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Shadowshaper Cypher #2
Shadowhouse Fall
The extraordinary sequel to the New York Times bestseller Shadowshaper is daring, dazzling, defiant.
Sierra and her friends love their new lives as shadowshapers, making art and creating change with the spirits of Brooklyn. Then Sierra receives a strange card depicting a beast called the Hound of Light -- an image from the enigmatic, influential Deck of Worlds. The shadowshapers know their next battle has arrived.
Thrust into an ancient struggle with enemies old and new, Sierra and Shadowhouse are determined to win. Revolution is brewing in the real world as well, as the shadowshapers lead the fight against systems that oppress their community. To protect her family and friends in every sphere, Sierra must take down the Hound and master the Deck of Worlds . . . or risk losing them all.
Sierra and her friends love their new lives as shadowshapers, making art and creating change with the spirits of Brooklyn. Then Sierra receives a strange card depicting a beast called the Hound of Light -- an image from the enigmatic, influential Deck of Worlds. The shadowshapers know their next battle has arrived.
Thrust into an ancient struggle with enemies old and new, Sierra and Shadowhouse are determined to win. Revolution is brewing in the real world as well, as the shadowshapers lead the fight against systems that oppress their community. To protect her family and friends in every sphere, Sierra must take down the Hound and master the Deck of Worlds . . . or risk losing them all.
Audible Audio
First published September 12, 2017
79 people are currently reading
3039 people want to read
About the author
Daniel José Older
178 books1,964 followersDaniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher (Scholastic), the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series (Penguin), and the upcoming Middle Grade sci-fi adventure Flood City (Scholastic). He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, the Mythopoeic Award, the Locus Award, the Andre Norton Award, and yes, the World Fantasy Award. Shadowshaper was named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. You can find his thoughts on writing, read dispatches from his decade-long career as an NYC paramedic and hear his music at http://danieljoseolder.net/, on youtube and @djolder on twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
September 18, 2024
Sierra and her wildly creative companions were captivating in Shadowshaper. Clever consolidation of mad musical, verbal and graffiti-art skills created a dazzling cultural kaleidoscope that pulsated from the pages, and showed more than the shadowshaping-side of life in Brooklyn. The sequel, Shadowhouse Fall, is every bit as delightful and dazzling, even as it tackles topics that parallel today’s headlines in an eerily accurate and chilling way.
Sierra has just learned of her role as the archetypal spirit, Lucera, “…the beating heart of the shadowshaping world.” Never one to shirk responsibility, always a fierce protector; she’s doggedly immersed herself in learning, teaching and practicing shadowshaping. Before she even begins to realize her potential, Sierra is forced to shift her focus.
The Sisterhood of the Sorrows had vowed revenge when Sierra “jacked up their shrine last summer,” precisely what Sierra and ‘her’ shadowshapers are preparing for; but no one could have predicted an attack so soon. It should have been impossible. Unless…the Sorrows are not alone.
To even stand a chance against an unknown in the urban spirituality system, each shadowshaper will need to be strong and smart independently; swift to support and assist when needed. Basically, battling as they live, to save the community they dearly love. Accustomed to every day prejudices and profiling, Sierra and her friends knew to expect hassle, rather than help, from the largely racist civil servants.
Mr. Older’s scintillating style swiftly hooks even the reluctant reader. The scramble to fight the good fight is gripping and the escalation towards the end, engrossing. When Sierra is left with only two choices, neither of which would result in a happy ending for her; Mr. Older presents a decision that, while not actually surprising, is absolutely unexpected.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Sierra has just learned of her role as the archetypal spirit, Lucera, “…the beating heart of the shadowshaping world.” Never one to shirk responsibility, always a fierce protector; she’s doggedly immersed herself in learning, teaching and practicing shadowshaping. Before she even begins to realize her potential, Sierra is forced to shift her focus.
The Sisterhood of the Sorrows had vowed revenge when Sierra “jacked up their shrine last summer,” precisely what Sierra and ‘her’ shadowshapers are preparing for; but no one could have predicted an attack so soon. It should have been impossible. Unless…the Sorrows are not alone.
To even stand a chance against an unknown in the urban spirituality system, each shadowshaper will need to be strong and smart independently; swift to support and assist when needed. Basically, battling as they live, to save the community they dearly love. Accustomed to every day prejudices and profiling, Sierra and her friends knew to expect hassle, rather than help, from the largely racist civil servants.
Mr. Older’s scintillating style swiftly hooks even the reluctant reader. The scramble to fight the good fight is gripping and the escalation towards the end, engrossing. When Sierra is left with only two choices, neither of which would result in a happy ending for her; Mr. Older presents a decision that, while not actually surprising, is absolutely unexpected.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
May 6, 2018
Me and this book have been on a journey. I was super excited to read this book after finishing and loving Shadowshaper, then I got sick, fell into a reading slump, and then I lost the actual book(it was at a friends house). So after all that I knew this book had better be amazing...
And fellow readers it was.
The Shadowshaper Cypher series has made me fall back in love was Fantasy, I think it says something that my favorite Fantasy series that I've read this year have been written by people of color, this series and Children of Blood & Bone. Diversity matters not just the diversity of the characters but diversity of the people who get a chance to publish their books. This series is diverse in every possible way Black characters, Latino characters, Gay Characters and characters who are dealing with mental illness. This series weaves real world issues such as police brutality, over policing of minority neighborhoods, and gentrification with a world of magic and spirits. The MC Sierra is strong, empowered, fierce and vulnerable.
Shadowhouse Fall is a spellbinding story of magic and activism.
A must read.
Read-A-Thin May Challenge: Read a book that's part of a series.
Around the year in 52 weeks: A book you have expectation/hopes for.
YA Bookaholics May Read-A-Thon.
Hooked on Books Read-A-Thon
And fellow readers it was.
The Shadowshaper Cypher series has made me fall back in love was Fantasy, I think it says something that my favorite Fantasy series that I've read this year have been written by people of color, this series and Children of Blood & Bone. Diversity matters not just the diversity of the characters but diversity of the people who get a chance to publish their books. This series is diverse in every possible way Black characters, Latino characters, Gay Characters and characters who are dealing with mental illness. This series weaves real world issues such as police brutality, over policing of minority neighborhoods, and gentrification with a world of magic and spirits. The MC Sierra is strong, empowered, fierce and vulnerable.
Shadowhouse Fall is a spellbinding story of magic and activism.
A must read.
Read-A-Thin May Challenge: Read a book that's part of a series.
Around the year in 52 weeks: A book you have expectation/hopes for.
YA Bookaholics May Read-A-Thon.
Hooked on Books Read-A-Thon
July 9, 2017
This is one of those sequels that gives you EVERYTHING you want - the characters you love, new characters you can fall in love with, a deeper dive in the world and magic, and a true conflict with awesome magical battles that keeps you turning through all 358 pages of this awesome book. I loved it!!!!
Another thing I loved about this book is how resonant the story is to the world we're living in right now. It takes on issues that naturally fit into the story with a powerful resonance that I think is important for everyone, especially our young readers.
So if you fell in love with SHADOWSHAPER, you will be delighted to read SHADOWHOUSE FALL!
Another thing I loved about this book is how resonant the story is to the world we're living in right now. It takes on issues that naturally fit into the story with a powerful resonance that I think is important for everyone, especially our young readers.
So if you fell in love with SHADOWSHAPER, you will be delighted to read SHADOWHOUSE FALL!
September 20, 2017
I am a huge fan of Daniel Jose Older's characters and stories. This story did not disappoint. Lots of tension, lots of mystery, and absolutely wonderful relationships between Sierra and her friends and family. The relationships give Sierra her strength; though she worries about their safety and all of them are at constant risk, the Shadowshapers all gain strength from each other.
There are some terrifying moments in the story, and they have nothing to do with Shadowshaping; rather, these moments concern the teens' interactions with the police. There is one moment I loved when Sierra gives her history teacher a piece of her mind about the curriculum and Sierra's and her peers' reactions to it.
Sierra difficult relationship with Robbie and her opening up to Pulpo both felt believable, and did not feel tropey and super annoying to me.
I want book 3 now!
The audio was again narrated by Anika Noni Rose, who was wonderful as everybody, though I particularly loved her work as Sierra and Izzie.
There are some terrifying moments in the story, and they have nothing to do with Shadowshaping; rather, these moments concern the teens' interactions with the police. There is one moment I loved when Sierra gives her history teacher a piece of her mind about the curriculum and Sierra's and her peers' reactions to it.
Sierra difficult relationship with Robbie and her opening up to Pulpo both felt believable, and did not feel tropey and super annoying to me.
I want book 3 now!
The audio was again narrated by Anika Noni Rose, who was wonderful as everybody, though I particularly loved her work as Sierra and Izzie.
September 21, 2017
Some books are just so freaking awesome that they leave you speechless. You want to write a coherent review but just don't know where to begin because every word, every line is full of meaning and literally life-changing. The feeling that someone out there sees you as more than poor, dysfunctional and in need of saving by the magical default person. That your lives are filled with light, love, family, friendships and community. Then they make you wonder why there aren't MORE novels like this. Then they make you realize there ARE books like this but the racist gatekeepers in publishing don't want you to have them, or if they do, they don't want a member of that group to write them. Then you understand why #ownvoices and #WeNeedDiverseBooks exist.
I was already in love with Shadowshaper to the point where if anyone came at author Daniel Jose Older wrong, I was going to clap back at them hard. If I'm willing to become a posse of one for an author I love, well, that tells you something.
Shadowhouse Fall did not disappoint. This sequel is everything urban fantasy should be and (mostly) isn't. It's diverse as all hell without reading like it checks off all the boxes. It skillfully weaves real life issues like gentrification and the overpolicing of communities of color within a world of magic that rightfully honors African, Latino and indigenous cultures. It has a heroine who isn't stuck on stupid, especially when there's a boy involved. Sierra Santiago doesn't let testosterone get in the way of what she needs to do. In short, she loses none of her autonomy. We get a novel about family and friends who may lack power in a supremacist system, yet refuse to bend or break. They have powers the rest of the world does not see or understand, therefore dismiss.
Can I give a shout out to Izzy who's got mad flow skills? Female MC's are rare enough as it is. She and Bennie are so adorable.
I make no secret that I hate hate hate the "love triangle". But here, Daniel Jose Older not only makes it make sense, but it's not the raison d'etre. In fact, the relationship between Sierra, fellow shadowshaper (and maybe boyfriend) Robbie and Pulpo the bassist for Culebra (real name Anthony) is less a triangle and more of how relationships can be complicated and that what one person wants or needs may not always gel with what others want or need. There is no #teamRobbie or #teamPulpo here. Both young men had things to offer Sierra.
Yes, the Afro-Latin presence is front and center and it's a breath of fresh air. Sadly both Black and Latino cultures have a problem with erasure of this identity. Of course, we know that this erasure is another form of colonialism and anti-Blackness. On my Twitter feed today, attorney and television host Sunny Hostin who's Black and Puerto Rican, had to school a fellow Puerto Rican on the mixed heritage that most in the Caribbean and Latin America share - African, Indigenous American and Spanish. It's awesome how Sierra is perfectly at home in both cultures and honors each.
Oh, and can I just give another "hell yeah" to how Older showed how no movement for social justice should ever shut out women, especially Black women (who are often the backbone of such movements). And how he handled mental illness, something communities of color struggle with. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I know exactly what Pulpo was going through.
