Title: Treacherous Shadows

Author: Jennifer Parr

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Aeria Morgan knows her life will be short. Since the Darkness fell two hundred years ago, brevity has staked its claim, especially on the childless. Aeria will die if she does not find love, and soon. But she and her Dviinu brother, Aeron, are outcasts, set apart from the rest of Avalon Valley because of their sordid family history and mysterious conception, and so Aeria has resigned herself to a loveless fate. It isn’t until Aeria meets village newcomer Lyam Trey that she learns that love is worth hoping for after all. As trouble mounts, can Aeria hold tight to what she’s found, or will she lose everything she thought she’d never have?

Review:

Jennifer Parr’s writing is very unique.  Many times with first person based novels I don’t feel completely in the shoes of the character that is narrating, but that wasn’t the case with Treacherous Shadows.  After contemplating why I felt that Parr’s writing was more personal than other first person narrated novels, I began to realize that it is completely because of her beautiful descriptions.  Instead of going back and forth between experience and description, she intertwines the two like an artist mixing colors.  I began to feel myself falling into the character of Aeria, and it amazed me how well I could feel for myself what she was going through.

For example, early on in the novel Parr begins to form the setting and experience of Aeria, and her settle descriptions began to take over the reader as well.  The following excerpt is one of the best examples of how she accomplishes this experience, and I am amazed by how effortless her writing is:

“The air is chilling here, and my wet dress and hair make it more so, pulling bumps along the length of my arms.”

She also adds a great sense of darkness into her novel that is disturbing but unique in its own way.  I found myself flipping through the pages one after another without a thought of stopping, when usually I mark an end point for myself so I am sure to read to a certain point; but with this novel I read well past my desired end point.  Parr’s writing is just that intriguing.

But one of the best things that I found about this novel was that it is suitable for a wide range of ages and genders.  Parr didn’t direct her writing towards any one audience, and that allowed me to enjoy her writing even more.  I don’t like when authors talk towards a specific audience due to the fact that this is exclusive, and Parr’s openness allowed her writing to be enjoyed by just about anyone.  It was clear that she wrote this book for herself and the fun of it instead of to be published, and I am certain that I will be re-reading this book again.  I hope the rest of the Avalon Valley series comes out soon, because I am looking forward to it!

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