SHADOWS by Robin McKinley is an okay read for me. Maggie and her friends are very quirky with their occasionally Japanese phrases thrown in, and they really are endearing. I especially love one o of the love interests, Taks. He has a mystery behind him that catches you off guard, but a mystery that amps up the story a lot. The writing style and narrative aren't bad either. Maggie's voice becomes very real, and her thought process original and distinct. Her thoughts help keep the story interesting and funny.

However, though as nice as the characters and style are, the pacing is far too slow for me. The time span the story covers isn't that long, but it feels like it takes forever to get somewhere. The action is very slow to happen, and because of that, about the first half of the book isn't very exciting. The likability of the characters and the potential for good action makes you want to stay in the story, but it is a struggle at times. I feel like a sequel to this book would do great if it incorporates more and quicker action. I would be willing to give a second book a try with that in mind, but I don't see myself rereading the first one at any point.

SHADOWS isn't a bad read, but it might not be one to keep you flipping the pages as fast as possible. If you enjoy slow building mystery and suspense, it might be the read for you.

Book Summary