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Mapwalker #1
Map of Shadows
A map of skin etched in blood.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker.
This dark fantasy novel is the first in the new Mapwalker series.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker.
This dark fantasy novel is the first in the new Mapwalker series.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2017
265 people are currently reading
1713 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Penn
54 books2,234 followersI'm the award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the ARKANE Action Adventure Thriller series, the Brooke & Daniel Crime Thrillers, and the Mapwalker Fantasy Adventure trilogy, as well as other horror and dark fantasy books and short stories.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 17, 2018
Here is the litmus test for a great story: when you are in bed at night, reading, and your spouse elbows you in the side and says, "Shut UP."
"What?" you answer, confused about what's happening, half of you still trapped in the story you've fallen into.
"You were SHOUTING," she says. Then she rolls over, laughing because she knows what this means: that SHE has found a new story, too, because when I'm done with it, it's her turn.
***
The above is rare for me. As a writer myself, I have a marked tendency to pick a story apart, to dissect each sentence after reading it and to ruthlessly VIVISECT the plot AS I read it. I'm like a mad scientist, who in churning out his own little monsters has ceased to view the other creatures out there as anything other than items of academic interest. Just things to be learned from or things to be despised, depending on how competent those creatures' own "mad scientist" parent are (or are not).
And then, in a beautiful - and all-too-rare - moment, one of those creatures not only meets your gaze, but stares you down and then SPEAKS to you. You are reminded that these creatures, these little monsters that have sprung forth of others' minds, can sometimes rise to be more than things to be examined. They can be extraordinary, full of wonder and light and genuine magic.
Map of Shadows, the first book of the Mapwalkers series, is a story like this. I went into it with the concern that I ALWAYS have when reading a story by someone I know and respect, because there is nothing worse than telling a friend that their latest is anything other than magnificent. Ms. Penn and I are not the kind of buddies who hang out - or even talk regularly - but she has interviewed me a number of times for her (superlative) writing podcast, The Creative Penn. I count those interviews as among the most fun I have had, and Ms. Penn as one of the best hosts, who brings you not only onto her show, but into her heart.
Now, I'm not just wandering around aimlessly here. I mention The Creative Penn because in the same way that she opens her heart and mind and her great understanding of the written word to those lucky people in her audience (and those luckier people whom she hosts on her show) so she has opened that heart and mind and understanding to those lucky people who read this book. Map of Shadows, like The Creative Penn and the best books and like Ms. Penn herself, is simply MAGIC.
Shadow Cartographers. Maps of Shadow. Labyrinths where death makes its home. Places that have not truly disappeared from the world, but which most certainly HAVE become lost... and become darker in the losing. Fiendish monsters torn from dark imaginings and even greater monsters embodied in the men and women who bear sad resemblance to our own darkest selves.
All this and more is on full display in Map of Shadows, but above all that, this book is about connections.
It is a story of a woman who finds that this world we enjoy is not the ONLY world, and perhaps not even the most important or more powerful. But as her understanding of the world(s) grows(s), so too does her ability to bring real betterment to that world.
It is the story of a woman who chooses to reject a life of relative comfort for a life of danger, and does so for nothing more nor less than the tiny chance that she will find a family she thought lost to her.
It is the story of a woman who has few connections to a world which - as it has for so many of us - has grown cold and distant and even alien; but who then finds those connections in the form of new friends who are willing to echo her sacrifices and then add some of their own. It is the story of hopelessness found in dark places, but then brought back to the light.
It is the story of... us.
We each make maps of our lives. Perhaps none do what our heroine accomplishes - drawing places into being simply by "mapping" them, or traveling the length and width of the universe(s) in an instant - but we draw our homes, our places of comfort; our "war zones" wherein we find things ranging from angry bosses to that grocery store clerk who for some strange reason manages to terrify us every time she weighs our grapes (yes, this is about me); and we draw the outer edges of our worlds, knowing that beyond them danger dwells.
And yet we go. We travel to the boundaries of our lives and comforts and then - as Sienna shows us how to do - we move past those boundaries, and into shadow...
... and there discover that we have, somehow, brought our brightness with us.
Sienna is all of us, and in her we find what every good Mapwalker MUST find: a road to travel; a quest to undertake; a guide or two to help us along the way, and, in the end, our hopes and dreams.
Thank you, Sienna, for showing an extraordinary path; and thank you, Ms. Penn, for your extraordinary stories and for the joy and light they bring.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
"What?" you answer, confused about what's happening, half of you still trapped in the story you've fallen into.
"You were SHOUTING," she says. Then she rolls over, laughing because she knows what this means: that SHE has found a new story, too, because when I'm done with it, it's her turn.
***
The above is rare for me. As a writer myself, I have a marked tendency to pick a story apart, to dissect each sentence after reading it and to ruthlessly VIVISECT the plot AS I read it. I'm like a mad scientist, who in churning out his own little monsters has ceased to view the other creatures out there as anything other than items of academic interest. Just things to be learned from or things to be despised, depending on how competent those creatures' own "mad scientist" parent are (or are not).
And then, in a beautiful - and all-too-rare - moment, one of those creatures not only meets your gaze, but stares you down and then SPEAKS to you. You are reminded that these creatures, these little monsters that have sprung forth of others' minds, can sometimes rise to be more than things to be examined. They can be extraordinary, full of wonder and light and genuine magic.
Map of Shadows, the first book of the Mapwalkers series, is a story like this. I went into it with the concern that I ALWAYS have when reading a story by someone I know and respect, because there is nothing worse than telling a friend that their latest is anything other than magnificent. Ms. Penn and I are not the kind of buddies who hang out - or even talk regularly - but she has interviewed me a number of times for her (superlative) writing podcast, The Creative Penn. I count those interviews as among the most fun I have had, and Ms. Penn as one of the best hosts, who brings you not only onto her show, but into her heart.
Now, I'm not just wandering around aimlessly here. I mention The Creative Penn because in the same way that she opens her heart and mind and her great understanding of the written word to those lucky people in her audience (and those luckier people whom she hosts on her show) so she has opened that heart and mind and understanding to those lucky people who read this book. Map of Shadows, like The Creative Penn and the best books and like Ms. Penn herself, is simply MAGIC.
Shadow Cartographers. Maps of Shadow. Labyrinths where death makes its home. Places that have not truly disappeared from the world, but which most certainly HAVE become lost... and become darker in the losing. Fiendish monsters torn from dark imaginings and even greater monsters embodied in the men and women who bear sad resemblance to our own darkest selves.
All this and more is on full display in Map of Shadows, but above all that, this book is about connections.
It is a story of a woman who finds that this world we enjoy is not the ONLY world, and perhaps not even the most important or more powerful. But as her understanding of the world(s) grows(s), so too does her ability to bring real betterment to that world.
It is the story of a woman who chooses to reject a life of relative comfort for a life of danger, and does so for nothing more nor less than the tiny chance that she will find a family she thought lost to her.
It is the story of a woman who has few connections to a world which - as it has for so many of us - has grown cold and distant and even alien; but who then finds those connections in the form of new friends who are willing to echo her sacrifices and then add some of their own. It is the story of hopelessness found in dark places, but then brought back to the light.
It is the story of... us.
We each make maps of our lives. Perhaps none do what our heroine accomplishes - drawing places into being simply by "mapping" them, or traveling the length and width of the universe(s) in an instant - but we draw our homes, our places of comfort; our "war zones" wherein we find things ranging from angry bosses to that grocery store clerk who for some strange reason manages to terrify us every time she weighs our grapes (yes, this is about me); and we draw the outer edges of our worlds, knowing that beyond them danger dwells.
And yet we go. We travel to the boundaries of our lives and comforts and then - as Sienna shows us how to do - we move past those boundaries, and into shadow...
... and there discover that we have, somehow, brought our brightness with us.
Sienna is all of us, and in her we find what every good Mapwalker MUST find: a road to travel; a quest to undertake; a guide or two to help us along the way, and, in the end, our hopes and dreams.
Thank you, Sienna, for showing an extraordinary path; and thank you, Ms. Penn, for your extraordinary stories and for the joy and light they bring.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
February 5, 2018
When I received a copy of this book to review, I was really looking forward to it. I hadn’t read anything by this author, and after reading through some of the reviews, I thought this would be a book I could really fall in love with.
Sadly, I was wrong.
First of all, let me say, I did love the storyline and the concepts of this fantasy novel. The author definitely has some wicked creative skills. What crushed it for me was the quality of the writing, which almost made me place this in the DNF pile. The language was sticky and clunky, the descriptions were vague, and the whole thing came off flat and at times boring to read.
First, what I liked. The story starts off with a short chapter that explains almost everything you need to know about the world the Penn has created. There are humans with magical powers that can control various elements, some of which are tied to the use of maps, though not all. The main character is Sienna, who is the descendant of the first character we meet, an elderly man named Michael, who is her grandfather.
Michael is a Map Walker and controls and protects the border between the Earth-siders and the Shadow Cartographers. Between the two lands is a third realm known as the Borderlands. When he is challenged by one of the Shadow Cartographers in a battle of magic, Michael fails. He is old and his magic is weak. When he dies he leaves everything he owns, including a map shop, to his granddaughter Sienna. (This all happens in the first chapter, so I don’t think I’m breaking the rule on spoilers)
Up until Chapter Three, I was totally entranced with the novel and was looking forward to this being a fast read. And, though I did complete it in just about a week, I had set it aside for at least two or three days without reading at all as I toyed with whether I wanted to finish it or not. I just found too many incidents of bad writing.
Let me give a few examples. Here’s how Chapter 16 starts off. “Finn looked back into the forest. It was almost dark. He gestured ahead.” Now, if this doesn’t read completely matter-of-fact, vanilla and generic, then maybe I should read something else. And there were dozens upon dozens of examples just like this one.
In another part, the author is describing a creature she refers to as ‘Giant Apes’, and says that their ‘meaty hands were the size of giant baseball mitts’. What does that even mean? Now I need to do research on my own to find out exactly how big giant baseball mitts are so I have something to reference. Also, nearly every other time the author refers to the Giant Apes hands, the word ‘meaty’ is used to describe them. At least 10-12 times if memory serves, though I’d have to go back and count to be sure. Trust that it was a lot and we’ll leave it at that.
Also, I’ve read quite a bit of fantasy, and I know there are moments in these books that the reader needs to suspend disbelief and just go with the story, but I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief more times than I can count. There was too much that just didn’t feel right, like there was no way it could happen as the author wrote it.
For example, in one section, in the space of about 10 short paragraphs, one of the characters goes from losing someone they care about, to becoming violently angry and almost barbaric, to suddenly having romantic (or at least passionate) thoughts about another character. And based on the timeline of that section, those 10 paragraphs covered maybe 3-5 minutes of time.
I could go on and on about the things that I didn’t like in this book, but I think I’ve said enough. Bottom line, I absolutely loved the creativity of the idea, but the execution in the telling of the story was far from enjoyable to read.
I can only give this book 2 stars.
Sadly, I was wrong.
First of all, let me say, I did love the storyline and the concepts of this fantasy novel. The author definitely has some wicked creative skills. What crushed it for me was the quality of the writing, which almost made me place this in the DNF pile. The language was sticky and clunky, the descriptions were vague, and the whole thing came off flat and at times boring to read.
First, what I liked. The story starts off with a short chapter that explains almost everything you need to know about the world the Penn has created. There are humans with magical powers that can control various elements, some of which are tied to the use of maps, though not all. The main character is Sienna, who is the descendant of the first character we meet, an elderly man named Michael, who is her grandfather.
