Customer Reviews

Shadowlight (Daw science fiction)

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This is a perfect GEM of a fantasy novel and has long been a favorite of mine. It skillfully blends many elements of the genre into an engrossing story with action, suspense, and romance--and one especially clever twist along the way. (An ultra-concise plot summary might be this: On a world not our own, the fate of a land and its people depends on the resourcefulness of Shadow, an "outcast" young lady born of an old race and possessing a special gift.) The story is well constructed and flawlessly executed. The action begins immediately; the backstory is introduced gradually and never bogs the reader down; the tension builds steadily; the climax is satisfying; the characters are colorful and well drawn; the world is richly textured. This is a stand-alone novel and not part of a series. Anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre would be almost certain to like it a lot.

SHADOWLIGHT is a quest fantasy that pulls the reader firmly into its world from the very first pages. So many fantasies nowadays reuse creaky old material and tropes, but this book, first published in 1989, still feels fresh and new. It is full of wonders and original, creepy creatures and monsters, but the author's clear, clean writing ensures the reader never becomes confused or lost.

This is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who has suffered many misfortunes and lost most of her family. Shadow and the two friends who have become her adopted family struggle to survive on the fringes of a society that would enslave them if it could. Then Shadow's friends are captured and arrested, and it is up to Shadow to save them before they are given as tribute to mind-controllig monsters called grayvers that will suck their souls from them.

Luckily, Shadow has long had a small talent. She can sometimes sense the hidden realities within things and people. It was fascinating to watch her powers blossom and her control over them and understanding of them grow as she faces new and ever more dangerous threats to her life. These challenges also force her to mature and come to a clearer, more-nuanced understanding of the people around her, so that she sees and accepts the dark side of good people and discovers a sympathetic side to those she thought evil.

I strongly recommend this novel to all fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy original stories, unpredictable plots, and characters who grow over the course of the book. I got to bed late every night while reading SHADOWLIGHT because I kept reading "just one more scene" and "just one more scene" and "just one more scene," wanting to know what happened next to Shadow and her companions.