Shadows

James Whistler #2

by Jonathan Nasaw

Formerly an agent in the dreaded Romanian secret police, Aldo Striescu is determined to find and destroy wealthy Jamey Whistler, who is secretly a vampire and who can only be saved by Selene, High Priestess of Wicca. 12,500 first printing.

Genres: Vampires, Horror, Paranormal, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Jonathan Nasaw is the acclaimed author of Fear Itself and The Girls He Adored, both Literary Guild Selections. He lives in Pacific Grove, California.

Series:
* E.L. Pender
* James Whistler

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of likes here, especially the strong women characters. I could have easily zipped through the pages but they were worth savoring. It's still Juneuary in Vancouver and there's nothing better than a good read to pass the time.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

yep, i am a completist... since i read the first of the James Whistler books, i therefore felt compelled to read the follow-up... more of the same, nothing super, just bloody vampires and all that went along with that in the glorious 90's...

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first in the duo, The World on Blood, but if you liked that one, then there is plenty in here to like as well. Still lots of sex, blood, murder and other unsavoury behaviour...

I did like that this one was a tale of Selene (and Whistler). She was a character that really piqued my interest in the first book and I'm glad that Nasaw felt that she had more to give the reader.

I also liked that it wasn't a rehash of the first book's characters, although there were pop-up moments with many of them. These added another layer to my enjoyment of the book, without detracting from the main story.

My main criticisms of the story came through the pacing: I found the speed dropped off considerably in the middle of the book, usually in the scenes with Martha and Aldo, and I wasn't too thrilled with the final 'tying up ' of the Whistler/Selene relationship. I get why it had to end that way, but I'm in two minds as to whether I would have preferred the alternative or not.

No, it is best as it is, but I'm not sure if it is as satisfying as I wished it to be for an ending. I also thought that there could have been less of Aldo in general and more of other characters such as Granny Weed and the Luzan scenes, and of the relationship between Whistler and his father.

However, my thirst for more of Nasaw's take on vampiric lore was satiated.

[Emily Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first novel of his, and I thought his take on vampires was different and interesting. The story was tight and well done, and Selene made a wonderful narrator. I loved Jamie and was rather disappointed that they didn't get back together in the end, but with all their history it was totally believable that there were later "encounters" left to our imagination. The villain was both appropriately creepy and ultimately pitiable. This is one of the "read it over and over again" books that I am very pleased to have found.

[Alyessa Rideout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely kills emotionally! Everything from the first book is lost and it’s just so sad. I did love the ending though. It was bittersweet and everything was sealed up nice and tight. My heart still breaks for Lourdes and Cora though.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2000. Revenge from a vampire hitman.

[Veronica-Lynn Pit Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows is the sequel to The World On Blood. It works very well as a stand alone novel, but having the background of TWOB just makes for a richer experience. While TWOB focused on the vampires and featured a varied cast of characters, Shadows focuses primarily on the Wiccan High Priestess Selene; who happens to be my favorite character from TWOB and a very strong female lead- (Selene kicks ass).

Shadows starts off right about where TWOB left off and follows Selene on her crisis of faith which results in her taking the Fair Lady test to see if she is really a "witch who will fly" or an "ither who will die". Selene is most definitely a witch and when she flies she learns that she and her dear friend, former lover and vampire - Jamey Whistler are the targets of a vampire assassin with a penchant for pyromania and asphyxomamia.

The rest of the book is a fast paced grand adventure with Selene crisscrossing the globe and endeavoring to save the day and the lives of her loved ones; and in the process finding her path and resolving her spiritual crisis.

The story dragged a bit towards the end but then picked up again for a satisfying conclusion. I would note that while I don't really know allot about the Wiccan religion, I suspect Nasaw plays fast and loose with it relying on lurid (and inaccurate) stereotypes of witches reciting the Lord's Prayer backwards at their sabbats, and orgies...lots and lots of orgies.

Overall entertaining and really fun.

[Liriope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. If you've read and liked The World on Blood or any of his other works you will probably like this. I think it's a little more funny and lighthearted than The World on Blood, but in a kind of dark way.

It's a mature/adult novel-no Harry Potter/Twilight stuff here. If you're interested in plausible, realistic vampire settings this is a good one.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not at all what I expected. Nasaw writes wonderfully complex physchological thrillers of which this was not. Totally bizarre with lesbian witch orgies, rastafarians, Russians, a Jamaican weed woman, a missing vampire and a randy old man/vampire. Like I said totally bizarre. It seemed to me like the author was out to shock the reader not provide a thrilling mystery.

[Allison Thurman]

For a certain percentage of humanity, alcohol is an addictive
substance. At the beginning of this series, everyone is part of VA.
Then, things get complicated.

[Finn · Rating 1 out of 5]

confusing...boring...definitly not my favourite

[Kimberley-May McGurdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little book, first I have read from this author but can honestly say that I enjoyed reading this.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another different vampire mythology. Less myth, more genetic predisposition. Enjoyed that aspect but never could engage with the characters.