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Voyage of the Shadowmoon
Sean McMullen Book Review

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Plot Summary of Voyage of the Shadowmoon
"

Tor, Dec 2003, 27.95, 496 pp.
ISBN: 0312877404

Led by Captain Ferran, the bizarre crew of the Shadowmoon seems like weird cargo handlers sailing the seas. Though they actually trade the goods kept in the hold of their schooner, the mission of the Shadowmoon is to sail the ports of the continent Torea seeking information as the crew serves as an undercover espionage unit.

The orb changes for Ferran and friends when they see the horrifying total annihilation of Torea. Apparently the Emperor Warsovran became impatient with the siege of Larmentel. He obviously found the long buried Silverdeath, an awesome weapon of mass destruction interred centuries ago out of fear of its misuse. He used the weapon leaving only the off shore crew of the Ferran alive as eyewitnesses to total death. The planet's aristocracy clamber to take advantage of the void with several of them wanting possession of Silverdeath already in the hands of a genocide megalomaniac. Only the fearless crew of this seemingly minnow of a vessel stand in the way of some lunatic unleashing the final wave of annihilation.

VOYAGE OF THE SHADOWMOON is simply great, as readers will obtain one of the top epic fantasy tales of 2002 in time for the holidays. Even with vampires and sorcery, the world seems so real before and after the destruction of Torea. The large key cast members are easily distinguishable between them because each one is fully developed yet done within the context of the action-packed story line. The fantasy realm has a winner with science fiction guru (see the Greatwinter trilogy) Sean McMullen who unbelievably makes the impossible seem authentic.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Voyage of the Shadowmoon
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - magical artifact
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Voyage of the Shadowmoon
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When Dragons Rage - DragonCrown War Cycle 2 by Michael A. Stackpole
Lioness Rampant - Song of the Lioness 4 by Tamora Pierce
Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
The Duke's Ballad by Andre Norton & Lyn McConchie


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