The Shadow Magic book is a highly intriguing and mystical piece of literature that delves into the world of dark and mysterious arts. It is a book that has captivated readers and scholars alike for many centuries. The book is said to contain ancient and powerful spells that harness the forces of darkness. It is rumored to be filled with forbidden knowledge that grants unimaginable power to those who possess it. However, its true origins and author remain shrouded in secrecy. Throughout its pages, the Shadow Magic book explores various aspects of the occult, including rituals, spells, curses, and summoning.
“Zestful, dynamic and addictive, Shadow Magic is storytelling at its most exuberant. Joshua Khan sweeps you up on the very first page and never lets you go. Close shaves, high adventure, wild fantasy, and giant bats — this book has it all. I haven’t had this much fun in ages. Sit back and enjoy the ride!” –Jonathan Stroud
Here is a fantasy world you will lose yourself in with Six Great Families of magic, the nicest princess of darkness you ve ever met, a peasant boy with skills to rival Robin Hood, and a supporting cast of zombies, paladins, ghost puppies, executioners, minstrels, murderers, and a giant hero bat. But it s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Throughout its pages, the Shadow Magic book explores various aspects of the occult, including rituals, spells, curses, and summoning. It provides detailed instructions on how to perform these acts, making it a dangerous and controversial piece of literature. Many believe that the Shadow Magic book can unlock the secrets of the universe and tap into the hidden energies that lie beyond our comprehension.
Review: Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
Disney Hyperion, New York, 2016.
MG fantasy, 324 pages.
Lexile: 540L .
AR Level: 4.1 (worth 11.4 points) .
NOTE: First in a trilogy.
Thorn was just trying to find his outlaw father when he got caught by slavers and was sold to executioner Tyburn of House Shadow. Lilith Shadow was never supposed to rule Gehenna, but then her family was killed.
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
I picked this one up because of this review. Initially this series didn’t strike me as particularly diverse from reading the blurb, but the author’s commentary on the Middle Eastern inspiration as well as an #ownvoice Muslim reviewer’s thoughts quickly confirmed that this was a trilogy I wanted to read.
The white-guy-being a slave part made me nervous, but it was a small part of the overall story and not poorly done. I did also wish for the House of Shadow to have more skin tone variety, but some information about House Solar covered that to my satisfaction.
Khan invests heavily in three similarly-aged characters, but only two have viewpoints in this book, which was so smart. While K’leef is a main part of the trio and the plot, his motivations and actions ultimately have to be deduced, and the novel manages to be balanced. What I didn’t love, even though I understood it, is the whole arranged-child-marriage thing. Thankfully, Lilly was not afraid to repeatedly call out how ludicrous it was and exercise her own agency to change her situation (not always for the better).
Page 249 of Shadow Magic illustrates a dramatic moment in the book.The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
Khan does a good job of parceling out all this information without doing infodumps. He uses situations, like when Thorn angers the wrong noble and the other boys point out that he’s the outsider and they need to stay out of trouble. Of course, Thorn’s isolation combined with hidden heritage make him a good target for Lily’s friendship.
Lily finds that unexpected leadership comes with many more headaches and sorrows than desired. Her arc was all I could have desired, and I especially appreciated that Khan allowed her and Thorn (and K’leef) to be equal partners. Finding out that the character was inspired by Malala Yousafzai made so much sense.
The book is divided into three sections based on the location. Most is set at Castle Gloom, with the first and last sixth in another place. Chapters are kept short and the plot is always moving even when the characters are pinned down, to the very last page! Regular full page artwork is interspersed, which is mostly excellent with a few duds. Gehenna gets a full map with lots of interesting tidbits that don’t come in to this story, and I always appreciate that in a fantasy novel. This was still middle grade, but the plot was less MG-ish than most, which made it far more interesting to an adult fantasy fan.
Pages 128 and 129 of Shadow Magic show one of the full page illustrations as well as the flipbook bat in the upper right hand corner.
The interior pages made a little flipbook of a bat flying. The book as a whole had a interesting design and I appreciated that the letterer and cover designer got cover billing, even if they and the artist, were relegated to the back cover. It has a sturdy matte cover and acceptable pages and binding, which has me perplexed – Disney Hyperion is so inconsistent with paperback quality! I ended up buying a used softcover copy of this first book for expediency and cost efficiency, but maybe I’ll look at new for the others.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Yes, this had more death and gloom than I remember middle schoolers wanting in a fantasy novel. It’s not horror exactly, despite all the murders and zombies and so on. Those are all tied up in the magic and politics of this fantasy world. I think this would work well for kids who are into the School of Good and Evil series, or fans of Hoodoo. Simply because of said murders and horror trappings (plus very mild romance) I’d put this at the upper end of MG or a high-low read for teens.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
A woodcutter’s son’s and a new queen’s paths intertwine in this debut middle-grade high fantasy.
It is said to grant its reader the ability to manipulate shadows, control minds, and even communicate with otherworldly entities. However, the use of such dark and forbidden knowledge comes at a great cost. Legends tell of those who have fallen victim to the shadows, losing their own souls in the process. It is said that the book itself is cursed and carries a dark energy that corrupts the minds of those who come into contact with it. Despite its perilous nature, many brave individuals and scholars have sought after the Shadow Magic book throughout history. Some seek its power for personal gain, while others aim to understand the depths of human existence and the forces that shape our reality. While the existence of the Shadow Magic book cannot be confirmed, its influence can be seen in various elements of popular culture. It has inspired countless tales of dark sorcery and has fueled the imaginations of many writers, artists, and filmmakers. In conclusion, the Shadow Magic book is a mysterious and alluring piece of literature that explores the realm of dark arts and forbidden knowledge. It is both revered and feared for its potential to unlock unimaginable power and change the course of history. However, its true nature remains a mystery, leaving many to wonder if it is merely a work of fiction or a dangerous source of arcane power..
Reviews for "The Sinister Side of Shadow Magic: Dark Arts and Forbidden Knowledge"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I couldn't get into "Shadow Magic" at all. The plot felt scattered and the characters were underdeveloped. The magical elements seemed forced and out of place within the story. I also found the writing style to be lacking in depth and the pacing was too slow for my liking. Overall, I was left disappointed and unengaged.
2. Alex - 1/5 - I found "Shadow Magic" to be incredibly dull and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and I didn't feel invested in their journey at all. The world-building was weak and didn't captivate my imagination. I was hoping for a gripping fantasy read, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "Shadow Magic" felt like a wasted opportunity. The concept had so much potential, but the execution felt lackluster. The pacing was sluggish, with long stretches of unnecessary descriptions and little action. The main character lacked a compelling personality, and the supporting characters were forgettable. The magic system was poorly explained and seemed inconsistent. Overall, I struggled to stay engaged with the story and was left feeling unsatisfied.
4. Mike - 1/5 - "Shadow Magic" was a complete letdown. The writing style was overly simplistic and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with the story or care about the characters. The plot meandered aimlessly and lacked any real tension or excitement. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, further detracting from my reading experience. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver on any front.
5. Emily - 2/5 - I was unimpressed with "Shadow Magic." The world-building was weak, leaving many questions unanswered and making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked direction. The characters were forgettable, and their motivations were unclear. I found myself losing interest as I read on, and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, this book didn't live up to the hype for me.