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Shadowmagic #1-3
The Shadowmagic Trilogy
A Lord of the Rings for the 21st century. Only a lot shorter. And funnier. And completely different. The complete Shadowmagic trilogy. Including Shadowmagic, Prince of Hazel and Oak and Sons of Macha. Shadowmagic is a fantasy adventure for young adults (although grown ups will like it too). Written by one of the most popular magicians in the country it brings a fresh approach to the genre and will have a broad appeal beyond the fantasy sections.
864 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2014
65 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
John Lenahan
5 books177 followersJohn Lenahan is a popular TV magician who toured with Jack Dee, Lenny Henry and Victoria Wood. He starred on a prime time BBC1 TV show, had his own BBC2 series, and was the voice of the toaster in ‘Red Dwarf’.
His fantasy trilogy Shadowmagic, an award-winning podcast that received over 100,000 downloads, was published by HarperCollins and sold over 70,000 copies across all editions.
Ice Lake is his debut crime novel, the first in a new series featuring psychologist Harry Cull. (written as John A. Lenahan)
His fantasy trilogy Shadowmagic, an award-winning podcast that received over 100,000 downloads, was published by HarperCollins and sold over 70,000 copies across all editions.
Ice Lake is his debut crime novel, the first in a new series featuring psychologist Harry Cull. (written as John A. Lenahan)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 3, 2015
I really enjoyed this trilogy. I dont usually read YA but it was a really enjoyable read. It was well wrote and was well paced and easy to follow. All in all a good trilogy.
April 1, 2015
A brilliant read. Capturing from the first sentence, a must read for all fantasy lovers.
June 25, 2022
I read the first volume in a couple of days and pretty much enjoyed it. I liked the blend of two worlds, the Real World and the fantasy one and how we discover things as Conor does. I thought it odd that the people of Tir Na Nog refer to our world as the Real World, especially as most of them have never been here. They are immortal, but setting foot on our soil ages them instantly, sometimes to the point of death.
The second and third volumes carry on directly with no break. Volume 2 sees Conor come back to the Real World, graduate and enrol in university, but it’s not long before he’s accused of the murder of his father. The detective who arrests him turns out to be a descendant of a people who disappeared from The Land, though he doesn’t discover this till he goes there with Conor, when his mother and aunt rescue him.
There’s quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing between the two worlds in the last volume. The storyline running through all three is essentially a family saga with two brothers pitted against each other for control of an area which contains a massive supply of gold, necessary for working magic. There is a series of prophecies, which, of course, are misunderstood till the very end.
It is apparent Conor is growing up, as he forms relationships with various girls as circumstances present them to him. What I found irritating is the childishness he constantly exhibits, telling ’jokes’ and just behaving stupidly. There’s various scenes where he refers to ‘dangly bits’ and it just seemed so schoolboyish. The writing, though fast-paced and full of action, often violent, was a bit … and then this happened, so I did this and immediately after, another thing happened and it made me do this… It was written in the first person, but I would have liked a little more introspection rather than a list of events.
There was a happy ending, after lots of tension and some sadness. I never really bought Conor’s relationship with Essa and certainly not Araf and Graysea’s romance. Tuan was just found some nameless woman so he could have a happy ending too - the action scenes were written way better than the romance ones.
So, all in all, it had lots of elements that I enjoy in a story, just missing the mark on some stuff.
The second and third volumes carry on directly with no break. Volume 2 sees Conor come back to the Real World, graduate and enrol in university, but it’s not long before he’s accused of the murder of his father. The detective who arrests him turns out to be a descendant of a people who disappeared from The Land, though he doesn’t discover this till he goes there with Conor, when his mother and aunt rescue him.
There’s quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing between the two worlds in the last volume. The storyline running through all three is essentially a family saga with two brothers pitted against each other for control of an area which contains a massive supply of gold, necessary for working magic. There is a series of prophecies, which, of course, are misunderstood till the very end.
It is apparent Conor is growing up, as he forms relationships with various girls as circumstances present them to him. What I found irritating is the childishness he constantly exhibits, telling ’jokes’ and just behaving stupidly. There’s various scenes where he refers to ‘dangly bits’ and it just seemed so schoolboyish. The writing, though fast-paced and full of action, often violent, was a bit … and then this happened, so I did this and immediately after, another thing happened and it made me do this… It was written in the first person, but I would have liked a little more introspection rather than a list of events.
There was a happy ending, after lots of tension and some sadness. I never really bought Conor’s relationship with Essa and certainly not Araf and Graysea’s romance. Tuan was just found some nameless woman so he could have a happy ending too - the action scenes were written way better than the romance ones.
So, all in all, it had lots of elements that I enjoy in a story, just missing the mark on some stuff.
March 13, 2016
Conor, a teenager living with his dad is transported to Tir na Nog, the land of Celtic myth. Within his first day there, he finds out his dad is the rightful king but the throne was usurped by Conor's evil uncle, and it seems like everyone wants to kill him because of a prophecy that he would destroy Tir na Nog.
It seems like this is the only series John Lenahan has ever written, and that's a shame because this was really entertaining. Nearly every chapter ends with some twist and/or cliffhanger, although normally the cliffhangers are resolved by the end of the first page in the next chapter.
The tone overall was something between Artemis Fowl and Harry Potter, with light humor sprinkled throughout, and people have stated they feel like it's great for "kids" as young as 8-to-10-ish, but I'd probably rate it PG-13. It has a few decapitations, one or two scenes described as involving a lot of blood, and one character hung himself. In terms of profanity, there's some instances of words like damn, ass, bastard and maybe (can't remember for sure) shit. No f-bombs.
More on that front, foreshadowing. It's a bit blatant and slightly overused. The story is punctuated by many of Conor's dreams that foreshadow most of the major events in the plot, although most of them aren't too obvious about the things they're foreshadowing.
The characters are all charming/endearing in some way or another, even though the size of the cast is pretty big so secondary characters (and occasionally major characters) sometimes feel like they're on the back burner really often. Most of the main cast is reasonably well developed. Pookas (shapeshifters basically) are really difficult to imagine using their powers without imagining some really awkward CG. (not really much of a spoiler but it's my favorite part of the story, so I'll mark it anyway)
One of the (very minor) villains is given a nice send-off that makes him a little sympathetic, but another villain was a very prominent character with no backstory given (IIRC) and killed maybe a little too abruptly/unceremoniously. Two other villains are given minimal depth, one in particular is just played up as a stereotypical evil Voldemort-ish dude, both are just there to make readers think "Oh wow all these villains combined are soooooo powerful how will the good guys be able to get out of this one?"
The first book in particular has a great ending sequence that's climactic, and visits each of the characters in an epilogue-ish chapter that helps it feel complete, almost as a standalone novel. The second book has a very brief climax and feels like it was cut short by a humorous cliffhanger. The third book has a satisfying ending (again, a bit anti-climactic) to the trilogy, though not the impact of an ending I'd hope for from 850 pages. Pacing overall is consistently good and doesn't drag, especially with so many twists and cliffhangers.
Its world-building is really solid, although the first 50 or so pages of the first book felt a little infodumpy to me. Magic isn't overused and it doesn't explain away any implausibilities, it's almost exclusively used to serve as a means of power, and a tool in everyday life that helps give the world character. One really cool thing is that all trees in this world have a personality, if you hug/touch a tree, it'll communicate with you, and most living things are this way too. Want to go fishing? Ask the fish to give their lives so you can eat them. Want firewood? Ask a tree permission to take some wood. Oak trees (most of them) are very hostile and judging. Yew trees are highly intelligent and will judge characters to see if they're worthy to receive a gift from the yews. Cherry trees are extremely friendly and practically beg people to take their fruit. Beech trees are really gossipy.
These books are overall pretty great especially since I got the trilogy for about $6, but I'd pay at least twice (or even 3x) that probably.
TL;DR
pros:
+ good pacing, fantastic characters, good world building, most of the twists were unpredictable, major character deaths unpredictable, satisfying mostly and first book was climactic, Frank/Jesse, Graysea, long.
cons:
- pretty standard villains for the most part including main villain's plot to destroy world, a few things were extremely predictable, anti-climactic second and third books, not much Frank and Jesse or Graysea, ending of third book wasn't as big of a sendoff as I'd hoped, long.
Read it if you want something light hearted with some occasionally dramatic stuff with a focus on characters and a neat world.
It seems like this is the only series John Lenahan has ever written, and that's a shame because this was really entertaining. Nearly every chapter ends with some twist and/or cliffhanger, although normally the cliffhangers are resolved by the end of the first page in the next chapter.
The tone overall was something between Artemis Fowl and Harry Potter, with light humor sprinkled throughout, and people have stated they feel like it's great for "kids" as young as 8-to-10-ish, but I'd probably rate it PG-13. It has a few decapitations, one or two scenes described as involving a lot of blood, and one character hung himself. In terms of profanity, there's some instances of words like damn, ass, bastard and maybe (can't remember for sure) shit. No f-bombs.
More on that front, foreshadowing. It's a bit blatant and slightly overused. The story is punctuated by many of Conor's dreams that foreshadow most of the major events in the plot, although most of them aren't too obvious about the things they're foreshadowing.
The characters are all charming/endearing in some way or another, even though the size of the cast is pretty big so secondary characters (and occasionally major characters) sometimes feel like they're on the back burner really often. Most of the main cast is reasonably well developed. Pookas (shapeshifters basically) are really difficult to imagine using their powers without imagining some really awkward CG. (not really much of a spoiler but it's my favorite part of the story, so I'll mark it anyway)
One of the (very minor) villains is given a nice send-off that makes him a little sympathetic, but another villain was a very prominent character with no backstory given (IIRC) and killed maybe a little too abruptly/unceremoniously. Two other villains are given minimal depth, one in particular is just played up as a stereotypical evil Voldemort-ish dude, both are just there to make readers think "Oh wow all these villains combined are soooooo powerful how will the good guys be able to get out of this one?"
The first book in particular has a great ending sequence that's climactic, and visits each of the characters in an epilogue-ish chapter that helps it feel complete, almost as a standalone novel. The second book has a very brief climax and feels like it was cut short by a humorous cliffhanger. The third book has a satisfying ending (again, a bit anti-climactic) to the trilogy, though not the impact of an ending I'd hope for from 850 pages. Pacing overall is consistently good and doesn't drag, especially with so many twists and cliffhangers.
Its world-building is really solid, although the first 50 or so pages of the first book felt a little infodumpy to me. Magic isn't overused and it doesn't explain away any implausibilities, it's almost exclusively used to serve as a means of power, and a tool in everyday life that helps give the world character. One really cool thing is that all trees in this world have a personality, if you hug/touch a tree, it'll communicate with you, and most living things are this way too. Want to go fishing? Ask the fish to give their lives so you can eat them. Want firewood? Ask a tree permission to take some wood. Oak trees (most of them) are very hostile and judging. Yew trees are highly intelligent and will judge characters to see if they're worthy to receive a gift from the yews. Cherry trees are extremely friendly and practically beg people to take their fruit. Beech trees are really gossipy.
These books are overall pretty great especially since I got the trilogy for about $6, but I'd pay at least twice (or even 3x) that probably.
TL;DR
pros:
+ good pacing, fantastic characters, good world building, most of the twists were unpredictable, major character deaths unpredictable, satisfying mostly and first book was climactic, Frank/Jesse, Graysea, long.
cons:
- pretty standard villains for the most part including main villain's plot to destroy world, a few things were extremely predictable, anti-climactic second and third books, not much Frank and Jesse or Graysea, ending of third book wasn't as big of a sendoff as I'd hoped, long.
Read it if you want something light hearted with some occasionally dramatic stuff with a focus on characters and a neat world.
January 26, 2020
My son brought this home after a work colleague recommended it. Being a Fantasy reader I saw the word Shadowmagic on the cover, the title sold me and I nabbed it. This is a trilogy version and rather a large book to grapple with physically, but size has never deterred me.
I loved it. I hate spoilers, so I'm not going to give examples of the story except to say the main character was realistic, believable and I could relate to them. I loved the quirky dialogue which encapsulates the real thoughts someone might have in the situations this character was put it. I love stories with humour, especially sarcastic funnies.
It was one of those books I couldn't put down, despite the weight and 852 pages.
Highly Recommended.
I loved it. I hate spoilers, so I'm not going to give examples of the story except to say the main character was realistic, believable and I could relate to them. I loved the quirky dialogue which encapsulates the real thoughts someone might have in the situations this character was put it. I love stories with humour, especially sarcastic funnies.
It was one of those books I couldn't put down, despite the weight and 852 pages.
Highly Recommended.
August 11, 2017
This book was surprisingly pleasing. I don't know why I keep picking up YA books, but this one happens to be one. And, although the main character has that kind of clueless bumbling around quality so rampant in YA, he was still a very believable character. I was not driven to face-palming because of character stupidness (at least when stupidness happened, the character acknowledged it). These are high complements! I found Conor to be a likeable, fun-loving character. The storyline was interesting and engaging. This is a collection of 3 different books and I enjoyed them all.
June 22, 2017
Loved it! I started by listening to the first and second books via podcast and then was devasted to find the third and final was not uploaded and finished. So I obviously had to buy the trilogy just to read the last hundred pages. Worth it! I'm actually really glad I read the ending myself because I did shed a few tears and that would be awkward if I was listening to it while at work.
Thank you John Lenahan for introducing us to the wonderful land of Tir na Nog.
Thank you John Lenahan for introducing us to the wonderful land of Tir na Nog.
May 8, 2021
Mark Twain would be proud!
I can't say enough about the storytelling.
It is compelling, engaging, and has real flair.
The character development is believable, and the story arch is pleasantly surreal (not too logical, not too irrational--but just crazy enough to be"stranger than fiction").
If Harper-Collins could get this Trilogy into the schools of America (like Scholastic does) it would be a best-seller.
I can't say enough about the storytelling.
It is compelling, engaging, and has real flair.
The character development is believable, and the story arch is pleasantly surreal (not too logical, not too irrational--but just crazy enough to be"stranger than fiction").
If Harper-Collins could get this Trilogy into the schools of America (like Scholastic does) it would be a best-seller.
January 28, 2020
Thoroughly Enjoyable
Yeah, I'm a sucker for Swords and Sorcery, but it's been a while since I found one that made me feel good. Shadowmagic did just that. The characters are wonderful, the story is tight, and the mood compelling. I am also glad that this stops at a single trilogy. Can't picture where you would go from here. Kudos!
Yeah, I'm a sucker for Swords and Sorcery, but it's been a while since I found one that made me feel good. Shadowmagic did just that. The characters are wonderful, the story is tight, and the mood compelling. I am also glad that this stops at a single trilogy. Can't picture where you would go from here. Kudos!
December 11, 2017
This was a book that I thought would be average, but with the hints of humor and the hooks at almost every end of chapters it made a very good read. It was a book made me very disappointed when it was finished.
April 10, 2020
The evolution of this story is good even with its light touch of character backstory. I however did not enjoy the modern language and references of the protagonist. The story runs from the first page with speed leaving you informed, but not engulfed with the mystical history.
May 4, 2020
Honestly one of my favourite books of all time. It weaves through the story so smoothly and it's elements of fantasy and storytelling are amazing. Couldn't put it down. I've read it 3 times and always a new experience everytime. Highly recommend
March 13, 2021
Cute plotting weak characterisation very interesting world building ... but overall the whole thing is tedious and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere interesting so i stoppes reading about 1/3 way in.. not for me.
October 25, 2021
A very simplistic and enjoyable book that continuously moves forward. If you simply wish to burn through 800 or so pages of continuous happenings, then this is the book to read. I don't ever see myself rereading this, but it definitely was a fun read to carry along.
September 29, 2022
I’ve read this series twice and it’s one of my favorite fantasy novels. The writing is witty, and takes you on a wonderful, exciting, and emotional journey. It is great for youth and adults…can’t wait for my children to be old enough for them.
September 15, 2017
Fun, nicely developed world, a bit heavy on the 17 year old hero solving all problems, but still enjoyable to read.
October 4, 2017
One of the best trilogies I've read in a long time. The dialogue was witty and the characters multi-dimensional.
August 23, 2018
Very good
I've read this series several times and still love it. You will enjoy this series and want more, I hope one day he makes more books in this world he created.
I've read this series several times and still love it. You will enjoy this series and want more, I hope one day he makes more books in this world he created.
March 31, 2020
I legit laid my head on this book when I was finished and wrapped my arms around it. That’s how amazing it was. Lenahan better write more!!!!
August 19, 2025
love this story from when I read it a few years ago just picked it back up to re read again
September 28, 2022
Another one for the insomniac almanac, this is one that I can barely remember the character's names or any of the fluff in the sub-plots, but I remembered key aspects that I could google to remind myself of the author/book. I find that, if I'm trying to remember a book and find it on google with vague parts of the plot, that it was a good book/series that I enjoyed.
I remember: prophecies, Tir Na Nog, time existing differently there, asking trees for permission to use a part of them, magic, 'golden trio' vibes, and a fantasy world built from traditional Irish mythology (nice!)
If that sounds like your bag, give it a go! I'd certainly buy a copy for my P6-7 library.
