Book Review – In Shade and Shadow

Author: Barb & J.C. Hendee
Publisher: ROC
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: January 2009

In, In Shade and Shadow, Barb & J.C. Hendee delivers to the reader the first book in the Second Series of the Noble Dead Saga. The first series which encompassed six novels was a sprawling adventure rife with magic, vampires and the search for the ultimate archaic object of evil. The Hendee’s introduced the reader to a collection of creatively novel characters who bond into a unique amalgam forged to fight the forces of the Dark Lord. Magiere, the quintessential vampire slayer is a true dichotomy, know as a “dhampir”. Born of mixed lineage: Father a vampire, mother of human descent. Magiere, the group’s leader begins her adventures with two companions, Leesil, also born of mixed ancestry; father human, mother an elf, who feels himself outcast from both races and is rarely comfortable in his own skin. The third member of this group is Chap, a menacingly loyal dog, inhabited by a “fey” who, has been sent by his ancient race as a canine protector for the group. The fourth and final member of the team is Wynn Hygeorht, a novice “Sage” known a “Journeyor” who is on assignment in the town of Bela. This is where Wynn gradually becomes involved with the vampire slaying crew, and by force of will alone invests herself into their tight circle, and becomes an integral associate in the dangerous quest they all embark on.

The group having successfully acquired the sinister orb and a cache of half-rotten tomes which appear to contain esoteric clues that may reveal history that would better be left forgotten. We have now reached the stepping off point for the Hendee’s new novel “In Shade and Shadow”. Wynn has returned home to the “Guild of Sagecraft” at “Calm Seatt” bringing with her the ancient tomes and her personal journals. Both of which contain fabulous stories and frightening revelations that the Guild’s Domins feel a fanatic need to keep secret. Magiere, Leesil and Chap, who are on a quest to find a sacrosanct hiding place for the “Orb” do not make a single appearance in this novel. However, this does not protect Wynn from continuing the group’s propensity for stumbling into dire situations and running into monstrously powerful adversaries. The story opens with two young guild members, Jeremy & Elias returning from a local scriptorium with a folio of pages recently translated from Wynn’s confiscated tomes. Unfortunately for them, they are brutally murdered and the folio is stolen under what must be considered very mysterious circumstances. Rodian, captain of the “Shyld Falches” “The People’s Shield” is called in to investigate and immediately runs into roadblocks created by the hierarchy of the Guild and his own arrogant disbelief in the supernatural. Being a member of the “Blessed Trinity of Sentience” Rodian is unable to consider that this homicide and the ones to follow could be the work of something other than a human perpetrator. What develops is a reliably electric “Agatha Christie” like, who done it, with a series of frightening misadventures, complicated by a magically powerful Black Robed Specter who appears to have no physical substance but is diabolically in possession of fearsome powers that make defeating his evil a perilous task.

Rodian faces three main nemesis’ in the Guild, Premin Sykion, the head of the Order of Sages, Domin High Tower, the only dwarf in the order and Domin Ghassan Il’Sanke, a Suman Sage who is on loan to the Guild headquarters in “Calm Seatt” to aid in the translation of Wynn’s ancient texts. Il’Sanke , a master in the “order of metaology” has developed the power to enter the minds of others, to cloud, confuse or control their perception. He has become Wynn’s sole friend and confidant in the Guild, unfortunately most of the others either see her as unbalanced or dangerous to Guild interests. She knows too much, suspects even more, and threatens to reveal secrets that the Guild fears would create chaos. Il’Sanke, who has his own agenda (as it appears every character in the novel does) agrees to create for Wynn, a surreal stone that when used correctly will produce a beam of light to rival that of the sun. A weapon when used prudently might be able to protect Wynn when she manages, as she does incessantly, to walk head first into the claws of the numerous evil ones lurking in the Hendee’s novels.

At this point in the novel, two of the most incongruous allies show up in “Calm Seatt” to help protect Wynn. The first is a character from previous novels, Chane the Vampire, who against his own better judgment, has followed Wynn. Basically, because he cares for her on a level that is both tragic in the hopelessness of its outcome and, reassuring, giving him a reason to continue to exist. The Hendee’s bring the reader up to date on Chane’s travels and his fateful decision to once again seek out Wynn, bringing with him the mysterious Scroll which he has carried since he fled the castle of the ancient vampires. For those readers who have wondered about what knowledge will be gleaned from the scroll, in true Hendee fashion the answer is both clear and cloudy at the same time. Maybe in the next novel, we will know more! The second ally to amble into Wynn’s burgeoning crew is a wolfish hound she names Shade, who has been sent by Chap, her father, to watch over Wynn. Shade an émigré from the elfin lands has the natural ability to recognize, seek out and cause harm to the malignant forces of evil that seem to want Wynn’s ancient Tomes as much as the Guild’s Domins do. After more deaths, stolen folios, and violent skirmishes that take place between the figure in the black cowl, Rodian’s guards, Wynn, Chane, Shade along with Il’Sanke’s magic, the only thing that has truly been settled is that Wynn’s tomes have brought more than ancient knowledge to “Calm Seatt.” They have also brought fear and evil that coincide with the all but forgotten war to decide the fate of all life. Will the living be subject to the control of good or evil?

This novel is the jumping off point for what appears to be another must read series. As in the Hendee’s original novel “Dhampir” the main characters are neophytes and gradually begin to develop the talents they will need to complete their quest, which smacks of “Frodo’s” quest in Tolkin’s “Lord of the Rings.” In the novel “In Shade and Shadow” Wynn, the forth member of the original group, and in many ways still a neophyte begins her further development. She spends much time researching in the Guild’s subterranean libraries where in her own words “she had no idea what she was looking for” other than something that would lead her to understand why the Tomes were so feared. She finds both clarity and confusion, but succeeds in her own personal development. She finally finds that seeking knowledge for its own sake without any care can actually be a dangerous path, especially when that knowledge might lead to the destruction of all that is good in the world. Wynn has also developed her fighting skills and her own personal weaponry to use against the dark forces. Her most important measure of personal growth is her willingness to think before she acts and consider the consequences.

It was a very gutsy undertaking by Barb & J.C. Hendee to leave Magiere, Leesil and Chap on the shelf for this novel, and who can say where they might be in the next book of this series. Considering how truly loved these characters are by their loyal readers, it was more than risky but after finishing reading and taking some time to digest, I liked the idea. Now a second group of protagonists are being brought together to help stop the ultimate Dark Lord. Wynn, Chane and Shade now begin their quest and from hints given, I suspect we haven’t seen the last of Domin Il’Sanke, whose loyalties and true role we have yet to discern. The Hendee’s, if given a chance to complete their entire saga may yet produce a combined fantasy master work that will surely stand on the highest pinnacles of literary fantasy lore. For those who pick this one up as their first Hendee work, I highly recommend going back and reading the novels of the first Noble Dead series. It will certainly make this novel and all to follow much more rewarding. As always, Hendee’s, keep ‘em coming!

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