The Shadow Magic trilogy is a fantasy series written by Joshua Khan. It consists of three books: Shadow Magic, Dream Magic, and Burning Magic. The series follows the adventures of a young boy named Thorn, as he discovers his extraordinary abilities and battles against powerful enemies. In the first book, Shadow Magic, we are introduced to the kingdom of Gehenna, where magic and darkness reign. Thorn is just an ordinary boy, living in the slums of the city, until he stumbles upon a plot to overthrow the kingdom's rulers. Thorn must learn to harness his unique shadow magic and join forces with a group of outcasts to save Gehenna.
Thorn must learn to harness his unique shadow magic and join forces with a group of outcasts to save Gehenna. The second book, Dream Magic, sees Thorn and his friends leaving their homeland to travel to the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, where they hope to find allies against the dark forces that threaten Gehenna. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous landscapes, face dangerous creatures, and confront their own inner demons.
THE NATURE OF WITCHES
Weather witches confront climate change in this fantasy.
Clara Densmore is her generation’s sole Everwitch and is unwilling to embrace her powers. Unlike the male and female autumn, winter, spring, and summer witches, whose powers peak during their respective seasons, Clara thrives year-round. At the Eastern School of Solar Magic in Pennsylvania, 17-year-old Clara shuns friendships and only does short-term flings, as her love can be lethal and has already killed her parents and best friend. Losing her powers seems like the selfless solution, but nonmagical shaders have pushed the planet too far with their environmental destruction. Seasonal witches are starting to die amid accelerated natural disasters—and only Clara can save the world. A budding romance with magical mentor/visiting botany student 18-year-old Sang Park from California helps Clara bloom. Redheaded, blue-eyed Clara is cued as White, and Sang is Korean American—but race, class, and other identity-related concerns are rarely a factor in this world. Debut author Griffin unfortunately fails to breathe new life into chosen one fantasy tropes—the obligatory villain, the unavoidable romance, the overly dramatic sacrifice—but excels at lush and lovely descriptions of nature and the weather and delivers a stern, if heavy-handed, message about environmental consequences of modern living.
A slo-mo environmental disaster story. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72822-942-3
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
Categories:Share your opinion of this book
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In the final book, Burning Magic, Thorn and his friends return to Gehenna to confront the true source of evil and bring an end to the darkness that has plagued their world. As they battle ancient and powerful sorcerers, Thorn must embrace his destiny as a wielder of shadow magic and make a choice that will impact the fate of Gehenna. Throughout the trilogy, Joshua Khan creates a vivid and immersive world, filled with unique creatures, powerful magic, and complex characters. The story explores themes of friendship, bravery, and the struggle between light and dark. The Shadow Magic trilogy is a thrilling and enchanting series that will captivate readers of all ages. With its rich world-building, fast-paced plot, and compelling characters, it is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure..
Reviews for "The Journey of Self-Discovery in The Shadow Magic Trilogy"
1. Susan - 2 stars - I found "The Shadow Magic Trilogy" to be quite disappointing. The plot was slow-moving and lacked depth, and the characters were underdeveloped. I also couldn't connect with the writing style, as it felt too simplistic and juvenile for my taste. Overall, I was expecting more complexity and intrigue from a fantasy trilogy, and unfortunately, this series fell short.
2. Mark - 3 stars - While "The Shadow Magic Trilogy" had an interesting premise, I felt that it failed to deliver on its full potential. The world-building was minimal, and I struggled to visualize the magical realm the story was set in. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with moments of excitement followed by long periods of stagnation. I also found certain plot twists to be predictable, which took away from the overall enjoyment. While the trilogy had its moments, it ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Shadow Magic Trilogy," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The main protagonist lacked depth and often made questionable decisions that didn't make sense to me. The romantic subplot felt forced and added little to the overall story. Furthermore, the magic system wasn't well explained, leaving me confused about its limitations and rules. Overall, I found the trilogy to be lackluster and wouldn't recommend it to fantasy enthusiasts looking for a captivating and well-developed series.
4. Michael - 2 stars - As an avid fantasy reader, I was sorely disappointed by "The Shadow Magic Trilogy." The writing seemed amateurish and lacked polish, with inconsistent world-building and dialogue that felt stilted. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their motivations were often unclear or nonsensical. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of dull exposition followed by rushed and unsatisfying conclusions. Overall, this trilogy failed to engage me, and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy readers seeking a more immersive and well-crafted story.