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Shadow Apprentice
Finalist, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2024.
Thirteen-year-old Ermin is a gifted mechanic and the worst student at St. Anselm's Training School for Orphans. She’s just failed her exams for the third time—something nobody's ever done. Worse, Ermin’s been running her own repair business for money—something that’s expressly forbidden. If the headmistress finds out, Ermin will go to prison. Her future will be over before it’s even begun.
But that’s not her only secret.
Her best friends, Colin and Georgie, are wizards in a world where magic is strictly controlled. Ermin worries that her friends will be captured, drained of their power, then banished. When Georgie’s caught aiding the Wizard’s Resistance, Ermin repairs a broken flying carpet so all three of them can escape.
Hesitant to join the Resistance because of her lack of magical power, Ermin steals an experimental device from a wizard hunter that could destroy every wizard in the Creek. She’s faced with a choice: either smash the device or convert it into a different kind of weapon—one that not only helps wizards but just might get her an apprenticeship at the prestigious Guild Academy.
Ermin’s got one chance to get it right. If she fails, she risks losing her two best friends ... and her dreams.
Thirteen-year-old Ermin is a gifted mechanic and the worst student at St. Anselm's Training School for Orphans. She’s just failed her exams for the third time—something nobody's ever done. Worse, Ermin’s been running her own repair business for money—something that’s expressly forbidden. If the headmistress finds out, Ermin will go to prison. Her future will be over before it’s even begun.
But that’s not her only secret.
Her best friends, Colin and Georgie, are wizards in a world where magic is strictly controlled. Ermin worries that her friends will be captured, drained of their power, then banished. When Georgie’s caught aiding the Wizard’s Resistance, Ermin repairs a broken flying carpet so all three of them can escape.
Hesitant to join the Resistance because of her lack of magical power, Ermin steals an experimental device from a wizard hunter that could destroy every wizard in the Creek. She’s faced with a choice: either smash the device or convert it into a different kind of weapon—one that not only helps wizards but just might get her an apprenticeship at the prestigious Guild Academy.
Ermin’s got one chance to get it right. If she fails, she risks losing her two best friends ... and her dreams.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2024
3 people want to read
About the author
Linda Browne
1 bookLinda Browne is an author of (mostly) MG and YA SFF. Her work has been longlisted in The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, and she’s also been a finalist in CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition.
Her middle grade steampunk debut novel, Shadow Apprentice, was a finalist in the 2024 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Her essay, "The Murakami Method: Re-writing Long COVID" was included in the BAD ARTIST anthology (Brindle and Glass, 2024). She is currently working on a sequel to Shadow Apprentice, as well as a prequel novella.
Linda lives in Toronto with her partner, and far too many books and plants.
Her middle grade steampunk debut novel, Shadow Apprentice, was a finalist in the 2024 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Her essay, "The Murakami Method: Re-writing Long COVID" was included in the BAD ARTIST anthology (Brindle and Glass, 2024). She is currently working on a sequel to Shadow Apprentice, as well as a prequel novella.
Linda lives in Toronto with her partner, and far too many books and plants.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 20, 2024
I've enjoyed the occasional steampunk novel over the years, but I think this is probably the first one (that I can remember) that was written for a younger audience. Ermin is a 13-year-old gifted mechanic who does not have an aptitude for magic, not necessarily because she can't physically do it, but because her learning style (possibly dyslexic?) makes it impossible for her to read, learn, and retain all the spells. She has been trying to get into the Guild for a long time but can't seem to pass that stupid entrance exam. As gifted as she is, it is illegal for her to sell her skills to make a living, so she is forced to do it on the sly or have to rely solely on what the orphanage provides--which isn't much. Her two best friends are magicians, but in the illegal sense of the word. Because while it is legal for one to do "magic", one can only do it through spells and other devices. Being a real magician with magic flowing through your veins is illegal and those who have been caught are often tortured and drained of their magic. That is the setting for this story.
I really liked this story and think it would be a good introduction to the Steampunk genre as well as to sci-fi/fantasy in general. Ermin is a likable character and while she disagrees with her friends, she still cares for them and tries to keep them safe. The ending is very much open-ended, but you're not left hanging. It's a good pause point but it makes me want to keep on reading. I can think of a few of my students who would enjoy this. I don't know how quickly Linda Browne will be able to write the next book, but I will be looking forward to it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked this story and think it would be a good introduction to the Steampunk genre as well as to sci-fi/fantasy in general. Ermin is a likable character and while she disagrees with her friends, she still cares for them and tries to keep them safe. The ending is very much open-ended, but you're not left hanging. It's a good pause point but it makes me want to keep on reading. I can think of a few of my students who would enjoy this. I don't know how quickly Linda Browne will be able to write the next book, but I will be looking forward to it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 21, 2025
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Shadow Apprentice
Author: Linda Browne
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I loved the cover. When I saw it, I thought, ‘Yes, I want to read that book.’ It’s the story of Ermin who’s a mechanic in a world where being a wizard is not allowed. The story is fun, and it’s never dull. I think Harry Potter fans will enjoy it the most.” Girl, aged 14
“Ermin is a cool character. I enjoyed rooting for her. There’s a lot of suspense, mostly in the second half when the story gets most exciting. If you like steampunk, you’ll like this.” Girl, aged 15
“The MC can’t calculate magic, so she can’t get in the Academy. Not good. But she has bigger problems too. She’s pals with two wizards and if they get captured, they could be ‘drained of their power’ which sounds REALLY nasty! I think the best part is the plot. The not so good part (but still ok) is the pacing, as it’s a bit slow in the middle.” Boy, aged 15
“I liked getting to know the characters, but I felt I didn’t know Ermin that well. I wonder if I’ll get to know her better in the second book – which I do want to read. Fans of fantasy books will like this. The plot: A+, The Characters B+.” Girl, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A smartly plotted, fantasy adventure with a likeable and very determined protagonist to root for. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Shadow Apprentice
Author: Linda Browne
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I loved the cover. When I saw it, I thought, ‘Yes, I want to read that book.’ It’s the story of Ermin who’s a mechanic in a world where being a wizard is not allowed. The story is fun, and it’s never dull. I think Harry Potter fans will enjoy it the most.” Girl, aged 14
“Ermin is a cool character. I enjoyed rooting for her. There’s a lot of suspense, mostly in the second half when the story gets most exciting. If you like steampunk, you’ll like this.” Girl, aged 15
“The MC can’t calculate magic, so she can’t get in the Academy. Not good. But she has bigger problems too. She’s pals with two wizards and if they get captured, they could be ‘drained of their power’ which sounds REALLY nasty! I think the best part is the plot. The not so good part (but still ok) is the pacing, as it’s a bit slow in the middle.” Boy, aged 15
“I liked getting to know the characters, but I felt I didn’t know Ermin that well. I wonder if I’ll get to know her better in the second book – which I do want to read. Fans of fantasy books will like this. The plot: A+, The Characters B+.” Girl, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A smartly plotted, fantasy adventure with a likeable and very determined protagonist to root for. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ Wishing Shelf Book Awards
July 31, 2025
Fun Steampunk Fantasy
Great characters. The plot moves quickly, not bogged down by too much detail. I liked how the society Ermin lives in challenges her relationships, and she has to decide what to do about that. Is there a path forward that allows them to all be on the same side? I couldn't have predicted some of the directions this story went, and I loved that, too. Overall, a thoughtful, engaging story that I couldn't stop thinking about. I'm eager to see where the series goes!
Great characters. The plot moves quickly, not bogged down by too much detail. I liked how the society Ermin lives in challenges her relationships, and she has to decide what to do about that. Is there a path forward that allows them to all be on the same side? I couldn't have predicted some of the directions this story went, and I loved that, too. Overall, a thoughtful, engaging story that I couldn't stop thinking about. I'm eager to see where the series goes!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews