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Brotherhood of the Conch #3
Shadowland
The hero of the Brotherhood of the Conch series, now fifteen, is settling back into his life as an apprentice in the lush Silver Valley, nestled high in the Himalayas. There he continues to learn the secret arts of the Brotherhood. But suddenly his adopted home is reduced to a barren wasteland when his beloved conch, the valley's source of magical energy, is stolen by an unknown force. Together with his friend Nisha, Anand embarks on what may be his most dangerous mission--traveling to the cold and forbidding world of Shadowland in his attempt to restore the conch to its rightful place, and his home to its original splendor. The third and final book in the series.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
10 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
62 books6,989 followersChitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her themes include the Indian experience, contemporary America, women, immigration, history, myth, and the joys and challenges of living in a multicultural world. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 50 magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her works have been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese. Divakaruni also writes for children and young adults.Her novels One Amazing Thing, Oleander Girl, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions are currently in the process of being made into movies. http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/books.... Her newest novel is Before We Visit the Goddess (about 3 generations of women-- grandmother, mother and daughter-- who each examine the question "what does it mean to be a successful woman.") Simon & Schuster.
She was born in India and lived there until 1976, at which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. She continued her education in the field of English by receiving a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
To earn money for her education, she held many odd jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. At Berkeley, she lived in the International House and worked in the dining hall. She briefly lived in Illinois and Ohio, but has spent much of her life in Northern California, which she often writes about. She now lives in Texas, which has found its way into her upcoming book, Before We Visit the Goddess.
Chitra currently teaches in the nationally ranked Creative Writing program at the Univ. of Houston. She serves on the Advisory board of Maitri in the San Francisco Bay Area and Daya in Houston. Both these are organizations that help South Asian or South Asian American women who find themselves in abusive or domestic violence situations. She is also closely involved with Pratham, an organization that helps educate children (especially those living in urban slums) in India.
She has judged several prestigious awards, such as the National Book Award and the PEN Faulkner Award.
Two of her books, The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have been made into movies by filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (an English film) and Suhasini Mani Ratnam (a Tamil TV serial) respectively. Her novels One Amazing Thing and Palace of Illusions have currently been optioned for movies. Her book Arranged Marriage has been made into a play and performed in the U.S. and (upcoming, May) in Canada. River of Light, an opera about an Indian woman in a bi-cultural marriage, for which she wrote the libretto, has been performed in Texas and California.
She lives in Houston with her husband Murthy. She has two sons, Anand and Abhay (whose names she has used in her children’s novels).
Chitra loves to connect with readers on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni, and on Twitter, @cdivakaruni.
For more information about her books, please visit http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
She was born in India and lived there until 1976, at which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. She continued her education in the field of English by receiving a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
To earn money for her education, she held many odd jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. At Berkeley, she lived in the International House and worked in the dining hall. She briefly lived in Illinois and Ohio, but has spent much of her life in Northern California, which she often writes about. She now lives in Texas, which has found its way into her upcoming book, Before We Visit the Goddess.
Chitra currently teaches in the nationally ranked Creative Writing program at the Univ. of Houston. She serves on the Advisory board of Maitri in the San Francisco Bay Area and Daya in Houston. Both these are organizations that help South Asian or South Asian American women who find themselves in abusive or domestic violence situations. She is also closely involved with Pratham, an organization that helps educate children (especially those living in urban slums) in India.
She has judged several prestigious awards, such as the National Book Award and the PEN Faulkner Award.
Two of her books, The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have been made into movies by filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (an English film) and Suhasini Mani Ratnam (a Tamil TV serial) respectively. Her novels One Amazing Thing and Palace of Illusions have currently been optioned for movies. Her book Arranged Marriage has been made into a play and performed in the U.S. and (upcoming, May) in Canada. River of Light, an opera about an Indian woman in a bi-cultural marriage, for which she wrote the libretto, has been performed in Texas and California.
She lives in Houston with her husband Murthy. She has two sons, Anand and Abhay (whose names she has used in her children’s novels).
Chitra loves to connect with readers on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni, and on Twitter, @cdivakaruni.
For more information about her books, please visit http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 11, 2009
In Shadowland, the final book of the Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy, our hero Anand, now 15 years old, and his friend Nisha must journey several hundred years into the future to find the Conch and restore it to the Silver Valley which has vanished from its magical location in the Himalayas.
