Shadowmancer facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | G. P. Taylor |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel, Children's novel |
| Publisher | Mount Publishing Ltd |
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Publication date
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2002 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) & Comic Book |
| ISBN | 0-571-22046-0 |
| OCLC | 52057785 |
| LC Class | PZ7.T2134 Sh 2003 |
| Followed by | Wormwood |
Shadowmancer is an exciting fantasy novel written by G. P. Taylor. It was first published in 2002. This book is a Christian allegory, which means it tells a story with a deeper, spiritual meaning, much like C. S. Lewis's famous The Chronicles of Narnia.
G. P. Taylor wrote Shadowmancer because he felt there was a lot of anti-religious ideas in children's books, like His Dark Materials. He wanted to offer a different kind of story. Shadowmancer became a huge success, topping bestseller lists in both the UK and the US. It's the first book in a series often called "The Shadowmancer Quartet." Two other books, Wormwood and Tersias, are related to Shadowmancer by their themes. A direct follow-up, The Shadowmancer Returns: The Curse of Salamander Street, came out in 2006.
Some people have discussed the book's portrayal of witches and pagans. The story shows them as being misled by and worshipping a dark power. However, the author, G. P. Taylor, has stated he knows a lot about these topics.
Contents
Story Summary
The fantasy adventure of Shadowmancer takes place in Whitby, a town in England. The main villain is an evil sorcerer named Reverend Obadiah Demurral. He is trying to find two very powerful amulets called the Keruvim. Demurral plans to use these amulets to control the weather and rule the world.
At the start of the book, Demurral buys the first Keruvim. It looks like a golden statue of a cherub. He buys it from a soldier-for-hire named Gebra Nubera. Demurral then uses this Keruvim to destroy a ship. He believes the second Keruvim is supposed to arrive on that ship. But when he checks the wreckage, he finds nothing.
The next day, a boy from Ethiopia named Raphah arrives. He is also looking for the Keruvim. Raphah quickly becomes friends with Thomas, a street boy. Raphah tells Thomas that he is a messenger from God, who is called Riathamus in the story. He also reveals that Demurral is a Shadowmancer, a sorcerer who can control the dead. Thomas doesn't believe in God, but he agrees to help Raphah. He wants revenge on Demurral for kicking him and his sick mother out of their home.
Thomas and Raphah chase after Demurral and the Keruvim. They get help from Kate, Thomas's tomboy friend, and Jacob Crane, a mysterious smuggler. As the story unfolds, Raphah, Kate, and Jacob Crane, who didn't believe in God at first, all come to believe in him.
Later, it is revealed that by using the Keruvim, Demurral has accidentally set free a group of demons called the Glashan. These demons were locked away long ago for fighting against God. Their leader is the evil Pyratheon, who represents the Devil. The Glashan team up with Demurral. They want to find the other Keruvim and use its power to defeat God and rule the whole universe.
It turns out that Raphah himself is the other Keruvim. So, Demurral and Pyratheon try to capture him. They plan to kill him and turn him into an Azimuth, which is a slave spirit. This would unlock the Keruvim's full power.
At the story's most exciting part, Thomas, Kate, and Raphah meet an angel. This angel is called a Seruvim, a bit like a Seraphim. His name is Raphael, but he uses the name Abram Rickards. A big fight happens in Demurral's church. During this fight, Raphah is killed, and Pyratheon gets the Keruvim. He says a magic spell to use its power, and the world suddenly becomes dark. Pyratheon thinks he has won and stolen God's power. But Abram then explains that without Raphah alive, the Keruvim has no power. All Pyratheon did was mess with time. After Abram brings Raphah back to life, the sun rises. Abram shows his true angelic form, and Pyratheon and Demurral run away.
Abram tells Thomas, Kate, and Jacob Crane to take the Keruvim to another land. They leave on Crane's ship, The Magenta. However, on the very last page of the book, it's hinted that they are being secretly followed by sea-demons called Seloth.
Main Characters
- Thomas Barrick: A tough street boy who doesn't believe in much. He is very angry at Obadiah Demurral for making him and his sick mother leave their home. Thomas is the main character, and we see most of the story through his eyes. Even though he acts tough, he has a sensitive side. By the end of the book, he starts to believe in God because of his time with Raphah.
- Kate Coglan: Thomas's best friend, who acts like an older sister to him. It's said she "never cries," but when she meets Demurral's demons, her strong act breaks down. She seems weak when facing real danger. At first, she is shown as scared and needing help from others. But as her friendship with Thomas and Raphah grows, she becomes much stronger.
- Raphah: A kind and funny young holy man from Ethiopia. He has special powers from God and can heal people. He shows a fierce side when he faces evil. Raphah is looking for the Keruvim, but he doesn't know that he himself is its twin.
- Jacob Crane: A charming and sarcastic smuggler who dresses very stylishly. Crane is strong, independent, and always looking for opportunities. Even though he seems selfish and cynical, he is a good person who truly cares about saving the world.
- Obadiah Demurral: The main bad guy in the book. He is an evil sorcerer with a bitter and harsh personality. He used to be a religious man, but sadness and difficulties turned him to evil. Demurral is very cruel, but sometimes he shows surprising moments of kindness. It's suggested that he might not be as powerful as he pretends to be.
- Pyratheon: The devil-like figure in the story. He is described as a tall, "beautiful" man with red hair and blue eyes. Pyratheon leads the Glashan, a group of demons who were locked away for trying to steal God's power. Witches and sorcerers worship him as a god. He controls all dark creatures on Earth and is called "the dark god of the universe" by Demurral. Pyratheon is clever, charming, and cold, but he can also have sudden fits of rage. In the next book, Wormwood, we learn he is the younger brother of Lilith.
- Abram Rickards/Raphael: A sharp-tongued angel who likes fashion. Raphael joins Thomas, Kate, Raphah, and Jacob Crane later in their journey. He uses a powerful weapon called the Sword of Mayence. He is a strong fighter with a dislike for people and a sarcastic sense of humor.
Other Versions and Media
Special Edition Books
A special edition of Shadowmancer was released in 2003. It included an extra chapter that continued the story from where the book ended. In this extra chapter, Raphah and the Keruvim are taken by the Seloth. Special editions of Wormwood and Tersias were also released.
Film Plans
In 2004, a big deal was announced for a movie version of Shadowmancer. Fortitude Films, with help from Universal Pictures, planned to make a $100 million film. They wanted Mel Gibson to direct it. They also hoped Donald Sutherland would play Demurral and Sean Bean would play Jacob Crane. Fortitude paid G. P. Taylor $1 million for the rights to Shadowmancer and $1.8 million for Wormwood.
Story Locations
Reverend Obadiah Demurral's vicarage (his church house) is based on the main building of Fyling Hall School.
Sequel Book
The ending of Shadowmancer, where Pyratheon uses the Keruvim to twist time and reality, leads directly into G. P. Taylor's next novel, Wormwood. In Wormwood, the main character, Dr. Sabian Blake, is studying a comet when a strange sky-quake hits London.
