Review: Very good YA fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 22, 2013
Stalking Shadows is the second book in the Diamond Peak series, following on from Lethal Inheritance.  It continues the story of Ariel, whose journey to find and rescue her mother, Nadima, from her demon captors takes her through dangerous territory.  She is guided by Walnut (a ranger-like character), Nick (a young journeyman) and Twitchet, a talking cat.  The plot is that of an epic fantasy quest, but there are differences that make the story more of a metaphysical journey, and it is well-structured and well-paced in most parts.  The story started off fast, with the reader thrown right into the action.The character of Ariel is well-portrayed, and most of the book is told from her point of view in such a way that the reader can really empathise with her struggles, both external and internal.  It does not take long before she and Nick become aware of feelings for each other, and Ariel tries to put these aside while concentrating on finding her mother.  There's a lot of teenage angst throughout, well-handled and realistic.Tahlia Newland has a unique style which should appeal to the YA fantasy audience seeking a more thoughtful story than a simple quest.  Stalking Shadows is a good sequel to Lethal Inheritance, and, I felt, better than the first book, which needs to be read first.  I look forward to the third book and the final conclusion of the journey.