By: Jenna Burtenshaw Published in 2011 Published by Greenwillow Book Taylor Graves

Kate Winters is a 15-year-old girl who is living with her uncle in the town of Morvane where things had been peaceful for the last ten years. But as done in the past wardens come to her town to collect people to fight in the war but this time they are looking for more; they are looking for people known as the skill. Kate doesn’t know it yet but she is one of the skilled and will be taken from her town. What she also doesn’t know is that she is going to have to harness her power not only to save her self but also her loved ones.

 Protagonist Kate Edgar  Antagonist Silas  Minor Character Kalen Artemis Da’ru

Kate is 15 and “skilled”. Kate is one of the last direct descendent of the Wintercraft and has a power like no one in her town has. Kate is soon forced to help the evil Silas and has to quickly learn how to use her powers to save her, her town, and her loved ones.

Edgar is Kate’s best friend and works with her at the bookshop. Edgar put his life on the line for Kate and tries desperately to save. Edgar is also secretly in love with Kate.

Silas is Kate’s worst nightmare. Silas kidnaps Kate and forces her into the capital to help him find something only the skill can see. Silas is immortal with a thirst for blood and death.

The main conflict of the story is that Kate is one of the skilled but doesn’t know how to use her powers. She has to learn in order to save the men she loved. She is faced with evil forces that will give anything for what they want. No matter how hard she tries she can’t seem to get away from the tightly held grasp that is engulfing her life.

Kalen is an old man who lives in the secret tunnels under Morvane. He hunts down Kate and Edgar and tries to hand them over to Silas however his life is taken by Silas because of his unwillingness to help him.

Artemis is Kate's uncle and the only family she has left. When Kate’s parents are killed Artemis takes her in and raises her to always be aware of the wardens when they came. Artemis tries to save Kate by telling Silas that he is the skilled.

Da’ru is one of the members of the high council. She is the only women in her position and is the most ruthless and cold person you would ever want to meet.

In the reviews I read the critics had two very different views. One critic said that “It was very fresh for me as it was more fantasy…”. The critic loved it and thought that is was well thought out. However the other critic seemed to have mixed emotions about; loving it at one point and wanting to just give up on it at another he even said “I wish I could just give it up, because reading it at this point is sheer torture, and yet something about this book makes me keep attempting to plow through until the end.” overall both of the critics seemed to agree that the book had great potential and was something new and fresh.

reviews/shadowcry-aka-wintercraft-by- jenna-burtenshaw-review/ 5/book-review-shadowcry-by-jenna.html

I think that this novel is one of the best books I have read in a while. It transports you into a completely different world where adventure is around every corner. I personally like the plot and how every little detail leads up to the major conflict. On a scale of one to ten I give this book a strong nine and would recommend it to any person who likes fantasy and with a wide imagination.