Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper uses a third person limited point of view to follow its protagonist, Sierra, as she discovers the truth about her heritage as a shadowshaper. The novel closely follows Sierra’s experience as increasingly strange things happen to her. The perspective allows the novel to maintain a sense of suspense so that the readers can unfold the mystery of Sierra’s powers alongside her. If the novel were told from an omniscient perspective, much of the suspense would be decreased since the reader would be able to know how Grandpa Lázaro can suddenly speak after losing his speech to a stroke, why María lies about knowing what shadowshapers are, or what role Robbie plays in teaching Sierra the truth. Since Sierra has been kept in the dark by her family, she—like the reader—learns a little more with each passing chapter. Many other fantasy novels similarly follow the character who knows the least about the fantasy world and its rules, using a limited first- or third-person perspective to heighten the intrigue and suspense.

Similarly, many other fantasy novels feature a protagonist who fulfills the role of a “Chosen One,” the only person whose unique gifts can allow them to defeat the antagonist and save the day. Within the first four chapters, Older establishes that Sierra is the chosen one of the shadowshaper world. Along with being the central focus of the story, Sierra’s gifts as an artist will play an important role in saving the other shadowshapers. As Grandpa Lázaro tells her, “Finish the mural, Sierra. Finish the mural quickly” (8). Though others in Sierra‘s world seem to know more about the shadowshapers and the dangers they face—including Robbie, Manny, and María—it is Sierra and Sierra alone who has been tasked with painting the mural that will somehow save everybody. Further, though Robbie also has artistic skills, which he and Sierra briefly bond over in Chapter 3, he is only meant to help Sierra, not complete the mural on his own, as Grandpa Lázaro makes clear: “The boy Robbie will help you” (8). By following this pattern of having the protagonist fulfill the Chosen One archetype, Older connects Shadowshaper to a long tradition of fantasy novels.

What sets Shadowshaper apart from many other fantasy novels is its unique and distinct setting. Because it is set in a modern-day city in our own world—not a fantastical world—Shadowshaper is classified as an urban fantasy. Urban fantasies rely on settings that revolve around city life, incorporating elements of the supernatural or magic into real-world locations like New York City, San Francisco, or Chicago. The character of the city helps to shape the events of the story, providing a contrast between fantastical elements and gritty reality. In Shadowshaper, Sierra’s descriptions of her Bed Stuy neighborhood in Brooklyn bring the city to life. More than just physical descriptions of the city’s landscape, Sierra offers brief tidbits that illuminate the neighborhood’s way of life: “Some little kids zipped past on scooters. A group of middle-aged women sat in lawn chairs outside a brownstone, sipping beers and laughing” (12). Sierra’s neighborhood is formed around a community of people who live in close quarters with each other, know each other’s business, and give each other a hard time, but also look after each other. This dynamic will shape the fantastical elements as they emerge in ways that are unique to Shadowshaper.

Another element that makes Shadowshaper stand apart from many other fantasy and urban fantasy novels is Sierra’s Afro-Boricua heritage. Sierra lives in a multigenerational home with her mother and grandfather, and they use both Spanish and English in their conversations with each other. Like many descendants of immigrants, Sierra seems to be most comfortable speaking in English but also understands her grandfather’s Spanish. Rather than translating Grandpa Lázaro’s Spanish for non-Spanish-speaking readers, Older uses Sierra’s bilingual fluency to help make meaning of the phrases. For example, in Chapter 2, Grandpa Lázaro asks Sierra, “¿Entiendes?” Sierra responds with, “No, Abuelo, I don’t understand” (8). Elements such as these allow Shadowshaper to have its own distinct tone and voice separate from other fantasy novels.