Into the Shadows

by Karly Kirkpatrick

[Angie]

I liked the ideas behind Into the Shadows, but it reads really young. Paivi is 14, so the narrative obviously sounds like a young teen, but the tone really does not match the seriousness of the plot. Also, everything is oversimplified and actually kind of ridiculous. The presidential election is coming up, and one of the runners has obtained a list of people with special abilities who supposedly could be linked to a rampant terrorist group. Paivi and her family are on that list. She sometimes has glimpses of the future, a very powerful ability if she knew how to control it and got into the wrong hands.

Into the Shadows has a great base. It's set in the near future and really resembles the time that we are currently living it. Terrorists have gotten more extreme though, and one presidential hopeful wants to be the one to take them out using any means necessary and getting into the White House along the way. One of Paivi's teachers is also really passionate about getting her students involved in politics. They should be aware of what's going on around them even if they can't vote. That's great, but sadly, the way everything plays out is just kind of silly.

Paivi and her family (among others) are tagged as Enemies of the State, and their rights have been stripped because of this. But Paivi cries because she can't be on the basketball team anymore, compares her EOS status to being grounded, and finds a loophole that allows her to attend the school dance. Um...right. Because this isn't a bigger deal than that? The EOS have to wear badges declaring them as such and have to place them in charges at home before curfew. Wouldn't ankle bracelets like the ones for house arrest make more sense? They can be tracked and they can't take them off and essentially hide their EOS status (which Paivi does)! And why are they even allowed out in society if they're such a threat? It makes zero sense. And sneaking into Canada is apparently very easy.

I'm disappointed in Into the Shadows. There's some great ideas here, but it was all just too simple to the point that it didn't even resemble a realistic situation. I also think it would have benefited from a slightly older protagonist. Paivi just has no grasp on the seriousness of the situation. I appreciate that she understands this is wrong at the very least, but she's upset for all the wrong reasons. This does end on a cliffhanger, but I won't be continuing.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.