Eliza's Shadow by Catherine Wittmack

By: Anonymous on Saturday, March 30, 2013

Title: Eliza's Shadow

Author:  Catherine Wittmack

Published:   May 26th 2012 (first published March 26th 2012)

Page Count:  332

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal (with some Romance)

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Eliza Gowan's past has come back to hunt her. Since her mother's mysterious disappearance, Eliza has enjoyed a quiet life under the care of her aunt in the sleepy town of Port Rune. But the moment magnetic Ren Alden appears in her high school classroom, Eliza is thrust into the exciting world of magic and the path of danger. Menaced by an otherworldly enemy, Eliza embarks on a quest to solve the mysteries of her past and end the hunt for good.

My Review:

5 big honkin stars. That’s what I’ve got to give this book. 5 big stars. Bolded, underlined, italicized, 72pt font stars.

This is a mellow story. It is the captivating, well written storytelling that keeps you coming back, rather than action sequences stacked end on end. This story is very skillfully told with an amazing cast to round it out. It is an enchanting tale of self discovery and growing up with an enticing supernatural twist.

It is also extremely well written, flowing seamlessly from one section to the next. Wittmack builds a world that you can envision easily. Everything is clearly and logically laid out while keeping the reader captivated and satiated.

Wittmack uses a different, culturally based take on magic that doesn’t look towards the stereotypical pagan rites. It adds a uniqueness to this story that many authors don’t bother to look for. It is also an all encompassing view of magic. It’s not about wands, pointy hats, and capes. It takes the various different aspects of magic and combines them in a very down to earth, culturally based way to create a unified picture.

I really like how the author tells about the characters’ past in dreams and nightmares that also serve as a message for the main character. It helps keep the storyline flowing in a forward motion. She also incorporates theories and practices right into the storyline. By doing this, Whittmack has tactfully avoided long, drawn out narratives while still providing all necessary details.

I appreciate that Wittmack took the time to develop all aspects of her characters. All of the characters in this novel are real people. They are strong people, but also have self doubt. It makes them seem all the more realistic. They also have rich family histories that serve to enrich the storyline. I also appreciate the fact that these characters embrace their heritage, rather than trying to run from it. I was sad to see the characters go at the end, and am hoping that I get to encounter them again in the future.

Buy your copy online here today!