I'm not going to lie, I'm a Daniel Jose Older fangirl. I follow the man on Twitter and when he favorites or responds to my tweets, I'm over the damn moon. I'm still hoping and waiting for a salsa/thrash band like Culebra. Shadowhouse Fall needs to be a movie. Stat. I know he has his Bone Street Rumba novels (which are awesome too) but I'm ready for more shadowshaping.
I was already in love with Shadowshaper to the point where if anyone came at author Daniel Jose Older wrong, I was going to clap back at them hard. If I'm willing to become a posse of one for an author I love, well, that tells you something.
Shadowhouse Fall did not disappoint. This sequel is everything urban fantasy should be and (mostly) isn't. It's diverse as all hell without reading like it checks off all the boxes. It skillfully weaves real life issues like gentrification and the overpolicing of communities of color within a world of magic that rightfully honors African, Latino and indigenous cultures. It has a heroine who isn't stuck on stupid, especially when there's a boy involved. Sierra Santiago doesn't let testosterone get in the way of what she needs to do. In short, she loses none of her autonomy. We get a novel about family and friends who may lack power in a supremacist system, yet refuse to bend or break. They have powers the rest of the world does not see or understand, therefore dismiss.
Can I give a shout out to Izzy who's got mad flow skills? Female MC's are rare enough as it is. She and Bennie are so adorable.
I make no secret that I hate hate hate the "love triangle". But here, Daniel Jose Older not only makes it make sense, but it's not the raison d'etre. In fact, the relationship between Sierra, fellow shadowshaper (and maybe boyfriend) Robbie and Pulpo the bassist for Culebra (real name Anthony) is less a triangle and more of how relationships can be complicated and that what one person wants or needs may not always gel with what others want or need. There is no #teamRobbie or #teamPulpo here. Both young men had things to offer Sierra.
Yes, the Afro-Latin presence is front and center and it's a breath of fresh air. Sadly both Black and Latino cultures have a problem with erasure of this identity. Of course, we know that this erasure is another form of colonialism and anti-Blackness. On my Twitter feed today, attorney and television host Sunny Hostin who's Black and Puerto Rican, had to school a fellow Puerto Rican on the mixed heritage that most in the Caribbean and Latin America share - African, Indigenous American and Spanish. It's awesome how Sierra is perfectly at home in both cultures and honors each.
Oh, and can I just give another "hell yeah" to how Older showed how no movement for social justice should ever shut out women, especially Black women (who are often the backbone of such movements). And how he handled mental illness, something communities of color struggle with. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I know exactly what Pulpo was going through.
I'm not going to lie, I'm a Daniel Jose Older fangirl. I follow the man on Twitter and when he favorites or responds to my tweets, I'm over the damn moon. I'm still hoping and waiting for a salsa/thrash band like Culebra. Shadowhouse Fall needs to be a movie. Stat. I know he has his Bone Street Rumba novels (which are awesome too) but I'm ready for more shadowshaping.
April 17, 2017
I edited this, so I'm biased, but it's brilliant -- a substantial level-up from Daniel's already excellent first YA novel, SHADOWSHAPER, and a thrilling, funny, sexy, smart fantasy/commentary on the sociological moment we live in and the systems that can entrap us all. Don't miss it.
December 6, 2017
While I didn't love this quite as much as the first book, Shadowshaper, I still thought it was very good, and the audio is truly first rate.
I love the mix of supernatural and racial tensions that combine to create such an explosive story. The influence of the events that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement is so apparent in Older's writing, making this urban fantasy painfully realistic.
I love the mix of supernatural and racial tensions that combine to create such an explosive story. The influence of the events that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement is so apparent in Older's writing, making this urban fantasy painfully realistic.
January 19, 2018
Ahhhhh this was fantastic. It's autumn so the kids are back to school, and to see the magic system of shadowshaping set side-by-side with the real-world issues either happening or being discussed in the classroom was brilliant. I loved seeing Mina step in and become part of the crew after she showed up in Tee's novella GHOST GIRL IN THE CORNER, and from the old-timer shapers to Sierra's mom, just... yes. I love the scope of these books, bringing together strangers and families with magic and without it. And that ending? YES. Why shouldn't we be able to have both? Can't wait for #3. Time to go find the second novella. And more Bone Street Rumba books in the meantime.
June 25, 2023
This one wasn't as strong for me because the tarot aspect felt very tacked on and not well explored. However, the discussion of issues kids are facing on a daily basis, the perversion of privilege for harm, and the dialogue really shine in this book.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The kids. They're funny and fresh.
-Art as magic. I am such a sucker for this trope.
-Dialogue. Absolutely perfect.
-The world. It's scary, often scarier than the magical threats.
-Family. Yay for a book that has positive family interactions! Trauma doesn't just have to be domestic abuse!
Things I didn't love:
-The story. Kind of a big thing not to love, so you should see how much I like the other things to make up for it. Bland, illogical, very maguffiny.
Still a good time, probably going to continue on.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The kids. They're funny and fresh.
-Art as magic. I am such a sucker for this trope.
-Dialogue. Absolutely perfect.
-The world. It's scary, often scarier than the magical threats.
-Family. Yay for a book that has positive family interactions! Trauma doesn't just have to be domestic abuse!
Things I didn't love:
-The story. Kind of a big thing not to love, so you should see how much I like the other things to make up for it. Bland, illogical, very maguffiny.
Still a good time, probably going to continue on.
January 17, 2018
*Helpful note: read the dialogue like a kid from Brooklyn. If you need help understanding the culture of the more diverse boroughs watch some urban Latino films based in New York (like Don’t Let Me Drown - based in Brooklyn) they’re very informative to understanding the people and vernacular used in these books.”
Shadowshaper issues tackled: Colorism and Gentrification
Shadowhouse Fall issues tackled: police brutality (of minorities), racism, and inequality.
I fail to remember the storyline of Shadowshaper beyond the Caribbean folklore presented upon an urban backdrop, but I believe I enjoyed it on a YA level. My feeling of Shadowhouse Fall is the same as Shadowshaper. It’s a watered-down fantasy novel that uses magic as a creative platform to inform teenagers about real issues without coming across as preachy (It’s sad that such serious issues could be considered preachy, but sadly, some people think so).
My inability to recall Shadowshaper (for me) was a blessing in disguise. Robbie being absent for a good portion of the book, along with Sierra and Robbie not being a couple didn’t bother me. However, Sierra dating Pulpo (Anthony) seemed random albeit cute, but I beg you Daniel, do not turn this into a love triangle!
Sadly, the weakest component to the story was the fantasy angle. I’m still confused about what the cards are and mean, along with the villain being the House of Light again. Sierra’s power is boring and underutilized the entire book and there was just something missing. It seems like Older really wants to write a book on current issues in the world plaguing us black and brown people rather than a YA novel about fantasy. If anything, the fantasy (the less passionate portion of the novel) should be the be the setting, yet the issues are the storyline, the meat of the story.
Older is a talented writer, especially for this age group. He has a lively writing style that remains engaging and entertaining until the end. If he was writing YA fiction when I was a teenager his books would’ve been a staple for me. There’s tons of dialogue, a great inner voice in Sierra, and a band of colorful diverse friends that invite you into their world. However, his writing style does reveal where his passion lies and it’s not the fantasy, so if you’re reading this for that aspect I’d say lower your expectations.
Overall, it’s a solid novel and I suggest everyone read it and give it support because it's extremely diverse with an array of races and nationailities. This is what's been missing from YA fiction, hell Adult fiction too.
Shadowshaper issues tackled: Colorism and Gentrification
Shadowhouse Fall issues tackled: police brutality (of minorities), racism, and inequality.
I fail to remember the storyline of Shadowshaper beyond the Caribbean folklore presented upon an urban backdrop, but I believe I enjoyed it on a YA level. My feeling of Shadowhouse Fall is the same as Shadowshaper. It’s a watered-down fantasy novel that uses magic as a creative platform to inform teenagers about real issues without coming across as preachy (It’s sad that such serious issues could be considered preachy, but sadly, some people think so).
My inability to recall Shadowshaper (for me) was a blessing in disguise. Robbie being absent for a good portion of the book, along with Sierra and Robbie not being a couple didn’t bother me. However, Sierra dating Pulpo (Anthony) seemed random albeit cute, but I beg you Daniel, do not turn this into a love triangle!
Sadly, the weakest component to the story was the fantasy angle. I’m still confused about what the cards are and mean, along with the villain being the House of Light again. Sierra’s power is boring and underutilized the entire book and there was just something missing. It seems like Older really wants to write a book on current issues in the world plaguing us black and brown people rather than a YA novel about fantasy. If anything, the fantasy (the less passionate portion of the novel) should be the be the setting, yet the issues are the storyline, the meat of the story.
Older is a talented writer, especially for this age group. He has a lively writing style that remains engaging and entertaining until the end. If he was writing YA fiction when I was a teenager his books would’ve been a staple for me. There’s tons of dialogue, a great inner voice in Sierra, and a band of colorful diverse friends that invite you into their world. However, his writing style does reveal where his passion lies and it’s not the fantasy, so if you’re reading this for that aspect I’d say lower your expectations.
Overall, it’s a solid novel and I suggest everyone read it and give it support because it's extremely diverse with an array of races and nationailities. This is what's been missing from YA fiction, hell Adult fiction too.
September 10, 2017
With its incredible dialogue, beautiful prose, brilliant cast of characters, and important social commentary SHADOWHOUSE FALL takes YA urban fantasy to a whole new level.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, SHADOWSHAPER, but this second book absolutely blew me away. I've said this over and over again while I've been reading the series, but the dialogue in this book is truly spectacular. Older's writing is just absolutely masterful and makes this book a must-read for writers as well as readers.
The squad in this book is phenomenal. Their banter, friendship, and loyalty make them one literary crew that readers will want to sign up for and will certainly feel like they're a part of while reading.
The magic system is simply stunning. I love the way that Older has based the system around art. It really brings the images that readers visualize while reading the story to life and compliments the urban setting of the story so well.
There is a lot of important social commentary in this book. All of it is incredibly relevant to our current social and political climate and makes this book one that should be taught in high schools across the country. Our world needs this book right now.
The romance in book one fell a little bit flat for me, but I can definitely see why after reading book two. The romance in SHADOWHOUSE FALL, however, managed to be captivating and charming while not stealing the focus from the more important aspects of this story.
This book was absolutely brilliant. It's timely, important, entertaining, and beautifully written. Read this book!
*I received an ARC of SHADOWHOUSE FALL from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, SHADOWSHAPER, but this second book absolutely blew me away. I've said this over and over again while I've been reading the series, but the dialogue in this book is truly spectacular. Older's writing is just absolutely masterful and makes this book a must-read for writers as well as readers.
The squad in this book is phenomenal. Their banter, friendship, and loyalty make them one literary crew that readers will want to sign up for and will certainly feel like they're a part of while reading.
The magic system is simply stunning. I love the way that Older has based the system around art. It really brings the images that readers visualize while reading the story to life and compliments the urban setting of the story so well.
There is a lot of important social commentary in this book. All of it is incredibly relevant to our current social and political climate and makes this book one that should be taught in high schools across the country. Our world needs this book right now.
The romance in book one fell a little bit flat for me, but I can definitely see why after reading book two. The romance in SHADOWHOUSE FALL, however, managed to be captivating and charming while not stealing the focus from the more important aspects of this story.
