Shadow Origins: A Magical Library Urban Fantasy Novel

Shelving Magic #0·5

by Nellie H. Steele

A mysterious note. A simple job gone wrong. Will the tragic turn end a librarian’s life?

When paranormal librarian Reed Moore received a strange note hinting at a problem within the world’s supernatural library network, she’s concerned. And when a routine asset retrieval goes wrong, she’s not only frightened for her life, but convinced something nefarious is pervading every library in the world.

Tracking down the thief will take all her wits and threatens to rob her of everything. With a ticking clock and threats from all sides, will Reed track down the culprit or will this be her last investigation?

Shadow Origins is the spell-binding prequel novella in the Shelving Magic series.

Buy now and immerse yourself in a magical new world.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Nellie H. Steele lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her family and her many fur-babies. When she isn't writing, she enjoys teaching Statistics at a local university or watching her dogs and cats play in the yard.

Nellie is the author of the Cate Kensie Mystery Series, a cozy mystery series following the adventures of Dr. Catherine Kensie, a history professor turned Scottish Countess, and her beloved dog, Riley, as they navigate their new lives in their quirky Scottish highlands castle, solving mysteries along the way! She is the creator of the Shadow Slayers series, a suspenseful series with a supernatural twist! Follow the Shadow Slayers through time as they fight to banish darkness from the world. Nellie also writes an adventure series, Maggie Edwards Adventures. Follow Maggie Edwards as she travels the world solving mysteries and finding unique treasures!

Check out all Nellie offers at www.anovelideapublishing.com/novels, sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news about book releases or like us on facebook (facebook.com/anovelideapublishing) to keep up with us!

Reviews

[Baylor Wetzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I haven't read the sequels. Maybe this book makes more sense if you knew the books that came after it.

The book: The only way to describe it is manic. It's only 140 pages but it jumped around. Is it a book about libraries? Mysterious phone calls? Burglars? Gypsies? The undead? Angels? Isekai? Wizards? Dragons? The Matrix? Valkyries? Conspiracies? The Mafia? Vampires? The book is all over the place, and not in an integrated way. It seems like a bunch of throw away stuff. "The dragon army has been sent to conquer the world... Meh, moving on, what do you think about time travel?" What on earth was going on?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Origins is a great prequel to the Shelving Magic series. Not only readers understand the mfc Paige's background, but the story is steeped in mystery and magic.

This was a quick little read that packs a punch. There's a magic library, creepy entities lurking, I can't tell friend from foe, there is the mystery of the missing objects, threats, murder and more. Shadow Origins has done its job and piqued my interest, I can't wait to read Shadow Beasts, the first (full length) book in the series.

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, takže Reed má dceru Paige. Nic moc jiného jsem si z tohohle mismase nestihla odnést. Ale mám v audible celý set, tak holt posloucháme dal a uvidíme, jak se ten kouzelný knihovnicky svět rozvine. 😆

[Ka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. I'll still check out the main series as this prequel book features Reed Moore, a weirdly unlikable magical librarian, whereas the main series has her daughter Paige Turner (yes, a pair of awful pun names, I agree). Why didn't I like Reed? Well, I suppose it's because when the author implies that a character is smart and competent, I expect them to behave that way, and not constantly make me say things like, "Why the fuck would you do that?!" out loud at the grocery store. (I was listening to the audiobook version.)

Typical Scenes With Reed:

DANGEROUS PERSON: why should I not murder you?
REED: Because you're fictional and I'm real! Also this teapot I have is magic and I hope you don't take it from me even though I am completely defenseless! Also blah blah blah more stuff I shouldn't tell anyone in this situation!
DANGEROUS PERSON: uh, what? now that you've foolishly piqued my interest, tell me more!
REED: Even though I already told you pretty much everything on my own, I refuse to say more now that you are threatening me with literal death!

Or how about:

FRIEND: it's dangerous to be at your house, a place we are pretty sure is compromised by the enemy! Not only can they apparently get inside any time, they also are obviously watching it and likely have it bugged! We should leave and go literally anywhere else!
REED: okay, that makes sense.
**They leave, then she has a baby on the side of the road**
REED: never mind, I want to go back to my house and not somewhere safer! Even though I now have this baby with me and want to protect her! I also mistrust everyone I know and am very obvious about it, even though if they REALLY are against me, I should probably hide my suspicions better, but I suck at that!
** Bad guys immediately threaten the baby overnight, and she is shocked by this for some reason**

And who could forget:

DOCTOR: You've just recovered from a 6-month coma, stay here in the hospital for at least 1 day
REED: I fear for my life in this busy professional atmosphere. That's not totally unreasonable after what happened, but what I've decided to do instead is literally rip out the IV and flee the hospital back to my house where I'll be almost completely alone and totally vulnerable while 8 months pregnant, and where the enemy obviously KNOWS I live since they have called me on the phone there. Why are you looking at me like I am the dumbest person alive? Also, I should be as rude and unpleasant as possible to almost everyone I interact with throughout this entire story, since I am suspicious of them and therefore, treating them like total crap will help me somehow!

