Shadowghast: Legends of Eerie-on-Sea, Book 3
Common Sense says
- Thomas Taylor
- Fantasy
- 2021
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
Stands out for positive role models.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Shadowghast continues the spooky fantasy-mystery adventures of two tweens in the Legends of Eerie-on-Sea series. This story is about a local legend that tells of a scary shadow monster who controls people's minds by stealing their shadows using a magic lantern. Both narrator Herbie and his best friend Violet are orphans, so parental loss is a theme. Real-world violence includes some kicking, punches that don't land, and a child locked in a hanging cage. An adult's face smeared with blood is mentioned. Lots of eerie, spooky atmospheres, locations, and sounds, including some time in total darkness. Many characters in danger from a burning building. All scariness and danger has a safe resolution, and no one's injured or permanently harmed. There's some brief calling names with nonsensical and made-up words. A brief mention of adults drinking mulled cider.
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What's the story?
SHADOWGHAST begins when the mysterious magician Caliastra checks into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, where 12-year-old Herbie is in charge of the hotel's lost-and-found department. Much to Herbie's surprise, Caliastra asks to see Herbie in the hotel owner's penthouse suite, where she gives Herbie some news that could change his life forever, along with a tempting offer that certainly will change his life forever if he accepts. Herbie needs some time to think about the offer, so in the meantime Caliastra and her assistants agree to perform their magic show on Halloween night for the whole town that will include a retelling of the legend of the Shadowghast. Meanwhile, townsfolk are starting to mysteriously disappear, including Jenny, who's the closest thing to a mother Violet, Herbie's best friend, has. Violet is deeply suspicious of Caliastra, but Herbie needs to hope that she's telling the truth. Can the two friends get past their differences, find the missing townsfolk, and uncover the truth about Caliastra?
Is it any good?
This third installment in a planned fantasy-mystery series keeps the charm, suspense, and adventure of the first books, along with heaping doses of creepy atmospheres and a spine-tingling legend. The colorful, eccentric townsfolk from the first two books are back in Shadowghast, and of course the dynamic duo of Herbie and Violet, too. The short chapters with cliffhanger or surprise endings keep the pages turning, and Herbie's quirky, sometimes funny, and always sincere voice make it a great choice for reading aloud.
Big kids and tweens will relate to Herbie and Violet as they figure out what makes them work as a team, how to draw on each other's strengths, and even how to agree to disagree. Hints of an even deeper, darker secret and Herbie's possible connection to it will have fans eager for the next installment.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the violence and scariness in Shadowghast. When is it sometimes fun to be a little bit scared? What can you do to feel better when you're scared?
Are Herbie and Violet positive role models? What are their character strengths and weaknesses? Do you like them?
Have you read the other books in the series? Which one do you like best? If you haven't read them, would you like to now?
Book details
- Author: Thomas Taylor
- Illustrator: Tom Booth
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Walker Books U.S.
- Publication date: September 14, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 22, 2021
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