Sunday, January 13, 2013

Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Shadow of Time
AUTHOR: Jen Minkman
PUB DATE: Spring 2013
Summary from Goodreads:

"All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.

But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?

Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you."


GOODREADS  |  AMAZON  |

Rating:

When summer season arrives, everyone wants to hit the beach. It’s all about rest and relaxation. Hannah wants nothing more than to do so. She’s excited to go meet up with her brother at their family’s cabin in Arizona. But arriving there didn’t get her what she hoped. Although she has fun with her brother, Ben, and hangs out with new friends, even exchanging sweet nothings with Ben’s childhood best friend, Josh from the Navajo reservation… something dark is lurking within the shadow.

Every night she would have nightmares. Strange dreams about the past and about Josh; some are sweet, some are heartbreaking, and some are just plain crazy and frightening.

I don’t normally read YA Paranormal Romance. I often think they are somewhat all the same. Same story, same plot, same characterization, romantic blah-blah, all too cheesy – not my thing. But when I was introduced to Shadow of Time, I thought I found something new, so I gave it a try.

Oh, thank goodness! Jen Minkman did not let me down. I was pleased to see a book that had such an original setting and a creative take on Native American culture. I love that during Hannah’s summer, I got a glimpse of different areas of the Navajo reservation, and I find that to be a really fun journey.

I was a little creep-ed out about the Skinwalkers. Although they sounded simply like bitter ghosts in search of revenge, the artistic background behind their identity ran deeper.

Of course, there still are things that I was confused about with Shadow of Time. I have an issue with the lyrical poetry delivered by the characters with their music. I didn’t get them. Then again, I never really got poetry to begin with so that was my fault. Shadow of Time does have its long stretches of narratives here and there but sticking through it is worth the remaining chapters until the end.

My favorite part would be the revelation of what Hannah has been dreaming about. Boy, was that a heartbreaking story. I admire Josh’s character for being so selfless and dedicated to his mission. Things were never easy for him a lot of times that I wanted to scream at Ms. Minkman to give him a break! During the beginning I was about to demand that this was another one of those insta-love stories but after revealing the dreams, I wanted nothing more than to see these two crazy lovebirds finally be together.

The ending was a little too simple for me; I seriously loved the short action scene before it though. But I understand that message behind it. Overall I really enjoyed reading Shadow of Time and although this was a little out of my element, I’m glad I took the chance.