I remember: prophecies, Tir Na Nog, time existing differently there, asking trees for permission to use a part of them, magic, 'golden trio' vibes, and a fantasy world built from traditional Irish mythology (nice!)
If that sounds like your bag, give it a go! I'd certainly buy a copy for my P6-7 library.
March 2, 2016
Un-put-down-able :D
I first discovered the Shadowmagic books through Librivox where I was able to listen to this wonderful author narrate his own books. It was awesome :) I loved how the books were written, how they were told by Conor as if he were having a conversation with you instead of writing things down to be remembered later. I fell in love with the books but there was a problem. Only the first two books were available on Librivox. I had to find out what happened!!!! I was so pleased that all 3 books were sold as a set and I have not been able to put them down for the past three days :) It's fun, heartfelt, dreamy, actiony, and has the awesomeness of a dragon who won't be used as a taxi, and a mermaids who falls in love with a non-speaking Imp. I love it :D I highly recommend these books to anyone who likes a good story :)
I first discovered the Shadowmagic books through Librivox where I was able to listen to this wonderful author narrate his own books. It was awesome :) I loved how the books were written, how they were told by Conor as if he were having a conversation with you instead of writing things down to be remembered later. I fell in love with the books but there was a problem. Only the first two books were available on Librivox. I had to find out what happened!!!! I was so pleased that all 3 books were sold as a set and I have not been able to put them down for the past three days :) It's fun, heartfelt, dreamy, actiony, and has the awesomeness of a dragon who won't be used as a taxi, and a mermaids who falls in love with a non-speaking Imp. I love it :D I highly recommend these books to anyone who likes a good story :)
July 11, 2016
I understand that this is a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek style YA fantasy, but while the writing is enjoyable it falls down on the content. A stereotypical "book-for-boys", where apart from the main character (who is also the narrator), there are no other characters, just plot devices. Women fare particularly badly - while none of them are typical damsels in distress, they're (a) all beautiful and (b) mostly exist for male attention. Men are warriors, women are sorceresses and so on with the gender stereotypes. And oddly, though he does try judging by the amount of words he dedicates to the issue, the author is very bad at writing emotions around character deaths.
July 3, 2015
I loved this trilogy for young adults. It was recommended to me by my nephew, who never fails to deliver. An excellent fantasy series: wildly imaginative, rib-hurtingly funny at times, with moments of pathos and genuine tragedy. The story grabs from the beginning and gallops you along through Tir Na Nog, with Banshees, Faeries, Pookas, Brownies and all manner of other magical people and animals. Not to mention the trees and their own peculiar characterisitcs. Who knew beech trees were such gossips? Highly recommended.
July 25, 2020
Finally finished the trilogy. A five star rating for the last book, four and a half for the entire trilogy. This trilogy has everything: humour, action, talking trees, magic and dragons. Pretty awesome cast of characters, especially the female ones. Finally some fantasy that has strong and kickass women. I could've done without the big amount of drama, but in the end I am glad I bought and read this book.
January 7, 2017
GREAT BOOK! absolutely loved reading it!!!
April 14, 2017
Enjoyable and easy read.
Nothing too special but was fun and kept me interested.
Certainly unexpected at many points in the story.
Nothing too special but was fun and kept me interested.
Certainly unexpected at many points in the story.
May 18, 2019
I really don't want to give a proper rating. I did not make it over the 100 pages threshold.
It's just not for me. The humour is very flat and so american.
(the only joke that fired for me, was the one with Legolas...)
The writing is ok, but the characters are not really deep. I feel like I know nothing about the protagonist, other than the shoe brand he's wearing.
I was not hooked. The world of "the Land" sounds interesting enough but we're never at one place long and the chapters are super short, always end with a forced cliffhanger, but the story leads nowhere.
What's the porpose of Conor? His only mission seems to be to get back to his world, but that's just now enought to hold me with the story.
It's just not for me. The humour is very flat and so american.
(the only joke that fired for me, was the one with Legolas...)
The writing is ok, but the characters are not really deep. I feel like I know nothing about the protagonist, other than the shoe brand he's wearing.
I was not hooked. The world of "the Land" sounds interesting enough but we're never at one place long and the chapters are super short, always end with a forced cliffhanger, but the story leads nowhere.
What's the porpose of Conor? His only mission seems to be to get back to his world, but that's just now enought to hold me with the story.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews