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Touched by Shadows
An experiment gone wrong overloads thirteen year-old Oumou’s psychokinetic abilities and strands her in the tiny town of Archwood, North Carolina. Free from the dismal research lab that has been her home as long as she can remember, she is taken in by a kind family, and finds in their daughter, Amanda, something she’s never had: a friend. For the first time, she feels happy.
However, she quickly realizes that things are not as perfect as they seem...
The local reverend and his followers begin to single her out, and violently conspire against her.
Memories she’d long forgotten come back to haunt her.
A shadowy figure with no eyes stalks the darkness and wants to claim her for its own dark designs.
As these forces work to break Oumou down, her only points of solace are her new friend, and a bitter reporter with a strange ability of his own. They’ll have to fight together to stave off the encroaching darkness both of, and out of, this world.
However, she quickly realizes that things are not as perfect as they seem...
The local reverend and his followers begin to single her out, and violently conspire against her.
Memories she’d long forgotten come back to haunt her.
A shadowy figure with no eyes stalks the darkness and wants to claim her for its own dark designs.
As these forces work to break Oumou down, her only points of solace are her new friend, and a bitter reporter with a strange ability of his own. They’ll have to fight together to stave off the encroaching darkness both of, and out of, this world.
156 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2021
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Vaughn A. Jackson
6 books16 followersVaughn A. Jackson is an Horror Writers Association affiliated author, editor, and sometimes poet of dark speculative fiction. His work generally focuses one one of three categories: Creatures, Kaiju, or Cosmic Horror. Often blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, he refers to his works as unholy abominations of terror. His published novels include the Kaiju thrillers Up from the Deep and Deepspore: Death Below the Sea, the cosmic horror Touched by Shadows, and the vampire hunter revenge novel Southern Cross. He is also the co-editor of the diverse cosmic horror anthology Beyond the Bounds of Infinity. When not writing, he can usually be found hanging with his wife and pets, cracking jokes, and making sure H.P. Lovecraft turns over in his grave.
You can find Vaughn on Bluesky @madnessandmonsters.bksy.social or on Instagram @madness_and_monsters. He also has a newsletter: https://madnessandmonsters.substack.com/
You can find Vaughn on Bluesky @madnessandmonsters.bksy.social or on Instagram @madness_and_monsters. He also has a newsletter: https://madnessandmonsters.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2021
Over the course of maybe 12-20 months or so, there was a rush on kids with supernatural abilities. Most likely encouraged or activated by Stranger Things, we saw a number of shows, movies and books release that had this phenomenal as the central plot point.
I, personally, enjoyed some and found others to be a miss. But overall, it wasn't a subgenre that I specifically sought out.
Jackson's release 'Touched by Shadows' was one that I did seek out, and with the height of the subgenre seemingly past by, I was excited to see what different take Vaughn would offer.
What I liked: The story follows Oumou, a young African American child, who escapes the lab she's being held captive in. While fleeing, she runs into a young girl, Amanda, and the two instantly become friends. Oumou is taken in by Amanda's parents, as they try and figure out where she came from, but the stark reality of where they live rears its ugly head.
Jackson also brings in a fantastic antagonist, a demon looking to take possession of a body that won't burn up, and is seeking Oumou for that purpose. This added a second layer of tension throughout. We have the racist-town angle that grew in scope and volume, as the young Oumou tries to understand the 'why' of these strangers hating her and wanting to kill her, as well as the growing dread that this 'thing' is growing closer and will soon strike.
The characters work really well together and when we get to the finale, we see each of them raise up and sacrifice to get to the ultimate end goal of survival.
What I didn't like: There were a few moments that I found questionable, but the most prominent one involved the police dog and the reporter. Minor, minor spoiler, but as the reporter flees an event, the police dog tracks him. The dog latches onto his arm. The man continues to walk with the dog (and by now I think we've all seen videos at least of how rough and violent a police dog takes people down) and then goes into a cellar and suddenly him and the dog becomes best friends. It came off as completely unrealistic,
Why you should buy this: The story is crisp and the pacing frantic. It was a fast read and had some great characters that you want to root for and see them succeed. The villain was fantastic and it would be great to see Jackson return to this world and continue telling Oumou's story.
I, personally, enjoyed some and found others to be a miss. But overall, it wasn't a subgenre that I specifically sought out.
Jackson's release 'Touched by Shadows' was one that I did seek out, and with the height of the subgenre seemingly past by, I was excited to see what different take Vaughn would offer.
What I liked: The story follows Oumou, a young African American child, who escapes the lab she's being held captive in. While fleeing, she runs into a young girl, Amanda, and the two instantly become friends. Oumou is taken in by Amanda's parents, as they try and figure out where she came from, but the stark reality of where they live rears its ugly head.
Jackson also brings in a fantastic antagonist, a demon looking to take possession of a body that won't burn up, and is seeking Oumou for that purpose. This added a second layer of tension throughout. We have the racist-town angle that grew in scope and volume, as the young Oumou tries to understand the 'why' of these strangers hating her and wanting to kill her, as well as the growing dread that this 'thing' is growing closer and will soon strike.
The characters work really well together and when we get to the finale, we see each of them raise up and sacrifice to get to the ultimate end goal of survival.
What I didn't like: There were a few moments that I found questionable, but the most prominent one involved the police dog and the reporter. Minor, minor spoiler, but as the reporter flees an event, the police dog tracks him. The dog latches onto his arm. The man continues to walk with the dog (and by now I think we've all seen videos at least of how rough and violent a police dog takes people down) and then goes into a cellar and suddenly him and the dog becomes best friends. It came off as completely unrealistic,
Why you should buy this: The story is crisp and the pacing frantic. It was a fast read and had some great characters that you want to root for and see them succeed. The villain was fantastic and it would be great to see Jackson return to this world and continue telling Oumou's story.
May 3, 2024
8/10
June 13, 2024
I could not put this down, life be damned. Jackson weaves a compelling and brilliant horror addressing brutal themes of racism and the violence that accompanies it. It is raw, it is horrific, it is cosmic and brilliant. I highly recommend this read and I look forward to more works from Jackson. He's quickly become one of my favorite authors.
March 6, 2022
Vaughn A. Jackson’s Touched by Shadows may remind some readers of King’s Firestarter on the surface. The premise of a child with telekinetic powers experimented on before finding freedom is nothing new, but discovers new things to say in Jackson’s capable hands. That, and a character we can let into our hearts and truly root for in Oumou.
Touched by Shadows gives the reader a taste of the horrid minds that would so cruelly experiment on a child, but Jackson rolls his sleeves up pretty early on and shows why he’s a horror writer. It leads us away from the predictable path of watching over our shoulders for corporate lackeys to try and steal Oumou away, and takes us to a new, and even more terrible locale. The racist south. Jackson paints a picture of how racism in a small town can hide behind false smiles and in the “way we’ve always done things” of institutions, but can also rear its ugly head behind closed doors. Jackson strips away the idea that racism is anything but bad people doing bad things with hate occupying their hearts. No matter how it might present on the surface.
The family that takes Oumou in, while presenting as the kind of Christian we hope and strive for, is not perfect. One of the biggest strengths of this book is the way Harold Chastaine protects Oumou, while also harboring doubts about whether he’s doing the right thing. His changes of mind aren’t necessarily endearing, but are authentic to a man trying to do the right thing while prioritizing the protection of his family.
The constantly lurking presence of the King of Thorns makes for an exceptionally shudder-inducing villain, and Jackson shines in comparing the embodiment of pure evil to the evil that exists within men’s hearts. It’s a thorough examination and one that leaves the reader thinking long after the last page is turned.
Touched by Shadows is an engrossing story that draws the reader in and asks them not to look away for a moment. Jackson has such sights to show you and you’d be hard pressed not to get invested.
Touched by Shadows gives the reader a taste of the horrid minds that would so cruelly experiment on a child, but Jackson rolls his sleeves up pretty early on and shows why he’s a horror writer. It leads us away from the predictable path of watching over our shoulders for corporate lackeys to try and steal Oumou away, and takes us to a new, and even more terrible locale. The racist south. Jackson paints a picture of how racism in a small town can hide behind false smiles and in the “way we’ve always done things” of institutions, but can also rear its ugly head behind closed doors. Jackson strips away the idea that racism is anything but bad people doing bad things with hate occupying their hearts. No matter how it might present on the surface.
The family that takes Oumou in, while presenting as the kind of Christian we hope and strive for, is not perfect. One of the biggest strengths of this book is the way Harold Chastaine protects Oumou, while also harboring doubts about whether he’s doing the right thing. His changes of mind aren’t necessarily endearing, but are authentic to a man trying to do the right thing while prioritizing the protection of his family.
The constantly lurking presence of the King of Thorns makes for an exceptionally shudder-inducing villain, and Jackson shines in comparing the embodiment of pure evil to the evil that exists within men’s hearts. It’s a thorough examination and one that leaves the reader thinking long after the last page is turned.
Touched by Shadows is an engrossing story that draws the reader in and asks them not to look away for a moment. Jackson has such sights to show you and you’d be hard pressed not to get invested.
February 11, 2022
While Touched By Shadows is a supernatural/cosmic horror fiction, it strongly showcases the true horrors of Racism. I am an avid horror reader and the scarier the book is, the harder it is for me to put it away; I love to be frightened. However, the real horrors that POC, like the characters Oumou, Leslie, and Carver, faced had me take a few breaks between reading. Vaughn A. Jackson has a talent for spotlighting these horrific truths in a way that is not meant to glorify the violence for the sake of horror but to shine a light on the heroes who fight the racial atrocities that still exist. Is the King of Thornes a metaphor for the deeply rooted evil that embedded itself around our world for centuries to the present? I seem to think so. Is Oumou the light and the heart of every innocent rising against these atrocities? I hope so because she is an absolute badass and puts a stamp on the phrase “Black Girl Magic”.
Jackson’s use of imagery has the ability to scare me after the lights go out. The descriptions normally touch on all of the five senses leaving me with an uneasy feeling way after I’m done reading—which is why I purposely look for this emerging Speculative fiction author. His first book, “Up From the Deep” left me with the same unnerving impression after learning of his most villainous character(s). To reiterate, he also has a way of shoving a mirror into the face of racism in his works. Touched By Shadows so far has held no punches in that regard. If you liked Stranger Things, do yourself a favor and read this book, it is far more relatable than the show. Not knocking the show but Ummm, there was only one POC in it and he wasn’t a main character. I couldn’t relate.
I look forward to reading and reviewing more of this Author’s works. #BlackAuthors #BlackLiterature #RepresentationMatters
Jackson’s use of imagery has the ability to scare me after the lights go out. The descriptions normally touch on all of the five senses leaving me with an uneasy feeling way after I’m done reading—which is why I purposely look for this emerging Speculative fiction author. His first book, “Up From the Deep” left me with the same unnerving impression after learning of his most villainous character(s). To reiterate, he also has a way of shoving a mirror into the face of racism in his works. Touched By Shadows so far has held no punches in that regard. If you liked Stranger Things, do yourself a favor and read this book, it is far more relatable than the show. Not knocking the show but Ummm, there was only one POC in it and he wasn’t a main character. I couldn’t relate.
I look forward to reading and reviewing more of this Author’s works. #BlackAuthors #BlackLiterature #RepresentationMatters
December 10, 2021
I received an early copy to review.
I loved this book! It was an insightful read with a diverse cast of lovable (and extremely unlovable) characters. Oumou is a charming protagonist and her friendship with Amanda is such a wonderful depiction of childhood friendship. While the subject matter is incredibly intense I liked the levity a cute kid like Amanda could bring to some of the situations.
I also have to mention Leslie. I love the tired character who doesn't want to get involved but doesn't seem to have much of a choice. He was a bit grumpy but loveable and I think he brought about a more adult perspective to the book. His interactions with different characters definitely showed a more cynical worldview but I appreciated the juxtaposition to Amanda's young naivety.
While I know the King of Thorns is meant to be the scariest villain a lot of the people in the town were far scarier to me. I liked the idea of comparing racism and racist people to cosmic horror and I think it was done very well. I find sometimes cosmic horror isn't quite as scary since it's not real but having the ever present reality of racism definitely made this one of the scarier books I've read (especially with cosmic horror).
It's a must read if you're a fan of Lovecraft County, Stranger Things or Stephen King!
I loved this book! It was an insightful read with a diverse cast of lovable (and extremely unlovable) characters. Oumou is a charming protagonist and her friendship with Amanda is such a wonderful depiction of childhood friendship. While the subject matter is incredibly intense I liked the levity a cute kid like Amanda could bring to some of the situations.
I also have to mention Leslie. I love the tired character who doesn't want to get involved but doesn't seem to have much of a choice. He was a bit grumpy but loveable and I think he brought about a more adult perspective to the book. His interactions with different characters definitely showed a more cynical worldview but I appreciated the juxtaposition to Amanda's young naivety.
While I know the King of Thorns is meant to be the scariest villain a lot of the people in the town were far scarier to me. I liked the idea of comparing racism and racist people to cosmic horror and I think it was done very well. I find sometimes cosmic horror isn't quite as scary since it's not real but having the ever present reality of racism definitely made this one of the scarier books I've read (especially with cosmic horror).
It's a must read if you're a fan of Lovecraft County, Stranger Things or Stephen King!
February 12, 2022
What a read. What I like about Jackson's works is they never pigeon-hole into one "type" of story. What seemed to start with Stranger Things vibes quickly mixed with what felt like if James Baldwin decided to author a Constantine story. Genres blend seamlessly, keeping you on your toes about where the story will take you next. Even more so, you become so invested in the characters (many of whom I love to love and some of whom I love to hate) and their motivations that you just can't put the book down.
If you're a fan of the sci-fi horror genre, you won't be disappointed in this book.
If you're a fan of the sci-fi horror genre, you won't be disappointed in this book.
November 7, 2024
Very well written story. The novel makes the reader very reflective and rooting for the main character. Important cultural piece. My only con was that it was written very similar to "Eleven" from Stranger Things, almost too identically.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews