Highlander: Shadow of Obsession

Highlander #8

by Rebecca Neason

One of the age-old race of Immortals, Duncan MacLeod has tried to turn his back on tradition & live his life as a mortal. But as the time of the gathering draws near, when the last Immortals will fight to the last, he finds himself being drawn to battle.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Media Tie In, Urban Fantasy, Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Clare Moseley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story about Duncan and Darius. However, I thought there was an imbalance in the flashbacks. They should've been broken up a little more and interspersed through the story. I think that's a testament to the weakness of the present-day plot.

[John Michael Strubhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of the Highlander novels that I have read. I must say that if they are all this good, I'll read all the others. The writing is good and true to the characters portrayed in the TV series. The history is meticulously researched, and that makes the story even more compelling. I will even say that the book is more enjoyable than the episodes related to the story. The show was poorly produced during much of its run. If you are in to The Game and understand that there can be only one, you will enjoy this book.

[Todd R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good highlander experience. I enjoyed this Darius expose of his war exploits and his conversion to a non-violent existence. Easily the best Highlander novel I've read...didn't want the historic segments to end. Worth the read for Highlander fans.

[Degenerate Chemist]

DNF at 75%

So many interesting things that could have been done to develop Darius's past and yet we only went with the boring options here.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been a firm believer in “an eye for an eye” philosophy, however deep down
inside I’ve held the greatest admiration for those who were more New Testament then I.
In this small (mind you, very small) way Duncan MacLeod and I are kinsmen; in that we need and
practice our revenge; however when a Darius comes around we suddenly feel like there’s
something more. Something better to aspire to.

Once again Rebecca Neason plunges Highlander into an exploration of self and morality, moving on from the peace-yearning Duncan MacLeod glimpsed in The Path to the universal-love icon of Darius. Unlike previous novels that can be picked up anyone and enjoyed without previous
exposure to the show, this novel is at last one for the true-blue Highlander fan, not
so much in that its continuity-heavy, just that the power & mystique of Darius is
intertwined so with Werner Stocker’s performance that its a must to have seen the series,
especially “Band of Brothers” and “The Hunters”. The historical segment dealing with
Darius’ previous life and his conversion is the highlight of the novel, Neason taking a character so loved by the fans and shows the early dark side referenced in the series but never realized until now. As both blood-thirsty warrior and compassionate preacher of peace, Neason forms a compete picture of the complex character that is Darius; seen through the eyes of two opposed sides of morality in Grayson and Duncan. Both Immortals have their lives changed by the elder Immortal and its clear that Duncan and Grayson are flipsides to the same coin, both forged by the same hand. Just as Darius was an inspiration of peace and hope to Duncan, Darius was also a symbol of power and destiny to Grayson; the mutual devotion of both hero and villain to the same Immortal helps carry the message that all of us are equally capable of great good or evil, all it takes is choice and perspective. Thrown into the mix is a tense opening in modern-day Sudan, an expanded recounting of Duncan’s first encounter with Darius, and solid interplay between Joe Dawson and MacLeod; with
all these various elements bouncing about its rather easy to overlook the fact that the main villain here is actually quite weak both in presence (a love-sick spoiled brat in the flashback and barely a presence in the modern bookends) and in motivation (you’d think she’d have gotten over it after the first two centuries right?) and the strength of the finale lies not so much in the situation of the present novel but the lingering remembrance of the episode which all this is spun-off from. While other novels have carried on from individual episodes before, this novel wastes no time in bringing the novice into the picture but hurls you straight into a full-throttle Highlander novel with little asides which will leave newbies scratching their heads. This is not a criticism, on the contrary it is a gasp of joy as often I’ve read portions from other novels invisibly underlined with “intro for new
readers”; not that this is a noticeably annoying problem (as it sometimes is in X-Files and
Star Trek books) but its just refreshing to read a book where the author knows that I know what she knows and well, you get the picture.

The best Highlander novel so far, a perfect continuation of the series.

[Heather's Mum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow of Obsession, by Rebecca Neason, is the seventh Highlander novel.

"Immortal" Darius, began as a fierce fictional warrior of ancient Rome. After beheading the oldest immortal, Emrys, and receiving his "Quickening," Darius became a man of peace - in fact, he became a very lovable character as a reclusive monk. Duncan met Darius at Waterloo and became his friend.

In the present, Immortal Cynthia VanDervane who was spurned by Darius before his transformation, wants revenge. Duncan must deal with the situation.

One of the best Highlanders.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a ***1/2 book but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and rounded up due to the dramatis personae involved. The writing was formulaic, albeit informative when it came to articulating the nuances of sword dueling. If this story had not given more dimension to series popular characters from Season 1, Darius and Grayson, then the writing would have been known for little more than a redux on a similar theme from Season 4's episode 'Double Jeopardy' with higher billing.

Read this story to learn more of Darius and Grayson; therein lies its satisfying value.

[Jake]

While working with one of Darius's proteges in a volunteer rescue mission in Sudan, Duncan MacLeod unexpectedly bumps into a ghost from Darius's past on a quest to destroy Darius's legacy.