As the story opens, Anand is sitting in a dark, dank cave high above the Silver Valley waiting for the mystical hermit who lives in the cave to reappear. He has been sent to the cave to study with the hermit, the only person who can help Anand develop his talent of communication with objects of magical power. After waiting for 4 days, one day longer than his mentor, Abhaydatta, had ordered him to wait, Anand heads back to the Brotherhood's community, only to discover that it has disappeared. Just beyond the partially opened secret gateway, he finds Nisha who had also been away from Silver Valley gathering herbs. They begin the long climb back to the mountaintop cave where Anand had left a stash of food for the hermit. As they reach the cave, they stumble upon the hermit who tells then that "a powerful force from a distant world has turned the valley into a frozen wasteland" taking the conch and the most powerful of the magicians with it and leaving the rest lost in the abyss. He tells Anand and Nisha that they "must go into the other world and retrieve the conch." Anand calls to the Mirror of Fire and Dreaming which transports him and Nisha to the city of Coal.
Enshrouded in an oxygen depleted layer of thick brown smog, Coal is the nightmare futuristic city modern day global warming activists warn us of. Despotic scientists have built bubble compounds in which the "chosen" live and work. They are dependent upon slave labor from the slums outside of the bubbles to complete manual labor. To suppress the growing rebel movement (led by magicians), large electronic blocking towers have been built which interact with electric collars the laborers must wear to keep them from talking among themselves. The blocking towers also make it impossible for Anand to communicate with the conch. After spending the night in a rehabilitation center, Anand and Nisha are sent to the Farm as day laborers. There they meet a boy B-1112 , an apprentice magician who advises Anand to try to contact the conch in the Farm bubble because the blocking force does not always work there. Anand telepaths the conch who responds. "Locked in vault. Suffocating. Come soon. Great danger. Use scientist woman."
Is Anand able to find the conch and restore Silver Valley? The answer to this question and many other secrets can be found in Shadowland. Visit your local library and check out the Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy. You and your middle-grade child will be glad you did.
As the story opens, Anand is sitting in a dark, dank cave high above the Silver Valley waiting for the mystical hermit who lives in the cave to reappear. He has been sent to the cave to study with the hermit, the only person who can help Anand develop his talent of communication with objects of magical power. After waiting for 4 days, one day longer than his mentor, Abhaydatta, had ordered him to wait, Anand heads back to the Brotherhood's community, only to discover that it has disappeared. Just beyond the partially opened secret gateway, he finds Nisha who had also been away from Silver Valley gathering herbs. They begin the long climb back to the mountaintop cave where Anand had left a stash of food for the hermit. As they reach the cave, they stumble upon the hermit who tells then that "a powerful force from a distant world has turned the valley into a frozen wasteland" taking the conch and the most powerful of the magicians with it and leaving the rest lost in the abyss. He tells Anand and Nisha that they "must go into the other world and retrieve the conch." Anand calls to the Mirror of Fire and Dreaming which transports him and Nisha to the city of Coal.
Enshrouded in an oxygen depleted layer of thick brown smog, Coal is the nightmare futuristic city modern day global warming activists warn us of. Despotic scientists have built bubble compounds in which the "chosen" live and work. They are dependent upon slave labor from the slums outside of the bubbles to complete manual labor. To suppress the growing rebel movement (led by magicians), large electronic blocking towers have been built which interact with electric collars the laborers must wear to keep them from talking among themselves. The blocking towers also make it impossible for Anand to communicate with the conch. After spending the night in a rehabilitation center, Anand and Nisha are sent to the Farm as day laborers. There they meet a boy B-1112 , an apprentice magician who advises Anand to try to contact the conch in the Farm bubble because the blocking force does not always work there. Anand telepaths the conch who responds. "Locked in vault. Suffocating. Come soon. Great danger. Use scientist woman."
Is Anand able to find the conch and restore Silver Valley? The answer to this question and many other secrets can be found in Shadowland. Visit your local library and check out the Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy. You and your middle-grade child will be glad you did.
March 3, 2010
This is book three in a series, but you don't need any backstory to pick this one up. It is a beautifully written fantasy about a 15-year-old boy that weaves both culture and fantasy. I would recommend this to both middle or high schoolers. I'd give it 3.5 stars--there were times when I found it to be a bit predictable, but I definitely enjoyed it. I am not an avid fantasy reader, but if you enjoy fantasy, you will like this one!
January 23, 2016
Wasn't as fond of this one as the previous installments. The dystopian science fiction wasn't fleshed out enough to feel like a believable world, and yet the situation itself is common enough to delve into. The world has been ruined by greed and conflict, scientists are the respected elite, magicians are suspect, etc. I think that part irked me a bit-- that of course scientists are the ones to mistrust, as they've been manipulated and led astray by their own pursuits. There's a great deal of political and social commentary going on here, that's for sure, which I wouldn't have minded if it felt like it belonged in the series. The previous two books were so full of what felt like organic magic. This one more feels like it tried to be two things at once, not really achieving either.
