Our Children in the Shadows by J.T. Bird

What worked:

Haven’s character is the highlight of the book. She’s confident, curious, mischievous, and sarcastic, and she loves snooping. These qualities and her intelligence result in an invitation to join the Guild of Whispering Shadows, a secret government organization. Haven isn’t the guild’s purpose, so readers are left to wonder what kinds of missions are in her future. Initially, Edith, head of the guild, doesn’t expect much from Haven, a “scallywag”, since she’s not from a noble family. Haven doesn’t like uppity, rude people, and she’s not ashamed of her background.

However, Haven must pass a trial before becoming a member of the guild. The plot’s first half focuses on this test, as she teams up with Sunny, another recruit, to follow a man and stop a massive weapons deal. Much of the trial is pretend, since a real one would be too dangerous, but it still gives Haven and Sunny chances to prove themselves. A subplot waits in the background, as newspapers report that several people have been murdered. The victims are turned to stone, and this is the first hint that the story will take a drastic turn. At the book’s midpoint, Edith reveals the existence of fantasy creatures, including a talking horse named Dale.

Haven’s is given her first mission in the book’s second half. She doesn’t understand why she’s tasked with investigating the stone murders, since she hasn’t even gone through training. She’s partnered with Sunny again, but this mission could get them killed. The author saves a huge surprise for later in the story that shifts the book more into the speculative fiction category. It makes Haven wonder about her safety when working with the adult characters.

What didn’t work as well:

Haven’s Cockney accent makes her difficult to understand, and a couple of characters would agree. Also, Haven is sarcastic and confident in her snooping abilities, so it’s surprising when she becomes frightened or anxious. She’s hard to figure out. Finally, a minor thought: illustrations of characters are found at the end of chapters, but placing them at the beginning would allow readers to speculate and anticipate upcoming events. As it is, the pictures have little impact.

The final verdict:

This fun speculative fiction book wonderfully blends intrigue, curious characters, and adventure with a touch of humor tossed in. I recommend you give this book a shot!