This book was absolutely brilliant. It's timely, important, entertaining, and beautifully written. Read this book!
*I received an ARC of SHADOWHOUSE FALL from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 24, 2017
I couldn't have asked for a better follow up to Shadowshaper, Older's awesome YA urban fantasy novel. I particularly love his magic system - and we get to see a lot more of it here. Older also writes excellent social commentary, even more so here than in the first installment. The only way this could have been better was to have listened to the story via audiobook like I did with book one - Anika Noni Rose brought the author's world to life in the best possible way. If you like diverse urban fantasy with a unique magic system, Jason Reynolds, and Angie Thomas, then you need to try this series. I can't wait until the release of book three, and I will definitely need to try adult urban fantasy series, Bone Street Rumba.
Thanks again, Goodreads!
Thanks again, Goodreads!
October 7, 2017
this was amazing. i did think the romance was REALLY shoehorned in and i was a little confused by the newly expanded magic system, but in every other aspect, this one was even better than the first one
September 25, 2017
This series is great and getting better with each book. I highly recommend the audio.
September 4, 2017
Short Review: Older had a vision for this book, and he made it happen. The writing is deliberate in the way that it continues to develop the world of the Shadowshapers while also tackling modern, real world struggles. He fleshes out his characters, envelops the reader in a world of magic, and still makes time for some serious, much-needed activism.
Long Review: Warning – May Contain Spoilers
The Good
This Story Is Woke. Given that this is a story about a bunch of black (and Afro-Latinx) kids running around the streets of New York, Older had a lot to work with, but he absolutely made the most of it. The story conquers the world of police brutality, the struggles of racism, calls out white complacency, and even gives a shout out to black figures like Trayvon Martin. This story speaks VOLUMES, and if you’re looking for something that is both incredibly entertaining and also incredibly powerful, this is the book for you.
The writing in this novel was world’s beyond Shadowhsaper. Older brought his A-game in terms of description, action, and pacing. He takes this book as a chance to fully flesh out some characters who were left a little dry in book one and really tug on some heartstrings.
This is that urban fantasy book that has you laughing while you shiver. The magic is enthralling, and the dialogue is hilarious. You’ll find yourself engrossed as you flip from one emotional extreme to another.
The Bad
I was not feeling the love triangle. At all. The relationship between Robbie and Sierra felt a little forced to me in book one, but I was looking forward to seeing how it would smooth out in book two. Eesh. Not even a little.
On top of the rocky, and kind of awkwardly unnecessary Robbie drama was the newly introduced love triangle with Juan’s friend Anthony. I just couldn’t get into it. Nothing about the relationship felt organic or well-drawn out to me, and while Anthony was a mostly likeable character, his relationship with Sierra felt about as convincing as his panic attacks (next section).
The Problematic
The story struggles with a good amount of ableism. While there are some issues regarding mental hospitals and patients that seemed to be handled relatively well, the story was still rife with casual ableism and ableist slurs like “maniac”.
Other issues came in the form of Anthony’s panic attacks. When he entrusts this information to Sierra, the two discuss it in a way that I thought was very mental health inclusive. However, this sensitivity is the last you’ll see through to the end of the novel. We’ve got plenty of issues like Sierra “not telling anyone about his panic attacks” while being super obvious and talking about his “condition”. We have her failing to respond to the fact that he’s having a panic attack after promising to be there only to show up and for the whole scene to devolve into “sexy times”.
More than anything, though, Anthony’s anxiety seemed to be a tool to make his relationship with Sierra more convincing. His entrusting this information to her (even though he barely knows her and has only told like four people) is basically the only glue keeping their relationship together, and several times throughout the novel, this knowledge is used to either entice or berate Sierra and draw more attention to an otherwise lackluster couple.
Conclusion
Overall, Shadowhouse Fall was one of my favorite reads of the year. Despite a couple of hiccups in terms of mental health and romance, the story is colorful, powerful, and a surefire sign that Older’s writing just gets better with age (buh dum tsss).
June 19, 2017
DAAAAAAYYYUUUUMMMM. This was beyond excellent. That's some rage in this book, Daniel. It's MILES ahead of book one. I'm so ready for part 3.
January 17, 2020
2020: This book is still just ridiculously perfect. I think what I love about it the most is the blend of YA heroes with adult heroes. The Shadowshapers aren't JUST teens -- there are plenty of adults going around. And the idea that you're having to deal with MAGIC while also dealing with racism and high school and cops and the issues of the neighborhood all of it is JUST SO WELL BLENDED. I can't believe I haven't been depressed while waiting for book 3, but I am so excited to start it!
2018: While I enjoyed the first book quite a bit, this book is absolutely perfect. This blends real life into the Shadowshaping world so perfectly, hitting on so many issues of the present day and not trying to make the world only about these houses of magic. Older is amazing at blending Brooklyn into the story.
2018: While I enjoyed the first book quite a bit, this book is absolutely perfect. This blends real life into the Shadowshaping world so perfectly, hitting on so many issues of the present day and not trying to make the world only about these houses of magic. Older is amazing at blending Brooklyn into the story.
September 12, 2018
Still loving this series. I would say that I like it better than book one, adding to the characters and introducing some extended family that round things out. I'll have to read it again when book 3 comes out next year and I won't even be mad.
February 17, 2020
It's tough sometimes with a second book in a series/trilogy. It often feels like a placeholder for the next book, more set up and less pay off. That's not the case here. There is a lot going on, and more of this world is getting discovered. There's also a great crossing of lines, where should-be enemies are teaming up and secrets are being exposed.