The messages of preservation of the environment, maintaining love for friends, being merciful-- all are good ideas to hang on to. Maybe, if the series continues, we'll get back to the feel of the first two books.
The messages of preservation of the environment, maintaining love for friends, being merciful-- all are good ideas to hang on to. Maybe, if the series continues, we'll get back to the feel of the first two books.
June 26, 2009
A continuation of The Conch Bearer series, this book does stgand alone as Divakaruni gives enough background information to "catch up" those readers who are not familiar with the previous books. The themes of this book are more powerful than the characters and the action overrides character development. Young readers will be caught up in Anand's mission to save his community and new homeland, Silver Valley as hediscovers the world he has been transported to, one of ugliness, pollution, prejudice and feuds. The scientists are in control, the magicians are the enemy, there's a strong class system and lots of intolerance. The ultimate victory of Anand is to bring diverse groups together, help them to rediscover their roots and heal old wounds, as well as recognize that public recognition isn't always tied to good, heroic deeds and that's not just okay, it's fine.
February 14, 2012
Shadowland is the second follow-up to The Conch Bearer and the weakest novel in the trilogy. The Conch Bearer is set in the present; The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming is set in the past; Shadowland is set in a horrific futuristic city reminiscent of 1984 and Planet of the Apes (yes, you read that right). As such, the book fails to succeed as science-fiction or even a compelling dystopia. The exotic setting and mysticism of the previous two novels leave an empty space not adequately filled.
Nevertheless, Shadowland conveys a very well executed "moral to the story" that I appreciated and wish were more widely told. I might even consider it one of the most important messages of our day. If you're already reading the Brotherhood of the Conch, Shadowland is worth your time. If you're not... go read The Conch Bearer!
Nevertheless, Shadowland conveys a very well executed "moral to the story" that I appreciated and wish were more widely told. I might even consider it one of the most important messages of our day. If you're already reading the Brotherhood of the Conch, Shadowland is worth your time. If you're not... go read The Conch Bearer!
July 22, 2009
We just picked this up from the library today and are going to start reading it together tonight!
Boys are LOVING it! I can't read more than 2 chapters at a time out-loud and they are begging me to read more!!!
Finally we had time to finish this book. I think the boys would probably give it 4 stars, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two. The message was still great about taking care of our planet and our friends but I felt like it took a long time to get to the end of the story, even though it was not a very big book. Possibly it is time for the boys to read them on their own...if there are any more books written.
Boys are LOVING it! I can't read more than 2 chapters at a time out-loud and they are begging me to read more!!!
Finally we had time to finish this book. I think the boys would probably give it 4 stars, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two. The message was still great about taking care of our planet and our friends but I felt like it took a long time to get to the end of the story, even though it was not a very big book. Possibly it is time for the boys to read them on their own...if there are any more books written.
April 21, 2013
After the awesomeness that was The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, Shadowland really disappointed. First of all, the dreary setting. Second, the tired old scientists v. magicians argument, with scientists of course villified. I cannot stand the "don't play god!" mentality. Why shouldn't we strive to improve the human condition? The budding romance between Anand and Nisha is both sweet and obvious. The treatment is just the slightest bit heavy-handed. If there are more books, I will read them and hope they're more like books 1 and 2.
April 1, 2017
Anand and Nisha's latest adventure. Anand is keeping a vigil outside a hermit's cave hoping to apprentice with the hermit and learn more of the magical totems he has an affinity with. The hermit does not appear and Anand must return to Silver Valley, when he arrives, the valley has been laid waste with the theft of the Conch. Using the Mirror, Anand and Nisha follow the Conch to the Shadowland.
Science Fiction, futurism, fantasy, trust in unlikely places, and courage swirl in this cautionary tale.
Science Fiction, futurism, fantasy, trust in unlikely places, and courage swirl in this cautionary tale.
May 15, 2009
Good book. Well written. I'd like to read the first in the series. The book makes a good part of a whole, but stands on its own quite well too. You don't have to read the first ones in the series to understand this one.
June 29, 2009
Just got it today. So excited!! Loved the first two books in the series.
Got it yesterday. Finished it tonight. #1 was my favorite, #3 is in a close second place, and that leaves #2 as third.
Wonder how many more Divakaruni will write?
