Review of The Shade of Highfall
Posted: 12 Sep 2021, 22:08
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Shade of Highfall" by Mark O'Dell.]
The Shade of Highfall is a fantasy book set in the far future - the year 5121 when Earth isn’t technologically advanced, contrary to most beliefs. The author Mark O'Dell has chosen more of an old and medieval setting. It starts with young Shrew - who, as her name suggests, is a fast, quick-witted, mischievous, and calculating girl trying her best to survive in The Duns, the least desirable and most unfortunate part of the city of Highfall. Shrew is a smart veteran at stealing and escaping, which is the sole reason she has survived to turn fourteen. But as luck would have it, the next purse she steals is not an ordinary one - it has a curse placed on it, which leads to her getting caught and being sent to the workhouse- a place from where orphaned children can be hired to undertake all kinds of jobs. On one such job, she finds a dagger that contains the spirit of the ancient fey warrior - Tirriel. Over time, she forges a special bond with the female warrior.
But things are not always easy. A cult is rapidly gaining popularity by selling a drug called ‘fang weed’ - which, according to rumors, has healing and restoring properties. The high priest Cyrus Col, the leader of this cult, is a necromancer who is trying to revive an evil entity called the Master of Shades. Moreover, the possibilities of betrayal and war are increasing. All Shrew wants is to have three square meals every day. But with all the problems she got roped into, will she be able to protect the people she cares about and stop the eternal darkness threatening to take over?
I admire how the author has added details to the story, especially the description of Everdark - the huge network of underground tunnels and the remains of the fey kingdom. It makes it much easier to visualize and get engrossed in the book. Furthermore, there's a glossary at the end of the book, which you can turn to if you’re ever confused about a name or a place.
The only negative aspect of this book is that I felt the character interactions and communications were a little on the scarce side. I also had expected a considerably different climax, which probably involved more action, so it was surprising to see the events unfold. But considering the overall setting and the ending of the book, it retained its consistency, to say the least.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars as I enjoyed following Shrew and her growth. Her battles, humor, friendships, and way of dealing with problems made me cherish her a lot. I also loved her bond with Tirriel and Waylan, her mentor. I hardly noticed any grammatical errors, so I can positively say that this book is well-edited. There is little profanity and mentions of slight mature content, although nothing related to the main storyline.
I would recommend this to people who like reading stories set in a completely different universe. If you like fiction and adventure, with friendships and fantasy, then consider giving this book a read.
******
The Shade of Highfall
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Shade of Highfall is a fantasy book set in the far future - the year 5121 when Earth isn’t technologically advanced, contrary to most beliefs. The author Mark O'Dell has chosen more of an old and medieval setting. It starts with young Shrew - who, as her name suggests, is a fast, quick-witted, mischievous, and calculating girl trying her best to survive in The Duns, the least desirable and most unfortunate part of the city of Highfall. Shrew is a smart veteran at stealing and escaping, which is the sole reason she has survived to turn fourteen. But as luck would have it, the next purse she steals is not an ordinary one - it has a curse placed on it, which leads to her getting caught and being sent to the workhouse- a place from where orphaned children can be hired to undertake all kinds of jobs. On one such job, she finds a dagger that contains the spirit of the ancient fey warrior - Tirriel. Over time, she forges a special bond with the female warrior.
But things are not always easy. A cult is rapidly gaining popularity by selling a drug called ‘fang weed’ - which, according to rumors, has healing and restoring properties. The high priest Cyrus Col, the leader of this cult, is a necromancer who is trying to revive an evil entity called the Master of Shades. Moreover, the possibilities of betrayal and war are increasing. All Shrew wants is to have three square meals every day. But with all the problems she got roped into, will she be able to protect the people she cares about and stop the eternal darkness threatening to take over?
I admire how the author has added details to the story, especially the description of Everdark - the huge network of underground tunnels and the remains of the fey kingdom. It makes it much easier to visualize and get engrossed in the book. Furthermore, there's a glossary at the end of the book, which you can turn to if you’re ever confused about a name or a place.
The only negative aspect of this book is that I felt the character interactions and communications were a little on the scarce side. I also had expected a considerably different climax, which probably involved more action, so it was surprising to see the events unfold. But considering the overall setting and the ending of the book, it retained its consistency, to say the least.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars as I enjoyed following Shrew and her growth. Her battles, humor, friendships, and way of dealing with problems made me cherish her a lot. I also loved her bond with Tirriel and Waylan, her mentor. I hardly noticed any grammatical errors, so I can positively say that this book is well-edited. There is little profanity and mentions of slight mature content, although nothing related to the main storyline.
I would recommend this to people who like reading stories set in a completely different universe. If you like fiction and adventure, with friendships and fantasy, then consider giving this book a read.
******
The Shade of Highfall
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon