The Shadow Hunt

by Katherine Langrish

Wolf is on the run—from the oppressive monastery where he was raised, from the ghosts and demons that haunt the windswept moors of Devil's Edge, and from the shadows in the landscape that resemble the Devil himself.

When Wolf rescues a strange child on Devil's Edge, he takes her to a grand castle hoping to win the favor of its ruler. There he strikes up an unlikely friendship with a girl named Nest, and he thinks he's finally found a place to call home. Wolf is determined to fit in, but not everything is as it seems at the castle. Dark forces are conspiring against Wolf and Nest, and a sinister enemy is looming closer than they could ever realize.

With lies masquerading as reality, will Wolf and Nest learn who they can trust . . . before it's too late?

Critically acclaimed author Katherine Langrish has created a wonderfully spooky and richly imagined world of ghosts and magical creatures, where good may be evil and light may give way to dark.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Historical

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

Reviews

[Miss Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fantasy premise was incredibly interesting: in this culture, many believed in the existence of elves, mysterious creatures caught somewhere between Heaven and Hell, who reside in an underground kingdom known as Elfland. Are elves good, or are they evil? And what happens to a human who strays into Elfland? These questions, among others, are faced by the two main characters, Wolf (a boy fleeing the dull, oppressive monastic life) and Nest, the daughter of a knight who dreams of doing something extraordinary in her life. The natural and the supernatural collide when Wolf discovers a strange little elf-girl, who may hold the key to the secrets of the supernatural world...
As usual, Langrish's work is well-researched and historically insightful, in addition to being entertaining. Shadow Hunt is set in 12th century England and Wales, a time of knights, crusades, and castles, but also a time of religious anxiety and strict adherence to social customs, where death remained (for many) only a whisper away, and the lines between the real and the supernatural were not so easy to define. Langrish has a gift for truly making her story world come alive - which is even more amazing given that she writes historical fantasy, which requires equally strong blends of fantasy and history. The rich myths of English and Welsh folklore are beautifully woven into the novel, which makes Shadow Hunt an even more fulfilling read. The story provided an excellent cultural look into the world of the Middle Ages. Characters one would expect to see in a medieval story: the young girl dreading marriage, the zealous priest, the courtly knight, the cheeky jester - were not just stereotypes, but well-rounded, explored and real characters brought to life by a creative story and powerful writing.

And also, there was this eerie, almost foreboding emotion that I felt while I was reading that I haven't really experienced since reading Joseph Delaney's Wardstone series. It's not a scary book, per see, but it is chilling and kind of ominous at times, and I just loved that! The suspense, the "what is going to happen NEXT?!" all contributed to the fun reading experience.
Like I mentioned, Shadow Hunt is set along the border between Wales and England, and Langrish has an obvious knack for describing her scenes in rich, lush detail. I just love authors who take the extra time to really bring their scenes to life through detailed description. And I've been to Wales - it is without a doubt the most beautiful place I've ever visited...just absolutely breathtaking! It was so great to be transported back to my favorite place on earth for a few days :)
In short, Shadow Hunt is a captivating, exciting (and a little spooky) read that I would recommend to EVERYONE - all age levels! Well, 10 and up. I am 21 years old, and I devoured this book. Teens and grownups, you will too!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shadow Hunt is a book which I feel fairly conflicted about. There were some things about the novel that I really enjoyed, and I’m actually wondering if there’s going to be a sequel to it, because I felt that the author left enough room for one by the end of the story. I liked this book, but had some problems with it along the way.

I found the premise and setting of this book to be very original. I liked that Langrish made some of her characters and over arching themes Christian, because sometimes I feel that sometimes people tend to criticize religion without a lot of good reason or logic behind why they’re doing it, and are often doing so for the sake of being critical. A lot of the mythology behind the elves and how they and their surroundings came into being was exceptionally well thought out and woven into the story. There were, however, times throughout the story when I felt that the plot slowed a bit too much for my liking.

One of the things which I didn’t like so much at first was the human characters, particularly Wolf and Nest. As I was reading, I got a vibe from both of them which I felt said, “I want to be a strong-willed character, but will be glad to overreact and stalk off angrily if you upset me.” My problem wasn’t so much that this particular trait could get annoying, but that it didn’t feel very original to me. While I couldn’t quite put a finger on it, I felt like I’d read characters very similar to Wolf and Nest before. However, I felt that they grew much more original and complex towards the end of the novel. Of all of the characters, Elfgift may have been my favorite!

Even though I liked the ending for the most part, I did find myself questioning its feasibility. I’d ultimately really like to continue with these characters and the world Langrish has created, so I hope that a sequel is in the works.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I know - comparisons are odious. But I wanted to say to Nancy Farmer, "This is how you do it!" And what is "it"? Writing a compelling adventure set on the edges of elfland, that treats both pagan and Christian beliefs with respect and has no axes to grind.*

As the story begins, 13-year-old Wolfstan is running from the monastery where he has lived since he was six. He will not take another beating, and he can't bear having every moment of his life regulated. Wolf stumbles - literally - into a wolf hunt. At the same time, he spots a strange, feral child. Trying to ingratiate himself with Lord Hugo of the Red Mound, Wolf helps capture the little girl. Lord Hugo commands him to teach the child to speak. Hugo's wife died seven years before, but the man is convinced that she isn't dead at all, but instead a prisoner in elfland. He intends to rescue his wife before the King of elfland can pay his tithe to hell.

Wolfstan is helped in this task by lord Hugo's daughter, Nest. If Wolf hates the monastery and longs to be a squire to lord Hugo, Nest loves learning and would prefer to go back to the abbey where she was at school. She dreads her upcoming marriage to a strange lord. As the two teens come to know each other, they discover that there is danger looming. Is lord Hugo mad with grief, or does his wife really survive in elfland? And who is the jester who seems to play with Hugo's emotions? The children become fond of Elfgift - as they name the little girl - and begin to see that the child, like lord Hugo, is in danger. But how can they protect her? All the plot threads come together when the wild hunt rides over the ridge at the turning of the year.

*I love a lot of Ms. Farmer's books, as is probably clear! But I was disappointed by the ending of the trilogy that began with the excellent "Sea of Trolls". IMHO, Langrish treats many of the same themes much better.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted here.

The Shadow Hunt is exactly my kind of book, good historical fiction with fantasy woven seamlessly into the story, reminiscent of The Perilous Gard (my review) and The Coming of the Dragon (my review). The historical setting of the book is excellently portrayed. The dirt, grime, drudgery, and dynamics of medieval life are truthfully displayed. The fantasy elements come from Anglo-Welsh folklore and include a hearth hob, a well spirit, and the elfkind (or fay). I loved how Langrish demonstrated through this the tension between (and combining of) the old folklore and the newer Christianity that was very prevalent during this period. I also appreciated how both traditions had strengths and weaknesses, good and evil in them.

The characters in the book were easy to love, even the flawed ones. Wolf and Nest are both wonderful protagonist who captured my sympathy and had me rooting for them all the way. The young child, Elfgift, who Wolf rescued is endearing despite her inability to talk. All the residents of the castle were vividly portrayed. While I was reading I really felt like I was in their world with them. My only quibble is that there were two rather stereotypical villains. As these two are not the main opposing force in the story it is only a very minor quibble.

The conflict of the story is one that I found interesting. The evil is active and very real, but at the same time the evil (and good) present in human nature is also a force they must reckon with.

My library has this shelved with the Teen books. I would classify this as more of a middle grade level novel, but one that can be enjoyed by a person of any age who enjoys good historical fantasy. I will certainly be reading more of Ms. Langrish's work in the future.

[Reading Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shadow Hunt tells a fantasy story set in the time of the Crusades. I dove right into the magical world of elves in a time rich with history. I love how the setting is so real! These elves are magical creatures of darkness. They are uncivilized beings who like to torment others and cause havoc. Who knew elves could be so evil?

My favorite character was Elfgift, the small child Wolf finds in the forest. She was the catalyst that brought Wolf and Nest to a greater understanding of each other. I liked that her life had such meaning to the story.

While the story was a little slow at times, the ending was perfect. Many secrets concerning Elfgift were answered and this helped wrap up the story nicely. While the story stands alone, I would love to read more about these characters.

RATING

4 Liked

COVER COMMENTS

I like the way Wolf and Nest are drawn in a sort of hazy way. It’s something different from the usual.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's almost more a YA title, just in terms of its darkness. Compelling story of a boy who runs away from the monastery where he has been beaten constandtly by one of the monks there. In his flight over the mountains, he is caught up in the chase of a hunting party who are after a pack of wolves and strange, mute, and naked child that the Lord in the hunt thinks is an elven child. Wolf (the boy) captures the the strange and terrified little girl in hopes that the lord will take him in and perhaps make him a squire. Instead, he is charged with teaching the elf-child to speak, so that she can be used to lead them into the elven world.

This book is a wonderful mix of historical fiction and fantasy - my favorite mix! I felt the ending could have been a little stronger, but I think there is a possibility of a sequel as it left a few questions unanswered. Good read.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book under the title 'Dark Angels' the UK title and I absolutely loved it!

It's a children’s historical adventure setting during medieval times in, I think, Wales. It tells the story of Wolf, who runs away from a cruel monk in a monastery and encounters a strange, mute elf-child, and a pack of hunting dogs owned by the local lord of the castle. The lord takes Wolf and the elf-child in, and his daughter Nest help him care for her and try to teach her how to speak. Then, one day, a passing jongleur comes by who ends up being far more than he seems ... A beautifully written, atmospheric tale that draws upon folklore and history, Dark Angels is my favourite children’s book of the year so far. I must find more of her books!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 10+

Honestly, I liked this book quite a bit more than I had expected during the first 75 pages or so. My daughter had read and enjoyed it so I kept with it. I was in the mood for a real fantasy novel and in the early stages it felt more like historical fiction (wrong meal for my current appetite as it were).

Fortunately, the book took a turn towards the more fantastic and the character development that was well done in the early stages of the book continued.

Despite have a male and female as the main characters there was no romance or mature subjects in the story, which is a nice break from most of the urban fantasy I'm reading these days, but it was not contrived given the ages of the characters.

Definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys YA fiction.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for young teen/preteen, this book was interesting... in both good and bad ways. A few times I wasn't sure if the demons & angels of 16th century England were supposed to be considered substantial for the book, or if the characters were hallucinating. I figured it out, though, partway through the book - they were to be considered real. So now it was an enjoyable historical fiction, with a simplistic but interesting plot, and I did end up liking it.

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son gives it a 4.5, I rate it a 4.
For me, the book had a very slow start. By the end however, I was really invested in the characters & storyline. It was very mysterious, and there were times when I wondered it certain things were really happening or if it was just the imagination. My son didn't really like the ending, because it didn't end the way he was hoping. To me it seems possible for a sequel, and both my son and I are hoping for one.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

I think it is very faithful to the time period it depicts. But it didn't really hold my attention. The ending made me smile, though. (Yes, I flipped ahead to see what happened. I'm bad like that.)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters seemed to come off as stubborn and mean. The story line was good though, and it kind of ended abruptly.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Langrish does not provide a specific year, however she writes that Lord
Hugo has been on the Crusades.
Wolfstan(Wolf) is a young clerk who has run away from a monistary.
When he finds a strange girl, Wolf hopes that it will earn him
a place inside Hugo's castle.
Langrish's plot uses the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and the legend
of the Wild Hunt.

[Yami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy this kind of stories, the kind that has real mischievous fey folk, not the kind with cheesy romance in it , it was a good tale , and has an ancient aura around it that put the correct ambiance while you were reading.

[Lab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good way to learn about Christianity with an awesome fictional story.

[Jenna St Hilaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I’m Catholic, and because the popular narrative about the Church—especially in the Middle Ages—is monstrous (and fraught with varying degrees of inaccuracy), and because I know some of my fellow readers will have similar feelings—let me say that on first read, I was very wary of where Langrish was going to take her tale. Let me also say, however, that by the end I felt at ease for the most part, even appreciative of the way she handled some things; and further, that I loved the story itself and wanted to re-read it and add it to my books-to-buy list.

Set in Wales in an undisclosed time, though clearly during the centuries when clerical celibacy was canonically mandated but largely not practiced, this little novel expertly builds a medieval world in which the supernatural is as much an accepted fact of life as the natural. The mythology of the elves is either an original creation or something drawn from a source I’ve never read, but the angels and demons are familiar enough. Both the windswept, stormy Welsh landscape and the otherworldly interactions are beautifully and, in context, believably portrayed.

Wolf and ‘Nest’ (the Welsh form of Agnes) are characters well situated in fairytale tradition: active, brave, curious, and just the right mixture of precocious and childlike. Their charge, silent little Elfgift, evokes sympathy as well; we never get her perspective, but we get to watch bits of her humanity creep out of her instinctive animal terror.

The enemies—but saying much about them would involve spoilers. They work, interestingly enough, as a twisted form of trinity: a priest who uses God’s laws to beat people down rather than build them up, a selfish and entirely human fool, and an evil spirit. Their effects on Lord Hugo (Nest’s father), Wolf, Nest, and the general state of peace are fully comprehensible. It’s a good setup for story conflict, and is well resolved.

The story carries a hefty thread of female bravery and independence. Nest prays for a good and important work to do before her marriage, a thought which perhaps fails to recognize the great goodness and importance of marriage and childbearing, but rightly recognizes a woman's need for worthwhile activity beyond that. Her feelings make sense, and her retorts to Sir Thomas and Godfrey in the chapel—invoking several saint stories—were overall rather enjoyable despite the stereotypical 'anti-woman churchman' routine that inspired them. Sir Thomas, after all, seemed to have forgotten how closely Adam was involved in Eve’s sin.

The tale is a good read from start to finish, but the end is much of what made the book for this reader. There’s a bit of very clear redemption imagery, and Sir Thomas presents himself in a way evocative of Caiaphas before the crucifixion of Christ. The supernatural aspects come off with beauty and strength, and the final little down-to-earth scene is sweetness itself.

[Patrick Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book "The Shadow Hunt" by Katherine Languish is pretty interesting because it is an adventurous story and have some parts that involve religious history. This story was all about a boy name Wolf who was raised in a monastery. He later walk into a tunnel and saved an elf in a tunnel from Devil's Edge. Wolf was trying to prove Hugo that elves do exist. For example,"Splendor of God," Hugo swore. He squeezed closer, breathing heavily. "Where? Could I get down there? Is it really the way to Elfland?" He was entirely blocking the passage. All the light vanished. Wolf felt a wave of suffocating panic. "What did you see?" Hugo whispered harshly. Wolf suppressed the urge to scream and thrash his way out. "I'll tell you later," he gasped. "Help me with her please!" "Hand her up then," Hugo commanded. Lying with her legs deep in the tunnel, Wolf dragged the child past his own body," (pg. 31). This quote explains that Wolf really wants to show Hugo that elves exist at Devil's Edge. This proves that elves do exist because Wolf saw an entrance that lead to Elfland and saved an elf to show to Hugo. I can infer that this book is adventurous and has some history because as a rule, adventurous books contain lots of excitement and suspense and historical books might have to do with the past. Therefore, I recommend people to read this book because it's adventurous and has lot of suspense all about the underworld in Elf land.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. The premise is a bit complicated/hard to explain, but the story was well-executed and fascinating.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little darker than I expected. Mentions the Crusades. Includes fairies and not the cute kind more like the traditional fairy tales

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another look at Faerie, this time in a medieval setting. Good, if a little creepy; a sequel is bound to come.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2010/10...

[Sarah]

Kirkus Best Children's Books 2010

[Rad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed Middle Grade to me, but was shelved with YA. Why does this happen? Also, I smell a sequel, though it was wrapped up pretty well.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story didn't get developed very well.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and didn't realize I had read other books by this author until later. It was a quick read.

[Saphyra Seawel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t rlly remember the book but I rlly wanna read it again bc I remember loving it

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book slightly odd. I'm not sure I liked it.