It took me awhile to connect with the main character, Xan, and the actual mystery of his identity. The solution to the mystery itself was somewhat predictable, at least for an adult reader. Obviously since this is published by a Catholic press, the perspective is very Catholic, and some non-Catholics like me will be bothered by reading about the brother who disciplines his own body with a whip. Not for all readers but for those who share a Catholic perspective, this is a solid middle grade historical mystery.

Interesting premise. Likable/hated characters. Cool plot. I would recommend this story to others. Some spots I found that didn't hold my attention, but overall, I still liked it.

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This historical fiction had a lot of promise, sadly I felt it under delivered on the suspense and mystery I was looking for from the description of it. I liked the character of Xan, I feel he was plucky and thoughtful. I just wanted a lot more from the other characters and the plot.

I do think that the helpful notes at the beginning will be helpful for younger readers who are reading historical fiction for the first time.

If you're wanting to branch out into historical fiction for the first time, then this might be a good start for you.

An interesting title with a mystery. Alexander finds himself at a monastery surrounded by orphans. He has no memory of his life before that day, just hearing that he was found on the roadside injured.

In the days that follow, he uncovers not only his identity but a threat to the peaceful life at the monastery.

Set during the reign of King Henry II, the reader gets a glimpse of life during that time period of the Middle Ages.

Shadow in the Dark is a clever historical novel for tweens and teens. Xan turns up at a medieval monastery, unable to remember anything about himself. With the help of the monks and Lucy, who resides in the neighboring convent, he must navigate the resident bully and discover what's become of his family and whether that mysterious dark shadow roaming the abbey grounds is a wandering monk or something more sinister.

The mystery aspect is well done and will keep readers flipping pages. The setting is well-suited to the story, immersing kids in medieval European life. I look forward to reading more books in the series and sharing them with my kids!

This middle grade tells the story of a boy who, after facing the bandits who destroyed his village, loses his memory and wakes up in Harwood Abbey. There, he discovers that the monks saved him, without even the slightest notion of who he is, they offer him a new name: Alexander, although everyone called him Xan.

Xan, along with brother Andrew, will try to find his family. However, the answers he discovers along the way will force the boy to stay in the abbey to figure out why the bandits have destroyed his village, but not the fields, and to discover the danger the monastery is in, with his friends Joshua and Lucy.

First, the narration is straightforward and leaves the information accurate to sow doubts at the beginning. How the boy survive the attack? What happened to his parents? But most importantly, what or who is the shadow?
We know the answers while a story described in the third person, where we read the uncertainty of Xan for not remembering who he is. In general, the voice chosen by the author is right, since he manages to empathize with Xan by reading everything that goes through his mind.

As the main character, Xan discovers the mystery of both the bandits and the shadow, which caused me some reserve, since it was always he who saw what others did not, somehow was too advanced respect the rest of the characters for much of the book, who ¡they were just listeners. In that sense, I would like that this strength and ingenuity of Xan, could also have it the other characters in the next books.

On the other hand, one of the main strengths of the book is how the plot and the twists develop. Everyone at some point could be behind the attack, and when the time comes to reveal what has happened, it still seems that, perhaps, there is a second way to put the puzzle together.Now the biggest problem with the story was how it answers the shadow question. From the first pages, there is an emphasis on a black-robed figure holding something in a very stereotypical reference to the dead woman. But then, the shadow disappears until almost the second half of the book, where it returns with just two or three moments that solve the subject in a way that is too simplistic for what it was.

Shadow in the dark is the first volume of a medieval trilogy, well set with a story that is moving in the right direction and a simple but effective plot that speaks from ambition, forgiveness, and identity. However, his exaltation of the main character and the weak closure around his most attractive element subtracts a good part of what could have been.

With his village burned down and his memory gone, a boy receives a new identity. While hoping that his memory and life will return, he stumbles on a mystery that gives him a purpose, even after he learns the fate of his family. Xan, as he is now known, sets out to find the person behind all the terror being raised in the area.

Though the book is aimed at older children, it contains several themes that they can use as they mature. Xan learns about not taking revenge and forgiving others. He is frequently told about Christ dying for the sins of all, and how he should show the same selfless love.

These themes are wrapped in a story of mystery and suspense, with some action added in. This book does a good job of holding readers’ attention and keeping the plot moving along. In fact, even older ages could enjoy reading it.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It's the year 1184 in England and bandits are out burning villages. A young boy tries to defend his village with is father but while fleeing from a bandit he falls, the bandit hurts him and leaves him for dead. He wakes up in a monastery with no memory of who he is or where he comes from. While the monks try and help him find out who his is, his memories come back little by little and he wants to help the monks, who are also being attacked by the same bandits, find out why and who is behind it all. This adventure takes readers back in time while they learn about the way life was in medieval England they also go on a quest to find out who is behind all the chaos. I found this to be an enjoyable historical fiction and mystery behind who/what the shadow that roams at night.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.