Into Shadow

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Author(s)

TD Shields

Publisher Name

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

January 15, 2015

ISBN13

1505885256

ISBN10 or ASIN

The world is a far different place in 2259. Thirty years of world war, rampant bombing, and the melting of the polar ice sheets have changed the very face of the planet. The former countries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America have banded together as the North American Alliance, led by distinguished military hero President Walker. His daughter Poppy has served as the First Lady of the North American Alliance since she was only twelve years old, helping her father restore order to the chaotic new world they live in. Now nineteen, Poppy finds herself caught in the middle of a government takeover and dodging assassins. After fleeing to the war-torn ruins of Denver, she must face unknown dangers and new experiences. She will have to use every skill learned from her military upbringing to survive the terrifying beasts, deadly plant life, and fierce rebels who live in the shadows of the abandoned city.

User reviews

4 reviews

Overall rating

4.8

Writing Style

5.0(4)

Plot

4.8(4)

Characters

4.8(4)

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Good read!

August 28, 2015

Overall rating

4.7

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This book was right up my alley. I am one of the millions of people who are no longer a young adult but who still love YA books. “Into Shadow” did not disappoint. Poppy is acting first lady of the country that was created to combine the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Her father is the president- until he is betrayed and killed right in front of his hiding daughter. Poppy was suddenly thrust into the world with no family, no friends, and a new president that was trying to hunt her down.

She escapes to Denver with the help of a new friend and rebel. Denver has long since been destroyed and the people live together in packs to protect each other and keep each other alive. Poppy is separated from her new friend and must survive on her own for months before finally reuniting and joining a pack.
Her new life is complicated because of these people’s views on government. She still feels the sting of the man who betrayed her father and therefor feels the need to defend her father at every turn- while letting very few people know who she actually is.

I really liked this book. My favorite part was the characters. Poppy, Rivers, Lucas, and so many more. There was enough depth to each one that I could feel for them and root for them.

The writing is good and fast paced which is perfect for this type of book. It’s the kind of book that leaves you wanting- or needing more. I can’t wait to read book 2 to see Poppy get her revenge.

The only reason this is 4 instead of 5 stars is because it lost me for a while in the middle of the book when she was on her own. I thought that dragged on especially compared to her pack life that was so interesting.

I’d still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Young Adult fiction. You won’t be disappointed. I know I wasn’t!!!

Michelle Lynn, Assistant Indie Manager Top 50 Reviewer 204 reviews

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Great YA Story for All Ages

August 27, 2015

Overall rating

5.0

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With the verbal brush-strokes of a Renaissance artist, T.D. Shields crafts a vivid picture of a world two centuries in the future. Thousands of books are given such a setting, but it takes a skilled author to immerse us in that world without weighing the story down in descriptions.

Set in heart of the former United States after decades of global war and economic change, Into Shadow pulls you in immediately as we are introduced to nineteen-year-old Poppy Walker, the First Lady and daughter of the President, whose life takes a turn for the tragic after a violent coup leaves her without a home and running for her life.

But Poppy is no soft, spoiled aristocrat. Possessing a toughness and a resilience that belies her diminutive height, Poppy not only escapes to but is able to survive on her own in the shattered remnants of the city of Denver, a land beset by nasty animals, lethal vegetation and vicious street gangs.

I love stories with strong female characters, and Poppy is such a character. She's tough, fiercely loyal, and takes crap from NO ONE. But she also displays a shy awkwardness and vulnerability that teenage girls will easily identify with and root for.

I would highly recommend Into Shadow to anyone who loves YA fantasy. The second half of Poppy's story, Into Light, cannot come fast enough for me.

Patrick Hodges, Staff Reviewer Top 100 Reviewer 59 reviews

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Great start - need the sequel!

August 26, 2015

Overall rating

5.0

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Perfect Poppy grew up as the “First Lady” of the newly formed government of the North American Alliance; the government that took reign after global warming caused wide flooding, and war decimated half of the USA.

Alongside her father, President Walker, Poppy’s days were filled with publicity events, photo ops and political meetings.
Poppy never understood why her father was so paranoid, why he trained her to be a lethal fighter, or why he installed secret passageways and safe rooms in the White House. That is, until a political dinner they’re both attending is ambushed.

Poppy escapes and is alone for the first time in her life. From being waited on hand and foot, to living in sub-par standards, Poppy is left to defend herself and her territory against things she didn’t even know existed.

In a world where dogs have evolved into scaly, red eyed monsters and snakes have grown to mutant size, the world is one that Poppy and us as readers are unfamiliar with. Not surprisingly, cats are still the same – they’re still entitled bastards.

The world building is immense and takes up the greater part of the story, leaving little room for character development and plot. This isn’t a bad thing in this instance though. It is clear from the beginning that Poppy is a strong and independent girl, someone who would be a great role model for young readers. The plot consists of Poppy learning to live in a brand new world, one she’s not used to.

There’s an element of romance, which I would’ve liked to have been explored in more depth (but I am a sucker for a love story). There is a bit of a cliff-hanger ending, which is some cases can be annoying, but in “Into Shadow”, it satisfied me enough to have closure but still made me want more of the story. I will be hanging on the edge of my seat for the sequel

Kayla Howarth Top 500 Reviewer 3 reviews

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Exciting Read

August 26, 2015

Overall rating

4.7

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From the author: As a full-grown adult, I love reading young adult fiction; I especially enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels. So it only made sense that when I finally decided to start writing down the stories that are always running through my head I would start by writing with the YA dystopian genre in mind. Don't feel like you have to ignore the book if you're a little older than the typical YA age range, though. I've heard from readers ranging in age from 14 - 60+ that they are already hooked on the book and can't wait to see what happens next. There's action, excitement, politics, drama... and just a touch of (clean) romance. Enjoy!

Good Points

Okay, full disclosure here, I wrote the book. (No wonder I gave it five stars!) But completely honestly, I think it's a lot of fun and I think you should give it a try! There’s action, excitement, politics, drama… and just a touch of (clean) romance. Enjoy!

“Into Shadow” takes a look at what the world could be like in another 200 years or so. There are high points (incredible advances in technology)… and low points (cities in ruins after years of world wars and climate change). In the middle of that we drop Poppy Walker and watch as she deals with both the highs and the lows.

It’s 2259 and the entire planet has been changed by the melting of the polar ice sheets. As the land was overrun by water, some countries were running out of room for their populace. The need for more land eventually led to the 3rd World War – a global conflict that lasted for thirty years and drastically changed the political landscape along with the physical environment. Many countries banded together for protection and power, including the former countries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America, which are now collectively known as the North American Alliance.

The North American Alliance is led by President Walker: a war hero, a widower, and a father. With no wife to act as First Lady, his twelve-year-old daughter Poppy takes on the job and helps her father restore order to the chaotic new world they live in.

As we join the story, Poppy is now nineteen. Without warning, she finds herself caught in the middle of a government takeover and dodging assassins. She is forced to go on the run without her father and is completely on her own for the first time. To survive, she must call on all the skills she had learned from her safety-conscious, military-minded father.

Running from robotic soldiers (mechs) who are trying to capture her in the streets, Poppy finds an ally who helps her make her way to the war-torn ruins of Denver. Due to several military installations in the area, the city was bombed extensively during the war and largely reduced to rubble. The destruction was so complete that the area, like many cities attacked during the war, was deemed uninhabitable and the evacuated citizens never returned. But what few people know is that the neglected cities are not empty after all. Poppy will have to learn to survive the terrifying beasts, deadly plant life, and fierce rebels who now live in the shadows of the abandoned city.