Shadows by Ilsa Bick

by Mrs. Stanley's Bookshelf

Posted on December 10, 2012

Initially, I was reluctant to read Shadows.  I finished Ashes, and I was disappointed that the novel left me with such a cliff hanger.  Then, when I started reading about Shadows online, I saw a lot of negative feedback because the book changes point of views.  In the first novel of the trilogy (yes, I'm really getting tired of all the trilogies!), the story is told solely from Alex's point of view.  However, in Shadows, the novel switches perspectives between various characters.  We see the point of view of most of our main characters from the first novel, as well as some minor characters who are not introduced in the first book.  The only major character that we don't see at all is Ellie.  I still want to know where she is and what has happened to her!  Shadows picks up the story shortly after the end of Ashes.  Alex has been captured by a group of the changed, and she is struggling to survive.  She is also learning some interesting things about the changed---they are continuing to evolve and adapt.  The reader also finds out what happened to Tom, and where he has been in the time that he and Alex have been separated.  His subplot surrounds his efforts to reunite with Alex.  Chris, who was injured at the end of Ashes during Alex's escape, is being manipulated by a group within the town of Rule to help take control.  To that end, Chris and Lena set out to find help to accomplish this task.

It's very difficult to explain what is going on in Shadows in a short summary, because there is so much happening with the various subplots.  The main thing to remember though is that if you've read Ashes, you will definitely want to pick this book up as well.  It is a non-stop, action packed book that I read in a period of 24 hours.  Once you pick it up, it is almost impossible to put it down.  Unfortunately, this one will leave you with another cliff hanger ending, but the good news is that you only have to wait until February for the final installment in the trilogy, Monsters.