Book Review by Marouska Montebello
Shadow Woods by Roberta Bajada is an incredible journey that took me on a deeply emotional roller-coaster. Daniel’s story, rich with mystery and childhood memories, resonated deeply with me. His nostalgic longing for material possessions struck a chord, and I could feel his emotions as he raced back to his past to uncover the truth.
In fact, it’s surprising, but the least important character in the story is the final destination of the truth. At the beginning, we discover a bit about Daniel’s adult life and how it unfolded after he left his village, which was shrouded in shadow—the same shadow over the infamous theme park at Dark Oaks. The guilt he always felt is something that, as a reader, you can’t help but feel for the protagonist.
However, the most exciting aspect of the story is how Shadow Woods has a particular energy. The author successfully creates what is called a dimensional world between life and death—that life thread before it breaks, the famous white door that opens or closes.
The theme of nostalgia is indeed a very important element in the book. While reading, I felt that I could associate certain details with things I had seen in my childhood: the descriptions of video cassettes, VHS tapes, and style of adverts on a CTR television are just a few examples.
Without revealing the entire story, as I truly feel it would deprive you of experiencing a journey not just of mystery but of nostalgia for those born in the ’80s and 90s, I must say I was especially attached to certain details.
The plots that captivated me immensely included the famous Trixie, the Minolta camera, and the cowardly contamination of Shadow Woods. The least noticeable person had all the answers. When I reached that point in the book, my eyes widened in surprise; it was an interesting twist, and I admired the author for how everything came together in the final chapters.
A truly excellent story.
This book was published by Merlin Publishers and is in Maltese.