The Seeker and the Shade

The winner of the Guppy Open Submission competition, this first novel is an excellent choice. The author writes well, avoiding any first time nervous proliferation of adjectives or stale clichés in a narrative that remains taught throughout. Her story mixes dystopian fantasy with the normal tensions of adolescents living together for the first time. They have all been selected to beat back the deadly Shade, an amorphous evil spirit dedicated to destroying all remaining human life. Teenager Connie the main character, suffers from low esteem but is still up there when it really counts. Handsome blue-eyed Jasper, her initial adversary with whom she is paired against her will, slowly learns to appreciate her. Watch this space!

Generally beleaguered, relying solely on the semi-magical oath lanterns whose light keeps vengeful spectres at a distance, the teenagers just get by when they can genuinely trust each other. This is because the lanterns only cast light when the duo in charge of them, one a Seeker, the other a Caster, truly believe in the mutual vows they have to keep repeating. But just as Connie and Jasper look like bonding everything goes awry. Fortunately the subsequent mass invading spectres despite their numbers never quite manage to defeat the young defenders, who despite receiving multiple wounds are still always up for more action the following day.

This increasingly murderous scenario eventually becomes tedious but is just saved by the clarity and verve of the author’s prose. While it is not always clear exactly what is happening and whose body is occasionally separated into two existing parts, her story remains obstinately readable, exciting and strongly imagined. At the end there is a hint that another novel may develop from this one. Bring it on!