Shadowhouse and Lighthouse (hehe) are squaring off and there's a Deck of Worlds made up of really twisted tarot cards that change and shift depending on the power of balance between all the various houses. It makes it clear that there are more than just the two houses and that the shadowshapers can do and be more than just shadowshapers. I won't get too much into this part, but the world building in this series is well-paced to the action and the lighter moments, and the exposition never feels ham-fisted. The conclusion of the central conflict sets up yet even greater stakes for the next book.
The character development continues to be well done as well. They're all flawed in their own ways, and they're all complex and play off each other well. Plus, these teenagers sound like teenagers. They make mistakes that teens would make, and they're sometimes impulsive and other times insightful. The humor is natural and flows out of the various relationships they all have with each other.
The racial issues are too real at times. They can seem a bit preachy if you're sensitive to this discussion, but I've heard too many stories and seen too many headlines and too many internet trolls to not believe that this stuff doesn't happen. Because it does. Well-meaning people can step over lines they don't understand and cause more damage. Teens in urban schools are harassed and bullied by the vary campus cops supposedly put there to keep them safe. People get unjustly locked up - and the one thing I might have taken issue with was quickly explained in a satisfactory way.
I'm eager to see where this goes in the next one.
Shadowhouse and Lighthouse (hehe) are squaring off and there's a Deck of Worlds made up of really twisted tarot cards that change and shift depending on the power of balance between all the various houses. It makes it clear that there are more than just the two houses and that the shadowshapers can do and be more than just shadowshapers. I won't get too much into this part, but the world building in this series is well-paced to the action and the lighter moments, and the exposition never feels ham-fisted. The conclusion of the central conflict sets up yet even greater stakes for the next book.
The character development continues to be well done as well. They're all flawed in their own ways, and they're all complex and play off each other well. Plus, these teenagers sound like teenagers. They make mistakes that teens would make, and they're sometimes impulsive and other times insightful. The humor is natural and flows out of the various relationships they all have with each other.
The racial issues are too real at times. They can seem a bit preachy if you're sensitive to this discussion, but I've heard too many stories and seen too many headlines and too many internet trolls to not believe that this stuff doesn't happen. Because it does. Well-meaning people can step over lines they don't understand and cause more damage. Teens in urban schools are harassed and bullied by the vary campus cops supposedly put there to keep them safe. People get unjustly locked up - and the one thing I might have taken issue with was quickly explained in a satisfactory way.
I'm eager to see where this goes in the next one.
January 8, 2020
This series is seriously amazing. Cultural relevance, cool magic system, discussion of issues, and characters that make me feel every feeling. Read this series!!
October 14, 2017
Enjoyed the sequel more than the first book because the plot just got SICK! Also kind of liked a character that was introduced in this book but again not a fan of the relationship
Still going to continue with the series when it comes back
Still going to continue with the series when it comes back
January 2, 2018
This book kicked my ass and made me appreciate it. Read the full review here
November 25, 2021
Hey, it’s your girl Kara, reading the sequel to a book four years after I read the first book, and the real tragedy is that this is not unusual for me! So when you hear me say that I struggled to get into Shadowhouse Fall, it’s not because of the book itself. Rather, I literally forgot everything about the plot of the first book and had to lean on my review and some plot summaries to help me out! Indeed, despite such deficits on my part, the fact that I still enjoyed this book as much as I did is a testament to Daniel José Older’s storytelling.
Sierra Santiago is now the leader of the shadowshapers in New York. She learns this actually makes her the head of Shadowhouse, and that there are other supernatural houses vying for spiritual power. Her main antagonist is the House of Light, led by the Sorrows. They want control over the Deck of Worlds, a literal deck of custom-painted cards that shift to reflect the state of this power struggle and also lends power boosts to the various representatives of the different houses. But the generational gap in Sierra’s understanding of shadowshaper lore makes it difficult for her to mount an effective defence (or offence). She is torn between protecting her people and embracing her destiny. The other forces at play might not give Sierra much of a choice, however.
What struck me immediately about Shadowhouse Fall is the way Older employs vernacular in a seemingly effortless way. This is a dialogue-heavy book, and most of the characters are teens, and they sound like teens (particularly, Black and Latinx teens in NYC). I don’t just mean in terms of vocabulary either—Older has the cadence, the style, down as well. For an older (and whiter) reader like myself, that might make reading the dialogue more challenging, but it’s also rewarding in how it makes the characters come alive and feel far more real than if everyone were speaking a dialect with which I’m more familiar.
In the same way, Older pulls no punches in portraying the brutal racism suffusing these teens’ experiences. There’s police brutality, from random stops to unlawful arrests. But there’s also the everyday humiliation of metal detectors at the entrance to their schools and harassment from security guards. Again, as a white reader this is valuable for me because it reminds me that the racism I engage with largely as a theoretical construct is something that teens like these characters face as part of their everyday lives. When adults like myself dismiss racialized teens because of their youth, we erase their very real experiences.
When I review YA novels, I often say something like, “I didn’t like this but can see how a younger reader would.” I say this because I like to acknowledge that I am often not the target demographic for these books, and I try to reflect that in my review and my rating. Shadowhouse Fall (and its predecessor) is a YA novel I did enjoy, and it’s also one I really hope young adults will enjoy too. Older’s writing style is electric, engaging, and most importantly, never condescending.
As for the plot: well, again, it took me a while to get back into this world given my four-year absence. But I made it! I love how Older drives this narrative through a combination of Sierra’s curiosity and the mounting threats to her and her shadowshapers. The resolution, wherein Sierra attempts a courageous gambit to outwit the Sorrows, is something else—it’s hopeful and inspiring and reminds readers that even when destiny comes calling, you can look destiny in the eye and tell it you’re creating your own path. The ending left me feeling fulfilled, like I was on this journey with Sierra and her allies and now I can watch them grow beyond whatever limitations or strictures Sierra’s forbears thought they could place on this magic or this way of life.
