Thursday 25 March 2010

Book Review: Shadowland by Alyson Noel.

Product Details:
Publisher: St. Martin's Press.
Hardcover,368 pages.
Release date: November 17th 2009.
Ages: 13 and up
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Series: The Immortals.
Other titles in series: Evermore[1] Blue Moon[2]

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…


Shadowland, the third book in Alyson Noel’s Immortals series impressed me.  Also, I’m really glad that I enjoyed this one, because my feelings towards the previous instalment, Blue Moon, were a little lukewarm.  However, with Shadowland, Noel has really engaged my interest once again.

I feel that the focus in this novel was on the introduction of new characters.  One thing I really love in regards to  Noel’s writing is that she is very strong on character development .  That said, because of this, sometimes things do get stretched a little thin plot wise.  In Shadlowland, you’ll find that there is little plot progression until the very end of the book, but you will fall in love with characters new and old along the way.

The characters of Damen and Ever have charmed me from the start of this series.  However, in both Blue Moon, and this book, I found the character of Ever a little frustrating to say the least!   In Evermore, Ever was a very strong, independent girl.  Now she has distanced herself from most everyone around her, and seems entirely dependent on Damen in order to function.  She doesn’t confide in her friends, and has almost ostracised her aunt to the point of no return.   So, even though I love Damen and Ever, and ultimately want them to be together,  I feel that the introduction of Jude is a necessary and healthy one for Ever.  I also find the past history between Ever and Jude fascinating and hope this is explored and developed further.

I also have to given special mention to Romy and Rayne in this review.  I loved those two in Blue Moon, and was hoping we would find out more about them in Shadowland.  I was pleased to see them back in this book,  and I hope they continue to stick around.  That said, I’m not so sure about Damen as a  father figure.  I’d prefer him to be a little edgier, so  that angle doesn’t really work for me.

As you can see from my review, this book is very character driven.  Roman, Haven are Miles are all here too, and while they are in this book a little less than previous books, there is a very interesting plot twist to this book, which will ensure that both Haven and Roman feature strongly in the next installment.

Overall, despite the flaws I have mentioned, I really enjoyed reading this book. I love the characters and can’t wait to read more.


4 comments :

  1. I was undecided on reading this series, but your review is making me lean toward adding it my list. Thanks!

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  2. Thanks to you! :) I think it's a wonderful series, especially if you love young adult paranormal romance like I do.

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  3. I liked Evermore, I still haven't read Blue Moon (though I do have it). Thanks for the review though, I'll make sure I don't give up on the series if I don't like it so much.

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  4. I know quite a few people who preferred Blue Moon to this one, but for me Blue Moon didn't really work. I'll do a review of Blue Moon soon so you can see what I thought of it. :)

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