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Legendeer Trilogy #1
Shadow of the Minotaur
This is a novel about a boy, Phoenix, the son of a computer geek who creates a virtual reality game that gets a bit too real. Phoenix becomes Theseus pursued by the Minotaur, becomes Perseus and confronts the Gorgon, and goes down into the underworld.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
36 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gibbons
165 books56 followersAlan Gibbons is an author of children's books and a Blue Peter Book Award. He currently lives in Liverpool, England, where he used to teach in a primary school. His father was a farm laborer, but was hurt in an accident when Alan was eight years old. The family had to move to Crewe, Cheshire where Alan experienced bullying for the first time. He began to write for his pupils as a teacher, but never tried to get any of his work published.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 27, 2016
This book was given to me by a teacher and it is why I got in to reading. I thought if I reread the book, it would ruin how much I used to love it when I was younger. But 12 years on and it's still as great as I remembered. Give it a go, it's nothing like i've ever read!
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December 27, 2012so far shadow of the minotaur has prooved to be a great book, aulthough within the class is a more liked book by boys not so much girls mind you i am enjoying it just as much.shadow of the minotaur is a good book and i recomend it to many people looking for a mythical adventures book.
February 19, 2021
Brings me back to what I would have read as a child. A twist of jumanji style mixed with Greek myths.
November 7, 2016
This is a really good book. I gave it 3 stars only because I'm picky with my stars and I save my 4 and 5s for really really good books! This one has got gaming, action, adventure, mystery and some Greek history all rolled into one! Even better...it's a series. It's one of this year's Battle of the Books and the author Alan Gibbons was a big hit when he visited DC a number of years ago. Check this out today!
March 18, 2009
One of my favourite childhood ones. What's not to like about it? Synthesis of video game, being sucked into video game and greek mythology all wrapped into a really readable, engaging and exciting adventure.
August 26, 2021
I found this book quite good and entertaining. It may be a childrens' book, however, anyone who likes games and isekis should check this book out.
April 6, 2024
Picked up in a holiday cottage due to the cool cover and title. It was indeed very hard to put down (as the Blue Peter award it won suggested) and was almost really awesome, but I am not a fourteen year old boy and I found the style kind of grating sometimes. Also Phoenix was pretty irritating and Laura irked me too as she sacked off her best friend for some random new boy.
The concept was pretty cool for a book written 24 years ago and if I can get hold of them I would read the other two in the trilogy.
The concept was pretty cool for a book written 24 years ago and if I can get hold of them I would read the other two in the trilogy.
September 25, 2025
Simple characters, basic story, lack of nuance. don't recommend
September 21, 2015
I’m sure all of us have wondered at some point what would happen if videogames started taking over the world – I certainly have. And look at this, it’s a videogame based on Greek mythology! Surely this book was made for me.
I totally loved Shadow of the Minotaur. There were several parts where I considered rating it five stars, and I simply loved this awesome original take on the Greek myths. It’s sort of hard to judge this book, it being the first in a trilogy, because obviously I don’t know what might be revealed and what might be tied up in the next two books. But, hey, I’m going to give it a go anyway!
Firstly, I want to talk about the writing style. Gibbons has definitely hit the mark with the way he writes. It’s so easy to read that the story flows through your head easily, and I love the way the author doesn't waste any time. If it’s relevant to the story, it’s in, if it’s not, it’s not. Simple as that.
The main character in this book is Phoenix Graves. Somehow, I found myself really liking his character, even though he could sometimes be stubborn to the point of annoyance, with all his ”I never lie” and "I forget nothing” nonsense, as demonstrated below. Nobody’s perfect, eh?
Phoenix could also be a little melodramatic at times too, like when he was talking about all that ”I am reborn!” stuff, and more than once I found myself thinking, Seriously, what is that all about? Strangely though, I never found him annoying, apart from perhaps slightly when he seemed to have a totally different personality at school and at home. I wished he would just decide if he was embarrassed by his dad, or if he admired him.
