Title Of Book - The Shard
Author - Jane Shand
Publisher - Jane Shand
Rating - 4 Stars
Level – Young Adult
Genre – Fantasy
Source – E-Book (kindle copy) - For Review
Summary – From Goodreads
Darkness is falling…Something is happening to the children of the land. Slowly they are being turned, their magic twisted by the dark energy spreading its tentacles across the country, until what’s left is only a Darkling abomination. Only those in possession of a special Gift are immune and can drain away the energy to heal the children – but only as and when the Gift chooses. Nalani has this Gift but considers it to be something of a curse. Believing it drove away her beloved father literally and her mother emotionally, she lives a lonely life doing what she can to help others. When the Gift suddenly demands that she journey to the mainland, the chance for escape, for a new life and purpose, beckons. And with both hands, she grabs for it.Except as she settles into her new life in the city of Karas, she soon discovers more questions than answers when she stumbles across a series of magical experiments on creatures rumoured to have created the energy unique to the city. When she learns that this could be responsible for the dark forces sweeping the land, she decides this time she will take her life into her own hands. With the help of those she encounters including a Darkling boy and Luca, a young man whose research seems to hold the key, Nalani sets out on a path that will forever change her life. But will she figure out all of the answers, including ones shadowed inside herself, before the darkness overpowers them all.With its young adult protagonist and themes of self-discovery, coming of age, and setting out on one’s own, this novel should appeal to adults and YA alike.
My Review
The Shard is a great stand alone novel that I enjoyed reading. If the author would decide to write a sequel
I would definitely read it.
It starts out with Nalani living on the small island that
she grew up on. The way the that author subscribes
it just makes it sound so beautiful and calm.
Nalani likes to help out with her mother’s Coconut business. Her father left when she was just a young
girl and just learning that she has a Gift.
Although Nalani thinks it is a curse and why her father left. She can’t control it and just wants to be rid
of it. Now it is taking her on a mission
to the city of Karas on the Mainland, somewhere she has never been to, and has
no idea what her Gift wants her to do.
She has a difficult time opening up about herself and her Gift to others.
Nalani doesn’t exactly fit in with anyone at first in
Karas. But she does meet some people and
starts a silk business while trying to figure out what her Gift wants her to
do. It’s not long before she is guided
to Luca and she realizes what her mission is.
Children are becoming Darklings from Frith energy created many years ago
by some scientists as part of an experiment in the Assembly. Nalani knows she can help cure the Darkling
children because she has done it before.
But there is so much more to the story once she finds out about Luca’s
research. Nalani along with Luca and
some friends she meets along the way have to figure out how to complete her
mission and to restore Karas to what it used to be.
It's full of action, suspense, adventure, magic and friendship
throughout the book. I liked how the
story was written, it wasn’t rushed and just flowed along at a nice, steady
pace. I liked all the characters but one
of my favorites was Garthwin. He was always
ready to help Nalani whenever she asked and with whatever she needed. There were some moments when I was on the edge
of my seat. By the end though, I was
happy with how everything turned out.
While this is a stand alone novel, as far as I know, I could
see the author making this into a series.
I would love to read more books from this author and I recommend if you
enjoy fantasy books try this one. You
will not be disappointed!
Find the author - Website Twitter Goodreads
Glad to hear you liked it. I really like the cover.
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