Shadow of Time

by Jen Minkman

[ladygrey]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The tone was a little different than what is been reading recently so it took me a little bit to get into the story, but I liked the characters and the slow burn romance and the setting which was so different.

In tone, this felt a more like an Australian story in that it was a little denser and more descriptive. But I like Australian authors. And it makes sense that it feels different since it was first published in Belgium and the Netherlands and then translated into English. It's a very good translation with no noticeable grammar gaffes or anything she got wrong. There're intermittent peculiarities with the vernacular but they were endearing more than off putting. And I really liked the setting on a Navajo reservation and all of the research she had done on the culture and that area of the country. That was interesting because not many stories I read are set there and it suited the paranormal aspects of the story well.

The characters were interesting enough that I enjoyed going through this story with them. Josh's story, especially was cool and I liked how the deeper supernatural elements rested on him. His story was interesting and unique. And I really liked the pervasive sense of honesty in the whole thing. A lot of books I read use keeping secrets or being continually self-reliant as plot devices. It was so nice for the characters to keep secrets but also talk to each other and ask for help. It made the friendships so much more authentic.

And speaking of authentic, I really like the romance that emerged gradually and was founded on friendship first and then drew from the depth of the supernatural elements of the story. I liked that it was engaging and fun but still tasteful. The emotions between the characters and their physical connection was obvious without being trashy. But even with the romance I liked the importance of friendship in the story and that she captured the sense of community and family among the Navajos.