Enshadowed

by Kelly Creagh

[jeannamichel]

In Nevermore, Isobel saves the world by closing the gate which separates a dreamscape that holds all your worst nightmares and the real world. However, she accidentally traps boyfriend, Varen Nethers, on the other side—stuck in the dreamscape. With Enshadowed, Isobel vows to do whatever she can to get Varen back, safe and sound to the real world. Only there are several factors that could go wrong in that process. Isobel could die, for one. But that is a risk she is willing to take.

I don’t recommend reading this book in the dark—you may hurt your eyes; however, if you have a dim-lit room—go for it. It is one of those books that you should totally set the mood for because even though I was reading in pure daylight, the book brought me to dark places. Dark places as in, it reminded me of those scary short stories people read for Halloween. In Enshadowed, Isobel was in her house, celebrating Christmas, but the plot was chilling enough that all I could think about was Halloween.

Kelly Creagh specializes in the art of cliffhangers. The chapters are not too long for readers to lose focus and the cliffhangers make them continue without hesitation. Looking back at the book as a whole, the plot is simple—with one goal. However, while reading, it doesn’t seem that way. Readers are enchanted by Isobel’s devotion and the lengths she goes to fulfill her goal: to save Varen.


This story, as part of a series, goes deeper than I first realized. Creagh has cleverly woven a plot that goes at least six feet under. Enshadowed is incredible. I know when I wrote the Nevermore review, I mentioned the similarities of Inception. Creagh creates a dreamscape, a location apart from the real world. In Enshadowed, the author takes her location one step further. She begins adding pieces of reality, mixing the two worlds seamlessly. And I am not just talking about Nevermore’s reality and the dreamscape. I am talking about our reality and Isobel’s reality and the dreamscape. Creagh added elements which had readers question what was real. (The Poe Toaster is real! The picture, used in Enshadowed as what pushed Isobel to her goal, can also be found in LIFE magazine.) That particular question—asking what is reality—makes Isobel’s character extremely relatable because readers are questioning the same things she is.

Despite loving the plot, the lack of male characters—or just the lack of Varen—bothered me. I love strong female characters and Enshadowed certainly had them. Both, Isobel and Gwen, were extremely independent and just plain awesome. However, where Nevermore was the blossoming relationship of Isobel and Varen, Enshadowed was Isobel all alone, trying to get Varen back. I would have loved if Creagh had shown some scenes of Varen in the dreamscape. Still minor characters really shine in Creagh’s work. Can we please get a spin-off of Bruce—I would even take a short story about him? He only said a few words but those words depicted Bruce’s desire to have Varen home. It was heart -warming and -wrenching at the same time.

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh is a fantastic sequel. Creagh’s world continues to be as creepy as ever and I am sure in the third book, Oblivion, she will even step it up one more notch.