The funny thing is I empathized with her in general, and the story was interesting enough that I'll try out the first book or two of the actual series, but Reed's actual behavior and dialogue just left me wondering if I'm even supposed to like her... (I've gathered that the answer is "yes" but all I can hope is that Paige takes after her father.)

[Roger Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Origins
By
Nellie H Steele

Shadow Origins is a prequel novella to the new Shelving Magic Series by Nellie H Steele. In this book, we are introduced to Reed Moore, a paranormal librarian whose task is asset retrieval, or retrieving magical objects and returning them to the library for proper and secure storage. Reed receives an assignment to retrieve the Magician’s Teapot from a tarot card reader’s shop in another town. The assignment level is considered a low danger and should be uncomplicated, but Reed soon learns that there is much more to the mission than she, or anyone expected. The teapot also holds many secrets including the magic power of the tea brewed in the pot and the effect on anyone who drinks it. Dark forces are soon determined to claim the pot and will do anything to succeed. Reed must recruit help with her retrieval assignment and get she gets it from her friend Drucinda. Reed also learns that she is pregnant and will do anything to protect the child.
I enjoyed reading the prequel to the new series. It is action-packed, fast-paced, cleverly written, and has some fascinating twists that fans of this author will appreciate. The suspense in the storyline continued to build with each turn of the page and the character development was amazing. I found the story very clever and the world-building outstanding. I would definitely read this again and suggest Shadow Origins to anyone looking for a supernatural fantasy story. As I mentioned, this is a prequel to the Shelving Magic Series and well worth the time to become familiar with. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.

[Vannessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella and read it after book #4 in the series, Shadow Moon. I thought it fitted in really well here as some of what was revealed in this book had been mentioned in Shadow Moon as well and it all made sense!

In this one, Reed Moore, Paige Turner's mother from the main books in the series, is the librarian of Shadow Harbour and after being send out on a green-level asset retrieval job, i.e. the easiest one there is, everything goes to pot! This book basically explains what happened to Reed and gives us the background story to her disappearance, which Paige has been haunted by for her entire life!

It was a fun, quick read and now we understand a lot more about what happened from Reed's point of view, rather than what Drucinda, Devon and Ronnie can remember.

Can't wait to read Shadow Omens soon to see if Paige and Drucinda can find out anything more about what actually happened to Reed after the events in this book!

[Gail Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author.

Reed Moore is on a quest to retrieve a green level artefact when things go horribly wrong.

This story comes as a prequel to the Shelving Magic series and fills in some of the blanks in Paige Turner’s life.

If you haven’t yet read any of the series then this is as good a place to begin as any and I would recommend you read them all as they are such good reads.

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first Shelving Magic book and this show how Paige is born and how her Mom Reed Moore goes missing also intrduces us to Devon the vampire and Drucinda Van Helsing a Librarian friend of Reed's brings together the story up to where I had gotten good book quick read since it is a novella...can't wait to finish the rest of the series.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t often read .5 in a series - but this was included kindle unlimited. I am still torn. I am 4 chapters in to book 1 and I may not have stayed with it this long had I not had the back story provided by book 0.5, but it was also a humongous spoiler. It prevented some of the tension that may have been there had it not been read first.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! Amazing concepts! I live the characters! This is a must read! I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Rosalee Tabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series so far. Read this book so fast.

[Rebekka NP · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a prequel of a series I have not read yet. Without the knowledge about the series it is confusing. Will still give the series a shot.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting plot… can’t wait to see where this takes me…

[Nicola Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bits were interesting but I struggled to connect to the main character and the plot felt a bit chaotic

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast passed and intriguing

[Dawn Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but part of a series so can't wait to start the next installment

[Shanzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the names - Reed Moore, Paige Turner!
Audiobook

[LookitsLillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and easy read.

[Kristin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it and looking forward to know what has happened to Reid Moore

[Maria Rallia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up to 4 stars
Pretty interesting, I'll have to look up what happened since I DNF'd book 1.

[Julie Carithers Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Origins is the spell-binding prequel novella in the Shelving Magic series. A great way of being introduced to the series!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Origins is a prequel to the Shelving Magic Series by Nellie H. Steele. In this book we are introduced to Reed Moore, Paige's mother, a librarian also tasked with retrieving magical items. She was in search of a Magician's Teapot when things don't go as planned and Reed goes missing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this prequel and found it to be entertaining as well as intriguing. The characters are quite likeable and leave you wanting to know more about them.

[Mayda Moncrief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prequel to Shadow Beast.
Good series to work on this month.