Because that’s ultimately what this book is about: the tension between tradition and innovation. Shadowshaping is hereditary and wrapped up in traditions and beliefs from previous generations. Some of these result in strong, positive connections like how Sierra is growing closer to her mom. Others are more harmful because they seek to circumscribe the choices the shadowshapers can make. As with any culture, the youth will always make their own mark on our practices, and Older makes that very clear here: Sierra is a shadowshaper, but she’s also a teenager navigating herself into adulthood, and that is going to shape the shadowshaping itself.
What an exhilarating ride.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Sierra Santiago is now the leader of the shadowshapers in New York. She learns this actually makes her the head of Shadowhouse, and that there are other supernatural houses vying for spiritual power. Her main antagonist is the House of Light, led by the Sorrows. They want control over the Deck of Worlds, a literal deck of custom-painted cards that shift to reflect the state of this power struggle and also lends power boosts to the various representatives of the different houses. But the generational gap in Sierra’s understanding of shadowshaper lore makes it difficult for her to mount an effective defence (or offence). She is torn between protecting her people and embracing her destiny. The other forces at play might not give Sierra much of a choice, however.
What struck me immediately about Shadowhouse Fall is the way Older employs vernacular in a seemingly effortless way. This is a dialogue-heavy book, and most of the characters are teens, and they sound like teens (particularly, Black and Latinx teens in NYC). I don’t just mean in terms of vocabulary either—Older has the cadence, the style, down as well. For an older (and whiter) reader like myself, that might make reading the dialogue more challenging, but it’s also rewarding in how it makes the characters come alive and feel far more real than if everyone were speaking a dialect with which I’m more familiar.
In the same way, Older pulls no punches in portraying the brutal racism suffusing these teens’ experiences. There’s police brutality, from random stops to unlawful arrests. But there’s also the everyday humiliation of metal detectors at the entrance to their schools and harassment from security guards. Again, as a white reader this is valuable for me because it reminds me that the racism I engage with largely as a theoretical construct is something that teens like these characters face as part of their everyday lives. When adults like myself dismiss racialized teens because of their youth, we erase their very real experiences.
When I review YA novels, I often say something like, “I didn’t like this but can see how a younger reader would.” I say this because I like to acknowledge that I am often not the target demographic for these books, and I try to reflect that in my review and my rating. Shadowhouse Fall (and its predecessor) is a YA novel I did enjoy, and it’s also one I really hope young adults will enjoy too. Older’s writing style is electric, engaging, and most importantly, never condescending.
As for the plot: well, again, it took me a while to get back into this world given my four-year absence. But I made it! I love how Older drives this narrative through a combination of Sierra’s curiosity and the mounting threats to her and her shadowshapers. The resolution, wherein Sierra attempts a courageous gambit to outwit the Sorrows, is something else—it’s hopeful and inspiring and reminds readers that even when destiny comes calling, you can look destiny in the eye and tell it you’re creating your own path. The ending left me feeling fulfilled, like I was on this journey with Sierra and her allies and now I can watch them grow beyond whatever limitations or strictures Sierra’s forbears thought they could place on this magic or this way of life.
Because that’s ultimately what this book is about: the tension between tradition and innovation. Shadowshaping is hereditary and wrapped up in traditions and beliefs from previous generations. Some of these result in strong, positive connections like how Sierra is growing closer to her mom. Others are more harmful because they seek to circumscribe the choices the shadowshapers can make. As with any culture, the youth will always make their own mark on our practices, and Older makes that very clear here: Sierra is a shadowshaper, but she’s also a teenager navigating herself into adulthood, and that is going to shape the shadowshaping itself.
What an exhilarating ride.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
May 27, 2018
I liked this book a LOT! The first one was more of a 3.5, this one is already going towards 4.25/4.5
It took me longer to get fully invested in, which is the reason it didn't end up being a 5 star read, but i am damn glad i read it and would definitely recommend! I mean honestly, i enjoyed the first book, but this was such a glow up! Can't wait for book 3.
It's longer than the first book, which is good because it can cover more ground. I love the setting, the diverse action urban fantasy vibe. The cover.
I love love love the rage in this book. I love how this overwhelmingly latinix black and brown cast of wonderful persons speaks and shouts and sings and shapes their truth.
I like the magic and the focus on art in its many forms, but i liked the social commentary and interwovennes of important real life issues like racism and police brutality even more. I can't really say anything about that that'll do the book justice, but damn this was great. The diverse cast and important topics, by far the best part of this book.
I like the magic. The side f/f relationship. The love interest with anxiety. The writing was great (and the audiobook narration too). I loved how Sierra's mom was involved. How it showed that family, and people and relationships, can be messy and good and bad and complicated and home all at the same time.
I'd have liked to see the supporting characters more fleshed out, but i enjoyed seeing the whole scooby gang again and i am rooting for them anyway :)
TW: ableist society, police brutality, racism
It took me longer to get fully invested in, which is the reason it didn't end up being a 5 star read, but i am damn glad i read it and would definitely recommend! I mean honestly, i enjoyed the first book, but this was such a glow up! Can't wait for book 3.
It's longer than the first book, which is good because it can cover more ground. I love the setting, the diverse action urban fantasy vibe. The cover.
I love love love the rage in this book. I love how this overwhelmingly latinix black and brown cast of wonderful persons speaks and shouts and sings and shapes their truth.
I like the magic and the focus on art in its many forms, but i liked the social commentary and interwovennes of important real life issues like racism and police brutality even more. I can't really say anything about that that'll do the book justice, but damn this was great. The diverse cast and important topics, by far the best part of this book.
I like the magic. The side f/f relationship. The love interest with anxiety. The writing was great (and the audiobook narration too). I loved how Sierra's mom was involved. How it showed that family, and people and relationships, can be messy and good and bad and complicated and home all at the same time.
