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The Shadow Man

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As a child, Riley survived the impossible, a being far worse than her abusive father. Something dark, hungry, and seeking to consume her.
Growing up with a new loving family, Riley desperately tries to live a normal life and feel a sense of belonging, but the deaf teenager finds this difficult as her past still torments her. She isn’t like the others, and not just because of the hearing aids she’s wearing. As an empath, she is bombarded by the emotions of the people around her. They are filled with colors she can’t always comprehend, affecting her as if they were her own.
When her past comes back to haunt her, Riley realizes she can’t run from her worst nightmare…
Because she can’t escape who she truly is.

433 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2021

183 people are currently reading
256 people want to read

About the author

Amélia Cognet

9 books128 followers
Amélia is a horror author who loves anything creepy, the supernatural in particular. She loves ghosts, abandoned houses, tattoos, coffee, rainy days, scary books, and fluffly sweaters.

Although from France, she lives in Huntington Beach, CA, with her husband Christophe and her daughter Kara. The years spent living in New England before moving to California are a great inspiration and often impact her writing.

If you want to hear more about her future books, subscribe to her newsletter at https://www.ameliacognet.com/newsletter

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5 stars
111 (59%)
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63 (33%)
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11 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Benjamin.
142 reviews14 followers
August 6, 2024
What a ride...this was great !!! I really enjoyed the story, Riley and the other characters, that was scary and really entertaining.
Profile Image for Faycat.
10 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2024
This was an amazing roller-coaster!! I really related to the wonderful characters and followed their struggles with both everyday worries and the paranormal with bated breath. Rarely have I read a story containing such gentleness and such anxiety. It was the perfect mix and left me feeling satisfied and happy, like after eating a generous piece of chocolate cake. Looking forward to continuing the series!
Profile Image for Stitching Ghost.
1,499 reviews390 followers
April 21, 2023
Every time I start typing this review something interrupts me, I actually finished this book almost a week ago, let's see if I manage to type something semi-coherent this time.
This was my second read by this author, and I have to say that Cognet has a knack for writing men that give you hope but that are also not just perfect hollow shells with no personality or inner life. She also creates young women who go through hell and keep going without being unrealistically bad ass, these girls might collapse for a bit but they'll get back up, I like that.
I also enjoyed the deaf/HOH representation in this book a lot, I thought it was pretty thoughtful and well done. As in (potential mild spoiler ahead) deafness isn't the big thing Riley has to overcome, it's not even a big baddie, it's a part of who she is and people's reaction to it is more of a problem than it.
If, like me, you are a bit put off by the term empath don't worry in this instance it's not the often misused/overused psycho-pop term.
There's something comforting about this book, I've seen it compared to Darcy Coates' work and I would tend to agree it has something of a similar vibe to the Gravekeeper series but a little more intense.
I made it, hopefully it makes sense!
Profile Image for Shannon.
238 reviews4 followers
August 13, 2024
Pretty hokey, but it was alright. I'm debating whether I should keep going with the series. I like the paranormal stuff but I don't enjoy the teenage drama stuff and the lovey dovey stuff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Queen Crafter.
27 reviews
March 6, 2024
Literally could NOT stop reading! This was such a great story with fantastic twists and turns! I laughed, I cried, and I raged, this book had all the feels! I highly recommend this book and this author if you like spooky reads!
Profile Image for Marie.
Author 3 books427 followers
October 14, 2021
A great read for those who love creepy more subtle horror. I loved Riley, and her trauma was sad and immediately drew sympathy. Some twists and turns to keep you guessing. Looking forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Tales of a Succubus.
80 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2021
Firstly, I want to mention that I received a free e-ARC copy of Celeste in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to the author for this opportunity!

Normally in my reviews I don't put my own synopsis but due to this book coming out on the 14th of October, I figured I'll add it. This takes place over two timelines, both of Riley (one when she was a child, the other while she was in high school). Riley is a young deaf woman with special psychic abilities - in particular, she is an empath. She has had encounters with The Shadow Man since she was a kid, a paranormal creature relating to a demon that is capable of killing whomever it likes. Her adventures of growing up involve ghost hunting parentals & confronting her own demons that once held her back.

