The Shadows

by Jacob Crawford

After a traumatic year, sixteen-year-old Roz is excited to move to Las Vegas, longing for the fresh start it will bring her and her father. Instead, she gets her possessions rearranged and ghosts chasing her from her home. While her father believes she's having stress-induced hallucinations, Roz knows something more sinister is at play. With the help of her cousin, neighbor, and a pair of amateur paranormal investigators, she sets out to take on the specters herself.But the deeper she digs, the more terrified she becomes. The supernatural activity plaguing her increases, and with it comes new and terrifying threats. She finds an old journal from her troubled mother, and within its pages are revealed terrible truths: Worlds that exist beyond ours, mysterious powers she possesses, and dangerous beings that will kill her for these abilities. Determined to stop the shadows from overtaking her world, Roz and her friends will put a stop to the looming darkness, or die trying.

362 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Margaret Adelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out great, super creepy with a lot of ambience. There are times it definitely feels like the character is doing things for the sake of the plot, but the group dynamic among the friends was nice. Although the end, and the group's conclusions about what it meant, didn't necessarily seem to fit the rest that seamlessly. Still a nice spooky read.

[L.M. Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating and well done twist on ghosts, combined with "But what if it's aliens?!" Those two things don't often end up in books together, but this was really well done and um more please. *grabby hands*

[Vic Habersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping ghost story with a supernatural twist as the hunted becomes the hunter. Highly recommend this and the follow-up book "Assassin."

[Laidig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shadows‘ greatest strength is how engrossed the reader becomes in its world. The characters are incredibly believable for such an unbelievable situation, and it isn’t laden with predictable clichés of high-schoolers investigating ghosts – you’re wanting the team to find something, and make contact. I may be a bit older than its target audience, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager for its sequel.

(Clicky here for a fuller review)

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to have mixed feelings about Young Adult books, particularly ones that get into the supernatural/paranormal realm, as they can get contrived very quickly, That said, this book manages to pull off a difficult genre and a difficult topic spectacularly. I was able to get through The Shadows in a single evening, though I was a bit distracted, so quick readers might be able to finish it in just a few hours. It’s not that The Shadows is a particularly short read — the ebook version I had was around 290 pages — it’s that it’s a captivating read that you won’t want to put down. I cannot recommend The Shadows highly enough. Not only would I encourage those of you reading this interview to buy the book, I would also say that many of you, like me, will find it to be one of your favorite books you’ll read this year.

For those really interested in knowing more, I've published a longer version of this review here: https://thattinywebsite.com/2017/11/2...

[Dem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is part mystery, part ghost-story, part "dealing with trauma you didn't realize you've accumulated," and part "my support system is why I survive" blended together beautifully. I would still call it Young Adult fiction, but that's one of the best parts about it. Minor warning, if you suffer from anxiety, this books depicts those feelings so clearly that your heart WILL start racing as you sit and read. Highly recommend getting lost in this world.