Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Predictable magical fantasy intrigues, has some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
SHADOW REAPER tells the story of 17-year-old Viri Solace, whose happy family life was destroyed when the Reaper Priest killed her parents and sends her into hiding. Determined to avenge her parents' deaths, she trains as a reaper hunter so that she can track down the killers and make them pay for what they did. When Reeve, the Priest's loyal follower, is captured, he offers to strike a bargain with Viri. She knows better than to bargain with a reaper, but when children start mysteriously disappearing, it looks like their whole island and everyone on it is in danger of being destroyed. As Viri and Reeve are thrown together, earth-shattering truths start to surface about Viri's past. But will any of them lead to finding the children, saving the island, and vengeance for her parents?
Is It Any Good?
This dark, magical romantasy will have a lot of appeal to fans of the genre, but may be a bit too dense and predictable to draw in new fans. The world building and explanations of how magic works are long and detailed, but will intrigue readers who love magical fantasy. The plot is mostly character driven, but it's well thought out, and the characters' story arcs add interest and intrigue, keeping the pages turning. The enemies-to-friends arc is all-too-familiar, no surprises there, but the pair do have lots of playful banter along the way that adds some humor and fun to a dark, doomed world. The story also explores themes like trust, loyalty, found family, prejudice, addiction, and more. As part of a planned duology, it ends on a real cliffhanger that will make fans eager for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Shadow Reaper. Is it too much? Is reading about it different from seeing it in movies, games, and other media?
Viri and Reeve show courage, perseverance, and teamwork. How do these character traits help them to achieve their goals? Can you think of times you've used any of these in real life?
How does compassion affect the characters' choices and actions? Why is it an important character trait to have?
Does Shadow Reaper make you wish you could use magic? What kind of magic would you like to have and what might you use it for?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Children's Books
- Publication date : June 2, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 496
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 18, 2026
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