Please note, Marillier is at pains to mention that Neryn is only 15 years old in the book itself, but judging by some of the contextual clues she's close to her 16th birthday.

One thing I know whenever I go into one of Marillier's books is that the heroine will doubt herself and the hero will do some shady things (but for good reasons). This isn't a condemnation, but an expectancy that I've grown to have after 9 books in the last ten years that I've read of hers. And you know I don't mind knowing that. Each time Marillier builds a character who I want to root for. I want them to find the strength to continue their journey, to soldier on even when everything is against them.

Neryn begins and spends a good part of this first book in the Shadowfell series frightened, sick and mistrustful. Not just of other people (though she's given good reason to be), but of herself and the calamity she could bring upon others just be being who she is. Her father's a no account bum, the rest of her family is dead and she's cast adrift in a world that would turn her in for silver and their own lives spared.

Flint is a patient, resourceful and somber young man who probably doesn't deserve half the accusations flung at him, but shoulders that burden because he knows the future will be better for it. I may have judged Neryn a little harshly at times, for her hot/cold nature in regards to trusting him. It got a bit tiresome that she'd trust him, hear something unpleasant (mostly taken out of context) and then run off screaming into the night.

There's quite a bit of intrigue going on in this book. From who Flint is to Shadowfell's ultimate purpose and Keldec's tyrannical rule. Its never made clear why Keldec is so anti-magic as to have the 'Cull' (basically a season of butchering, murdering and scaring the citizens of Alban who are rumored to have magic or speak out against Keldec), he came into power the same year that Neryn was born (I'll lay odds that's not coincidental) so she has only ever known Alban under his rule.

I wonder if this is all as straight forward as it seems on the surface--that is Neryn's destiny and exact gift, Keldec's search for her, etc. Marrilier rarely works in predictable patterns within her Sevenwaters books and this reminds me of them the most out of all her series. ( )

Meh. Not engaging at all. A few bright sparks among a lot of tired telly prose. Disappointing. ( )

Alban is a land of great danger and sorrow. The people of Alban live in fear, fear of the raids that separate families, fear of the fires that destroy homes, and fear of the Enforcers who commit these acts in the name of the King. The old ways are being shunned, outlawed, anyone thought to be different is taken to serve the King, and any who refused or speak out against the injustices are quickly silenced for good.

At fifteen, Neryn has already been a victim of the King's rule having lost her grandmother in a raid and her village in a fire. But as one of the canny Neryn will never be safe from the Enforcers who hunt her. Left alone in the world with no family and no place that is safe for her; Neryn follows the only path she can to a place of safety that may not even exist, to Shadowfell.

Despite her connection to the Good Folk and the help they can provide, Neryn encounters many trials and hardships on her journey to find a safe haven. Even as the Enforcers track her every movement and the Good Folk follow her every step, she is challenged by her desire to find safety and a hope for the future. In a land where kindness and generosity are rare, Neryn discovers that the hardest lessons learnt are the most important.

Shadowfell is the only hope for a land in turmoil, the only safe place for a girl on the run. More then a story of one girls journey across a hostile land, this is a timeless tale of a life, love, friendships, hopes and fears. A beautiful and magical new series that introduces you to a world both cruel and kind, with characters as complex as they are intriguing. A story that will touch your heart. ( )

I read so many books like this when I was younger, books full of journeys, magic, danger, adventure, and just a barest hint of romance. I was reminded of [a:Kristin Cashore|1373880|Kristin Cashore|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1273894652p2/1373880.jpg] [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810], but Shadowfell is much kinder and gentler. Neryn, our female lead is still somewhat sheltered even after having been running from danger on the road with her father for three years. The relationship that develops between her and Flint, her rescuer, is so tentative and fragile because both must guard their heart’s secrets. The adventure that follows has magical creatures, prophecy, and promise.

I think I’ll buy this series for the high school. There are only a select few who would read it without prompting, but I do think it would appeal to more with a good book talk.
( )

I'm reviewing now that I've read this twice. Read it last year but didn't go right on to the sequels, so I reread it as a refresher.

Juliet Marillier is my favorite author of all time. Most of her books are adult fantasy, even if many of the protagonists are young women still in their teens. For anyone worried that Shadowfell might not be for them because it's labelled YA: it still reads as a Marillier novel--you can definitely tell that it's her. The descriptiveness of the landscapes and of the relationships between Good Folk and humankind that make her books what they are is still there, still beautiful.

Other reviews have mentioned the amount of walking. There IS a lot of walking/journeying in this book, filled with descriptions of the landscapes Neryn is traversing. In a way, that can make it slow, as there's really not a lot of action. This first installment, I feel, really serves as an introduction to the land of Alban, the terror its people face, and Neryn's part in abating that terror. The idea of a Caller is pretty neat, and I'm excited to see what else Neryn is going to be able to do.

Neryn herself is a strong and mostly likable protagonist. She has room to grow, and that's a good thing. She is a little frustrating sometimes because you REALLY want her to start being more trusting (with one person in particular), but her circumstances and experiences understandably keep her from doing so. She has a good, strong heart, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the next two books take her. (And Flint, musn't forget him, because he's wonderfullllll.)

Weapons sharp, back straight, heart high. ( )