I'd have liked to see the supporting characters more fleshed out, but i enjoyed seeing the whole scooby gang again and i am rooting for them anyway :)
TW: ableist society, police brutality, racism
June 22, 2022
4.5 stars
This series is getting better and better, but based on my past experiences with this author, this is what he does. He takes the time to set up the world and help you figure out enough of the system so you're not completely lost. So if you're not ready to invest the time early on to figure things out, you might give up too soon. But it's definitely worth hanging in and letting the story develop. In this book, the author doesn't spend as much time setting everything up, partly because you should have read the first book already. But what's new in this story is the Deck of Worlds and the Hound of Light, and we learn everything as Sierra learns it, and much of it takes place with tons of action, so I would not consider this book a slow start! In fact, there were moments when things were happening so fast I was trying to figure out who was doing what and saying what to whom! Music doesn't play as prominent a role in this book as in the first book, but you do get a few of Izzy's rhymes. One of the things I most appreciate about this book is that Older doesn't spend a ton of time on useless plot elements like major misunderstandings that last for pages and pages. So even though this is a YA novel, I don't feel like we're immersed in YA tropes. This is an intelligent series and I'm very much enjoying the ride.
This series is getting better and better, but based on my past experiences with this author, this is what he does. He takes the time to set up the world and help you figure out enough of the system so you're not completely lost. So if you're not ready to invest the time early on to figure things out, you might give up too soon. But it's definitely worth hanging in and letting the story develop. In this book, the author doesn't spend as much time setting everything up, partly because you should have read the first book already. But what's new in this story is the Deck of Worlds and the Hound of Light, and we learn everything as Sierra learns it, and much of it takes place with tons of action, so I would not consider this book a slow start! In fact, there were moments when things were happening so fast I was trying to figure out who was doing what and saying what to whom! Music doesn't play as prominent a role in this book as in the first book, but you do get a few of Izzy's rhymes. One of the things I most appreciate about this book is that Older doesn't spend a ton of time on useless plot elements like major misunderstandings that last for pages and pages. So even though this is a YA novel, I don't feel like we're immersed in YA tropes. This is an intelligent series and I'm very much enjoying the ride.
June 24, 2018
I enjoyed this sequel to Shadowshaper. It is a broader book, requiring knowledge of both plot and characters for the previous book in order to fully enjoy it. (If you haven't read Shadowshaper, start there and know you have TWO amazing books awaiting for you. Shadowhouse Fall picks up a few months following the end of the first story. Sierra is training her Shadowshapers and trying to grow into her role as Lucera. In the midst of all of this, The Sorrows are again on the move eager to use Sierra's youth and naivety to gain power again. The world Older created in the first book in the series is widened here, showing many layers and depths. Several new characters are introduced, all of whom add new angles to the story. This is an excellent series that uses mythology and magic and also highlights many social injustices and societal issues. Older does an exquisite job of balancing hope with the starker realities of the world. I also appreciate how there is closure but everything isn't tied up perfectly.
November 1, 2017
Excellent read, DJO is one of the best. The gang is young but not immature, yet not grown either. A great read for young adults as well as mature readers.
September 9, 2017
Last summer, Sierra Santiago discovered her family's magical legacy: they can shadowshape the spirits of the dead into works of art that then come alive and do their bidding. After defeating a man bent on destroying her family, Sierra became the new Lucera—the shadowshaper matriarch and spiritual conduit—and inducted a group of her friends into the world of spirit magic. They better learn to use their powers quickly, though, because there's more than one person out to defeat the shadowshapers. In Shadowhouse Fall, Sierra learns from a classmate about a mysterious set of cards called the Deck of Worlds. Sierra and her friends are represented in the deck by the Shadowhouse suit, but the cards also show a group called the House of Light who want to take the deck for themselves and destroy the Shadowshapers for good. Sierra must rally her new army to defeat this unknown force, but when faced with secrets and betrayal, how can she know who to trust?
See my full review at TheGothicLibrary.com
See my full review at TheGothicLibrary.com
October 9, 2017
4.5/5
WOW. This series has definitely leveled up from book one. Pretty much all of my (few) problems like weird pacing and a voice that seemed a little dumbed-down for teens are all gone, and I can only imagine this series will get better. The plot is stronger, the stakes higher, the magic system/world-building is fantastic and unique, and the political commentary biting and on the nose. I also loved seeing more of the characters from the first book, especially Izzy.
I NEED BOOK 3.
I think my main complaints were (a) the new world-building got a little confusing at times and (b) the love triangle felt underdeveloped and unnecessary. Also, sometimes I felt Anthony's panic attacks were kind of a plot device to further his relationship with Sierra?
Sidenote: Is it just me, or is the cover of this book kind of whitewashing Sierra? It's obviously the girl on the cover isn't white, but I seem to remember Sierra being much darker skinned.
WOW. This series has definitely leveled up from book one. Pretty much all of my (few) problems like weird pacing and a voice that seemed a little dumbed-down for teens are all gone, and I can only imagine this series will get better. The plot is stronger, the stakes higher, the magic system/world-building is fantastic and unique, and the political commentary biting and on the nose. I also loved seeing more of the characters from the first book, especially Izzy.
I NEED BOOK 3.
I think my main complaints were (a) the new world-building got a little confusing at times and (b) the love triangle felt underdeveloped and unnecessary. Also, sometimes I felt Anthony's panic attacks were kind of a plot device to further his relationship with Sierra?
Sidenote: Is it just me, or is the cover of this book kind of whitewashing Sierra? It's obviously the girl on the cover isn't white, but I seem to remember Sierra being much darker skinned.
October 4, 2017
Honestly, I don't know what to write. Perfect book is perfect. The best, most authentic book I've read all year is about teens who fight evil by channeling spirits through art. Daniel José Older has acquired a new fan. I need book 3 in my life.
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