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juushikaTitle: Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper Book 1)
Author: Daniel José Older
Narrator: Anika Noni Rose
Published: Scholastic Audio, 2015
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 300
Total Page Count: 207,185
Text Number: 631
Read Because: reading PoC, multiple recommendations, audiobook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: At her ailing grandfather's insistence, Sierra begins to unravel the mystery surrounding her family's ability to instill art with spirit energy. This is a short, dynamic novel. The world is urban setting is vivid and convincing, and overlaps beautifully with an organic magic system; this is what I wish more urban fantasy would be. It has a diverse cast, and, while it engages some predictable YA/diversity tropes, the antagonist is clever and cumulative effect is rewarding. But while I admire Shadowshaper, it never went above and beyond for me—I liked the protagonist, but never grew attached to her or any of the cast; the romance underwhelms, and the plot is predictable. Still, a solid and engaging work; I recommend it.
Author: Daniel José Older
Narrator: Anika Noni Rose
Published: Scholastic Audio, 2015
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 300
Total Page Count: 207,185
Text Number: 631
Read Because: reading PoC, multiple recommendations, audiobook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: At her ailing grandfather's insistence, Sierra begins to unravel the mystery surrounding her family's ability to instill art with spirit energy. This is a short, dynamic novel. The world is urban setting is vivid and convincing, and overlaps beautifully with an organic magic system; this is what I wish more urban fantasy would be. It has a diverse cast, and, while it engages some predictable YA/diversity tropes, the antagonist is clever and cumulative effect is rewarding. But while I admire Shadowshaper, it never went above and beyond for me—I liked the protagonist, but never grew attached to her or any of the cast; the romance underwhelms, and the plot is predictable. Still, a solid and engaging work; I recommend it.
