A Shadow's Tale


Young Adult - Fantasy - General
158 Pages
Reviewed on 01/22/2013
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

“A Shadow’s Tale” by Robert D’Angelo is an interesting tale, told in verse. The story features two sisters, Divina and Carolina, who hunt frogs to support themselves. One day at the pond they discovered a very special and unique lily, which turned out to be Prince Roderick under an evil spell. By restoring him to his rightful place, they earned the king’s favour. Prince Roderick married Carolina, while Divina shared a room with her mother at the castle. The girls’ father had disappeared years ago. One night, as Divina lay in bed thinking about her father, a fairy-like creature appeared at her bed to inform her that her father was still alive! The king, afraid that her father, Peter, might thwart his plans to take over another kingdom, ordered the evil sorcerer Barmello to cast a spell on him. Barmello’s spell turned Peter into a ghost, locking him forever in the Valley of Shadows. With this news, could Divina somehow restore her father? Could she trust the apparition to tell her the truth? Would Barmello cast a spell on her as well? Divina goes through a seemingly endless series of events, facing foes, hardships, and impassible terrain in her effort to restore her father’s soul and body. Against insurmountable odds, Divina perseveres, taking help where she could find it. She learns that her father’s soul is bound by five locks, each of which she must break in the proper order if she is to succeed. Divina shows an admirable sense of purpose in her quest.

Her character is very well developed; she comes across as the type of young lady you would be proud to have the honor of knowing. Barmello, needless to say, comes across quite otherwise: he is evil incarnate. The outcome of this quest is never a certainty. The hardships Divina must face and conquer are many and daunting. One cannot read this story without feeling a kinship with the girl, rooting for her success every step of the way. I recommend this for fans of action/adventure fiction, and particularly for fans of verse. There is a sense of the Epic about this quest. If you enjoy books of this sort, I am sure you will find this one to be especially appealing.