Shadows Beyond

by Val Tyler

Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure.

Emtani had always thought the City a place of wonder and glamour. But when she goes there in search of her enslaved sister she gradually uncovers the sinister secrets at the heart of its power.

Alone and vulnerable, she reluctantly accepts the help of two brothers, but soon suspects they are using her to fulfil a terrifying ambition of their own. Worse still, the ruler of the City, the cruel Judge, begins to show an interest in Emtani’s situation.

Caught in a web of half-truths and treachery, Emtani finds her life hanging by a silken thread in a world of shadows.

514 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2013

Reviews

[Richard Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val Tyler’s Shadows Beyond has a lot to offer the fantasy reader. From a plucky, determined teen-age main character of humble background thrust into devious city life at the top of the hill, to a writing voice that reminded me of the best of both Terry Pratchett and GRR Martin, to a well-paced plot; it’s got it all. The story surrounds a tough, young girl who has decided, against all odds, to find her little sister, stolen by slave raiders. With the unwanted help of a couple of questionable allies, she enters the swirling, murky shadows of the poor neighborhoods in the far-off big city. There she becomes an unknowing accomplice to a growing revolt of slaves against their masters and against the carefully controlled economy and government that keeps them staring at the ground, afraid to even raise their eyes. Her investigation, thwarted with almost each step she takes, leads her all the way to the pinnacles of the highest society and into the depths of slavery. The author’s description of some of the vilest treatment I have ever read and her uncanny ability to reveal the depths of a character in only a few well-chosen words, kept me riveted. Her facility with nuanced dialects and dialog made it easy to relax into the well-drawn world of her characters. The twists in the plot are perfectly timed and while this is not a short read, it is a completely absorbing one. I hope we’ll see more, soon from Ms. Tyler. Her writing, from her spot in the Welsh Hills, must have some guidance from the relentless spirit of Owain Glyndŵr himself!

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Val Tyler's Shadows Beyond takes us into a world where the teenage Emtani must travel from the only life she has known in a small village to the unknown of the city, where her young sister has been taken as a slave. With grotesque crime lords, a glossy upper city with a horrible secret and a dark underbelly where the Luciphorous Factory leaves slave workers horribly disfigured, it has the feel of a dystopia, but without the total absence of hope that tends to make dystopias ultimately too depressing to be an enjoyable read. Despite all the trials and horrors Emtani and her friends go through, there is a positive side to their experience too.

In some ways this isn't a book I would naturally be attracted to. The fantasy element involving headlets and shadows (you will have to read it to find out what this entails) was difficult to accept alongside the laws of physics. (I know fantasy, by definition, involves things that are inexplicable, but I like to feel that there could be an explanation that we just don't have yet.) However, the author's storytelling skills soon had me swept away, and once I was a couple of chapters in I was hooked and wanting to know how things turned out.

With some clever twists and a relentless, driving action throughout it is a book you will resent having to put down.

[John Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent YA book. Fast pace, exciting plot, strong characters and fascinating setting. Emtani and the two brothers are great characters and the idea of the shadows (I won't spoil it for you by explaining) is really good. I think you would have to label this as being a dystopian novel.

I've just finished reading the first three quarters. Some excellent twists have taken me completely by surprise.

Merged review:

Val Tyler has created an original world populated by fascinating characters, who in order not to give away the secret can perhaps best be described as split personalities.

In order to save her younger sister from slavery, Emtani travels to the City. Circumstances force her to accept the help of brothers, Zeff and Tagg. Despite a deep mutual mistrust, this tiny group's determination and courage spark momentous events in the City, placing all three in mortal danger from both the criminal underworld and the city's ruthless dictator, the Judge. As the dark secrets of the City unfold the reader discovers hidden depths within the characters as their relationships change and mature. Fear and tension are never far from the surface and the plot holds constant surprises.

Currently in eBook format, a print edition is expected soon.

(Written in British English.)

[Old Mill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val Tyler has created an original world populated by fascinating characters, who in order not to give away the secret can perhaps best be described as split personalities.

In order to save her younger sister from slavery, Emtani travels to the City. Circumstances force her to accept the help of brothers, Zeff and Tagg. Despite a deep mutual mistrust, this tiny group's determination and courage spark momentous events in the City, placing all three in mortal danger from both the criminal underworld and the city's ruthless dictator, the Judge. As the dark secrets of the City unfold the reader discovers hidden depths within the characters as their relationships change and mature. Fear and tension are never far from the surface and the plot holds constant surprises.

Currently in eBook format, a print edition is expected soon.

Merged review:

Excellent book. Kept me on the edge of my seat right the way through.

[S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Val Tyler does a wonderful job creating a believable dystopian world. Nothing ever turns out the way you think it will, which is a testament to Val’s storytelling abilities. Her characters live on even after you close the book. I became so invested in Emtani, Zeff, and Tagg that I simply couldn’t put the book down. I even began to talk like Emtani. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and would highly recommend this fast-paced, addictive book, to adults and teenagers.