Review of The Shade of Highfall

[Kayla Falk]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Shade of Highfall" by Mark O'Dell.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Ancient forces stir in long-forgotten fey cities deep beneath the surface of the earth. A cult of necromancers is poised to unleash their dark god upon the world. Corruption spreads through the ruling council of the great city of Highfall.
But none of this matters to Shrew, an orphan child living on the streets and stealing to survive in the poorest section of the city. Inevitably, she is caught and forced into a miserable life of servitude in one of the city’s workhouses. Her future looks bleak and all-too-short, until the day she is sent down into the sewers, where she discovers a magical fey dagger that holds within it the key to stopping the crazed cult and unlocking the secrets of Shrew’s own past.

The Shade of Highfall: The Tale of Shrew by Mark O’Dell is a fantasy novel that follows the life of Shrew as she develops the deadly skills of a master assassin and grows into a formidable woman who, along with a group of inimitably gifted companions, finds herself on a quest to save the world from eternal darkness.

The book is well-written and done so in such a way that the characters and scenes really come alive for the reader. You can’t help but love (or hate!) each and every character, and the level of detail given to each setting makes you feel as if you are right there with Shrew, whether she is thieving in the streets and alleys of The Duns, delving into the ancient mysterious city of Qinestra, or riding through the fey-touched Gloamril Forest. The author includes a map and a very detailed glossary, with descriptions of the unique people, places, deities, and even the various currencies and seasons of the land of Sillaesia.

There really isn’t a single thing I didn’t love about this novel. It builds slowly in the beginning, but that just gives you more time to get to know and fall in love with the characters and immerse yourself in the vividly enchanting world created by O’Dell.

I very enthusiastically give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I got lost in this story and never wanted to reach the end. I can’t wait for the sequel!

I recommend this book for readers 14 and older, due to some violence and sexually suggestive scenes. The Shade of Highfall is a must-read for lovers of the fantasy genre.

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The Shade of Highfall
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