For years people had been thinking horizontally, from left to right. Now Penny Warnock had figured out a different way. Instead of horizontal thinking she would use vertical thinking. Suddenly, it's an adult Nancy Drew meets Don Quixote.
This is the most bizarre book I've read in a long time, and not necessarily in an interesting way. It rambles insanely, with no (clear) link between characters, chapters, events, anything. I'm sorry, I just didn't get it. And I did try, several times.
Not a very useful review, I know: I can't even explain properly what's so wrong with the story (if it is a story?) - but there's definitely something not right. Perhaps an unedited first draft slipped through into publication or something?
Whatever the reason, Shadows of Unseen Things just doesn't work. For me. And for you, too, I'm guessing.