Predictable plot fails to impress

Young queen communicates with the dead.

Jennifer Minicus | Jul 20 2016 | comment

Shadow Magicby Joshua Khan
written for ages 9-12 | recommended with reservations
published in 2016 | Disney-Hyperion | 336 pages

Thorn knows he should not have run away from home. Determined to find his missing father, he left home only to be captured by a slave-trader. Now he can help neither his father nor his mother and younger siblings whom he left behind.

As though his luck could not get any worse, he is soon bought by Tyburn, the executioner of Castle Gloom in the land of the undead. He is pleasantly surprised, however, to find that Lady Lilith Shadow of Castle Gloom is not a vampire, but a young girl, the lone survivor of the House of Shadow. After the recent assassination of her family, she became ruler of Gehenna and is engaged to Gabriel Solar, son of Duke Solar. The arranged marriage purports to bring peace to the warring lands, but Lily wants no part with this arrogant young man.

Thorn is supposed to work in the stables, but after an attempt on Lily's life and a confrontation with Gabriel, he becomes Lily's confidant. Now they must try to prove that Gabriel is the would-be assassin before the wedding takes place.

A fast-paced, superficial and predictable plot makes this fantasy story a quick summer read for children who enjoy action and dialogue. Not much new here, including the glorification of dark magic and communication with the dead. Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles would make a much more substantive alternative for fantasy lovers.

A former teacher, Jennifer Minicus is currently a full-time wife and mother.

For your weekend reading we have a very important article on the science of addiction -- to pornography in this case -- and how it can be overcome, plus a short interview with the author, psychiatrist Kevin Majeres.

We continue to hear how increasing numbers of men, mainly, are exposed to porn and become hooked on it. Dr Majeres, who used cognitive behavioural therapy with people who want to break with addictive behaviours and he teaches the method at Harvard Medical School. But he has also just launched a website to reach more people and has another site in the pipeline. What is most important about his approach is its optimism: it is possible to overcome these cravings, he insists.