Got it yesterday. Finished it tonight. #1 was my favorite, #3 is in a close second place, and that leaves #2 as third.
Wonder how many more Divakaruni will write?
July 23, 2009
A slow start, but a more gripping second half. Some of the book was predictable and a bit preachy, but overall I enjoyed Anand and Nisha's adventures. It must be nice to have powerful magic things that can get you out of impossible situations!
February 7, 2010
Returning to the Brotherhood of the Conch series was like meeting back up with old friends. Anand, Nisha, the conch, and the mirror of fire and dreaming embark on one last adventure. This series was a pleasant surprise for me and I have enjoyed every page of it.
April 20, 2010
A fun read; I hope she continues this series! A colorful, youthful read that gets the imagination going!
July 24, 2009
I loved reading this book. The story line was consistent and well thought out. I hope that Ms. Divakaruni decides to write another adventure for Anand, Nisha, Abhaydatta, and the Conch!!
March 8, 2011
A haunting portrayal of India in the future where the caste system still holds tremedous power.
August 5, 2012
Nice end to a trilogy
May 4, 2013
Très bon troisième tome (moins bon que les deux précédents toute fois). Cette troisième aventure nous mène dans un Calcutta future et au bord de l'explosion.
July 22, 2013
Shadowland was a great sequel to the Mirror of Fire and Dreaming. It was not boring and kept me reading the whole time.
Read
June 1, 2016Very nice.
November 28, 2015
A little short compared to the second book in the series but still a wonderful read.
February 12, 2016
Not quite as good as the first two (partially because the setting was more depressing), but still very riveting.
December 14, 2018
The hero of the Brotherhood of the Conch series, now fifteen, is settling back into his life as an apprentice in the lush Silver Valley, nestled high in the Himalayas. There he continues to learn the secret arts of the Brotherhood. But suddenly his adopted home is reduced to a barren wasteland when his beloved conch, the valley's source of magical energy, is stolen by an unknown force. Together with his friend Nisha, Anand embarks on what may be his most dangerous mission--traveling to the cold and forbidding world of Shadowland in his attempt to restore the conch to its rightful place, and his home to its original splendor. The third and final book in the series.
July 29, 2020
Memang benar lah prasangka ku slm ini, trilogi ini menyoal kedirian Anand yg minta disentil jakunnya.
Egoisme Anand adalah pusat cerita trilogi ini. Dari buku awal sudah ku duga kalo masalahnya bukan pada siapa² kecuali seorang bernama Anand ini. Ya siapa lagi, org paling tdk punya kecerdasan berpikir taktis tp kok mengemban tugas² penting. Semata² ya krn cm dia yang bisa berkomunikasi dgn kerang dan cermin. Lainnya barulah org² cerdas yg sesungguhnya. Tanpa mereka, Anand cm tong kosong mlompong yg egoisnya ampun²an.
Hah puas banget rasanya membaca apa yg diomongin kerang ke Anand di bagian akhir buku ini.
Puja kerang ajaib!
Egoisme Anand adalah pusat cerita trilogi ini. Dari buku awal sudah ku duga kalo masalahnya bukan pada siapa² kecuali seorang bernama Anand ini. Ya siapa lagi, org paling tdk punya kecerdasan berpikir taktis tp kok mengemban tugas² penting. Semata² ya krn cm dia yang bisa berkomunikasi dgn kerang dan cermin. Lainnya barulah org² cerdas yg sesungguhnya. Tanpa mereka, Anand cm tong kosong mlompong yg egoisnya ampun²an.
Hah puas banget rasanya membaca apa yg diomongin kerang ke Anand di bagian akhir buku ini.
Puja kerang ajaib!
Read
July 27, 2023Unfortunately, this book served as the weakest link in the trilogy. Anand, the main character has grown up and become much more mature and introspective during his training. However, the world of the future that he travels to, seems to raise more questions than answers. Why in the future does everyone know about the magicians when in Anand's childhood nobody really believed in magic? What exactly separates science and magic? This book focused more on the inner turmoil of the characters rather than the action that has come to define the series.
May 29, 2025
My fave in the Conch Bearer series; Anand and Nisha end up in a weird horrible dystopian world full of trash, very sci-fi-y - but the conch needs to be rescued - and where is the conch? Nisha and Anad don't tell the truth of how they got there - and they can't easily talk - but a curious scientist could be the key to them getting the conch - and getting home again.
May 1, 2021
This book was decent I am glad that she showed me Anand at a different age and his character developed. I think some books follow characters too closely but she did well in the way that she talks about important things in her books.
August 21, 2009
best in the series
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews