RATING: 4.5/5
It’s been quite a long time since I’ve written a review of
any sort, so I figured that diving into a sure thing would be the best possible
way to reacquaint myself with the process. So I chose a book by E.J. Stevens.
Why?
Because for me, E.J. Stevens is pretty much the definition
of a sure thing.
I’d read Stevens’ Spirit Guide series years ago, and
given how much I appreciated the furthering adventures of young Yuki Stennings
and her odd penchant for smelling the things dead people wanted to show her, I
figured that Shadow Sight would offer me more of the same.
I was only sort of right about that.
Shadow Sight, which follows Ivy Granger, another
quirkily-named and supernaturally-gifted protagonist, wasn’t totally what I
expected. It isn’t stereotypically Young Adult—all the main characters being
are in their mid-twenties, and there are many very adult references that snuck
their way into the text—yet still carries that prevailing “innocence of
discovery” that marks a lot of YA literature. Only is goes way further.
Ivy’s a psychic detective, you see, operating (with the help
of her assistant/best friend Jinx) out of the fictional coastal city of Harborsmouth .
The location itself is where we find the most separation from traditional YA
fare. Harborsmouth is chock-full of fantastic creatures, a veritable fae
nesting ground that every mythical beast, from hobgoblins to vampires to
succubi to kelpies and selkies, call home. Myths are effortlessly blended from many
different areas of the world, and many religious/spiritual beliefs, as well. This
is some epic world-building, with Stevens seemingly calling on the Lovecraftian
constructs of Innsmouth, Arkham, and Dunwich—places where the barrier
separating the real world from the fantastical one is thin at best.
The painstaking way Stevens builds her world does tend to
bring with it the one and only fault I can see in this book, in that
descriptions placed in the middle of character interactions can occasionally
make the communication feel clunky, full of stops and starts. However, this is
really a minor critique, as, just like with Spirit Guide, the author
demonstrates an adept talent for dialogue, and these instances are the
exception rather than the norm.
The plot itself was surprising to me, much grander than I
expected, with far more at stake. The action is descriptive and raw. When there
is loss and horror to be seen, the reader does indeed see it, though there is
care demonstrated here as well, a sort of sensitivity that would allow even a
sensitive booklover reach the end without becoming revolted.
But the place where Stevens really shines is her characters.
Ivy is front and center, of course, a somewhat hesitant heroine who, because of
the volatile nature of her “gift” (she sees visions of the past whenever
touching an object—any object—with her bare flesh), has become riddled with
phobias and prone to irritation. Which makes her both fresh and very
believable. Every character Ivy interacts with, from Jinx, to her ancient
witch/mage-friend Kaye, to the unfortunate juvenile troll Marvin and Kaye’s
house goblin Hob, has their own distinct personality and way of speaking. Each
is a joy to read, and made turning the page that much more of a pleasing
experience.
Click on the following links to purchase Shadow Sight:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
ITunes
Kobo
