Shadows

August 1, 2013
Mysterious Rafa arrives, putting everything and everyone 18-year-old Gaby knows at risk. Following a brutal car accident and the death of her twin brother, Jude, Gaby settles in a small beachside town in Australia, hoping to recuperate. Unfortunately, sleep brings brutal dreams, filled with death, hell-beasts and a mysterious guy with green eyes and a wicked sword. When the stranger shows up in the real world claiming to know details about Gaby and Jude that she cannot remember, she is both intrigued and furious. Rafa is hardly trustworthy, but when other strangers arrive and abduct Gaby's roommate, he may be her only ally. While they plan a rescue, Rafa tells stories of fallen angels and their offspring, the Rephaim. He claims there are nearly 200 half-angels, among them himself, Gaby and Jude. This familiar story of otherworldly creatures walking unnoticed among humans is at best frustrating and at worst ghastly. Some gravitas is attempted by including quotes from ancient Judeo-Christian texts, but any spiritual or historical value is quickly lost in the avalanche of profanity, sex and gore. The inclusion of graphic torture scenes might make even the most ardent paranormal-romance fan think twice. Generic and grisly. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

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October 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Gaby has survived almost a year since the car accident in which her twin brother, Jude, was killed and she was severely injured. She's put together a quiet life for herself, living in a small beach community where she shares a little cottage and works in the library. But she suffers from violent nightmares that make no sense. When a character from her dreams appears in real life, Gaby's world is turned upside down. Rafa claims that he, she, Jude, and many others are Nephilim (briefly mentioned in the Old Testament and in the Book of Enoch), the offspring of fallen angels who chose to leave heaven and mate with mortal women. As more and more Nephilim start to appear in Gaby's life, it becomes clear that she's in the middle of a battle between two warring groups. At a disadvantage due to a lack of memories of her life before the accident, she has no way to know whom to trust. With the violence of her dreams invading reality, it becomes evident that her life depends on figuring that out. And the suggestion that Jude may still be alive provides the motivation Gaby needs. This fast-paced first novel, with its mix of realism and the paranormal, is a gripping read, and the occasional Australian slang shouldn't trouble American readers.-Nancy Silverrod, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
After learning that her fuzzy memories of a normal life with her deceased twin brother Jude are cover for their real past as the demon-fighting offspring of a fallen angel, Gaby allies with dangerous stranger Rafa to uncover her real memories and unravel the mystery of Jude's death. Gaby's self-discovery is a compelling arc, and her chemistry with Rafa will draw readers.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 23, 2012
In Shadows, Gaby is recovering in Pandanus Beach from a car accident that left her severely injured and killed her twin brother Jude. At a local bar she meets Rafa, who tells stories about his time with Jude that she can’t make sense of—until Rafa tells her something that explains everything and nothing: she is the daughter of a fallen angel. While the plot of Shadows is a little complex and requires a fair amount of concentration, the characters are great. Gaby's character is well rounded and she seems to be a perfectly normal teenage girl, until we find out she’s actually incredibly special (every teenage girl’s dream). Her best mate Maggie is supportive and kind, and Rafa is roguishly charming and can kick some serious arse. I don’t think this is the best angel book on the market, but it is a notable addition to the genre. I loved that it was recognisably Australian, albeit with a European flavour (the angel children—the Rephaim—have their headquarters in Europe). This book is particularly suited to girls in their older teens and women in their early 20s, but not any younger, as there are some adult themes.

 Jessica Broadbent is a qualified librarian and a former bookseller