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The Shadow Tribe: The Boy with the Scar
Joby is not your average boy. Homeless, destitute, and without friends, his past is a mystery even to him. With a magical staff and a fast hand, he roams the desert city of Terron with his only friend, a stray dog named Scratch. Every day is one of survival. Every day is the same. Until one night . . .
When breaking up a fight to help a lowly beggar escape his assailant, the mysterious scar on Joby’s right hand begins to glow blue. Narrowly escaping the aggressor in the fight, Joby finds he has messed with a man possessing dark powers. Determined to understand the origin of his scar, Joby sets out to discover the identity of this sorcerer whose spoken spells made it glow in the dark.
When breaking up a fight to help a lowly beggar escape his assailant, the mysterious scar on Joby’s right hand begins to glow blue. Narrowly escaping the aggressor in the fight, Joby finds he has messed with a man possessing dark powers. Determined to understand the origin of his scar, Joby sets out to discover the identity of this sorcerer whose spoken spells made it glow in the dark.
- GenresFantasy
60 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2017
41 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Jaffrey Clark
19 books56 followersGrowing up, I started telling stories as early as three or four years old. My imagination was so healthy, I am told, that I often acted out full-scale battles between good and evil in the yard . . . by myself. In classic boy style, they were of course violent, causing some concern for my mother. Fortunately, I turned out okay.
As early as second grade, writing was a highlight in my education. I even looked forward to research papers. I relished most the chance for creative writing. Despite this enjoyment, I never tackled anything as ambitious as a novel in High School.
After two years of working toward a BA in Accounting and competing for the varsity swim team at Penn State University, something snapped. One summer afternoon, I grabbed a notebook and a pen, sat down at the picnic table on my parents back deck and started writing my first novel. As it would happen, I still haven’t finished that story, but it re-awakened in me the desire to write fiction.
Fast forward more than ten years, several experimental young adult fiction projects, many vacations from disciplined writing, and I have at last completed the first book in a larger story entitled “The Reaper’s Seed.” The story will likely be four books in all. And, of course, I have several other novels in partial states of completion, on paper and in my head. As a part-time writer, that’s life.
As early as second grade, writing was a highlight in my education. I even looked forward to research papers. I relished most the chance for creative writing. Despite this enjoyment, I never tackled anything as ambitious as a novel in High School.
After two years of working toward a BA in Accounting and competing for the varsity swim team at Penn State University, something snapped. One summer afternoon, I grabbed a notebook and a pen, sat down at the picnic table on my parents back deck and started writing my first novel. As it would happen, I still haven’t finished that story, but it re-awakened in me the desire to write fiction.
Fast forward more than ten years, several experimental young adult fiction projects, many vacations from disciplined writing, and I have at last completed the first book in a larger story entitled “The Reaper’s Seed.” The story will likely be four books in all. And, of course, I have several other novels in partial states of completion, on paper and in my head. As a part-time writer, that’s life.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2019
The Boy with the Scar by Jaffrey Clark is the first book in The Shadow Tribe series. Joby is homeless, and he does what he has to do to survive.
I read the first three books and found The Shadow Tribe to be a quite engaging series. With wonderful writing, Clark has a way of bringing his characters to life and making us care for them. We see their struggles and feel their torment. While the series starts out with us meeting Joby, we are introduced to an array of wonderful, and not so wonderful people. The setting is like any other city that has its wealthy and poor, but Clark puts you in that city as if you were actually living there yourself.
With great descriptions, Clark's imagination and character development takes us into Joby's world. Full of mystery and intrigue, and did I forget to mention magic? Yes, magic, as with a lot of fantasy, Clark adds an element of magic that I've not read about bringing something new to the genre. I highly recommend this series to middle graders and adults alike.
I read the first three books and found The Shadow Tribe to be a quite engaging series. With wonderful writing, Clark has a way of bringing his characters to life and making us care for them. We see their struggles and feel their torment. While the series starts out with us meeting Joby, we are introduced to an array of wonderful, and not so wonderful people. The setting is like any other city that has its wealthy and poor, but Clark puts you in that city as if you were actually living there yourself.
With great descriptions, Clark's imagination and character development takes us into Joby's world. Full of mystery and intrigue, and did I forget to mention magic? Yes, magic, as with a lot of fantasy, Clark adds an element of magic that I've not read about bringing something new to the genre. I highly recommend this series to middle graders and adults alike.
October 6, 2017
Excited to have found another indie author who can create worlds that I crave to jump right into!
Joby is a young homeless boy who doesn’t let obstacles stop him from doing what he wants, and needs. In fact, he may as well say he enjoys his life. Unlike others his age, he is skilled living the streets. Not even the adults can accomplish what he is capable of doing, nor fight the way he does. He is skilled with his weapon, and is talented enough to get what he wants. Though, being homeless in a busy city comes with its obvious struggles. Luckily, Joby does not live alone. He has his very trustworthy companion named Scratch. Scratch is a stray dog who roams the streets, living like other strays, but is very fond of Joby.
This book is an introduction to a series of books that will come out later. I’m unsure as to how many. But in my opinion, would have liked to see them mashed into one. I had a blast reading about Joby and Scratch, and really enjoy Jaffrey Clark’s story telling. Adventure, magic, unknown creatures, skilled combat, unique abilities, and pretty much everything else my imagination craves. It was 59 pages of great reading, but left me wishing the book was more lengthy. I looked into book two ‘The Shadow Tribe: The Girl with the Stars’ and see its 30 pages longer, being 89, but would rather see these parts put into one book. I’m assuming book two is an introduction to another character from book one, given its title, but still feel conflicted with purchasing so many parts. I understand it’s a short story, but it feels like I’m getting chapters, rather than books. However, I look forward to reading Jaffrey Clark’s other writings and have added his other book ‘The Reaper’s Seed: The Sword and the Promise’ into my to be read list. Looking forward to that read. Its more lengthy being 268 pages, and is a series with three books already out. When an author is able to feed our imaginations with such entertainment, I often comment on their ability to do so. That does not mean I will always go back to their work though. But Jaffrey Clark is an author I will definitely be going back to. After reading this book, I’m confident enough to know that I’ll be grabbing Jaffrey Clark’s future books right away once he releases them. I am very glad to have found an author who can write exactly what I’m looking for. Just hoping they will be more lengthy in the future!
Joby is a young homeless boy who doesn’t let obstacles stop him from doing what he wants, and needs. In fact, he may as well say he enjoys his life. Unlike others his age, he is skilled living the streets. Not even the adults can accomplish what he is capable of doing, nor fight the way he does. He is skilled with his weapon, and is talented enough to get what he wants. Though, being homeless in a busy city comes with its obvious struggles. Luckily, Joby does not live alone. He has his very trustworthy companion named Scratch. Scratch is a stray dog who roams the streets, living like other strays, but is very fond of Joby.
This book is an introduction to a series of books that will come out later. I’m unsure as to how many. But in my opinion, would have liked to see them mashed into one. I had a blast reading about Joby and Scratch, and really enjoy Jaffrey Clark’s story telling. Adventure, magic, unknown creatures, skilled combat, unique abilities, and pretty much everything else my imagination craves. It was 59 pages of great reading, but left me wishing the book was more lengthy. I looked into book two ‘The Shadow Tribe: The Girl with the Stars’ and see its 30 pages longer, being 89, but would rather see these parts put into one book. I’m assuming book two is an introduction to another character from book one, given its title, but still feel conflicted with purchasing so many parts. I understand it’s a short story, but it feels like I’m getting chapters, rather than books. However, I look forward to reading Jaffrey Clark’s other writings and have added his other book ‘The Reaper’s Seed: The Sword and the Promise’ into my to be read list. Looking forward to that read. Its more lengthy being 268 pages, and is a series with three books already out. When an author is able to feed our imaginations with such entertainment, I often comment on their ability to do so. That does not mean I will always go back to their work though. But Jaffrey Clark is an author I will definitely be going back to. After reading this book, I’m confident enough to know that I’ll be grabbing Jaffrey Clark’s future books right away once he releases them. I am very glad to have found an author who can write exactly what I’m looking for. Just hoping they will be more lengthy in the future!
Want to read
April 29, 2018This cover style is appealing and the blurb adds to the effect. I am a curious cat. (Get it? There's a dog on the cover & blurb).
February 19, 2023
This was really interesting, and that's the reason I still think I want to read this... I just think I need to read it differently.
This first book (novella?) as only 59 pages long. At the end of the last chapter we have here, you can absolutely tell that you're stopping too soon. Not even in the middle of what should be the first book, but as it you are stopping without having gotten anywhere near where you would want to before quitting. I still don't know what the big problem is that I feel is definitely present in this story. I have no idea what Joby's 'switch' is. No idea what the scar on his hand means. No idea why some of the soldiers are behaving sneakily. There is so much going on in the background of Joby's rather narrow worldview, and we only get snips and pieces, and I want more.
In this case, wanting more is a good thing. I like the world that was being built here. I like Joby and his faithful dog Scratch. And I absolutely want to understand more about what's going on and where this story is going. Which is why I am absolutely adding the books to my TBR. (But differently. I think there's an option on Amazon where you could buy the entire series all in one, and I think I'd like that a whole lot better than just reading these in the pieces that they were originally put out in.)
Really intrigued by this. Will definitely continue. Will I like the entirety of this series when I get around to reading it in full? Time will ultimately tell, but I think so.
This first book (novella?) as only 59 pages long. At the end of the last chapter we have here, you can absolutely tell that you're stopping too soon. Not even in the middle of what should be the first book, but as it you are stopping without having gotten anywhere near where you would want to before quitting. I still don't know what the big problem is that I feel is definitely present in this story. I have no idea what Joby's 'switch' is. No idea what the scar on his hand means. No idea why some of the soldiers are behaving sneakily. There is so much going on in the background of Joby's rather narrow worldview, and we only get snips and pieces, and I want more.
In this case, wanting more is a good thing. I like the world that was being built here. I like Joby and his faithful dog Scratch. And I absolutely want to understand more about what's going on and where this story is going. Which is why I am absolutely adding the books to my TBR. (But differently. I think there's an option on Amazon where you could buy the entire series all in one, and I think I'd like that a whole lot better than just reading these in the pieces that they were originally put out in.)
Really intrigued by this. Will definitely continue. Will I like the entirety of this series when I get around to reading it in full? Time will ultimately tell, but I think so.
January 7, 2018
The boy with the scar is book one of three in the young adult fantasy series of The shadow tribe. This fantasy novel is about a young boy named Joby and his dog Scratch. Joby lives alone and is homeless. He is strong and can fight his way through the way he lives. He isn’t an ordinary boy and possesses a scar on his arm. This scar lights up when an incident happens, as he saves a beggar. The dark magic comes from the person he fights with to save the beggar. This intrigues him to find out why and what the scar is for, in the first place.
The tale was short and sweet. Having said that, it had everything an interesting story would need. A young boy, magic, secrets, surprise, suspense and funny moments were all embedded within this small book.
The literature was suitable for its audience, and the character was developed splendidly. Joby was relatable and easy to love. It was apparent to see that the work was written with care and exceptional thought. Even though it was short, there weren’t any loopholes or fluffed up content just to drag the story along. Everything had a purpose, and the wordings were carefully put together, creating a fascinating story.
I recommended this book to parents and kids that enjoy reading adventure stories.
The tale was short and sweet. Having said that, it had everything an interesting story would need. A young boy, magic, secrets, surprise, suspense and funny moments were all embedded within this small book.
The literature was suitable for its audience, and the character was developed splendidly. Joby was relatable and easy to love. It was apparent to see that the work was written with care and exceptional thought. Even though it was short, there weren’t any loopholes or fluffed up content just to drag the story along. Everything had a purpose, and the wordings were carefully put together, creating a fascinating story.
I recommended this book to parents and kids that enjoy reading adventure stories.
May 25, 2019
Excellent author.
The deep loneliness of the young boy, makes you want to pray somebody will take him in as their child and show him the love he needs.
There are some bad characters, and some fairly good, but no one see this boy (except his dog), which is so sad.
The people of the town seem to worship some kind of idols, which is always a bad sign.
This boy has seemingly a more compassion heart than most of the adults, who are too busy buying and selling, and some doing nefarious deeds with mystery and magic involved.
I recommend this author and this book. I read his other series which was also great, tho perhaps in a way more uplifting than this one.
However, this novel, is almost as if the author, is asking his readers to soften their hearts....which is not a bad thing in this age which is often all about me, myself and I.
The deep loneliness of the young boy, makes you want to pray somebody will take him in as their child and show him the love he needs.
There are some bad characters, and some fairly good, but no one see this boy (except his dog), which is so sad.
The people of the town seem to worship some kind of idols, which is always a bad sign.
This boy has seemingly a more compassion heart than most of the adults, who are too busy buying and selling, and some doing nefarious deeds with mystery and magic involved.
I recommend this author and this book. I read his other series which was also great, tho perhaps in a way more uplifting than this one.
However, this novel, is almost as if the author, is asking his readers to soften their hearts....which is not a bad thing in this age which is often all about me, myself and I.
March 7, 2018
A good start on the series
Well described world with hints of magic on the edges. The character Joby is well developed. I would have liked to have more material in this first book, but it was an enjoyable read.
Well described world with hints of magic on the edges. The character Joby is well developed. I would have liked to have more material in this first book, but it was an enjoyable read.
October 24, 2017
This is a well written short story that does a great job drawing you into the life of a boy with a mysterious scar and many other mysterious secrets.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews