Shadowbridge

Elegant writing and masterful storytelling combine to take you to a world that you could have never imagined. The characters journey throughout the endless spans of Shadowbridge chased by an unknown past. Collecting tales along the way of the varied and sometimes bizarre inhabitants makes this world more than real, it makes it steeped in lore. I was captivated, and wished it would continue forever...

In a world where inhabitants live on bridges which span wide oceans and replace cities and continents, sixteen-year-old Leodora travels from city to city to build her reputation as a master puppeteer and storyteller. But Leodora is haunted by the mystery of her father, who was once a great puppeteer, and touched by the gods whose presence portends marvelous and terrible events to come. Shadowbridge is the first half of a duology, and it sets up the story, introducing Leodora and her traveling companions and the fantastic, imaginative world of Shadowbridge. These factors are both intriguing, but as the first half of a complete story the book suffers from a lack of direction and cliffhanger ending. I plan to continue right on to the sequel, Lord Tophet, and I enjoyed and recommend this book. Although they are published as two separate volumes, Shadowbridge is really just the first half of a longer book. It introduces the concepts and begins the story, and does a good job of both. What shines most is the setting: Shadowbridge is a world of endless bridges rising over open seas, where spans of the bridge make up cities and the spans connect into large spirals which replace continents. Men, monsters, and gods populate the bridges, living in complex and divers societies. It is a vibrant and magical setting, unlike anything else I've seen before, and it immediately captures the imagination. Leodora and her companions are a bit pale in comparison, although they too hold the reader's interest: Leodora is willful and brave and her storytelling opens the novel up to a number of stories within stories. These stories within stories are something of a mixed blessing, however. They introduce new aspects and mythology of both Leodora and Shadowbridge, but they crowd out their framework--Leodora's underlying journey across the spans--leaving it too long undeveloped. The reader is never quite sure how the stories will connect or which are important, and without this frame of reference the plot feels uncertain and slow. It gains momentum as it goes along, and it is readable and engaging throughout, but it never dedicates enough time to Leodora's current journey. The end of the book changes dramatically, overshadowing the arrival of malicious, otherworldly powers and ending in a sharp cliffhanger--which is less of a problem now that the sequel is out, but begs the question: why was this book released in two volumes in the first place? Shadowbridge has its faults, and as the first half of a story it is unfinished without the sequel, Lord Tophet. Nonetheless, it is a promising and intriguing beginning. The unique setting fascinates me, and Leodora and her stories is a worthy vehicle for exploring it. Frost's writing style suits the vivid grandeur and intricate detail of the setting. I have Lord Tophet waiting, and plan to continue on with it directly. I recommend Shadowbridge--fantasy readers and fans of unique fantasy worlds will enjoy it, and it certainly deserve

The world of Shadowbridge would be worth visiting even if Leodora, the protagonist, weren't such good company. Its complexity and realism, overlaid on a structure that is inherently fantastical, makes suspension of disbelief a pleasure as guilty as chocolate. Frost doesn't even pretend to a scientific explanation for his world; it's all myth and fantasy, and it's wonderful. Yet the grittiness of the place, together with images of magnificent beauty, make it realistic in an almost tangible way. The romance of bridges, the darkness and squalor of areas under bridges...Shadowbridge captures it all. We follow Leodora as she finds herself as a Shadow-Puppeteer and Story-Teller, following in the footsteps of a father she never knew. As she collects stories and comes to understand this world, she encounters dangers that she only half understands. I'm giving the book only 4 stars for now. It's half a book and doesn't stand alone; the second half comes out in summer. But I'm not sorry I read it, even though I'd planned to wait for the second book as well. It gives the world time to percolate.

Shadowbridge, the latest novel by noted fantasist Gregory Frost, brings us into a fully realized, ornate and gorgeous world of magic and intrigue. The story moves along at a magical pace and yet Frost never forgets that he's telling us about real people with genuine emotions. He's created a powerful new character with Leodora, a shadow-puppeteer -and he paints her so well that this book BEGS for a biscreen adaptation. But even if they do make this info a flick, make sure you read the book. Frost has a sorcerer's touch when it comes to description and imagery.

This is a tale of a female puppeteer, her drunken coordinator, and a god-touched musician, all of whom are running from unhappy pasts, set in a watery world covered with bridges and given a liberal dose of magic. This is book one of two, the second of which is coming out in June, called Lord Tophet. All in all, it's a fantastically done book, wrought with myths within myths. Leodora is a collector of stories, several of which are featured in the book, and are lovely works in and of themselves. I was lucky enough to hear Frost read part of this aloud last summer, and was hooked then. The writing itself is excellent; Frost has a way of drawing you in with the prose alone and keeping you there. Add to that a wonderful trio of characters, and you have a book that's hard to put down. SHADOWBRIDGE is fully deserving of being nominated for a World Fantasy award, because it is the epitome of what fantasy could and should be.