Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond
Series: Girl on a Wire #2
On Sale Date: July 5, 2016
Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy & Magic
Skyscape 370 pages
Source: ARC from publisher
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
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Eighteen-year-old Moira Mitchell grew up in the shadows of Vegas’s stage lights while her father’s career as a magician soared. More than anything, Moira wants to be a magician too, but her father is dead set against her pursuing magic.
When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
But when Moira arrives, things take on an intensity she can’t control as her stage magic suddenly feels like…real magic. To further distract her, Raleigh shows up none too pleased at Moira’s presence, all while the Cirque’s cocky and intriguing knife thrower, Dez, seems to have it out for her. As tensions mount and Moira’s abilities come into question, she must decide what’s real and what’s an illusion. If she doesn’t sort it out in time, she may forever remain a girl in the shadows.
Girl in the Shadows is the companion novel to Gwenda Bond's Cirque American series featuring a colorful circus atmosphere with acts of daring and mystery. Eighteen-year-old Moira Mitchell is about to find out her magic is much more than just slight-of-hand tricks. Her magic is real and her life is about to become very interesting.
Overall, Girl in the Shadows is a fun and entertaining read. Moira comes from a family of talented magicians and wants to prove to her overly protective father, a master magician himself, that she's ready for the challenges and danger of a magical career. I really enjoyed her girl power attitude and fierce determination. When an exclusive invitation to join the Circue American mistakenly falls into her hands - she sets out on a course to prove herself worthy. What she unexpectedly finds is real magic, romance, a cursed coin, and danger from a mysterious stranger.
Some of the stunts she performs while at the Circue American are truly dangerous. and Gwenda Bond writes these scenes will a vivid pen - I felt my heart pounding on more than one occasion. The moment Moira realizes that she can actually feel the magic, the magic she envisions during her acts, is when the real fun and danger begins. YA readers are sure to find her daredevilry appealing.
For those who like romance Girl in the Shadows has some brewing with nice toe-curling kisses between Moira and a certain knife throwing boy. There's no triangle, just boy-meets-girl attraction which was so nice for a change in YA.
The overall plot was a bit simple, I guessed much of the mystery, though I didn't mind much with all the great descriptions, girl power, and sweet romance.
Overall, Girl in the Shadows is a fun and entertaining read recommended to YA fans looking for something diverting and colorful to escape to.