I thought that this was an endearing book. It fits more in the cozy horror category, with no gore or anything too unsettling happening. After my recent reads, this was much needed and a palette-cleanser, more on the uplifting side.

The sweet little girl, Riley, I related to. She initially grew up in an abusive environment before meeting her neighbors, who later become her adoptive parents. Her medical condition prevented her from blending in with the other kids. It's heartwarming to see her break out of her shell. It is a reminder to many of us, I am sure, of what our own middle/high school experiences were. Riley grows on you quickly and you only want the best for her. Her neighbors that take over her care are kind-hearted people. All supporting characters are well-developed and experience some kind of growth throughout. In my opinion, things such as this are vital to a good story or series, so I apricated the time spent on it.

I love the touches on empathic abilities/gifts. Having a tarot/reiki business myself, I work with these kinds of clients. The ghost/demon hunting aspect was my favorite - I mean how cool would it be to own a bookstore and collect items that are deemed cursed and capture spirits from the other side?

This is a series so there are a few unanswered questions. I don't want to give any spoilers, but there are parts I hope are touched on in future books. The plot is good, this is fit for anyone that enjoys YA novels/series. It doesn't feel like anything is missing in terms of the writing or plot. I found the ending enjoyable since the horror aspect of the book came out.

As far as scare factor, I personally didn't find The Shadow Man himself scary. However for those that enjoy "lighter" horror or get easily frightened, this will be perfect for queasy stomachs and something almost anyone can handle. If you find the paranormal unsettling, the ending will get your heart racing!

I recommend this to anyone looking for a paranormal thriller/horror. This will appeal to YA audiences/fans the most. If you enjoy the paranormal, ghost hunting, psychic abilities, rich character development, I think you'll enjoy this! I'll definitely stay tuned for future books in the series.
Profile Image for Kateri Stanley.
Author 5 books96 followers
October 17, 2021
“A fresh wave of icy terror crashed over her. She pounded and kicked at the wood as hard as her miserable strength would let her. She screamed too, the vibrations in her throat nearly hurting her. Being deprived of both her sight and her hearing left her empty and defenseless. She could hear, but the world was quieter, muffled, and from where she was, hearing things outside the closet was impossible.”

When I saw the call up for ARC readers for this story, the blurb and the book cover really intrigued me. The eerie shadow man on the front hovering ominously over the young woman gave me eerie slender man vibes.

The novel did not disappoint me. Riley, the main character in this story has gone through some pretty harrowing events, suffering abuse from her horrible father while tackling with a hearing impairment. Along with all of this which most people would be crushed by or have a serious chemical problem, Riley has the ability to see emotions in people via different colours AND absorb them. This ability has sucked her into some pretty hectic and violent situations that are beyond her control. I really liked the writing in this story, especially the swap between inner thoughts and dialogue of the characters. Riley is an amazing lead character. My heart went out to her and I loved the relationship she had with her neighbours, Rudy and Grace.

I won’t reveal any spoilers but what I must say is if you’re into supernatural thrillers, characters with abilities, emotional tragedies, give this story a read. Thanks for sending me a review copy, Amelia. Well done on the novel!!
4 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2021
Amelia Cognet is an emergent paranormal story writer; she is very talented.

The book left me feeling fulfilled, but I still want more, luckily for me there will be more! The Shadow man is only the first book of a series that she has been working on. I cannot wait to read the other books. As soon as I started the book, I was gripping it, it took just a few pages to become immersed in the story.

Riley, the heroin of the story is a young girl who is hard of hearing. She has hearing aids, like me. It is not very common to have stories in which the main character has hearing aids. The story really surprised me (in a very good way): it is really well written, with the right amount of paranormal, and a touch of real.

Riley reminds me of myself. It is not easy to be hard of hearing. Especially in today’s madness with masks and all. Amelia created this character who is strong, hardheaded, and who is not giving up; you end up caring for her and the other persons of the story.

