense the Fey creatures that populate Alban. But all magic has been outlawed in the realm except that which is practiced by the king's men. Now Neryn finds herself with Flint, the winner of the wager. He seems to be a potential ally, and she is tempted to confide in him as she embarks on her quest to join a resistance movement. But he is obviously withholding information, and besides, all confidences are dangerous in a world in which the king's men conduct violent raids on all who are rumored to resist the regime. Both characters face serious and interesting moral dilemmas, and the romance between them feels less rushed than in some fantasy romances. Fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce will find much to enjoy in this first installment of a planned trilogy.-Hayden Bass, Seattle Public Library, WAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

Kirkus Reviews Best of Teen's Books 2012

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 6, 2012:
“For those that wish that Tolkien had explored the character of Aragorn more deeply, Marillier provides the next best thing.”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375869549
• ISBN-13: 978-0375869549
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.4 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written but not Marillier's strongest September 11, 2012

By Karissa Eckert TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley(dot)com. I loved Marillier's Sevenwater series and was so excited to read another series by Marillier. This book is beautifully written but the story moves slowly and was hard to stay engaged with. The second book in this series will be titled Raven Flight and is scheduled for a 2013 release.

Neryn is blessed/cursed with the ability to see the Good Folk. She is orphaned and all alone in the world, but gets caught up in a plot to save the kingdom of Alban from the evil King who rules it. Outside of the Good Folk her only friend is a mysterious man who has saved her life, but seems to have questionable allegiances. Will Neryn be able to help save Alban from its cursed king?

This book is written beautifully, the description is beautiful, and the landscape is beautiful. Neryn is peaceful and graceful, yet surprisingly tough....like many of Marillier's heroines.

I loved watching Neryn struggle through trial after trial and loved her interactions with the Good Folk. The main thing I really didn't enjoy about this novel was the pacing. The story moves so deliberately that at times I just lost interest. Right at the beginning of the book we know Neryn is trying to get to Shadowfell. By the end of the book she finally arrives there. The rest of the book is the story of her journey.

While Neryn's journey does have some excitement to it, mostly it is just a story of survival. She spends long stretches of the book trying to stay warm and trying to find food. She also spends a long stretch of the book alone with her thoughts recuperating in a cabin after her illness. Parts of these stretches are filled with beautiful thoughts and language; but they also come off as a bit boring.

During these stretches Neryn is just too complacent; I just wanted her to do something to make her situation better and she just didn't. Despite her resolve to reach Shadowfell she ends up becoming dependent on the Good Folk and the mysterious stranger. Her dependence on everyone else to survive and her lack of ability to take charge in any situation bothered me.

The book ends well enough, but as a reader we aren't at a place that is all that far from where we started. I tried to think about what really had happened over the course of this book and there just isn't much.

Overall an okay fantasy read, I had hoped for something more engaging and more moving though. Marillier writes beautifully and the story reads very poetically. The pacing is very deliberate though and left my attention wandering at times. Neryn is one of those peaceful but tough heroines in the beginning of the book, but as the story continues she becomes too complacent and dependent on those around her. I would tentatively recommend this book to fans of deliberately paced adventure/survival fantasies. I would strongly recommend reading Marillier's Sevenwaters books first though; I thought those books were much better than this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Fantasy October 16, 2012

By emmyson

Format:Hardcover

Fantasy is one of my absolute most favorite genres, and Shadowfell reminded me why. It had everything: a great heroine, fantastic (but conflicted) hero, the Fae, a journey, and action.

This is my first foray into Juliet Marillier's work, and I've been told that it's not her best. I'm on hold for Daughter of the Forest at the library, so I'm withholding judgment on that until I've read more. For me, this was an excellent introduction to the author. I really loved this book!

Yeah, it's slow going at times. Yeah, it takes awhile for the action to build (it's very subtle - if you're look for a slam/bang book, perhaps look elsewhere). Yeah, the romance is slow. You know what? None of that bothered me. I relished taking my time on the journey with Neryn and finding things out as she did. I loved getting into her head and sharing her fears. I loved the ending. It was so bittersweet and beautiful. It left me longing for more, which I consider one of the many marks of a great book.

I liked the characters. I liked that they were SO flawed. I liked that they had to grow up and discover things for themselves. I liked that nothing was just handed to them. (Yeesh. That makes it sound like a heavy contemp or something. :P) I liked that they worked through things and finally (FINALLY!) reached understanding. I liked that even the Good Folk aren't exempt from the trials of Alban. They had to pass through Hell as well.

Now, obviously, this is a fantasy. In the end, we all know that the good guys are going to win and the bad guys will get theirs. In this series, though, the good guys are going to have to walk a very twisted and hard path to get there. They're definitely going to earn their victory and I love that. I love that we're going to see their growth the whole time and get to experience things right along with them. WIN!

For me, this is a 4.5 Eiffel Tower book. Loved it and need to own a hard copy!

Content Advisory:
Language: None
Sexuality: Very Mild (hints of what Neryn feared if the Enforcers caught her - absolutely nothing inappropriate or explicit)
Violence: Moderate

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, as always October 4, 2012

By Carla Costa

Format:Hardcover

I should probably start this review by saying I'm a HUGE Juliet Marillier fan (for those who don't know this yet) -- she's my favorite author, fantasy is my genre of choice, and every time I'm in possession of a new JM book it's like Christmas, and it's snowing outside while I'm inside the house by the fire, looking out the window, with a cup of cinnamon flavored hot chocolate warming my hands, a blanket over my legs, and I'm about to open the perfect gift, which by the way, would be a JM book.

That said, Shadowfell tells the story of Neryn's journey across Alban, a land ruled by the tyrant Keldec -- at first she's travelling with her father, who after doing something terrible to her, dies and leaves her all alone in the world; after this tragic event she decides to travel to a place in the north called Shadowfell, the alleged land of the rebels, where she believes she'll be safe from the Enforcers, and from the king himself, because he could use her powers for his benefit. Yes, the girl has powers.

Naturally I loved this book from page one, and I loved especially how the story picks up rhythm in the first couple of pages and barely slows it down afterwards, there's always something happening with or around Neryn, something that would make it impossible for me to put the book down.

AND THE MALE LEAD. Goodness! Juliet really knows how to write them. (Not sure why I sounded surprised just now.) His attitude towards Neryn melted my heart from the very first moment - his posture, his patience, the way the helps and takes care of her even when she's doubting his motives. Awww. In fact he reminded me a bit of Red, which is always the best compliment I can give to a male character.

I also loved the secondary characters, mainly the Good Folk who follows Neryn on the journey, their knowledge is crucial for her mission, and they also help her survive along the way -- would give them all a big hug if I could; still my favorites were the Brollachan and the pookie -- the image of a giant using a cat-like creature as a ball he throws in the air is forever stuck in my brain, I'm sure it will be useful for when I'm feeling down. xD

*kind of spoiler ahead, not really if you know Neryn will be heroine of the whole series*
The end surprised me -- this is the first JM book that ends without the couple actually getting together (don't even try to contradict me, I know what happened in Seer, they got together, Felix just needed to get some stuff done before), and all I can say is: MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT! I need them together, I need it! But Neryn will still be the heroine in the second book, so I'm thinking, hoping, praying, they will have plenty of time to get together and leave my heart at peace. I know the wait will be worth it, I just know it.
*end of spoiler*

What else can I say? I honestly could go on and on about Shadowfell to the point of people reading this review eventually run away screaming, but I'll stop right now because if I go on more spoilers will find its way out of me and I'd hate for that to happen.

Buy it, read it, let your minds rejoice in the excellence of Juliet Marillier's writing--do yourselves the favor.