There are some parts where you can tell this book was written fifteen years ago. For instance, this impossibly revolutionary game uses discs, vibrates when your score goes up, and apparently isn't wireless! Not to mention the fact that the Graves family own a video player. I kind of felt like Gibbons went to Jupiter but missed out the Moon with his imagination – the technology is so intricate it’s ‘better than real life’ but the little things we take for granted these days are missed out!
So let’s talk about the game itself. The Greek mythology theme was epic; I enjoyed reading about familiar characters and stories and seeing how they were portrayed, and the reminders of those I’d forgotten and information on ones I wasn't familiar with was interesting and not all patronizing to the reader. I also loved the mystery of who were the makers of the game. In fact, there was a lot of mysterious things going on which were mostly only mentioned in passing or hinted to, but Gibbons never seemed to feel the need for Phoenix to keep reminding us of them to try and keep us interested – which was good because I didn't need him to!
I just wanted to point something out about this quote. I mean, it’s a really cool quote and all, but didn't you jump off a cliff and survive earlier?
I wasn't sure what to make of the whole ‘hidden voice’ thing. Let’s hope that gets explained in one of the later books. The voice seemed to be addressing the characters, yet they never seemed to react to it. Was it coming out of the PC speakers? Written on the screen? Or was it just talking to itself in its head or something??? I’m lost here!
All right, so the ending. I guess the whole ending was a bit of a letdown, the way it was so sudden. Okay, so that last line was spell-bindingly awesome, but I thought the quality of the writing just seemed to flop in the epilogue and it could have done with being at least two pages longer. It was as though the author had a limited number of pages in which he was allowed to write his book, and he was running out at the end so tried to squeeze it all in at the last second.
I would definitely recommend Shadow of the Minotaur, especially to fans of Greek mythology and possibly videogames...? Every page was a joy to read and I am itching to get the next book in the trilogy!
I totally loved Shadow of the Minotaur. There were several parts where I considered rating it five stars, and I simply loved this awesome original take on the Greek myths. It’s sort of hard to judge this book, it being the first in a trilogy, because obviously I don’t know what might be revealed and what might be tied up in the next two books. But, hey, I’m going to give it a go anyway!
Firstly, I want to talk about the writing style. Gibbons has definitely hit the mark with the way he writes. It’s so easy to read that the story flows through your head easily, and I love the way the author doesn't waste any time. If it’s relevant to the story, it’s in, if it’s not, it’s not. Simple as that.
The main character in this book is Phoenix Graves. Somehow, I found myself really liking his character, even though he could sometimes be stubborn to the point of annoyance, with all his ”I never lie” and "I forget nothing” nonsense, as demonstrated below. Nobody’s perfect, eh?
”Laura,” said Phoenix. “There’s one thing you should know about me. I never lie.”
He said it in all seriousness, so Laura’s reaction was all the more shocking. She laughed. No, that’s not quite the word for it. She gave a shrill whinny of a laugh that had half the bus staring at her.
“Sorry, Phoenix, but everybody lies.”
He stuck to his guns.
“I don’t.”
“Then you must be some sort of saint.”
Not a saint, just someone with destiny. [thought Phoenix]
Phoenix could also be a little melodramatic at times too, like when he was talking about all that ”I am reborn!” stuff, and more than once I found myself thinking, Seriously, what is that all about? Strangely though, I never found him annoying, apart from perhaps slightly when he seemed to have a totally different personality at school and at home. I wished he would just decide if he was embarrassed by his dad, or if he admired him.
There are some parts where you can tell this book was written fifteen years ago. For instance, this impossibly revolutionary game uses discs, vibrates when your score goes up, and apparently isn't wireless! Not to mention the fact that the Graves family own a video player. I kind of felt like Gibbons went to Jupiter but missed out the Moon with his imagination – the technology is so intricate it’s ‘better than real life’ but the little things we take for granted these days are missed out!
So let’s talk about the game itself. The Greek mythology theme was epic; I enjoyed reading about familiar characters and stories and seeing how they were portrayed, and the reminders of those I’d forgotten and information on ones I wasn't familiar with was interesting and not all patronizing to the reader. I also loved the mystery of who were the makers of the game. In fact, there was a lot of mysterious things going on which were mostly only mentioned in passing or hinted to, but Gibbons never seemed to feel the need for Phoenix to keep reminding us of them to try and keep us interested – which was good because I didn't need him to!
”Listen,” he interrupted. “I don’t get it either. OK, so a game’s a game, but dead is dead.”
I just wanted to point something out about this quote. I mean, it’s a really cool quote and all, but didn't you jump off a cliff and survive earlier?
I wasn't sure what to make of the whole ‘hidden voice’ thing. Let’s hope that gets explained in one of the later books. The voice seemed to be addressing the characters, yet they never seemed to react to it. Was it coming out of the PC speakers? Written on the screen? Or was it just talking to itself in its head or something??? I’m lost here!
All right, so the ending. I guess the whole ending was a bit of a letdown, the way it was so sudden. Okay, so that last line was spell-bindingly awesome, but I thought the quality of the writing just seemed to flop in the epilogue and it could have done with being at least two pages longer. It was as though the author had a limited number of pages in which he was allowed to write his book, and he was running out at the end so tried to squeeze it all in at the last second.
I would definitely recommend Shadow of the Minotaur, especially to fans of Greek mythology and possibly videogames...? Every page was a joy to read and I am itching to get the next book in the trilogy!
September 19, 2012
I thought that Shadow of the Minotaur was really well written, it was exciting, gripping and full of interesting things, like the Greek Myths that were involved. Although I really enjoyed the book, I thought that the end was a bit disappointing and puzzling. I didn't really understand the bit where Phoenix goes to the Hospital Andreas was at, and how Laura didn't come with him. It was confusing, as why would you want to go anywhere near that game? Why wouldn't she come, she endured the whole fiasco too. Another thing I don't understand is Pan. Is he good, or is he evil? Why would he give them tools if he was working for the game, I know it is to help, but wouldn't the gamemaker try to make it all as difficult as possible? Why would Pan visit Andreas, he said to Phoenix that if he won the game, he would get all the answers, and I was quite looking forward to that, but it never came. And WHAT is Glen Reede? I know it's an anagram for Lengendeer, but WHO sent the e-mails to Phoenix? I refuse to just believe that the game sent them, it is too complicated. Although all these things puzzled me, I really enjoyed how Phoenix was this really nerdy boy, but he was also an amazing hero. I'd love to see a 2nd book, to help all these things that were confusing pan out. It was a really enjoyable book. 3/5.
November 30, 2018
There’s always that fear, going back to a childhood favourite, that it won’t be as good as you remember. Fortunately, even a good 16/17 years on, I still got a real kick out of Shadow of the Minotaur.
Fun good-vs-evil adventure that reads like a love letter for fans of Greek mythology. The characters have just enough development for them to vaguely resonate, allowing the action to maintain a great canter throughout... Mind, you may give your video games a few suspicious dirty looks afterwards!
Fun good-vs-evil adventure that reads like a love letter for fans of Greek mythology. The characters have just enough development for them to vaguely resonate, allowing the action to maintain a great canter throughout... Mind, you may give your video games a few suspicious dirty looks afterwards!
May 1, 2010
One of my favourite reads as a child.
Discovered it when Gibbons visited my school. I even got the book signed!
Discovered it when Gibbons visited my school. I even got the book signed!
September 25, 2012
it was good but a bit boring!
this book sucks i wanted to go kill myself !
>>>>>>>>>>shadow of the minotaur<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
this book sucks i wanted to go kill myself !
>>>>>>>>>>shadow of the minotaur<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
January 31, 2016
Great book! I loved this when I was a kid. Good book for readers who enjoy games or Greek mythology.