The heroin also has a gift that allows her to know about people’s state of mind. I could relate to Riley in many aspects of her life. I read the entire book without having the need of a bookmark. You feel the chills all along the story.

I do not want to give any more spoiler than I already have, but honestly this book really amazed me by the details, the fact that you cannot guess what will happen until the very end, it is very absorbing. To sum up, it is an absolutely fabulous read.

If you read my review until here… honestly, you won’t regret your purchase.
Profile Image for Stefany Krantz.
73 reviews6 followers
September 28, 2021
I loved this book so much! I loved the characters, the plot, I loved everything about this book from start to finish! Riley is amazing and strong and I can’t wait to read more about her! Read this book! You will not be disappointed!

As a child, Riley survived the impossible, a being far worse than her abusive father. Something dark, hungry, and seeking to consume her.
Growing up with a new loving family, Riley desperately tries to live a normal life and feel a sense of belonging, but the deaf teenager finds this difficult as her past still torments her. She isn’t like the others, and not just because of the hearing aids she’s wearing. As an empath, she is bombarded by the emotions of the people around her. They are filled with colors she can’t always comprehend, affecting her as if they were her own.
When her past comes back to haunt her, Riley realizes she can’t run from her worst nightmare…
Because she can’t escape who she truly is.

A huge thank you to the author Amelia Cognet for the ARC! It was an honor to read this! No spoilers because that’s no fun! Dive into this head first and fall in love with Riley, Rudy, and James!
Profile Image for Mary Mecham.
Author 19 books785 followers
January 16, 2022
What I enjoyed most about this story was the inclusion of the deaf culture! I don’t remember ever reading a book like this before where the topic of HoH/ deafness was addressed so accurately. From the nuances of how to get someone’s attention to the vibrating alarms to wake up, the author did a wonderful job describing this world from a disability perspective.

If you like paranormal thrillers with a ghost-hunting vibe, you will enjoy this book!

The dates under each chapter heading really helped keep the storylines straight, as there are multiple flashbacks to scenes happening prior to the current plot. There were a good number of well-developed characters to keep the plot interesting and moving along, yet not so many that it was overwhelming or confusing.

Themes of abuse and trauma were throughout, but not overly graphic. I would not recommend this book to someone under 18 years old.

Content warnings: Child Abuse, Trauma, Profanity, Bullying, Attempted Rape
Author 11 books88 followers
September 24, 2021
The very best books make you care about the characters and the conflicts they are going through. Amelia Cognet provides such amazing detail when describing her character and gives them such rich backgrounds that you feel as though you know them. You can’t help but feel every bit of the many twists and turns. That kind of emotional investment is rare and really pulls the reader in for an immersive experience. The story was fantastic. I was on edge the whole time reading this novel and I read it pretty well in one sitting. It was a real page turner. The main character is such a sympathetic character that you can’t help but feel for her as she navigates the terrifying reality of her childhood horror coming after her in her teen years. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.
Profile Image for Amy.
940 reviews2 followers
July 31, 2022
Will you be my friend?

The author and I, recently joined an amazing group on discord for an author we both adore. She was talking about her books and mentioned that her writing was just compared to our beloved Darcy Coates.
Since Darcy is my hands down favorite spooky author, I thought I would give this author a try. Let me just say, I am SO glad I did!
I love the characters! I connect with Riley on so many levels. (Even if I am a 40-something mum!) Rudy and James are the kind of guys you want around when things go down. Molly and the rest of the kids are friends I wished I had growing up.
The writing was so smooth and the story flowed off the page!
Luckily this author has a few more books out to help me kill some time!!
Highly recommend reading this author!
3 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2021
Amelia Cognet is an emerging author who writes in the horror / suspense genre.

I was so excited to receive a copy of her book and immediately dove in. Amelia crafted a complex world rich in supernatural themes, demonic elements, and hellish creatures. She expertly used very real sleep paralysis disorders to layer in extra levels of surrealness. The main character, Riley is thrust into extreme trauma from a young age and the challenges she must face are only exacerbated by the loss of one of her senses.

