The mechanics of Burtenshaw’s prose are solid, if predictable.That’s this novel’s only saving grace.Aside from the fact that the premise is ripped directly from Garth Nix’s incomparable SABRIEL—down to the exact nomenclature of Death as a river and how the Walker steps into it, feeling the tug and call of Death—the rest of the novel was nothing but backstory and head-hopping.Upon finishing it, I still had no idea who the characters were, nor exactly why certain plot points existed. Burtenshaw’s debut is rife with massive, unintentional pause-button violations and info dumps, and the head-hopping maims her weak attempts at characterization.From what I gathered, we were supposed to be in Kate’s viewpoint, via third-person limited. However, seemingly at random (although probably to make her job easier), Burtenshaw jumps into other characters’ heads. No only that, but the glimpses we get of their thoughts are so superficial, so one-dimensional, that in turn, all the characters are watered down into nothing but wooden plot devices. In the writing craft, we talk a lot about endings being earned; I think, too, characters’ thoughts need to be earned.I don’t want to know, right before the minor villain-cum-hero exacts his revenge on the true villain, what his motivation was in a few short sentences. I particularly don’t want it packaged in a sentimentalized, transparent attempt to make the reader sit back and gasp in “realization” at his actions. This is exactly what Burtenshaw does. Not only does it cheapen her characters, it deadens the tension. Overall, this novel was just one large mess of craft follies. I didn't know about this trilogy until I won the third book from a Goodreads Giveaway (I'm still waiting on the book, it's been thirty days and it's been bothering me). Since I hate reading books out of order (there was this one fiasco with Harry Potter. Just take it from me, never read a third book before reading the first. You get seriously confused), I went ahead and bought the first and second book to the trilogy. They are both here and obviously, I've just finished the first one.There is no such thing as a lull in SHADOWCRY. Only three or four days pass in the book and literally it's a nonstop roller coaster. It is very difficult to have good characterization and an in depth world in the middle of a speedy story, but Burtenshaw accomplishes it with flying colors. The world is seriously expansive with a hidden underground and political intrigue. The book is set during a war torn country in the winter time. The war turns out to be hundreds of years in the making. On top of that there's the extensive magical world that Burtenshaw added into this fantasy world. She had to have taken a lot of time to condense the world alone in under four hundred pages.Though some of the characters are so-so, the two main ones are superb. Kate is exactly what I'd envision a girl who has only known one way of life and is thrusted into the truth. She doesn't give herself time to break down and she keeps going for her goal no matter how bleak it looks. And then there's Silas. Oh, sweet, delectable, hot, Silas. He is a man of mystery. He's dark, has his own sense of honor, and is a character that you want to hate (given the circumstances of the book that I'm not going to say), but can't. He has more to him that I can't wait to learn. And, I'll be honest, I ship him and Kate all the way.And so, I am now forced to wait for my prize from the giveaway and I've decided to hold back on the second book just for a while longer. I'd hate to jump into a cliffhanger and not know what happens another month from now. Seriously, guys, it's a good book. You should pick it up and read it. You'll be done in a day or two tops.
What do You think about Shadowcry (2011)?
Well.. it was enjoyable..Loved Silas Dane.. a magnetic character he has!
—brian
The story worked, I just wasn't attached to the characters.
—dre
