Review: Shadowspell by Jenna Black

Shadowspell

Author: Jenna Black

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Young Adult

304 pages

 

I’ve decided that I’ll warn you all at the beginning of this review:  Shadowspell by Jenna Black has some minor sexual content that may not be appropriate for people under the age of13.  At least that’s my opinion.  So if you are mature enough to handle material at a “Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer” level than proceed. 

Back Cover Synopsis:

“On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm.  A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?”

Summary:

Welcome back to the world of Dana Hathaway the Faeriewalker.  As you may know, her life is at risk and not only does her Aunt Grace want her dead, but so do the Queens of Faerie.  And she thought that they were the least of her worries, but no there’s always more drama.  Heroines must work excruciatingly hard to get to their happily ever after; much harder even in fantasy novels then in Disney movies.  Sadly for Dana, Black never gave her fairy-godmother.

A new danger reaches Avalon, one that even the Queens of Faerie are said to fear.  The Erkling.  Now doesn’t he sound just terrifying?  I’m afraid he’s going to irk me to death! 

The first time Dana learns about the Erkling is while at dinner with her mother and father.  She looks down off the balcony and sees a man running as if for his life.  Sure enough behind him is a herd of men dressed in all black.  The man at the front of the pack, the Erkling reaches the fleeing man and beheads him.  Right there in front of all Avalon to see, but do the police interfere?  Heck no. 

Despite Dana’s protests, her father further enforces her strict security and she’s practically bound to her safe house.  Her only way of going out in civilization is with two Finn and Lachlan.  In need of fresh air, Dana takes a trip to the grocery store.  The roar of motorcycles strikes her attention, the Wild Hunt pulls up and while the Erkling has her attention, pulls off his helmet, revealing long dark hair and a blue stag tattoo on his face.  I believe Dana even admits that he’s more attractive than Ethan (her not-boyfriend that we all know is actually her boyfriend).  The Erkling though terrifying and obviously evil, goes out of his way to assist Dana in realizing her guard Lachlan is an imposter using glamour.  Why would the Erkling want to help her?

After her run-in with the Erkling, Dana’s father tightens her security, making it impossible for her to attend Kimber’s birthday party.  She enlists Keane’s help, hoping that his rebellious bad boy bravado means that he’s an expert at defying his dad.  Finn shows up and puts a damper on Dana’s plans, sending her home but promising not to inform her father of her unsupervised outing.

Then we reach what I like to think is one of two climaxes (This one being the smaller hill on your diagram plot graph).  A girl’s day out with Kimber turns into a nightmare when Ethan sweeps into the seat beside Dana and then provokes the attention of the Erkling, arriving moments later.  The two are trapped in the middle of the Wild Hunt with no way of escaping.  Even though Ethan has every intention to keep Dana safe, he gets taken into the Wild Hunt.  Alas, poor foolish Ethan…if only he realized that keeping Dana safe required him being alive, well and by her side. 

Tossing and Turning with thoughts of Ethan, Dana realizes she must do something to get Ethan back.  So our heroine sneaks out to strike a deal with the Erkling.

What’s the pledge Dana makes to save Ethan? Does this pledge come with an even deeper hidden meaning? 

My Rating: 4 stars

I can say that I enjoyed this novel much more than I did the first in the series.  Either Jenna Black’s writing improved or I finally understood the expanse of the plot.  Nothing could have prepared me for this.  The plot is even more twisted and rooted into the darkness of the Faerie creatures and their inhumane actions. 

After reading this I’m not sure whether to be completely terrified of the Erkling or to be mildly amused at the fact that people are very stupid not to carefully word an oath.  With my imaginative mind, it is hardly possible that I wouldn’t be scared out of my wits of the Erkling.  For all I know I’ll have nightmares about him.  It’s very plausible. 

I like to think of myself as having a very mature state of mind.  Even with maturity tucked under my belt I am still a teenage girl.  I still squeal at cute boys when they say something adorable, especially in books.  Sadly, I can’t explain to you the moment at which I squealed so loud I jumped up and shook my head in non-belief, only to go back and reread that it was in fact true.  Ruining that moment for you would truly be unimaginable.  However, I can also add, I was very repulsed.

Thank goodness Keane is back!  Like I said in my Glimmerglass review, Team Keane all the way baby!  In this novel you meet a whole other side to Keane, an emotional and sensitive side.  Keane and Dana share many little moments; moments when Dana see’s hurt in his eyes or even something she wishes she didn’t see, love.  I wish Dana would just realize that Keane is way better than Ethan.  He’s a bad boy with a soft side (whom she enjoys fighting with) that truly cares about her (and he’s actually a genuine guy under all those black clothes and occasional black polish.)  However, Ethan has had her heart from the beginning, even after he manipulated her.  Which do you like better?

Favorite Excerpt: (Just because I love Keane…)(pages 211-212)

“I’m not the type to just sit back and let other people take care of my problems for me,” I said, “I never will be.  If you think that makes it a waste of your time to teach my self-defense, than I’m sure I can find someone else to teach me.”

He winced as if I’d said something cruel.  I didn’t think I had.

“No, it’s not a waste of my time,” he admitted, hanging his head.  “The more stupid crap you get yourself into, the more you’re going to need to defend yourself.”

I made a sound between a laugh and a snort.  “Way to be tactful and supportive.  With friends like you, my enemies can just sit back and enjoy the show.”

“You’re going to give me gray hair before I’m twenty.”

I shrugged.  “You dye it anyway, so you’ll never notice.”

He cracked a smile at that.

“So, are we friends again?” I asked, holding out my hand for him to shake.

He gave me and unfathomable look, then took my hand and gave it a squeeze instead of a shake.  “Yeah.  Friends.”

He managed to say it without sounding sarcastic, and I managed to accept the words even though I knew he didn’t really believe them.”

What does the Erkling want from Dana and will she be willing to give it?  Bad boy with a soft side or manipulative heartthrob?  That’s a toughie….TEAM KEANE!