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Ultrahumans #2
Shadows
Once upon a time, Andrea Morgan was a normal, everyday girl… Let’s start again. Once upon a time, Andrea Morgan was a fairly normal girl with quite remarkable reflexes, who could teleport from shadow to shadow. Then her brother was killed and she became Twilight, the stealthy, black-clad nemesis of organised crime in New Millennium City. Then she met Cygnus, almost her exact opposite, but they worked well together: Cygnus in the light and Twilight in the darkness.
But there is something in the darkness which is stalking Andrea Morgan. It has been there, in the shadows, since mankind sat around the fires on the plains of Africa and wondered what was out there beyond the firelight. It wants Andrea dead, but sometimes when you die that’s just the start of your problems…
Let’s start again. Maybe there was never a time when Andrea Morgan was a normal girl…
But there is something in the darkness which is stalking Andrea Morgan. It has been there, in the shadows, since mankind sat around the fires on the plains of Africa and wondered what was out there beyond the firelight. It wants Andrea dead, but sometimes when you die that’s just the start of your problems…
Let’s start again. Maybe there was never a time when Andrea Morgan was a normal girl…
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First published May 22, 2015
60 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
74 books293 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 4, 2015
Once again, super heroes is not favorite genre, but Teasdale brings enough in the way of mature dialog to keep it interesting.
January 6, 2023
Much better!
4.5 stars
It has less of a "failed attempt at erotica" vibe than the first and actually comes across as a reasonably decent superhero novel. There's a lot of action, and the character development is pretty good. I couldn't quite give it a perfect score, simply because some of the events were a bit obvious, as the book follows an a-typical comic book formula...It just felt like the formula was getting in the way of the flow, but not too badly.
It has less of a "failed attempt at erotica" vibe than the first and actually comes across as a reasonably decent superhero novel. There's a lot of action, and the character development is pretty good. I couldn't quite give it a perfect score, simply because some of the events were a bit obvious, as the book follows an a-typical comic book formula...It just felt like the formula was getting in the way of the flow, but not too badly.
March 4, 2020
Superhero Fare
Standard good vs evil type of book. Story was kind of formulaic with a very short and less than satisfying ending.
Standard good vs evil type of book. Story was kind of formulaic with a very short and less than satisfying ending.
October 6, 2019
Not the best of Teasdale's work.
In this second Ultrahuman novel Andrea Morgan AKA Twitlight takes the wheel. She has shadowpowers and uses them to fight crime along with her more eye-catching partner Cygnus. Together they take on a variety of obstacles not the least of them, a new party-drug that drives Ultrahumans insane.
Perhaps this just isn't a series for me. Thing just get a bit unreal and for me at least the easy flow of most of Teasdale's works isn't quite there. Neither Twilight or Cygnus could really keep my attention all that much and the plot was a bit forgettable.
Overall not a bad book, but not one of my favorites any time soon. I might pick up the next novel in the series, but it may take a while.
In this second Ultrahuman novel Andrea Morgan AKA Twitlight takes the wheel. She has shadowpowers and uses them to fight crime along with her more eye-catching partner Cygnus. Together they take on a variety of obstacles not the least of them, a new party-drug that drives Ultrahumans insane.
Perhaps this just isn't a series for me. Thing just get a bit unreal and for me at least the easy flow of most of Teasdale's works isn't quite there. Neither Twilight or Cygnus could really keep my attention all that much and the plot was a bit forgettable.
Overall not a bad book, but not one of my favorites any time soon. I might pick up the next novel in the series, but it may take a while.
April 7, 2016
I found "Shadows" to be an excellent sequel to "Ugly", in Teasdale's "Ultrahumans" series. The focus changes to Cygnus' partner, Twilight. Cygnus remains in the background and continues to develop in the overall story arc.
In "Shadows" we learn Twilight's origin story and the progression of her powers. The plot is good, your basic heroine chases the bad guy, both Ultras, and, of course, is victorious.
What is more evident and important, to this reviewer, is Teasdale's skill at creating alternate realities. He is a true Master, and the world of the Ultrahumans is presented and developed further in this second book in the series. The action is great; the dialogue is snappy and snarky, which this reviewer loves, and, as a whole, this is a seductive, enticing, page-turner of a read.
If I have any concern, it is about the author himself. I find myself wondering if he is manic at times, since he has so many series ongoing at once. Regardless, Teasdale never disappoints and this book gets my highest recommendation.
In "Shadows" we learn Twilight's origin story and the progression of her powers. The plot is good, your basic heroine chases the bad guy, both Ultras, and, of course, is victorious.
What is more evident and important, to this reviewer, is Teasdale's skill at creating alternate realities. He is a true Master, and the world of the Ultrahumans is presented and developed further in this second book in the series. The action is great; the dialogue is snappy and snarky, which this reviewer loves, and, as a whole, this is a seductive, enticing, page-turner of a read.
If I have any concern, it is about the author himself. I find myself wondering if he is manic at times, since he has so many series ongoing at once. Regardless, Teasdale never disappoints and this book gets my highest recommendation.
September 16, 2015
Great!
I really enjoyed the book, it was interesting to see it focused more on Twilight, though we got to see some of Cygnus and watch her story develop, too.
I find this to be a take on the superhero genre that just works. It's an interesting universe, and the character of Cygnus is a great entry to it, as an everyman we can follow along with. I tend to like stories with female characters, so it I enjoy it on that level, too. I especially liked the villains in this one, too. It was interesting to follow their machinations. I'm sort of interested to see how some of the new characters who were introduced might play into the series, the ones June visits in San Francisco. I'm hoping the author gets to work on more books in this series.
I read it in one sitting, so if you like the superhero genre and kickass women in skimpy costumes, you might like it, too.
I really enjoyed the book, it was interesting to see it focused more on Twilight, though we got to see some of Cygnus and watch her story develop, too.
I find this to be a take on the superhero genre that just works. It's an interesting universe, and the character of Cygnus is a great entry to it, as an everyman we can follow along with. I tend to like stories with female characters, so it I enjoy it on that level, too. I especially liked the villains in this one, too. It was interesting to follow their machinations. I'm sort of interested to see how some of the new characters who were introduced might play into the series, the ones June visits in San Francisco. I'm hoping the author gets to work on more books in this series.
I read it in one sitting, so if you like the superhero genre and kickass women in skimpy costumes, you might like it, too.
October 10, 2015
Good follow-up to the first book, but not a very satisfying ending. If it were romance, it would be a HFN ending, where you know the story isn't over. But, still rather nebulous of what the villains final end game will be.
June 11, 2015
Better than the first effort.
April 28, 2016
Another wonderful book by this author. I enjoy all the girls, but I would say I am definitely for team Twilight.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews