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songwind's review
5.0
Another excellent effort from DJO. Like [b:Shadowshaper|22295304|Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper, 1)|Daniel José Older|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1416429594s/22295304.jpg|41683308] before it, this novella is richly multilayered. It would be easy for a story with so many layers of conflict represented to become shallow, or muddied. Older juggles them with aplomb.
Tee has been feeling disconnected and uncertain of her place in the world since the end of Shadowshaper. It hasn't gone unnoticed, and the first obvious story is about the damage it's causing to her relationships, particularly with her girlfriend Izzy.
The blatant supernatural hook is the eponymous ghost girl who appears to Tee. What does she want? Who is she? Why does Tee feel in her bones the girl should be a secret, even from the other shadowshapers?
And where is Lani Cortez, star pitcher and local hero of the diamond?
On top of all this, Older acknowledges and comments on the myriad of other tensions in his characters lives without being heavy handed or preachy. Conflicts between races, origins, sexes and others make their impacts felt.
And to top of it off, we're left with a little hook for further Bed-Stuy Shadowshaper problems to come.
A thoroughly satisfying read.
Tee has been feeling disconnected and uncertain of her place in the world since the end of Shadowshaper. It hasn't gone unnoticed, and the first obvious story is about the damage it's causing to her relationships, particularly with her girlfriend Izzy.
The blatant supernatural hook is the eponymous ghost girl who appears to Tee. What does she want? Who is she? Why does Tee feel in her bones the girl should be a secret, even from the other shadowshapers?
And where is Lani Cortez, star pitcher and local hero of the diamond?
On top of all this, Older acknowledges and comments on the myriad of other tensions in his characters lives without being heavy handed or preachy. Conflicts between races, origins, sexes and others make their impacts felt.
And to top of it off, we're left with a little hook for further Bed-Stuy Shadowshaper problems to come.
A thoroughly satisfying read.
tcdancer4u's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
I liked getting to hear Tee and Izzy's voices in the short. I am wondering if the skinheads show up in any future stories and what they were doing with the kidnapped girls, in wedding dresses (?!)
2017 Read Harder Challenge- book wherein all POVs are people of color
2017 Read Harder Challenge- book wherein all POVs are people of color
mcf's review against another edition
5.0
This is an easy review to write: Daniel José Older is a genius and will forever continue to be one. His books are full of real people with real lives and real problems (as well as some supernatural ones) and real voices, and they're black and brown and straight and not straight and butch and femme and everything in between, and it's fucking glorious.
Also: REZA.
Also: REZA.
lindsayb's review against another edition
5.0
DON'T MIND ME. I'M JUST GOING TO THROW MYSELF AROUND FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS, UNABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER READING THING.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Fantastic pacing, best characters, bad baddies, 'shaping, Easter eggs for all uscreepily obsessive dedicated DJO fans, perfect length, teaser-rific. I just. Gah. Yes.
Soooo...can you keep cranking out multiple stories a year, Older, please and thank you?
Novellas are the best, y'all.
This was totally worth staying up past my bedtime.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Fantastic pacing, best characters, bad baddies, 'shaping, Easter eggs for all us
Soooo...can you keep cranking out multiple stories a year, Older, please and thank you?
Novellas are the best, y'all.
This was totally worth staying up past my bedtime.
mckinlay's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this. It has been quite a while since i read Shadowshaper and this made me realize I clearly need to reread it before starting Shadowhouse Fall. But I really loved both girls, and their relationship in the novella. And there was definitely enough intrigue and action to keep me reading. Highly recommend this series.
melg0378's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed the novella, it was great to catch up with Sierra's friends. Neville is one of my favorite peoples. Everyone needs a guy like him.
haley_j_casey's review against another edition
4.0
This was a thoroughly enjoyable short, more so than I expected! Tee and Izzy were lovely in [b:Shadowshaper|22295304|Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1416429594s/22295304.jpg|41683308], but they were truly brought to life here; this short explored their personalities, their relationship, their thoughts, and their passions, and I really really loved learning more about them!
Even with that, the plot held up, too. And I liked seeing Sierra through someone else's eyes.
Even with that, the plot held up, too. And I liked seeing Sierra through someone else's eyes.