Editorial Content for Shadow Magic
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It's been quite a while since I've found myself in such a fun and immersive fantasy world. The first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series, Joshua Khan's SHADOW MAGIC tells the story of Lilith Shadow, heiress to a land that prides itself on its history of powerful necromancers Accompanying Lilith are Thorn, her new friend with a troubled past; plus a ghost puppy, a giant bat, some zombies, and a whole crew of unique and interesting characters. Lily Shadow has found herself suddenly in charge of the aptly-named Castle Gloom, an expansive citadel with a deep, "dark" history. She, Thorn, and their friend K’leef must come together to break rules and discover what they are truly made of in this fast-paced story full of exciting twists and turns.
"SHADOW MAGIC...gives depth and whimsy to themes that have traditionally been seen as pure evil in fantasy...Khan does a fantastic job of building a world that readers can get lost in."
What I appreciated most about SHADOW MAGIC is that it gives depth and whimsy to themes that have traditionally been seen as pure evil in fantasy. In SHADOW MAGIC, the Solar family, who specialize in light magic and have been the enemies of the Shadow family, often appear to be the villains of the story. It is an interesting shift that turns a traditional fantasy trope on its head --- Lily is the nicest necromancer you could ever hope to meet. Seeing the story from her perspective made living in a place called Castle Gloom, where ghosts, zombies, and extravagant Halloween celebrations are the norm, seem like fun.
Khan does a fantastic job of building a world that readers can get lost in. As much as I loved learning about Gehenna, the expansive land in which Castle Gloom and the Shadow family are situated, I'm even more excited by lands ruled by other forms of elemental magic such as light, fire, water, and earth. The promise of experiencing these worlds, along with learning more about Lily, Thorn, and their friend K'leef, has me really looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. The battle scenes occasionally felt a bit too grisly, but otherwise this novel was a joy to read. I could hardly put it down near the end. Fans of of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan are sure to find something to love in the world of SHADOW MAGIC.
Teaser
Thorn wasn't supposed to be a slave. He's been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they're headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire. Lilith wasn't supposed to be ruler of Gehenna. But following the murder of her family, Lily became the last surviving member of House Shadow, a long line of dark sorcerers. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way she can save it is by embracing her heritage. A sudden death brings Thorn and Lily together, inspires them to break the rules and leads them to soar to new heights in this fantasy with all the sparkle and luster of a starry night sky.
Promo
Thorn wasn't supposed to be a slave. He's been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they're headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire. Lilith wasn't supposed to be ruler of Gehenna. But following the murder of her family, Lily became the last surviving member of House Shadow, a long line of dark sorcerers. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way she can save it is by embracing her heritage. A sudden death brings Thorn and Lily together, inspires them to break the rules and leads them to soar to new heights in this fantasy with all the sparkle and luster of a starry night sky.
About the Book
Thorn, an outlaw's son, wasn't supposed to be a slave. He's been sold to Tyburn, an executioner, and they're headed to Castle Gloom in Gehenna, the land of undead, where Thorn will probably be fed to a vampire.
Lilith Shadow wasn't supposed to be ruler of Gehenna. But following the murder of her family, young Lily became the last surviving member of House Shadow, a long line of dark sorcerers. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way she can save it is by embracing her heritage and practicing the magic of the undead. But how can she when, as a girl, magic is forbidden to her?
Just when it looks like Lily will have to leave her home forever, Thorn arrives at Castle Gloom. A sudden death brings them together, inspires them to break the rules and leads them to soar to new heights in this fantasy with all the sparkle and luster of a starry night sky.
