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Shadowland: The Immortals    by Alyson Noel Amazon.com order for
Shadowland
by Alyson Noel
Order:  USA  Can
Griffin, 2010 (2009)
Hardcover, Paperback, CD, e-Book

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* *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Shadowland is the third, following Evermore and Blue Moon in Alyson Noel's popular Immortals series. In addition to the usual teen angst in dealing with a supernatural superpowered relationship, the series gets into interesting topics and philosophy, to do with energy and the afterlife.

In the first book, sixteen-year-old Ever survived a car crash that killed the rest of her family but was left with the ability to read minds and see auras - and with daily visits from her little sister Riley's ghost. Sent to live with her aunt Sabine in Laguna Beach, California, Ever was considered a freak at school. Then Damen Auguste showed up and changed her life.

In Blue Moon, Ever joined Damen as an immortal and he spent a great deal of time teaching her how to control her new powers, and sharing their past lives together - but their relationship problems weren't over. After another new student, Roman, showed up, Damen changed - overnight their relationship meant nothing to him. Ever sought answers in Summerland.

Now, as Shadowland opens, Ever has to tell Damen that what she did to save him in Blue Moon means that if they exchange DNA in any way, he will die. This creates quite an obstacle to their passion for each other! Damen also has bad news for Ever - by making her immortal, he's ensured that if she does ever die she will share his dire destiny in the Shadowland.

All through Shadowland, Damen is withdrawing from Ever - first because of the risks from physical proximity and then due to her meeting someone she was very close to in previous lives - Jude is now a hot surfer who's running Mystics and Moonbeams in his adoptive grandmother Lina's absence. Ever takes a job there as a psychic - and recklessly delves into witchcraft. She has to deal with her attraction to her new boss and with Damen's jealousy.

Though this series has a good concept, it's slowed down by exposition - mostly conveyed in Damen's conversation, which makes him rather a pompous hero. In fact the villain of the piece, rogue immortal Roman, is a much more rounded and interesting character. He continues to successfully manipulate Ever, presenting her with another very tough choice in the culmination of this episode. Fans will be anxious for more, coming soon in Dark Flame.

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