August 17, 2024
This book. Me and this book have been on a long old journey. I remember the first time I read this book vividly. I must have been about 12 years old and a family member picked it up in a charity shop because they knew how much I adored Greek mythology and thought it might be something I would enjoy. I remember being enthralled, buying the second book, eager to continue on, for some reason I never finished the second one and over my teenage years where I read less and had less shelf space, decided to donate them. About 3 years ago I suddenly remembered this book but couldn't remember anything about it for the life of me except the plot and the cover. With no author or title, I scoured the internet on multiple occasions trying to find it but never did. Until about a week ago I stumbled into the most winding, maze like bookshop and after getting *actually* lost in the shelves for a while, stumbled across the childrens section in the back. All the books were lined up on the shelves apart from this one, which was staring face out like it was just waiting for me. Its safe to say that the level of excitement that coursed through me was palpable. And so 10 years later i have read it with another level of appreciati0n. I can see why this book won awards and I wish more people knew it existed. I don't think there is enough YA fiction that appeals to boys, or encourages boys to keep reading. This though, this would be one I recommend.
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September 9, 2019Alan Gibbons’ın Legeender Üçlemesi‘nden dilimize çevrilmiş tek kitabı olan Minotor’un Gölgesi 2007 yılında Encore Yayınları’nın tescilli markası olan Popcore Yayınları tarafından basıldı. Okumak ve büyülenmek için on iki sene bekledim. Minotor’un Gölgesi Çocuk-Gençlik kategorisinde yer alıyor. İçine girmek için cesaret gerektiren bir dünya.
“Emniyette olduğunu mu düşünüyorsun? Kendi dünyanın güvenli olduğunu mu düşünüyorsun? O zaman tekrar düşün…”
Minotor’un Gölgesi, kitapta onları nasıl bir canavarın beklediği konusunda önceden uyaran kapağıyla karşılıyor okurlarını. Canavar davetsiz bir misafir olarak, kitabı elimize alır almaz zihnimizdeki yerini alıyor. Kitabın kapak tasarımı Melek Koç’a ait. Teri Erbeş tarafından yayıma hazırlandı. Popcore Yayınları tarafından basılan, çevirisini Gökçenur Şehirli’nin yaptığı kitap 223 sayfa. Eserde okuru aksatan yazım ve noktalama hatalarının dışında sürükleyici bir çeviriyle karşılaşıyoruz.
Elif Şeyda Doğan
İncelemenin tamamı: https://kayiprihtim.com/inceleme/mino...
“Emniyette olduğunu mu düşünüyorsun? Kendi dünyanın güvenli olduğunu mu düşünüyorsun? O zaman tekrar düşün…”
Minotor’un Gölgesi, kitapta onları nasıl bir canavarın beklediği konusunda önceden uyaran kapağıyla karşılıyor okurlarını. Canavar davetsiz bir misafir olarak, kitabı elimize alır almaz zihnimizdeki yerini alıyor. Kitabın kapak tasarımı Melek Koç’a ait. Teri Erbeş tarafından yayıma hazırlandı. Popcore Yayınları tarafından basılan, çevirisini Gökçenur Şehirli’nin yaptığı kitap 223 sayfa. Eserde okuru aksatan yazım ve noktalama hatalarının dışında sürükleyici bir çeviriyle karşılaşıyoruz.
Elif Şeyda Doğan
İncelemenin tamamı: https://kayiprihtim.com/inceleme/mino...
October 11, 2023
Esta fue una re lectura con aproximadamente 17 años de diferencia ya que me hicieron leerlo para el colegio (actualmente tengo 31 años)
Es un libro liviano que te adentra de una forma bastante original a la mitología griega, tiene una historia muy entretenida, pero que considero que le quedó bastante compleja al autor, ya que el libro en la mitad se torna bastante monótono y tedioso, teniendo como principales fortalezas su inicio y su cierre.