Filled with twists and turns, “Celeste” was a wild ride that must be read to be experienced. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Book 2.
Profile Image for Kate Shelton.
Author 1 book52 followers
April 19, 2022
This book was so good! I haven't read a ton of paranormal/physic/ghost thrillers but this one made me a believer.

I loved how the book flipped back and forth from past to present and how intuitive and empathetic the MC Riley was created. The father-daughter bond between Riley and her adoptive dad was so sweet and the world-building was done exceptionally well.

I really related to the MC in this book and her deafness added to the storyline and I thought it made her such a full character. I loved that this book included the HOH/deaf community and I learned a lot just from the nuances of the book.

She's one of the BEST MCs I've read in a while.

Definitely worth a read!
Profile Image for Michele Northwood.
Author 22 books41 followers
April 25, 2024
Celeste by Amela Cognet

Empath Ana is an abused child who is being stalked by a black demon literally trying to eat her.
She is a loner, hard of hearing, and can judge people by the colours they emit. Because of all these things, making friends is difficult for her, but she is accepted by some new neighbours, who befriend her and help her out in more ways than one.
The story builds and builds and is well worth a read.
The writer has a talent for drawing you into the storyline and you can’t help but become attached to the characters . It was a great novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Amanda Jaeger.
Author 9 books125 followers
June 2, 2022
Well done! I enjoyed the emotionally driven writing of Celeste, and while I don’t tend to drift to paranormal reads, this is the kind of paranormal that draws me in.

I love Riley’s background story- it makes her character unique and complex. And as a current day character, she’s extremely likable.

Something I appreciate in this is the attention to detail when it came to ASL. The author did a great job writing a partially deaf character in a way that was respectful and intriguing.

Overall, very well done!
Profile Image for CuddlyPumpkin.
9 reviews
March 4, 2024
This is a very alluring start to the series. The story provides strong connections to the characters, so the actions and results have more impact. It's nice to see an empath in a slightly different way by using colors and energy as superpowers that counterbalance the main character's so-called 'disability'. Looking forward to following their journey in this series.
71 reviews
May 30, 2024
Review: Shadow Man

This book grabbed me from the start. The author paints a brilliant canvas of the characters that seemed so real. The author does a fantastic job weaving back and forth effortlessly between the years of Riley. Reading about the teenagers love affair was sweet and pure; made me reminisce to my teen years. Looking forward to reading more from Amelia Cognet.
Profile Image for Erica smith.
316 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2024
Amazing

This book surprised me a lot . I loved the characters. I loved how it went from the past to present explaining things but it wasn't a slow burn , not a crazy amount of detail but enough to keep the book flowing . I also thought it was going in a completely different direction at first , was very surprised . I recommend this 100 percent
Profile Image for Tam.
2,179 reviews54 followers
November 30, 2021
Wildly imaginative! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very unique plot. Vivid descriptions. A wonderfully-interesting read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
50 reviews
April 10, 2023
shadow

The characters of this book are easy to identify with and the emotions they experience, in my opinion, is exactly what the different characters portrays. Does that make sense? The story flows. I enjoyed this book and would like to read the next one.
34 reviews
December 31, 2021
I loved this book so much! It really kept my attention, and it kept me up way too late so many nights. Excited for the next book to come out!
Profile Image for Dakotah Gumm.
Author 7 books39 followers
September 15, 2023
I flew through it! So good! I've never particularly read horror but this was an excellent introduction to the genre. Spine-chilling and thrilling.
Profile Image for Britt Slock.
12 reviews
February 8, 2024
Holy shit 😳 It's been a very long time since a book has me left this speechless. Can't wait to start the next one 🥰
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,415 reviews80 followers
June 3, 2024
This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.

One of my most scariest reads of all time. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
Profile Image for Soonie.
16 reviews
July 14, 2024
This book was very enjoyable. I also loved the characters.
Profile Image for Alg.
113 reviews1 follower
Read
July 20, 2024
DNF 🙄 not for me
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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