For teens grappling with hidden truths and dangerous secrets, this intricate fantasy explores courage, identity, and the shadows we confront, both external and within.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is struggling with family secrets, the weight of expectations, or the fear of a future they feel they can't control. Stalking Shadows is an atmospheric fantasy about Marie, a seventeen-year-old girl who must protect her younger sister from a terrifying family curse that turns its victims into monsters. To find a cure, she must enter a cursed forest with a boy from a rival family who carries the same dark inheritance. This gripping story explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and breaking destructive cycles. It's a perfect choice for older teens (14+) who appreciate darker, more complex fantasy that uses its magical world to explore real-world anxieties about identity and inherited burdens.
Several secondary characters die in ways that are emotionally impactful to the protagonist.
Sad ThemesModerate
Deals with themes of sacrifice, inherited trauma, loss of family, and fear of the future.
Romantic ContentMild
A slow-burn romance develops, involving some kissing and emotional intimacy.
Sensitive Topics
The central 'curse' serves as a powerful metaphor for inherited trauma, genetic illness, and the psychological burdens passed through generations. The approach is entirely secular. The book contains several impactful character deaths. The resolution is ultimately hopeful, suggesting that breaking cycles of pain is possible through immense courage and sacrifice, but it acknowledges the deep scars that remain.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 14 to 17, who loves dark, atmospheric fantasy with gothic and horror elements, like Leigh Bardugo or Erin A. Craig. This reader connects with stories about heavy family responsibility, secrets, and characters who feel trapped by their legacy. They are likely grappling with their own anxieties about the future and the pressure to live up to (or overcome) family expectations.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the intense and sometimes graphic descriptions of monsters and transformations, which lean into body horror. There are also scenes of violence and peril. The book can be read cold, but discussing the curse as a metaphor for inherited trauma or illness could enrich the experience for a mature reader. A parent notices their teen expressing anxiety about their future, feeling trapped by their family's reputation, or worrying about 'ending up like' another family member. The teen may feel burdened by a family secret or a difficult history they had no part in creating.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will likely enjoy this as a thrilling, scary monster-hunting adventure with a compelling romance. An older teen (15-18) will be better equipped to appreciate the deeper thematic layers concerning inherited trauma, moral ambiguity, and the psychological cost of breaking generational cycles.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many epic YA fantasies focused on saving a kingdom, this story is deeply personal and psychological. Its strength lies in its intimate focus on the horror of the curse and its impact on family dynamics. The blend of French-Canadian inspired folklore, gothic atmosphere, and body-horror elements creates a unique and haunting reading experience.
Read plot summary
Seventeen-year-old Marie lives in constant fear of her family's curse, which transforms its victims into grotesque monsters. When her younger sister, Ama, begins showing signs of the curse, Marie becomes determined to find a cure. Her only hope lies within the Shadowlands, a cursed and monster-filled forest. She is forced to team up with Kai, a boy from a rival cursed family who is also seeking a way to break the cycle. Together, they navigate the dangerous woods, uncovering long-buried secrets about their families' pasts and the true nature of the curse.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Marie feels a immense responsibility to save Ama, even at great personal cost. Do you think her sacrifice is a choice or an obligation? When is it right to put family before yourself?
2
The curse is passed down through generations. How does this book explore the idea of inherited trauma or family legacies we don't choose? How do Marie and Kai try to break that cycle?
3
Kai's family and Marie's family are historic rivals. How do Kai and Marie's developing relationship challenge what they've been taught to believe about 'the enemy'?
4
The physical transformations in the book are described in vivid, often frightening detail. Why do you think the author focused so much on the monstrous physical changes? What might this represent beyond just a magical curse?
