Joelene Reviews: Juliet Marillier's - "Shadowfell"

In the terrorised Kingdom of Alban, fifteen-year-old Neryn has experienced more than her share of heart-break. Destitute and alone, she has nowhere left to turn. Even if she had money to spend, the people of Alban live in too much fear to welcome a stranger. With the dreaded Enforcers out for the Cull, burning villages and searching for the canny, Neryn must head for the one place left where she may find refuge.

Shadowfell is a place spoken of only in whispers. It harbours the last of the people who may stand against the ruthless king, but the journey will be a long and perilous one. With winter approaching, Neryn may have to risk relying on the Good Folk for help, but to do so may mean death for them both.

Shadowfell is different to many of the YA fantasy books that are currently popular. Although it is for a younger audience, it follows more of an epic fantasy storyline. Immediately the stakes are much higher than they are in most urban fantasy novels. Neryn is fighting for her entire world, for the fate of two very different species and to find and keep her own courage. It is a huge undertaking, and even with the help she gets along the way the burden seems too heavy for the shoulders of a fifteen-year-old. It’s hard to pick a favourite element in this beautifully crafted novel. Plot, setting, atmosphere and characters all work in harmony to bring the first book in the Shadowfell series together.

The world created in Shadowfell is a place of darkness. Nowhere is safe; and neighbour will turn on neighbour with the slightest provocation, so great is the fear installed by the ruthless King Keldec. Within the gloomy atmosphere of the novel, however, are surprisingly bright rays of hope. Neryn is one of them. At the outset of the novel she is poor, dirty and tired in both body and soul. In the first few pages, I wasn’t sure that I could handle being in her head-space for an entire novel. She was not unsympathetic, but she was pitiful. Very quickly, however, circumstances change. To my absolute delight, Neryn changes with them. Her hope rekindles, lighting a flame that shines through the darkest shadows Alban has to offer.

Characters, too, provide some of the light that is desperately needed in Shadowfell. Family is something that Marillier never fails to write with wonderful and sometimes devastating honesty. They are ties that bind, even from beyond the grave. Neryn’s courageous brother, broken father and half-forgotten mother all serve to anchor her to morality; but it is her wise, fearless grandmother who moulds her into the strong, steadfast person she becomes. Though I loved Neryn’s grandmother, the Good Folk stole the show away right from under her. They are lovely. Not all of them are gentle, but when any one of them is on page they bring a vibrancy with them that makes their scenes sparkle.

Flint is the other character that moves the story forward. His reserve combined with moments of uncertainty make him difficult not to like. Something is lacking in the scenes between him and Neryn, however. The atmosphere of fear that clouds the entire novel permeates into Flint and Neryn’s relationship and, unfortunately, Flint never manages to sparkle in the way that the Good Folk do. I have high hopes that in the next book the cool front he puts up will begin to thaw.

In an interview Juliet Marillier gave she said that the key to writing well was to find a way to fuse what the public wanted to read with she wanted to write; I have no idea if she achieved the latter but she definitely reached her goal with the former. Shadowfell reminded me of a more mature version of Rowan of Rin. I would also recommend it to anyone who has read and loved Isobelle Carmody. All that is left now is to wait for book two.

Marianne here: I launched Juliet’s book at Supanova in Perth – in the wrestling ring. That was fun! Other than finding it a beautifully written and crafted novel, I was particularly sucked in to the delicate love story unfolding between Flint and Neryn. It was handled with great reverence and respect. A welcome change from much of the shallow romance that abounds in fiction.

Shadowfell – Juliet Marillier

Pan Macmillan Australia (July 3, 2012)

ISBN: 9781742611341