Review of The Shade of Highfall

[Inge Neumann]

[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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The Shade of Highfall follows the life of Shrew in the kingdom of Highfall. Shrew is a street urchin who lives in the Low Reach, the poor area of Highfall. Forced to steal to survive, Shrew is finally captured by the city guards and sent to a workhouse. After a failed escape attempt, Shrew is sent into the City's sewers to unblock some of the passages. As she ventures into the dark tunnel, she comes across a peculiar knife. The knife seems to have a will of its own and bonds with Shrew. As Shrew unblocks the tunnels, the tunnels flood. Thought to have drowned, Shrew manages to survive and is taken in by the secret order of the Silent Knife. Over the next few years, the Silent Knife grooms her to become a member. At the same time, a group of priests from the Crimson Sect request to build a temple for their God. Blinded by the wealth the priests offer the king, the king and his advisers readily agree. The priests slowly gain followers and power within the kingdom and plot to summon creatures from the Void. The summoning threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Shrew, ever the trouble maker, explores the secret passages under the kingdom known as the Everdark. Her knife guides her deeper into the old fey city, Quinestra, where she encounters foul creatures brought about by a necromancer. The knife assists her to escape. In thanks, Shrew allows the spirit within the knife to return home. After surfacing from the Everdark, Shrew informs members of the Silent knife of what she has seen. Together they rally forces to stop the necromancer and the priests from summoning evil from the Void.

From the start, I was captivated by this book. Mark O'Dell has managed to create a fantastic world with enchanting characters. The main focus of the book is Shrew's journey. I liked Shrew's character. Sometimes she was portrayed as fearless and strong but she also had moments of weakness. There are different perspectives from other characters that add to the overall plot. I enjoyed journeying across Highfall and exploring the underground tunnels known as the Everdark. Although, the Everdark can be a harrowing experience when the dead come knocking. I appreciated the extra effort of the glossary at the end. It is always a bonus to have short descriptions of people, places and things as a reference. I hope that there is a sequel in the works. I would like to know what adventure Shrew goes on next and if there is any possible romance in her future.

This book was a great read. With any good book finding negative aspects can be a challenge. Maps of Highfall and Rathasia would have been nice to have.

I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was well edited. This is a fantastic fantasy adventure book where you encounter the fey and other magical beings. There are layers of history within the kingdom of Highfall and hidden cities below its depths. This book captures the imagination and spirits you away on a nail-biting adventure.

This book is suitable for young adults or anyone who enjoys a good fantasy. There are some battle scenes described in the book as well as some profanity.

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The Shade of Highfall
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[MsH2k]

This does sound like a fantastic fantasy adventure. Hopefully there will be a sequel--it would be a shame to have this great world-building end with one story. Thank you for an excellent review!