“Gorgeous” – IN THE SHADOWS reviewed
In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo
Reviewed by Geraldynn, age 18
“In the daylight, order ruled, fences stood, how-do-you-do’s and polite nods were the recipe. But at night, darkness rendered everything still and hush and secret. Minnie was a curator of secrets.” – Kiersten White, In the Shadows.
Gorgeous. That was my first thought upon opening this book. Glossy pages. Full-colour illustrations. The prose flows like poetry. Even the pages with text have an appealing border design. The ambitiousness of the novel’s presentation of its story makes typical paperbacks look dull in comparison. Reminiscent of the visual and written style of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (adapted into the movie Hugo), the dark fairytale mystery of The Night Circus, and the centuries-spanning story of Cloud Atlas (now also a movie), the story reads like a dream, flowing from action-packed illustrations to short, written chapters that end with increasingly sinister twists. The tone can shift from dreamy to nightmarish in a blink.
There are two main plots. Both start in the early 1900s. One, represented by text, runs on a daily timeline and is rooted in ragtime-era America. The other, presented in pictures, starts at the same time and place but soon jumps ahead, skimming through the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. From London and Paris to New Orleans and Las Vegas, as well as Italy, India, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Japan and more, the mystery seems to entangle the whole world. Depictions of various architecture, landscapes, and fashion trends of different time periods and cultures make for a beautiful reading experience.
The written story is told in five different perspectives. There are the twins: dutiful Cora and reckless Minnie, lover of secrets. There are the brothers: musical Thomas and the dying but charismatic Charles. And then there is Arthur: quiet, secretive, always in the shadows. Keeper of secrets. Though their ages range from 15 to 17, they are considered adults in their time period. Living in a rural boardinghouse for the summer, the five young adults explore their little town to chase the boredom away, but things escalate beyond their control as their curiosity thrusts them and their families into the sights of a murderous cult.
The visual story is a vigilante adventure, complete with spying, disguises, and last-minute escapes from explosions. Figuring out how this worldwide chase is related to the small town mystery is part of the fun of reading this book, so I will not spoil anything here. Posters, handwritten letters, and even newspaper articles are all legible, but what really carries the story are the facial expressions. Without dialogue, they are the key to understanding what emotional state the characters are in and what is happening.
With the entire focus of the story on the main characters and their struggles, the villains felt quite two-dimensional. It would have been nice to have their backstories and motivations expanded on, although the lack of character development on their part did not detract from the story. Rather, it deepened the mystery.
I was surprised that the book contained a lot of clichés, but it is the way the authors combined them that made them work together to tell a unique story. As for the parallel plots, they start and finish at the same time and location, which gave the whole book a satisfying sense of cohesion. It is easy to forget that there are two authors instead of one.
This novel is an escape. Part gothic horror, part historical romance, part spy thriller, it is the kind of story that makes you forget you are sitting on the train, on a bed, on a bench. With richly coloured artwork and brief, suspenseful chapters, In the Shadows will appeal to book, history, and art lovers alike, and to anyone looking for a quick but captivating summer read.
23 thoughts on ““Gorgeous” – IN THE SHADOWS reviewed”
I see two different plots and I’m already interest of the book. Hearing about two different timelines reminds me of one of my favourite shows. Hearing about the characters makes me curious how it plays. “In the Shadows” is a book I’m really interested in.
Awesome review! I’ll have to read this during the summer 🙂
Honesty, I do sometimes judge a book by it’s cover (I’m not a bad person! There are other factors too!) so hearing glossy pages drew me in. Two plots? Sounds so cool, I also love reading book that take place in the 1900s such as George Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984. Can’t wait to read it!
First of all, what a lovely review. I like stories that are set in the past. I’m curious to know what kind of secrets the town is harbouring. Finally, I really like the cover, as well!
I cannot wait to read it. The plot sounds very creative and captivating and enticing. The cover is also gorgeous and beautiful.
I agree with you, it is quite rare that a story would have 2 plots. The plot throwback to the 1900’s is also rare and interesting.
They definitely are, I am adding this to my summer reading list.
I really like the cover too! Reminds me of a watercolour painting, and the trending galaxy print items.
I couldn’t help but mention the glossy pages! Sometimes the feel of the book can be just as memorable as the story itself.
Yes! I rarely see glossy pages around so this seems special.
The fact that you compared this book to others that I have read makes me more interested in reading this book. I am also intrigued by the fact that there is a visual element to the story as well. I love reading stories that have different plots that tie together and I look forward to reading this book sometime.
Ooh, a mystery that entangles the whole world? And a shift in tone from dreamy to nightmarish in a blink? (That reminds me of a yandere character… :D) THIS is my type of book!
I must applaud the authors if they were able to mix gothic horror, thriller & historical romance successfully. I’m also looking forward to their portrayal/description of a murderous cult.
What I’m curious about are the illustrations that you mentioned. Is the book still heavily text based? But the pages aren’t filled with blocks of text? Fantastic! Staring at chunks of text can be draining. Books with writing in the margins & illustrations (much like J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them or Quidditch Through The Ages) are always the most interesting to read. I’m looking forward to the “gorgeousness” of this book.
Once again, amazing review. I really, really, (did I mention emphasis on the “really”?) want to read this book now. Your review definitely sold me.
In my opinion the book feels more picture-based because the art is so colourful. Seriously, it was hard for me to get past the first few pages because I just couldn’t stop looking at the art. So. Freaking. Beautiful. The art covers the whole page too, like a comic or manga, but IN COLOUR! It doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of text because the chapters are really short, a few pages each. Yes. Read it. You’ll love it!
If you think the cover’s pretty, wait until you see the art inside!
Great review !
Sounds very interesting,
I will definitely read it sometime 🙂
The story sounds great! I would definitely read the book and recommend it to people who loves reading.
I’ve been looking for a new book to read during the summer and this one has really caught my eye after reading this review. I love the idea of the two plots being represented in different mediums. I’m looking forward to discovering its story for myself!
Two words. Silent Hill.
Another two words. Overplayed Contradiction.
Great review, this book’s certainly caught my attention now! Mysterious sounding…Another book to add to the summer reading list! ^_^
This review was well put together and has left me wanting to know more about it. I’m definitely going to end up reading this. I love anything with a visual aspect towards it. That’s why Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is one of my favourite novels.
Seems like a interesting read. Looking at the cover, it doesn’t seem look like a book that I would read but after reading this review, I may just be adding this to my book list 🙂
Hi Sabrina, that book has a review on this site now! You should check it out.
Oh neat, I’ll check it out asap~