Bright Shadow

by Avi

Five wishes can save a suffering kingdom--but, as we learn in Bright Shadow , they come at a high price to 12-year-old Morwenna, who is responsible for granting them.

When Morwenna is given the gift of wizardry, she must guard the five wishes she has been granted. She must protect herself and the peasants from vengeful King Ruthvin.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Middle Grade, Science Fiction Fantasy

167 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Kogiopsis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Re-read as part of my ongoing shelf audit. Verdict: not as good as I remembered it, sadly.

I recall loving this book as a kid, but as an adult, felt like the story ended too soon and with too little explained. It centers around the idea of magical wishes passed down through millennia, with the odd caveat that the last wish comes at the cost of the user's life. The final five wishes are given to Morwenna, a 12-year-old castle servant, who is then left to wrestle with the question of what constitutes an appropriate use for them (though her hand is forced more often than not). The premise is interesting, but I found myself really struggling to understand what the point of these magical wishes is if they're not meant to be used - and it really feels like they're not, since ultimately using too many kills the user. I suppose the narrative sort of ends up being about figuring out what you would die for, but oof! That's a heavy subject for a short book targeted at young readers.

At the end of the day, an interesting concept, but not one that resonates with me anymore.

[Vickie Brannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange one. I liked Swen at the very beginning, but after a few chapters I began to wonder what Morwenna saw in him. Then I felt embarrassed for her that she was associated with him. The ending wasn't at all satisfying.

[Syvoun Evelyn Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by Avi, and is about a 12 year old girl named Morwenna, and her friend named Swen. This story is very attention grabbing, and will leave you guessing what will happen next. If you enjoy fantasy stories then I recommend you read this. In my opinion, the book is a little boring until Morwenna finally receives powers, and becomes a wizard. This is where I feel the action begins.

This story has a big plot twist that Changes everything for everyone. The king captures Swen and will hang him because he thinks Swen is the real wizard which leads to everyone thinking he is wizard when Swen "frees himself on his own" to escape the king. Both Swen and Morwenna run away from the kingdom from the king and find a small village, where Swen is also recognized to be the wizard. The village people bring out their leader who stands by Swen side to make sure the "wizard" who they feel is Swen, is safe. Until one day the leader finds out who the true wizard is, and will not let her runaway for anything. Once the king finds Swen, both Swen and the king's men are in battle when the king's men lose. Swen and the village people march to the kingdom to claim Swen's title of being the new king, where they are once again attacked, but still wins. They march up to the castle, and confronts the king, but what will happen next? To find out the end, read the story.

I gave this story a 4 star rating because I liked the story and couldn't stop reading it. This story brings a lot of tension to the reader, and that is what I like about this story. Therefore I recommend everyone to read this story if you feel this story is the type of story you would like/enjoy. This is a wonderful story that should be recognized. Just because it's a fantasy, does not mean there can't be action.

[Haleigh DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child (probably around age 9 or 10) and loved it. I found it on my shelf and wondered if it would live up to my fond memories. It did. I really enjoyed this story and I'm so glad I decided to revisit it. I'm planning on reading more of Avi's works now (even the ones I missed out on as a kid).

[Emily Masters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little weird cause it seems to take place in like medieval times but they speak in somewhat modern dialogue? Idk. Cute story, quick easy read. Probably good for 3rd+ except that there’s some straight up murder in it.

[Lisa Rathbun]

I wanted to like this story. The main characters were interesting - a young girl, a simple mule-driver, a wicked king - and the set-up intriguing. Morwenna is given the last five wishes in the kingdom; how should they be spent, especially if when the last wish is gone, so is her life? Thematically, the book deals with the power of belief; is it the wishes that are important or only the BELIEF in them?



However, in the end *SPOILER* Morwenna acted selfishly. Swen gave his life for her, but she wouldn't do the same. It was highly unsatisfactory to me. Because "she is the wish", she MUST live. But to the people, when the Wizard died, didn't hope or belief die, even though the king was gone? What was her purpose in just staying alive? It just comes down to selfish self-preservation to me. Of course, the author had backed himself into a corner because what else could he do with Swen who would continue all his life to act in dangerous ways because he erroneously believed that he had the wishes.



There are much better books out there about using the power of wishes. I like "Jackeroo"; is Jackeroo an individual man or just the embodiment of what the people need? Can anyone be Jackeroo? Also "The Last Unicorn" has interesting things to say about wishes and love and sacrifice. Both those books are for an older audience than "Bright Shadow" but that also is part of my dissatisfaction with "Bright Shadow." The simple plot and easier reading level puts it into the hands of younger children, and I think the eventual message is at best ambiguous and at worst selfish, a message 4th graders do not need to be reading.

[Xyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb on the back cover lead me to expect a very different story.

Morwenna was a very interesting character. A scullery maid in the castle, Morwenna can not help but stop to help an old man she finds hurt in the entrance hall of the castle. That is when her life changes. She now has a secret she can tell no one for fear of her life.

Her best friend is a boy who drives a mule cart between the village and the castle. He is nice but annoyed with Morwenna and her penchant for riddles. He can't figure them out and feels that she thinks less of him because of it; so he gets mad and then arrogant.

This is a really strange story of uprising and overpowering an oppressive leader who is greedy with power and a tyrant.

I never really connected to Morwenna or the story. I read it floating above everything.

The most amusing part had nothing to do with the story, but with the printing. I got to the end of page 103 and the next page just didn't seem to fit. The printer had re published pages 73 - 103 where 104 should have been. This happens from time to time - while distracting, it makes me chuckle.

Overall, I liked the story, but expected more and did not get it. I have enjoyed Avi's books in the past and will probably read more, but will approach them more cautiously.

[Lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry. I didn't like this book as much as I did the other books of Avi. Sadly, is has now become one of the list of books that I really hate to read, mostly because I felt like that the end could have been written better. I think it's just me thought.

Other than that, the idea of Morwenna, a plain old girl, receiving the highest luxury of 5 wishes is a simple, yet thrilling idea. The mysterious, hidden voice that urged her not to use up all the wishes was an interesting conept. This gives the book suspense and keeps you on edge on what troubles may come up to Morwenna.

The reason why I didn't like this book was how I could have thought better ways to instantly solve the problems at hand. But that would get rid of the flaws that make a story in a book a book, no? I have only read this book twice, and this was when I was in 5th grade.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book by the time I was done. It looked interesting, a girl ends up with all the power of wishes for her kingdom . She can only use them for others and not herself. But over the years they have diminished so she only has 5 left. A great premise for a book, and all sorts of potential for her to learn how to wisely choose her wishes and become aware of those around her. Except she doesn't.
*spoiler alert*
She doesn't learn a thing. She recklessly uses the wishes in the heat of situations and doesn't seem to learn from each experience. She runs away from responsibility and in the end, because she will die when the last wish is used, she lets her friend die and leaves to protect herself.
Very disappointed in what could have been a great story.

[Cognatious Thunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a wobbly tooth, as a child I couldn't leave this novel alone. Quite frankly, I hated it. I obsessed over perfecting Morwenna's wishes, struggled with whether Swen was worth her devotion and agonized over the purpose of having unusable magic. In retrospect, it was the first novel that really made me think. True, it was mostly due to fervent dislike but not every lesson you learn in life is comfortable, nor teacher enjoyable. Anyways, during this reread I better understood why I had found it to be so compelling in the past, despite its flaws.

[Romie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Avi book that I have not liked. It’s an interesting idea, but the characters are very flat to me. It’s like he had an idea for a book and quickly wrote it down, but it needs some fleshing out. Morwenna is the best character as Avi’s strong female, but even she seems inconsistent and I don’t quite understand her.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be 4 stars because, the begginng started out not making sense. But the book's Chronilogical order made sense because towards the end, things from begginning. So the book was great.

[Kristyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read

[Alex Roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old favorite and definitely formative in my reading and writing preferences, but upon reread I was frustrated at how little Morwenna got to do in...her own book.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a strange story - didn't like the ending.

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avi’s Bright Shadow centers on Morwenna, a twelve-year-old who suddenly inherits the burden of five magical wishes, each of which has the power to alter her kingdom’s bleak reality. At first glance, the premise is rife with opportunity: a tyrannical king named Ruthvin holds the people in his grip, and Morwenna’s chance to influence their fates stands out as a beacon of hope. Yet the novel’s execution never fully realizes its potential, leaving readers with a story that, while pleasant, fails to delve deeply into its most intriguing elements.

From the outset, Morwenna’s inattention to the finer points of wish-granting underscores both the childlike nature of her character and the briskness of the narrative. She knows she only has five wishes and a directive to use them wisely. Tension arises as she attempts to balance her responsibility to the oppressed peasants and the danger posed by King Ruthvin. However, the story’s middle-grade writing style sometimes clashes with the more mature decisions Morwenna must make, creating an odd dissonance in tone. While this could have been an opportunity to explore her inner turmoil more extensively, the novel remains surface-level, racing through plot points without fully fleshing them out.

At just over 160 pages and written in a straightforward style, Bright Shadow can be read swiftly—likely in under two hours for a reasonably quick reader. This brevity makes it a potential fit for those with more advanced tastes but a lower reading proficiency, or for readers who enjoy Avi’s other works and seek a shorter fantasy tale. Nevertheless, the novel may not strongly appeal to older middle-grade or young adult readers looking for a deeper or more complex fantasy.

Despite these shortcomings, Bright Shadow offers a glimpse into an enchanted world of wishes and responsibilities, serving as a decent if not outstanding option for a quick fantasy read.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounding down because I wanted more whimsy!

I've had this sitting on my shelf for a long time and finally picked it up. I loved the premise — the kingdom's had 1,000 wishes gifted to a wizard who used some and passed them on to the next wizard and so on and so on over millenia. Well the wizard is dying and he has 5 wishes left. He tries to pass them on to the king — but the king's a big jerk and shoves off the homeless-looking old man. A maid passes by, so the dying wizard gives her the wishes. He tells her a complicated poem that roughly says, you can't use them on yourself and you can't tell anyone you have them and when you use the last one you'll die. And then he poofs into a pile of dust!

Ok so now this maid, Morwenna, is all ???? what the heck did that dude say to me that was weird. And uses her first wish to save a friend (who's accused of being the wizard) from death. And so now everyone thinks HE'S the wizard. Meanwhile, she tries to tell people multiple times about what happened but a mysterious voice reminds her not to do that (and annoyingly, this happens CONSTANTLY! like girl, just stop!).

I wanted more from this — instead we mostly get a girl protecting a dumb boy who thinks he's amazing but he's actually not. Also, unsurprisingly she wastes a lot of her wishes in not clever ways!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was surprisingly deep and dark, and a incredibly interesting take on magic, wishes, and inheritance of powers. Morwenna wrestles with some serious moral issues, and I thought the way Avi wrote her metaphysical interactions with her new magic was filled with great, almost terrifying imagery.

Unfortunately, Swen was an insufferable character, and like many other reviewers, I wondered why Morwenna even bothered with him. I understand what Avi was going for - propping up Swen as the figurehead for a movement, with Morwenna the power behind him, burdened by her own silence - but yikes, what a boring cad.

Also, how did no one except for Morwenna realize the beggar was actually the king in disguise - do people not know the face of the tyrant they are trying to overthrow? I was left unconvinced by that particular plot point.

Honestly, it was a really good book. More of a 3.5, rating wise. It definitely kept me riveted from start to finish.

[Panda2778 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was originally supposed to read this book in Fifth grade. I had been assigned to do a book report over it. Honestly, I didn't bother and didn't get a good grade. The book was so boring to me that I just never finished it.

Now, over three decades later, I finally forced myself to finish it.

It's a quick read- just over 3 hours on audio. But it's still boring. I honestly could have chopped out two hours in the middle and been perfectly good. The beginning is interesting, and the end is fine. Trudging through the plodding plot in the middle isn't great.

As a kid, I was an avid reader. My favorites were adventurous science fiction or fantasy stories, so this one should have been an easy sell for mini-me. Unfortunately, I guess we had the same ideas about this book. Then, I couldn't find the motivation to finish it. Now, I had a difficult time staying awake and focusing on the story. You didn't miss much, Kid.

[Fei Fei]

Reread this (when I definitely should've been studying) because something dug it out of the deepest pits of my childhood memories, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. For a children's book that's under 200 pages, it has surprisingly solid characterizations and themes. I remember, as a little kid, there were so many things I just couldn't understand or appreciate about the story, but as an adult, I'm underwhelmed by the simple language and rushed plot. So I'm not sure if the author accomplished what he set out to do, but I can see why this book stuck buried in my subconscious for almost 2 decades.

[Shayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished it so that's why it doesn't get a zero star review, but this was the most simple book with the worst characters- unless there is some hidden meaning I'm just not getting. Readers now days expect brave, complex characters. It doesn't hold up to characters like Katniss and Harry Potter. Maybe this would be an OK book for 3-5 graders. It's not exciting enough. All Morwenna does was hem and hah and Swen is a complete idiot. There could have been some bigger message about not needing wishes and saving yourself, but it doesn't even go there. Ugh! Nothing very redeeming about this book.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 5th grade and I thought it was amazing. I remember the story but no t enough to really go into detail. I remember that the main girl has the power to grant 5 wishes. The 1st she uses to free her best friend. That leads everyone to think that he has powers. The girl....Morwenna has to grant the wishes that the people of the kingdom wish. When her friend dies at the end she can't give up her last wish just to save him. She lives the rest of her life carrying around that one wish.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Bright Shadow" by Avi is a simple story. The main character is relatable as well as some of the others. It feels most like a cautionary tale about the choices we make. While the current pressures of life seem to demand everything, our principles should be our stay throughout it all, even if it seems like an impossible sacrifice.
The ending was not quite what I expected and not completely satisfying, but it fit with the story.

[Angela Tuson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a dark little book about how our choices are fueled by our understanding. I like it very much. The simple style, short chapters (like Vonnegut, one page chapters) and descriptions of situations made it a quick read. However the feeling of the book is large. I liked that the reader knows the thoughts and feelings of the principle character, Morwena, and also the thoughts and feelings of those standing near her or affected by her actions. An ideal book for read aloud and discussion.

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting little book about magic, wishes, and responsibility. Morwenna is amazing and everyone else is okay. I loved this book as a kid, and while I've kind of outgrown it, it still holds a special place in my heart.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book about the danger and power of wishes. Having a limited number of wishes made it all the more compelling. The characters were well-described and the action was non-stop from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, solid fantasy read.

[Jacque · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a fun idea, but Morwenna was not very creative or imaginative in using the wishes. I read this aloud to my kids and we all "wished" for a little more ingenuity in the magic.

[Hannah S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was super sad.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but it I did enjoy it.

[Kelli Chlum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Midnight Magic, IMHO