4 out of 4 stars
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We have heard the legend of King Arthur, but do you know how he came to be? Do you know who Merlin really was and his role in this legend? In the historical fiction and young adult read, Shadowland: A Tale from the Dark Ages by C.M. Gray, shares a story that leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction, yet longing for more.
This riveting tale starts with a storyteller, Usher Vance. He is a unique storyteller because he insists to have lived longer than he can remember. With the help of his friend Calvador Craen, both men recount Britain's dark days to listeners waiting with bated breath. The expectant audience hears the tale when these dark days consisted of the Saxons who wanted to take over Britain when the Romans left; to a time when Usher claims to have lived.
It all begins on the day when the two young boys, Usher and Calvador, nearly escape from their village being attacked by the threatening blue-faced Picts, who we find out later are on the Saxons' side. When the boys realize Calvador's sister, Nineve, has been taken by these men, they rush to her aid with the help of a nearby farmer and ex-warrior, Meryn Link, who they meet by chance. Encountering trouble along the way, the characters discover that life is not as simple as they once thought it was. With some guidance from the druids, the roles of each character become more and more defined.
As the storyteller and his friend progress in their tale, the listeners hear how the people throughout Britain united to take back their lands from the Saxons and the Picts. In order to do this, they had to find the one who would rise up as their one true king. The one who would overthrow Vortigern, who claimed to be the King of the Britons. The question that remains is who would that fearless leader be?
The author cleverly brings an account that anyone growing up with the legend of King Arthur would enjoy. The plot is full with rich details and is told through multiple characters' perspectives, whose tales connect to the main story line. I was able to clearly visualize the time period through the use of the author's descriptions of the setting and his characters. In addition, the characters were very well-developed; I could easily come to understand each of the protagonist's feelings and thoughts.
The simple and beautiful writing should also be noted. Gray has a way of portraying his story so fluently and seemingly effortless that I couldn't withhold myself from reading the next chapter for long.
Themes of friendship, loyalty, trust, bravery, and acts of faith weave together well throughout Shadowland. It made the reading more enjoyable to relate to such common themes. For instance, not to give too much away, but Meryn proves to not only to be loyal to his friends and show bravery, but he leans on the spirits to guide his thinking. He believes these spirits know what is meant to be and their message is meant to be followed.
With all of the positive aspects of this book and how much I simply enjoyed reading Shadowland, I wish I could give it more than a 4 out of 4 stars rating. However, it isn't possible, so I will leave you with this: each time I opened this book, my heart soared and my mind was filled with excitement. I will confess that I was a little brokenhearted when I finished. I would highly recommend this book for those who enjoy young adult historical fiction, characters learning their specific roles in life, the legend of King Arthur, and an author who can really tell a story!
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Shadowland
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