Review of Shadowfall

[Prashansha Gupta]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shadowfall" by David Highinson.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Shadowfall is a light journey into the life of a man where the ordinary is extraordinary and the bizarre is the norm. In a way, the book balances medieval fantasy perfectly with bitter humor and a sarcastic undertone throughout the storyline, making it interesting and fun until the end.

The narrative concept of “Shadowfall” is quite intriguing, and the plot can be described as creative. Highinson is the character that shows us that this is just another world where magic is more common than rain and where legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, among others, can be seen on the streets without anyone making a big fuss out of it. The story revolves around Grayhammer and his fearsome partner Baylor, who go through this highly summarized but unpredictable territory filled with gods, creatures, and magical races. Most of the time, the timing is good—there are quite a few fight scenes and some good laughs in between. But there are times when the pacing becomes much slower, especially during some of the expositions about the world in the story.

The main characters, Grayhammer and Baylor, are very likable except for the fact that they are opposite in almost every aspect, which makes the story much richer, and the characters are really fun at the same time. In one corner, you have Grayhammer, who is impulsive and Penn-shivering yet is quick with his words; in the other corner, you have Baylor, the muscle man whose presence is almost a guarantee of victory. In the aspect of character development, Highinson has successfully depicted these characters as real but also larger than life. The side characters, including gods and intelligent trees, are also fleshed out and contribute something unique to the plot. Still, a few side characters could have been developed further to give this story even more depth.

“Shadowfall” tells about adventures and friendship and shifts focus on when something becomes fantastic and where the line between the ridiculous and the fabulous might be drawn. It provokes minds to figure out the difference between fantasy and real life and the ability of the mind to produce fantasies that are near real. Friendship and loyalty are also the values that are illustrated in the story as Grayhammer and Baylor experience great difficulties. The two aspects are incorporated into the plot and its development well and contribute to the plot of the story.

In the case of "Shadowfall,” the editing is precise, and I could see no flaws. Organization and development of ideas are comprehensible and, consequently, the flow of the text as well.

‘Shadowfall’ by David Highinson is one of the most exciting and funny books I have read, which serves as a unique spin on the world of fantasy. In all, it is a book that combines medieval elements, fantasy, and humor, meaning that it should find many fans. Even though there are moments when the pace of the story slows down, the book is a clear example of the author’s Highinson abilities. 

A Rate of 4 out of 5 is an imposing of the plot of the story, strong character creations, and good writing. The minor points have been subtracted because of the fluctuations in the pacing and because more time was spent focusing on some of the subsidiary characters. In conclusion, I think that “Shadowfall” is a highly commendable novel.

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Shadowfall
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[Qwerty Writes]

Wow! Your review was spot on! I feel convinced to read it. I really enjoy books that have good character development and world-building that isn't cringe. It's going on my to-read list.

[NetMassimo]

Despite the flaws you pointed out, this seems like a very funny story that also offers some food for thought daring the reader to find the difference between the fantastic and real life. Thank you for your great review!