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Shadow Magic

Book 1 in the series:Lyra

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While the Noble Lord of Brenn is trying to form alliances to protect the land of Alkyra from their old enemies, the Lithmern, his daughter Alethia is kidnapped from the midst of her twentieth birthday party by strange faceless men. They are using strange magic, and take Alethia deep into the woods, where strange creatures out of Alkyra's distant past are rumored to dwell. Alethia's brother, Har, and his friend, the trader Maurin, set off in pursuit of her, but if any of them want to get home, let alone save their country, they are going to have to uncover the truth of the old tales, and learn to work with the fabled magical creatures in order to defeat the dark magic being used by their common enemies. The best part of the book are the scenes with dialogue among the main characters, where Alethia's wit and charm shine through, putting a smile on the reader's face. However, these moments are interspersed within a mishmash of overused high fantasy tropes and a lack of character development for secondary characters, making it feel like a blend of clichés without a cohesive structure.

Characters:

Characters are often perceived as flat and lacking development, with Alethia described as a simplistic heroine.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features enjoyable dialogue but suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of depth, leading to awkward moments.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a kidnapping and a quest to uncover magic and alliances in a high fantasy setting, featuring common tropes associated with the genre.

Setting:

The setting is a fantasy realm rich with elements like magical woods and mythical creatures.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, alternating between rushed segments and slower moments that could benefit from more detail.
The caravan wound slowly through the woods along the riverbank and broke at last into the fields surrounding the city. Except for a few wooden shelters near the gates, the city itself was invisible be...

Notes:

Shadow Magic is Patricia C. Wrede's first novel, originally published in 1982.
The story revolves around Alethia, who is kidnapped on her birthday, and her brother Har must rescue her.
The book features typical high fantasy elements like magical creatures, quests, and battles.
Readers noted a lack of character development, particularly for secondary characters.
Alethia displays wit and charm similar to Wrede's later characters, sparking some enjoyment in her dialogue.
The novel has a mixed reception, with many feeling it hasn't aged well compared to Wrede's later work.
Critics pointed out the plot feels derivative of other fantasy stories like The Lord of the Rings.
Some readers appreciated that it might be a good fit for younger audiences, particularly pre-teens.
The narrative is described as having uneven pacing and reliance on clichés typical of 70s and 80s fantasy.
Wrede revised Shadow Magic ten years after its initial release, improving the flow and perspective of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

A princess fights a faceless enemy in a forest filled with magic in this tale of "high-style fantasy and adventure" from the author of Dealing with Dragons (The New York Times).

Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom's noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable woman: quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess. When Alethia regains consciousness, an evil Lithmern with a face made of shadows is carrying her through the forest. These are magic woods, home to fabled creatures whose existence she has always doubted. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom.

Ratings (2)

It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (2)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
7 months

Enjoyable fantasy with likeable characters and interesting plot. I liked Alethia and Har and Maurin. The romance between Alethia and Maurin was nice. There were some funny lines. Solid 3 stars.

 

About the Author:

For over twenty years, Patricia C. Wrede (b. 1953) has expanded the boundaries of young-adult fantasy writing. Her first novel, Shadow Magic (1982), introduced Lyra, a magical world in which she set four more novels. Her other series include the Enchanted Forest Chronicles; the Cecelia and Kate novels, co-written with Caroline Stevermer; the Mairelon books, which take place in Regency England; and the Old-West Frontier Magic series. Wrede lives and works in Minnesota."

 
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