City of Shadows

The Celia Rees Supernatural Trilogy #1

by Celia Rees

Twelve-year-old Davey discovers the exceptional power of his sixth sense when he explores the ancient underground city in his hometown. Here he confronts both good and bad spirits and one evil shapeshifter who follows him back to his own time to bring him to his death.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Ghosts, Adventure, Horror, Fiction, Paranormal

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Celia Rees (born 1949) is an English author of children's, YA and Adult fiction.

She was born in 1949 in Solihull, West Midlands but now lives in Leamington Spa with her husband. Rees attended University of Warwick and earned a degree in History of Politics. After university, she taught English in Coventry secondary schools for seventeen years, during which time she began to write.

Since then, she has written over twenty YA titles. Her books have been translated into 28 languages. She has been short listed for the Guardian, Whitbread (now Costa) and W.H. Smith Children’s Book Awards. She is a regular tutor for the Arvon Foundation. She has been Chair of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group and on the Society of Authors’ Management Committee.

Her first book for adults, Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook, was published by HarperCollins in July, 2020.

Reviews

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Shadows by Celia Rees is undoubtedly well worth the read. It is a ghost story to make you really think about what might come to be if this book holds some credence. None of us knows exactly what happens after death but the way this story is told most certainly makes me look over my shoulder now. Whew!

The first part of the book takes us on a Haunted Ghost Walk on Midsummer's Eve. There is a powerful pull of realities and worlds that make this night one in which you should definitely stay home. Going down the wrong street, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can have terrifying results. It will make you question your sanity and really wonder if you are dead or alive.

Davey is an intelligent boy and has a gift of sight into the world of ghosts. Unknown to him he also has a powerful magic that comes to fruitation when he puts his mind to it. Luckily for him he remembers things his grandmother told him about concentrating and that he only has to really want to do it for it to happen.

Davey, Kate (his older sister), Elinor and Tom (their twin cousin's) go on the Haunted Ghost Walk as part of Davey's 12th birthday wish. Little do they know what is about to take place and what they do find on the other side is terrifying. What happens is similar in the beginning to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The difference is instead of a wardrobe it is a mirror in a room used for ritual magic.

The Second part of the story takes place on Samhain (Hallow's Eve or All Soul's Night). It starts out at Davey's school and the setting up of the Hallowee'n Disco and carving of pumpkins. As the pumpkins are lit Davey gets a bad omen. As the night progresses things go from bad to worse while trick or treating and Davey's little sister Emma gets involved.

I found this part of the story to be a wee bit slow and most of the action was in the last 50 pages. I really must say I liked the first story better as it was more detailed and action throughout. Not a bad book but not sure if I would like to continue with the series or not. The one thing that may make me try another in the series is I like the author. Her books Witch Child and Sorceress were quite good.

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davy has a bad premonition before going on the Haunts Tour, but he is unable to talk his sister and cousins out of going. Soon his fears are realized when he accidentally goes through a portal to another version of the city. His sister and cousins try to save him and follow him through the portal to the land where ghosts are real and the living are only shadows. I was really disappointed in this young adult novel. It has such an interesting premise and potential, but it seemed like the author only touched the surface of the possibilities. One it started getting interesting, it seemed like she raced to finish it. Rather than one in depth story, the book contained two novellas that left me frustrated. Both had a lot of build up, leaving me feeling cheated by how rushed the conclusion was. I am not planning on reading the two other novels in this trilogy.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea why I finished this book but I did and it was painful.

I really don’t know how this book is rated about 3.5 on here. The writing is terrible. The perspective changes from paragraph to paragraph, information is given that the characters don’t/shouldn’t know, repetitive word choices. None of the characters have distinct voices. All telling and no showing.

I only had a vague interest in the story or more of the potential of the story.

A lot of reviews mentioned how the book maybe was too young for them but that was definitely not the case for me. I enjoy some middle grade books.

I’m very confident I will not continue this series. My head hurts.

[Queensley Snipes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is such an exciting adventure for young readers. Davey’s discovery of his sixth sense instantly pulled me in. The underground city, the spirits, and the shapeshifter all create a thrilling atmosphere. I would have devoured this book as a kid.

[Katia Tannus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a quick read: fast-paced and exciting. However, it seemed more like two separate books than a single narrative. I loved the first half when they were in the spirit world and trying to find a way out as well as a way to rescue their new ghost friends, but the second part fell a little flat for me. The second half does a fairly obnoxious recap of what happened in the first half and slows way down to introduce new characters that weren't mentioned at all in the first part; for example, Emma, Davy's younger sister is not mentioned at all and, since she ends up being a fairly important character, I feel some mention of her earlier on would have done a world of good to unite the two halves. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read and delightfully spooky.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, despite a couple of original ideas, Celia Rees's 'City of Shadows' is doomed to wander forever in the shadowy realm of mediocre children's literature.

Celia Rees states that the inspiration for this book came from a ghost walk she attended: "Many of our ancient cities host ghost walks which invite us to visit such places and it was on just such a walk that I had the idea for this series. I found myself thinking: What if there were two cities? The one we live in - and one the ghosts inhabit." She decided to develop the idea into a ghost story for children, in what has turned out to be an entire trilogy. All of them are advertised with the tagline:

"All through the city and its suburbs, the past lies behind the present and ghosts shadow the living. There are threshold zones, borderlines, and places where the laws of time and space falter. Strange things can happen, the barriers between the worlds grow thin and it is possible, just possible, to move from one world to another..."

It was an innovative idea for a ghost story, one which certainly caught my attention. It is just a shame that the story is spoiled by one-dimensional characters and some very poor plot choices. Most of the reviewers here on Goodreads have commented that the fundamental flaw of 'City of Shadows' is that is more concerned with "telling rather than showing", which is why the story-telling ends up being rather tedious. And that the second part of the story, the one entitled 'Hallowe'en', seems to be superfluous at best. I agree. I think that the author should have spent more time 'fleshing out' the first part of the story.

There was a lot of potential in 'City of Shadows', but, sadly, I think that it has been entirely squandered away. As the first part of a trilogy, this is a really lazy first attempt in my opinion, consisting of a narratorial slothfulness which even young readers are apt to notice.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have finally read this book and I think it was really good. I really liked it. It was about 4 kids - brother, sister and 2 cousins - and the little boy got lost and went into the world of the dead. He met a really nice, young girl called Elizabeth and became friends. Then his sister and 2 cousins came after him while they were looking for him but when they finally get together, they find ou that there may be no way back to the land of living.

I really liked this book and I think that I will read more books from Celia Rees.

I recommend this book to people that like suspence and mystery.

[Jaylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book was a little too young for me. I enjoyed Celia Rees' other works, though, so wanted to see more from her. But unlike Pirates, where the characters were growing up and getting married, these characters were 12 and 13. And a lot of the writing was telling rather than showing, with people's feelings being just stated instead of describing their reactions. It made it feel kind of detached and boring, even though supposedly terrifying things were going on. It wasn't a bad book, and might be fun for younger kids, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I was actually kind of bored. :/

Read Pirates by her - it's infinitely better.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super fun and interesting paranormal story. The entire trilogy is more like 6 short stories that knit together super cohesively. I've read the trilogy many times before and picked it up again because I was feeling nostalgic. The book is definitely for younger readers (I would say from grades 4 or 5 to maybe 9). Still an enjoyable book even though there are many times you feel like shouting at the book, "Show! Don't tell!" I would probably give it a higher rating if it was more descriptive about places and showing emotions, and less about telling the reader how the characters feel. It's still a decent story though!

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Supernatural Trilogy. Davey is 12. He and his sister and two cousins go on a tour of the legendary underground city that is supposed to be haunted. The four young people manage to cross from their world into the world of the dead. They make friends and enemies in their struggle to get home. But once they get home are their troubles over? A very interesting and exciting new series.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davey and his friends go on an undergruond Haunted Walking Tour. When Davey comes to a special room and mirror. He falls into the mirror and time travels to an era where ghosts live and they aren't friendly. OK

[Rachel Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celia Rees + Supernatural Stuff = Love. At least when I was twelve, it did.

[Tj Berns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celia Rees has become one of my favorite Authors. (Witch Child, Sorceress). Love her style. This book was very cute, full of adventure. Enjoyed it

[Heather Turiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fabulous ghost story trilogy. I warn young readers that this one is no Harry Potter and is scary. It had me hopping into bed quicky in case there was a monster under there...:)

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book :)

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this series! very spooky.

[Any Length · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book for 8-13 year olds. I picked it up by mistake and listened to it anyway. A good book for that age bracket. Spooky enough and with enough tension.