Shadow by Will Elliott is the second book in the Pendulum Trilogy. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but the book can be read standalone. I did not feel I had missed some of the plot due to starting reading the second book.

Shadow is set in the world of Levaal at a time when it is troubled. The wall at World’s End has collapsed and dreadful creatures, called Tormentors, have entered though the gap. It is also rumoured that one of the great sky dragons may have escaped from its prison which could mean disaster is near.  Eric has somehow managed to enter this world though a door in a railway arch and has somehow become entwined in the future of the world. There is a strange being that looks like Eric roaming the land, called Shadow, who has great power. To add to the confusion and fear, Vous,  Friend and Lord of the world has somehow found a way to transform himself into a god and the Archmage is trying to stop this before it is too late. Somehow Eric needs to stop this happening and save the world.

Shadow is a unique fantasy which I enjoyed reading. I found it a little hard going to start with but soon got absorbed in the storyline and wanted to read more to find out what happened next. There are several threads to the story at the start which are gradually woven together until the characters and their individual stories collide. This is cleverly done and you end up feeling that it was inevitable. The world, while a fantasy one, is believable. Although it has many elements of a normal fantasy, dragons for example, the world seems unique and different with a capacity for surprise. It was an enjoyable read.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of Shadow to read but was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.

Other posts you may be interested in:

The Girl on the Stairs by Louise Walsh

Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris