Although Wrede is one of my favorite authors, I'd never read any of her Lyra books and until recently thought I'd never get the chance. But with the surge in ebooks, all of her Lyra books are now available electronically.

Shadow Magic was Wrede's first book and despite her later revision of it, you can tell. It's still a great read, but the seams in the stitching of the plot are rather visible. It actually feels like it should have been a longer book and as readers we get the abridged version. I would have liked to get to know the characters better to make their motivations and actions more believable. The "reveal" of the villain happened far too quickly and the romance seemed a bit forced.

Despite these minor problems, I highly recommend it, especially for newer writers who will see their own early-book choices reflected.