Phoenix es un joven adolescente que se acaba de mudar por el trabajo de su padre a un barrio en donde no tiene muchos amigos y no tiene mucha diversión. Esto hasta que la empresa en la que trabaja su padre desarrolla un videojuego de realidad virtual totalmente innovador que recrea el mundo griego. Phoenix se obsesiona con el juego que será más real conforme el mas lo juega.
Es un libro liviano que te adentra de una forma bastante original a la mitología griega, tiene una historia muy entretenida, pero que considero que le quedó bastante compleja al autor, ya que el libro en la mitad se torna bastante monótono y tedioso, teniendo como principales fortalezas su inicio y su cierre.
Phoenix es un joven adolescente que se acaba de mudar por el trabajo de su padre a un barrio en donde no tiene muchos amigos y no tiene mucha diversión. Esto hasta que la empresa en la que trabaja su padre desarrolla un videojuego de realidad virtual totalmente innovador que recrea el mundo griego. Phoenix se obsesiona con el juego que será más real conforme el mas lo juega.
June 4, 2024
Leído por el reto de lectura de infancia en mi mes de nacimiento.
Recuerdo que este libro me gustaba mucho de niña, en ese entonces no le encontré los hoyos argumentativos que ahora, ni cuestioné algunas de las actitudes de Phoenix, el protagonista. Realmente creo que como protagónico es carente, un tanto fastidioso y muy arrogante. No me gustaron algunos de sus comentarios con respecto a Laura y que es negra. De la misma manera que no me gustaron algunas de sus expresiones a ella, sé que es un chiquillo de 14 años, pero igual.
En fin, no me encantó, pero es verdad que como historia es lo suficientemente fuerte.
Recuerdo que este libro me gustaba mucho de niña, en ese entonces no le encontré los hoyos argumentativos que ahora, ni cuestioné algunas de las actitudes de Phoenix, el protagonista. Realmente creo que como protagónico es carente, un tanto fastidioso y muy arrogante. No me gustaron algunos de sus comentarios con respecto a Laura y que es negra. De la misma manera que no me gustaron algunas de sus expresiones a ella, sé que es un chiquillo de 14 años, pero igual.
En fin, no me encantó, pero es verdad que como historia es lo suficientemente fuerte.
March 24, 2017
This book was an amazing book. It has adventure, suspense and mystery. It is about a bullied boy named Phoenix who wants to show that he is a hero. His father starts making a virtual reality game and phoenix is his guinea pig. As phoenix goes through the intense levels he somehow feels that he is really there. I would recommend this book to anyone 10 or above since it might be a bit scary for younger readers. This book is definitely a good read.
July 30, 2019
Macera, gizem ve mitoloji. Daha faydalı bir iksir karışımı görmedim. Phoneix, senin için mutlu ve üzgünüm. Minotor'un Gölgesi bana Antik Yunan'ın büyülü dünyasının kapısını bir kez daha araladı. Bir daha dışarı çıkmak istemiyorum. Pan'la yola çıksam dahi.
November 17, 2020
Interesting subject, a combination between myth and computer technology. A fourteen hero and his allies in a race to save the world from the evil gamemaster! Very modern even after 20years, more even in this pandemic period when virtual reality gains more and more space in our lifes.
January 30, 2020
A good book for children, it’s a mix of Tron and the hunger games. However, it’s not enough deep
July 8, 2020
I'm gonna give it a 3.5, but if I was younger, which seems to be the targeted audience for this book, I may have given it more. To me it has a Jumanji vibe. Ancient Greece Jumanji. I like it.
March 3, 2022
Just wasn't for me. Didn't connect with the characters, didn't really enjoy the plot, just felt bland to me. Personal opinion.
March 13, 2022
Duck my duck tickets
May 16, 2022
Interesting concept but felt muddled. Overall not an interesting read
January 10, 2023
2.5⭐️
February 9, 2023
Read this with my Year 7 class.
A great plot, however the writing style is quite repetitive.
Would recommend it to future students.
A great plot, however the writing style is quite repetitive.
Would recommend it to future students.
January 18, 2024
Phoenix Penis
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews