Map of Shadows
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4.0 • 28 Ratings
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- $0.99
Publisher Description
A map of skin etched in blood.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker.
The Mapwalker Fantasy Adventure trilogy:
Map of Shadows #1
Map of Plagues #2
Map of the Impossible #3
Customer Reviews
Solid opening to a Dark Fantasy Trilogy
3.5 Stars
J.F. Penn wrote a fast-paced, dark fantasy thriller about a young woman named Sienna that belongs to a family of mapmakers and their connection to another world called the Borderlands. Map of Shadows is the first book of the trilogy and does a solid job of setting up the conflict between the people of this world and the Borderlands. Penn does an excellent job with the thriller aspect of the story but I will admit that I wanted to get to know Sienna, the protagonist a little more. It felt like she was more of a conduit to the story then being the main reason for the story. I hope to get more about her in the Map of Plagues and the third book. There is a lot of room for Sienna to grow as a mapmaker. Solid opening to this trilogy.
An outstanding dark fantasy thriller by a great author
Map of Shadows, the first book in the Mapwalkers series, is a well-crafted dark thriller. Joanna Penn weaves a plot that moves between the light and dark sides of human nature. People called Cartographers use magic to defend the world against dark forces living in an alternate Earth. But the border between the worlds has broken down, and shadow Cartographers are attempting to invade our existence, bringing their practice of human sacrifice and other ghastly customs. The book’s magic consists of portals that are opened between the two Earths by blood and maps drawn on the skin of those people with magical abilities.
I am a big fan of Joanna Penn, mainly because of her writer’s podcast and non-fiction books. This is her first fiction book I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. Give the book a try; I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.