Abigail Manning writes fairytale and nursery rhyme retellings set in many realms: the Emerald Realm, the Ruby Realm, etc. In this story, she weaves a tale out of not only fairy tales but Halloween, including monster archetypes. Welcome to The Shadow Realm.
The full title is The Shadow Realm: A Collection of Retold Halloween Tales (The Realm Collection). While I haven’t read many of Ms. Manning’s novels, I’ve finished enough to know she takes famous fairytale characters, puts them in a more realistic world, and imbues them with modern characteristics and problems. The Shadow Realm follows this outline with a Halloween twist. Take one fairytale character and two classic monsters, place them in a world that celebrates spookiness, and add a curse to mirror a horror archetype. That twist makes this offering stand out.
Two high society ladies and a princess (Aethera, Ebony, and Garnet) are out on a stroll near the time of the esteemed Shadow Ball. Overall, these three think themselves above nearly all other people in the kingdom of Umbria. When the princess turns down an invitation from a commoner, the man gets his revenge. He’s a mage, so he curses all three in unique ways.
Aethera becomes invisible, and no one may admire her beauty any longer. Small pieces of Ebony’s skin turn to wood when she lies. And the princess, Garnet? She can no longer walk in daylight and must siphon off energy from those around her. The story picks up three years later with the three young ladies dealing with their curses in their own ways. They no longer associate with each other; in fact, one has hidden away from her family and her home. And now, on the third anniversary of their curses, everyone is preparing for the Shadow Ball once again.
The author has stated that this novel is not scary nor should anyone pick it up hoping for a fright. This is a cozy romance story with supernatural undertones that celebrates the glee of Halloween. If you like a Halloween setting, but you aren’t wild about horror or the gore that may come with it, then this novel is for you. I’m reviewing it as a fairytale/monster retelling, not as a horror novel.
The novel is entertaining. Making an Invisible Woman and a Dracula figure a fairytale princess was inspired. Even the Pinocchio character felt more “monstrous” than fairytale in this setting. The chapters alternate between the three female characters. They each have their own narrative that weaves through the story leading up to the night of the Shadow Ball. This keeps the novel moving as each chapter gives you just enough to want to find out more about one character’s narrative, and then you’re onto the next.
The entire idea of a fairytale realm in a “cozy shadow” is fascinating, and the description of the town and the ball itself really lent to the atmosphere. Some sharp writing here really brought out the details (e.g. the dew hanging on the spiderwebs). Callbacks and in-jokes also round out the story in an engaging way. If you don’t know why a man named Griffin shows up at a pub with an invisible person, then you don’t know your monster lore.
I would’ve enjoyed more background on our three ladies before they were cursed, and potentially a deeper characterization of each. It would’ve lengthened the novel, true, but I found this a quick read. Nonetheless, wanting more from a novel is always better than wanting less.
The Shadow Realm has many elements I hoped it would have when I bought it: an enchanting Halloween storyline and setting, references to the original stories, humor, and heart. If Ms. Manning continues this series, I honestly hope she doesn’t change much. It’s a winning combination.