Michael is a Map Walker and controls and protects the border between the Earth-siders and the Shadow Cartographers. Between the two lands is a third realm known as the Borderlands. When he is challenged by one of the Shadow Cartographers in a battle of magic, Michael fails. He is old and his magic is weak. When he dies he leaves everything he owns, including a map shop, to his granddaughter Sienna. (This all happens in the first chapter, so I don’t think I’m breaking the rule on spoilers)
Up until Chapter Three, I was totally entranced with the novel and was looking forward to this being a fast read. And, though I did complete it in just about a week, I had set it aside for at least two or three days without reading at all as I toyed with whether I wanted to finish it or not. I just found too many incidents of bad writing.
Let me give a few examples. Here’s how Chapter 16 starts off. “Finn looked back into the forest. It was almost dark. He gestured ahead.” Now, if this doesn’t read completely matter-of-fact, vanilla and generic, then maybe I should read something else. And there were dozens upon dozens of examples just like this one.
In another part, the author is describing a creature she refers to as ‘Giant Apes’, and says that their ‘meaty hands were the size of giant baseball mitts’. What does that even mean? Now I need to do research on my own to find out exactly how big giant baseball mitts are so I have something to reference. Also, nearly every other time the author refers to the Giant Apes hands, the word ‘meaty’ is used to describe them. At least 10-12 times if memory serves, though I’d have to go back and count to be sure. Trust that it was a lot and we’ll leave it at that.
Also, I’ve read quite a bit of fantasy, and I know there are moments in these books that the reader needs to suspend disbelief and just go with the story, but I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief more times than I can count. There was too much that just didn’t feel right, like there was no way it could happen as the author wrote it.
For example, in one section, in the space of about 10 short paragraphs, one of the characters goes from losing someone they care about, to becoming violently angry and almost barbaric, to suddenly having romantic (or at least passionate) thoughts about another character. And based on the timeline of that section, those 10 paragraphs covered maybe 3-5 minutes of time.
I could go on and on about the things that I didn’t like in this book, but I think I’ve said enough. Bottom line, I absolutely loved the creativity of the idea, but the execution in the telling of the story was far from enjoyable to read.
I can only give this book 2 stars.
April 1, 2018
I want to start off by saying that I received this book for review, but my opinions are my own and I am not paid for this review. That being said, Oh my gosh!!!! This book was soooooo good!!! Right from the very beginning of this book, it just took off full steam ahead with no slowing down! It's not a very long book, but they managed to pack a lot in just 192 pages! I loved it and would totally read the sequel!
I have a YouTube channel called Completely Melanie and one of the things I do on this channel is a reading vlog where each day I discuss what I am reading and my reactions to books. I said in my vlog many times while reading this book that I could totally see this playing out as a movie in my head. I think this book would make and awesome movie!
Sienna Farren's grandfather dies and leaves her his map shop in Bath, England. When she arrives, she is thrown into the world of Mapwalkers and learns that she possesses the magical ability to travel through maps. The Ministry of Maps is an agency that is charged with maintaining the borders between this world and the Borderlands which is the place where things that have been written out of history end up. It isn't a very nice place to be and the people there want into our world. Sienna must help the Ministry of Maps protect the borders at all cost!
I have a YouTube channel called Completely Melanie and one of the things I do on this channel is a reading vlog where each day I discuss what I am reading and my reactions to books. I said in my vlog many times while reading this book that I could totally see this playing out as a movie in my head. I think this book would make and awesome movie!
Sienna Farren's grandfather dies and leaves her his map shop in Bath, England. When she arrives, she is thrown into the world of Mapwalkers and learns that she possesses the magical ability to travel through maps. The Ministry of Maps is an agency that is charged with maintaining the borders between this world and the Borderlands which is the place where things that have been written out of history end up. It isn't a very nice place to be and the people there want into our world. Sienna must help the Ministry of Maps protect the borders at all cost!
July 7, 2019
"It is not drawn on any map; true places never are." Herman Melville.
“A map of the human heart is worth far more than the map of a city.”
Borderland, a sinister non Earth-side, where the evil, the worse kind of humans, the sick, the war residues have been banished is gaining territory on earth-side, our present day, by blood maps. I found this story unique and compelling, the mapwalkers a very significant and enticing concept. It reflects the borders and emigration state in today’s everyday life for millions of people seeking a better place to live. Political powers displayed at its worst. The conflict between Mapwalkers and Shadow cartographers is ancient, but now the borderlanders are gaining terrain with a cruel and sadistic warlord. The atrocities committed there are unmentionable and gross, to gain more magical powers. It’s a gritty and cruel aspect of mankind’s worst instincts. An emotional and physical struggle of survival, courage and love, of friendship and betrayal. Crisp, compelling, great command of language, excellent geographic descriptions, and rich character development. I’m totally mesmerised by the universe Penn has created here. Looking forward to reading Map of Plagues #2 soon!
“A map of the human heart is worth far more than the map of a city.”
Borderland, a sinister non Earth-side, where the evil, the worse kind of humans, the sick, the war residues have been banished is gaining territory on earth-side, our present day, by blood maps. I found this story unique and compelling, the mapwalkers a very significant and enticing concept. It reflects the borders and emigration state in today’s everyday life for millions of people seeking a better place to live. Political powers displayed at its worst. The conflict between Mapwalkers and Shadow cartographers is ancient, but now the borderlanders are gaining terrain with a cruel and sadistic warlord. The atrocities committed there are unmentionable and gross, to gain more magical powers. It’s a gritty and cruel aspect of mankind’s worst instincts. An emotional and physical struggle of survival, courage and love, of friendship and betrayal. Crisp, compelling, great command of language, excellent geographic descriptions, and rich character development. I’m totally mesmerised by the universe Penn has created here. Looking forward to reading Map of Plagues #2 soon!
July 13, 2023
3.5 Stars
This is my first book to read by J.F Penn. I loved the creative idea for this story. It was quite intriguing and well thought out. Unfortunately, after the first several chapters, the story began to slip away for me. I knew it was a dark urban fantasy, but I wasn’t quite sure from the writing style if it was geared toward young adult or teen, or adults. Obviously, with a story about blood cartography, you expect the use of blood, but after a while, it got a little much. That aside, it wasn’t the dark aspects of the story that made me start to lose interest, but the brevity and style of the writing. I kept thinking the concept would eventually bring the story back around, but it continued to fall off. Honestly, I expected more from a New York Times bestselling author, indy author or not. And disappointed because I really wanted to like this book and the author. Given a little more world-building and an expanded story line, this could have been so much better. Still, the concept is still over the top brilliant, and had I stopped at the midpoint, I would have loved it more. The first half built well measured and well paces, but the second was far too rushed. Why? 😢
February 27, 2018
3.25 Stars
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
Overall, I think that this story has potential. The author's writing is definitely in the beginning stages but I think that with time they will figure some things out. The wiring will become a whole lot better with both time and practice. The plot was interesting but I felt myself skipping over some sections because they were boring or because it was too much of an information dump. Please be aware that this book does contain self-harm. The characters were also felt but with the development of the author's writing, the characters will also get more depth. Thank you so much to Kate Tilton's Author Services for providing me with a copy fo this book!
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
Overall, I think that this story has potential. The author's writing is definitely in the beginning stages but I think that with time they will figure some things out. The wiring will become a whole lot better with both time and practice. The plot was interesting but I felt myself skipping over some sections because they were boring or because it was too much of an information dump. Please be aware that this book does contain self-harm. The characters were also felt but with the development of the author's writing, the characters will also get more depth. Thank you so much to Kate Tilton's Author Services for providing me with a copy fo this book!
December 14, 2017
Book # 1 in the Mapwalkers series
This new series is a dark fantasy and a pretty weird story, not to mention gory to no end. A map of skin etched in blood and a world under threat…..
Those of us fans of this author already knows how creative she is and how richly and cleverly written her stories are. Well no exception here. Vividly said Bath comes to life with creepy characters and supernatural happenings. This intriguing story based on maps and cartographers propels us into a fantasy world where a mysterious agency maintains the borders between this word and the Uncharted. Spooky, indeed
On the surface Bath is a genteel place but Ms. Penn imagination show us that there is a darker side to the city. Beneath the charming streets lies a weird city, a place haunted by mysterious power. Here, local legends play a good part. Sienna Farren is the main character and is aided by colourful secondary players that have magical abilities and terrifying shadows to scare us to death…
Although this book as many good qualities I honestly cant’ say it drew me in, too weird for my taste but I must say parts reflect our real world where countries are ravaged by war, famine, poverty, terrorism and many other afflictions leaving their people to suffer the consequences…totally abandoned.
I received this ARC from the author for my thoughts. It may not have been my preferred book but it is definitely not one to pass over…..give it a go.
This new series is a dark fantasy and a pretty weird story, not to mention gory to no end. A map of skin etched in blood and a world under threat…..
Those of us fans of this author already knows how creative she is and how richly and cleverly written her stories are. Well no exception here. Vividly said Bath comes to life with creepy characters and supernatural happenings. This intriguing story based on maps and cartographers propels us into a fantasy world where a mysterious agency maintains the borders between this word and the Uncharted. Spooky, indeed
On the surface Bath is a genteel place but Ms. Penn imagination show us that there is a darker side to the city. Beneath the charming streets lies a weird city, a place haunted by mysterious power. Here, local legends play a good part. Sienna Farren is the main character and is aided by colourful secondary players that have magical abilities and terrifying shadows to scare us to death…
Although this book as many good qualities I honestly cant’ say it drew me in, too weird for my taste but I must say parts reflect our real world where countries are ravaged by war, famine, poverty, terrorism and many other afflictions leaving their people to suffer the consequences…totally abandoned.
I received this ARC from the author for my thoughts. It may not have been my preferred book but it is definitely not one to pass over…..give it a go.
December 27, 2017
I was given an advance copy, by J.F. Penn for my honest review.
'Map of Shadows' falls in genre's that I don't typically read, but with J.F. Penn writing it, plus since I really like her Arkane Series and just figured I would miss out if I didn't read it.
Just like with Stephen King, Penn has the gift, to give her readers a heart pounding hellacious read, one that's well researched, puts you right in the pages, full of heart pounding twist and turns and leaves you begging for more.
It's really my type of book, due to the fast pace, it's action packed, full of suspense, tension filled, has you on the seat of your pants and like the good very evil theme.
Penn's characters are amazing the good ones or the evil ones, they just come to life, making the story all that better and your right their in the midst of the action.
'Map of Shadows' falls in genre's that I don't typically read, but with J.F. Penn writing it, plus since I really like her Arkane Series and just figured I would miss out if I didn't read it.
Just like with Stephen King, Penn has the gift, to give her readers a heart pounding hellacious read, one that's well researched, puts you right in the pages, full of heart pounding twist and turns and leaves you begging for more.
It's really my type of book, due to the fast pace, it's action packed, full of suspense, tension filled, has you on the seat of your pants and like the good very evil theme.
Penn's characters are amazing the good ones or the evil ones, they just come to life, making the story all that better and your right their in the midst of the action.
November 22, 2017
It's a joy to see how far Penn has come since her first book. I've had the pleasure of following her journey to this point, and this wonderful book.
Map of Shadows has exquisite worldbuilding and interesting characters that race through a quick-paced and engaging plot. It was a thrilling ride and I can't wait to read the next book.
Map of Shadows has exquisite worldbuilding and interesting characters that race through a quick-paced and engaging plot. It was a thrilling ride and I can't wait to read the next book.
February 7, 2018
This is the first book I have read by the author and I very much enjoyed it. This is definitely a unique fantasy book and also adds in a bit of magic. Sienna Farren inherits her grandfather's map shop in Bath, England after he is mysteriously murdered. After arriving in Bath, she finds her family is caught up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious organization who maintains the borders between this world and the Uncharter. Sienna soon discovers her own magical abilities, with the help of Mila Wendell. Sienna join the team of Mapwalkers when the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses ,which leads them on a mission to find the Map of Shadows. Along the way Sienna also uncovers secrets about her own past that she much try to sort out.
This is a fairly fast paced book and I enjoyed both Sienna as well as the author's writing style and world building. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. And the cover of this book is absolutely amazing!
Thank you to the author, J.F. Penn for sending me a review copy of this book.
This is a fairly fast paced book and I enjoyed both Sienna as well as the author's writing style and world building. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. And the cover of this book is absolutely amazing!
Thank you to the author, J.F. Penn for sending me a review copy of this book.
April 22, 2025
3.5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was quite the mfkn ride for a 200 page fantasy NGL. It has some meh/cliche element’s preventing that 4th star. Overall, I will say it was an enjoyable unique dark fantasy with an intriguing storyline.
Sienna Farren inherits her grandfather's map shop after he is mysteriously murdered in Bath, England. Upon arriving to the map shop, Sienna finds out her family is caught up in a mysterious organization(The Misery of Maps) who maintains the borders between this world and the borderlands.
When discovering her own magical abilities,Sienna joins the team of Mapwalkers at the Misery when the Borderlands begin to push through. Leading the team of Mapwalkers on an important mission to find the Map of Shadows. Along the way,Sienna also uncovers secrets about her own past life.
For sure planning on finishing the trilogy series!!
This book was quite the mfkn ride for a 200 page fantasy NGL. It has some meh/cliche element’s preventing that 4th star. Overall, I will say it was an enjoyable unique dark fantasy with an intriguing storyline.
Sienna Farren inherits her grandfather's map shop after he is mysteriously murdered in Bath, England. Upon arriving to the map shop, Sienna finds out her family is caught up in a mysterious organization(The Misery of Maps) who maintains the borders between this world and the borderlands.
When discovering her own magical abilities,Sienna joins the team of Mapwalkers at the Misery when the Borderlands begin to push through. Leading the team of Mapwalkers on an important mission to find the Map of Shadows. Along the way,Sienna also uncovers secrets about her own past life.
For sure planning on finishing the trilogy series!!
December 5, 2017
Loved being immersed into this fabulous story and the wonderfully imaginative world Penn created. This book has all of my favourite aspects of good story-telling - dimensional life-like characters, descriptive scene-setting, historical aspects interspersed throughout, well-paced and imaginative plot threads. If you are after an adventurous, magical, thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable read, this one is perfect for you! Can't wait of the next book in the series.
November 21, 2017
What an extremely enjoyable and exhilarating story!
I received an advance reader copy from the author, yet this review is entirely based on my own feelings and experience.
The premise of this book already had me intrigued, and I'm glad to report it does not disappoint. Although I would have liked to spend more time in this world, I am sure the sequels will be coming soon enough.
Fast-paced and high-stakes, this is yet another superb work from the pen and mind of J.F. Penn.
Yet again I am reminded why I keep coming back.
Bravo!
I received an advance reader copy from the author, yet this review is entirely based on my own feelings and experience.
The premise of this book already had me intrigued, and I'm glad to report it does not disappoint. Although I would have liked to spend more time in this world, I am sure the sequels will be coming soon enough.
Fast-paced and high-stakes, this is yet another superb work from the pen and mind of J.F. Penn.
Yet again I am reminded why I keep coming back.
Bravo!
December 13, 2017
I loved this book! The author sent me an advance copy to read and review because I'm a fan of her work, and I received it this morning and couldn't stop reading until the end.
The central idea seems to me to be a clever one-- that people called Cartographers with magic in their bloodlines can travel through maps, or bring the fanciful animals decorating old maps to life, or several other interesting magical skills. They work together to defend our Earth against invasion from the inhabitants of a shadow earth. Everything gets very exciting, England and our world are on the line, and a small band has to save the world.
Very J.F. Penn, wouldn't you say? Yes!
Try it, you'll like it!
The central idea seems to me to be a clever one-- that people called Cartographers with magic in their bloodlines can travel through maps, or bring the fanciful animals decorating old maps to life, or several other interesting magical skills. They work together to defend our Earth against invasion from the inhabitants of a shadow earth. Everything gets very exciting, England and our world are on the line, and a small band has to save the world.
Very J.F. Penn, wouldn't you say? Yes!
Try it, you'll like it!
December 21, 2017
J.F.Penn, whose writings I often review on my blog because I love her writing, has a special art of creating characters and worlds that do stay for you long after finishing your book. Map of Shadows, newly released, is the first in a new series aimed at exploring the mysterious meanings of maps and borders.
Sienna Farren - 'aimless and wandering for too long to choose a path forward' - was having just another uneventful day at the Oxford Library where she recently started a new job, when the announcement of the murdering of her grandfather, owner of an old map shop in Bath, will completely change her life. It is just the beginning of series of revelations that will put her in contact with a new world and a new self. The picturesque World Heritage Site of Bath, the place at the heart of Jane Austen life and works, is assigned as an ancient energy center, a door to a strange and troubled world, the Borderlands 'a place where this earth bleeds into another',
Sienna is smoothly assuming the new role as owner of the shop where unusual things and people are taking place, accepting maybe too easily to embark on a search on the other side of the world for his long lost father and for puting a halt, together with other mapwalkers - a power whose meaning is about to understand and discover only by practice -, to an invasion of evil creatures that threated destroying the world. This is just the beginning of what looks as an interesting new series.
What I particularly loved about this book, besides very vibrant and highly emotional visual images created through words, was the exploration of the sense and meaning of maps and borders, in a world, as usual, on the move. Skilfully, the current refugee crisis and the destructive war in Syria are also part of this first episode, as an anchor to everyday reality for the contemporary reader.
Map of Shadows is a page turning and dramatic read, which keeps you alert and promises a lot of interesting evolutions, with the seeds of new development already planted in this first installment.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review
Sienna Farren - 'aimless and wandering for too long to choose a path forward' - was having just another uneventful day at the Oxford Library where she recently started a new job, when the announcement of the murdering of her grandfather, owner of an old map shop in Bath, will completely change her life. It is just the beginning of series of revelations that will put her in contact with a new world and a new self. The picturesque World Heritage Site of Bath, the place at the heart of Jane Austen life and works, is assigned as an ancient energy center, a door to a strange and troubled world, the Borderlands 'a place where this earth bleeds into another',
Sienna is smoothly assuming the new role as owner of the shop where unusual things and people are taking place, accepting maybe too easily to embark on a search on the other side of the world for his long lost father and for puting a halt, together with other mapwalkers - a power whose meaning is about to understand and discover only by practice -, to an invasion of evil creatures that threated destroying the world. This is just the beginning of what looks as an interesting new series.
What I particularly loved about this book, besides very vibrant and highly emotional visual images created through words, was the exploration of the sense and meaning of maps and borders, in a world, as usual, on the move. Skilfully, the current refugee crisis and the destructive war in Syria are also part of this first episode, as an anchor to everyday reality for the contemporary reader.
Map of Shadows is a page turning and dramatic read, which keeps you alert and promises a lot of interesting evolutions, with the seeds of new development already planted in this first installment.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review
December 13, 2017
I have been a fan of J.F. Penn for quite a while now and I really enjoy everything that she produces, so I was very excited to hear that she was writing a new series about maps, but I have to admit that she took me completely by surprise with this first book, and how she manages to expand that simple subject into a magical (literally) story about the borders between the earth as we know it and the dark mysterious Borderlands, which are always trying to break through those borders and drag the world we know into theirs. Her imagination doesn't seem to know any bounds!
The characters are all brilliantly written and become very believable (as far as supernatural characters can) and I found myself really caring about and rooting for the central character, Sienna.
The subject matter for this book is quite dark, but it isn't gory, even though it does involve maps drawn in blood on human skin.
J.F. Penn can be relied on to provide really evocative descriptions of the locations her books are set in, and this is no exception, she evokes the geography of Bath brilliantly, so I felt that I really knew the city, even though I have only visited there once, many years ago and she makes the Borderlands seem very real as well.
The pace of the plot is terrific, and it became quite a quick read for me as I found it very difficult to put down. Whilst this is a self-contained complete story, it very neatly leaves the door (or should that be portal?) open for more books featuring Sienna and the Mapwalkers to battle against the Borderlanders, I can't wait.
I did receive a complimentary copy of the book from the author, but this review has been voluntarily written and is purely based on my own opinions.
The characters are all brilliantly written and become very believable (as far as supernatural characters can) and I found myself really caring about and rooting for the central character, Sienna.
The subject matter for this book is quite dark, but it isn't gory, even though it does involve maps drawn in blood on human skin.
J.F. Penn can be relied on to provide really evocative descriptions of the locations her books are set in, and this is no exception, she evokes the geography of Bath brilliantly, so I felt that I really knew the city, even though I have only visited there once, many years ago and she makes the Borderlands seem very real as well.
The pace of the plot is terrific, and it became quite a quick read for me as I found it very difficult to put down. Whilst this is a self-contained complete story, it very neatly leaves the door (or should that be portal?) open for more books featuring Sienna and the Mapwalkers to battle against the Borderlanders, I can't wait.
I did receive a complimentary copy of the book from the author, but this review has been voluntarily written and is purely based on my own opinions.
September 6, 2020
I wouldn’t usually choose fantasy to read, but, luckily for me, I didn’t know this was fantasy when I bought the book, which just goes to show you should always tread outside your comfort zone. I did know it was adventure though, and I do like an adventure.
I have to say I was a little dubious during the prologue as I wasn’t quite sure what was going on with Michael Farren but then neither did Sienna Farren, his granddaughter, who turned out to be the main character in this story. Stick with it because once we meet her in chapter 1 I was on safer ground and enjoyed finding out about her true gifts, as indeed she did, sort of.
I liked the fact the story is set in a real place, Bath, as I felt that grounded everything when the story dipped into, and then fully submerged, in the darkness of the Borderlands, a shadowy parallel world.
This story is wonderfully visceral, and in places, sickening. It is true escapism to another world, one far darker than our own, where the borders are held precariously in place by the magic of a few. The other characters were well-rounded too – Bridget, Mila, Perry, Xander and Finn. The fact I can name them from memory tells me that.
For me, Map of Shadows showed terrific imagination, it had a good pace throughout and brilliantly descriptive writing. It is the start of a series and while it is a complete story itself with no horrendous cliff hanger you can tell there is so much more to come. Sienna finding her true path after being so lost in her previous life, and the passion of a love, torn apart. This is a rollicking good read; I highly recommend it.
I have to say I was a little dubious during the prologue as I wasn’t quite sure what was going on with Michael Farren but then neither did Sienna Farren, his granddaughter, who turned out to be the main character in this story. Stick with it because once we meet her in chapter 1 I was on safer ground and enjoyed finding out about her true gifts, as indeed she did, sort of.
I liked the fact the story is set in a real place, Bath, as I felt that grounded everything when the story dipped into, and then fully submerged, in the darkness of the Borderlands, a shadowy parallel world.
This story is wonderfully visceral, and in places, sickening. It is true escapism to another world, one far darker than our own, where the borders are held precariously in place by the magic of a few. The other characters were well-rounded too – Bridget, Mila, Perry, Xander and Finn. The fact I can name them from memory tells me that.
For me, Map of Shadows showed terrific imagination, it had a good pace throughout and brilliantly descriptive writing. It is the start of a series and while it is a complete story itself with no horrendous cliff hanger you can tell there is so much more to come. Sienna finding her true path after being so lost in her previous life, and the passion of a love, torn apart. This is a rollicking good read; I highly recommend it.
July 6, 2019
A grimdark tale of what could be hiding in the shadows. A thrilling read. I found the Borderlands to be very dystopian in nature.
I couldn’t bond with Sienna, though. Not knowing why she was aimless and unhappy to work in an awesome library left too many unanswered questions. The sudden romance in the last chapter made no sense to me. Perhaps more Deep POV (sharing Sienna’s feelings and thoughts throughout the story) would have made this an amazing read.
Great worldbuilding. And the twist!
I like the idea of different powers, the whole mapwalking thing, and that they have to be careful of using their powers.
Perry, with his fire magic, is my favourite character.
A great urban fantasy read. Great cover!
Star rating:
Editing: 4 stars
Premise: 5 stars
Wonder: 4 stars
Trigger warnings: slavery, rape, forced pregnancies, genocide, blood sacrifice (including children), thoughts of self-harm/suicide, murder and other atrocities that might be a trigger for some.
Overall: 4 stars
Total = 4 stars
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
I couldn’t bond with Sienna, though. Not knowing why she was aimless and unhappy to work in an awesome library left too many unanswered questions. The sudden romance in the last chapter made no sense to me. Perhaps more Deep POV (sharing Sienna’s feelings and thoughts throughout the story) would have made this an amazing read.
Great worldbuilding. And the twist!
I like the idea of different powers, the whole mapwalking thing, and that they have to be careful of using their powers.
Perry, with his fire magic, is my favourite character.
A great urban fantasy read. Great cover!
Star rating:
Editing: 4 stars
Premise: 5 stars
Wonder: 4 stars
Trigger warnings: slavery, rape, forced pregnancies, genocide, blood sacrifice (including children), thoughts of self-harm/suicide, murder and other atrocities that might be a trigger for some.
Overall: 4 stars
Total = 4 stars
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
December 1, 2017
I really liked the world building of this book. I can't wait to read more of this series and see what happens in the Borderlands with the Mapwalkers of both worlds.
Sienna has been left a map shop in her grandfather's will. She had not really known the man, but a visit to the city of Bath was just what she needed. She finds herself drawn into a society of Mapwalkers whose job is to protect this reality from the creatures of the Borderland. The story is just beginning and there are many more adventures to be had as the group struggles to keep the borders closed and help the mistreated on the the other side. There is even the glimmer of a romance in the making.
I was given an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
Sienna has been left a map shop in her grandfather's will. She had not really known the man, but a visit to the city of Bath was just what she needed. She finds herself drawn into a society of Mapwalkers whose job is to protect this reality from the creatures of the Borderland. The story is just beginning and there are many more adventures to be had as the group struggles to keep the borders closed and help the mistreated on the the other side. There is even the glimmer of a romance in the making.
I was given an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
March 20, 2018
Well crafted, well researched, well written, when I found this book my first thought was how good could a fantasy novel about maps be? But the story idea sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. And boy oh boy, am I glad I did , The story pulls you right in and makes it hard to put down. Splitting the map magic into four distinct groups is a stroke of genius, giving each hero a personality that made you want to pick a map magic you would love to have. Also having the story completed only makes you want to know what will happen next, makes you want to dive deeper into this world and deeper into what each magic has to offer, Very much looking forward to the next installment.
March 22, 2018
This book was given to me by Netgalley to read for my honest review.
Imagine you can change the borders of the current world or even delete place from the world. The only thing you have to do is to change a map. What if there is places that are not on the maps we have, they are push from it just because we forgot about them.
Sienna is a girl that just have found she can do those think also her father and grandfather were able to do them.
Refreshing, new fantasy book that take you away from the traditional books and shows you brand new world.
Give it a go and hope you'll enjoy it.
I, myself, am looking forward for book two.
Imagine you can change the borders of the current world or even delete place from the world. The only thing you have to do is to change a map. What if there is places that are not on the maps we have, they are push from it just because we forgot about them.
Sienna is a girl that just have found she can do those think also her father and grandfather were able to do them.
Refreshing, new fantasy book that take you away from the traditional books and shows you brand new world.
Give it a go and hope you'll enjoy it.
I, myself, am looking forward for book two.
November 14, 2023
I read this book in less than 80 minutes before getting off the train in Tokyo! I have been saving this book for months and was excited to read about ‘Bath’, my hometown. The info about Bath could have come straight off Wikipedia or Google Earth. Nothing else!
The first chapter is up and running and it’s as if the other tortoises and hares have told the book to come back as the race has started yet. Premature.
Who are these characters? Don’t really know and then a few pop it! I wanted deep water Bath magick, ghosts and spirits, freemasonry, secret societies…and such stuff. All alluded too with no substance.
Like taking a bath with 3cms of water.
The first chapter is up and running and it’s as if the other tortoises and hares have told the book to come back as the race has started yet. Premature.
Who are these characters? Don’t really know and then a few pop it! I wanted deep water Bath magick, ghosts and spirits, freemasonry, secret societies…and such stuff. All alluded too with no substance.
Like taking a bath with 3cms of water.
May 13, 2018
not going to lie the first 4 chapters did not draw me in at all. The story was painfully slow start and the main character annoyed me until...
chapter 4 onwards! I ended up loving the book and the storyline was the start of something that could be a incredible plot line!
the main character really gets into the role of Mapwalker and her relationship with the other main characters are awesome!
also that twist was sly.
I can't wait to carry on with this series and to see where it goes.
chapter 4 onwards! I ended up loving the book and the storyline was the start of something that could be a incredible plot line!
the main character really gets into the role of Mapwalker and her relationship with the other main characters are awesome!
also that twist was sly.
I can't wait to carry on with this series and to see where it goes.
February 23, 2018
3.5 Stars! When I first read the synopsis of this book I thought it sounded amazing and I just loved the idea of it. It sounded intriguing, there was magic, romance and suspense throughout the story! However I found it both slow and a bit rushed at times. It was a short read and I read in a day!
March 2, 2021
First bit of fantasy I have read in awhile. Listened to audiobook version - I think it would have been better in print as the narrator’s voice wasn’t rich enough for me to hear properly. Otherwise a fun, gory romp in an interesting world with maps at the centerpiece.
September 9, 2018
As usual, J.F, Penn does not disappoint. In this new series she creates a new mythology that has a lot of room to grow and, if her ARKANE series is any indication, grow it she will. I will look forward to the next book in the series.
February 22, 2022
Excellent beginning to a series! I look forward to learning more in the next volume.
April 30, 2020
This is book one of the Mapwalkers series and covers another world where some people can use maps to travel between their world and the Borderlands. Those in the Borderlands are called Shadow Mapwalkers, whereas those on the Earth side who travel there, end up with parts of the Shadow in themselves, eating away at their ability to return to their previous home. If they travel too often, then they will be stuck in the Borderlands and unable to ever return. The Borderlands are areas where destruction has occurred on our planet, where wars have taken place and people have been displaced in huge numbers. Old maps are constantly having the lines depicting borders, re-drawn, as one side wins the fight for more land. On these old maps, made from animal and even human skins, the ripples in them, leave areas touching, with a chasm hidden under these stuck together ripples. It is these areas where the Borderlands and its occupants live. Almost like another dimension. Unseen by most of the population, until an attack or a weak spot is breached.
The main character in this story is a young woman called Sienna Farren, who lives in Oxford, where she studied and is just about to lose the latest of her temporary jobs since graduating with a degree in Geography like her father John, who is missing presumed dead, some ten years before. She is notified of the death of her grandfather, on her father’s side, and travels to Bath to meet someone who knew him, a woman called Bridget, against the advice of her mother! Her grandfather owned an old map shop in the middle of the oldest area of Bath, near and area known as the Circus. An area that is thought to have powerful lei lines of power running through it, from ancient times. She finds out that her grandfather Michael was thought to have been murdered under suspicious circumstances. She is unsure what to do about her father’s map shop, but feels some connection to it, especially around the older maps. Whilst there, a well-dressed older man comes in and asks if she wants to sell the shop, stating he knew Michael and had offered to buy it or its contents before. Luckily for Sienna, she gets quite a bad feeling about him and on taking his business card, she locks the shop up and goes for a coffee.
On her way back to the shop she meets another young woman, about her age, called Mila, after her dog runs out into traffic. She is invited back to Mila’s canal boat to be able to chat about things and is shown Mila’s ability to travel through water. She is a Mapwalker, but her ability is in connection to water. Bridget had left a letter with Sienna, from her grandfather explaining that it was their family’s lineage and duty to work with the Ministry of Maps and that Bridget could tell her more. She accompanies Bridget and Mila to the Ministry, which is hidden underneath an old church, hidden in plain sight! She meets another young man, Perry, who is struggling to master his fire magic, an ability to destroy and recreate maps. She meets an ancient man called the Illuminated Cartographer, who is linked in to all the maps and can never leave the Ministry. He holds records of all the Mapwalkers ever and a star chart which allows them to travel back to their home, no matter where they are at that time. If they lose it, they may never find their way home. Another is Xander, who can use the creatures and animals that decorate older style maps and make them come to life and do as he wishes. He is an Illustrator Mapwalker. Very useful when fighting against the Ferals who make it through from the Borderlands ever so often.
An alarm sounds as she is meeting the rest of a team due to set out to the same place her father was lost in, and they end up back near her grandfather’s shop and the Circus. A breach has opened and more Ferals are coming through. Xander conjurors up an animal to chase them away and the breach is closed. Knowing that this team are going to where her father was last seen and that he was alive a lot more recently than she knew, she wants to join them. She has little experience, but is a natural, ending up in a dungeon in the Borderlands and even making it back safely, all without an actual map to follow. Her instincts are used to follow where her father might be in the Borderlands, using her Blood Mapwalker magic and what she knows of her dad and what they used to love to do together.
Their mission is to find something called the Map of Shadows, which those in the Borderlands are using to take over parts of this world and take over, piece by piece. Re-drawing the lines of the maps using blood magic, a very rare magic that runs in Sienna’s lineage. One of the sites they end up in, is the remnants of war torn Aleppo, with families just managing to survive in ruins of buildings. Everything is in some sort of monochrome almost. A warlord is in power in the area and human sacrifices are made, as they worship old gods and follow much older traditions in the way their world is run. There is a resistance operating in this land, who try to help the Mapwalkers, and once such person is a young man called Finn, who is also one of the warlord’s sons. His younger sister was taken to the king’s tower to be used as a brood mare or worse and he has made an agreement to help them in his land, in return for help in rescuing his sister.
A very different world to Sienna and a strange experience. She has viewed some of the horrors of this world in her accidental journey and is now seeing more of it up close and personal. She and Finn are working well together and she has none of the higher opinions of themselves that most other Mapwalkers he has come into contact with have. He was born in the Borderlands, from a local woman, but with a father who is a Mapwalker, from their world. They must travel far and into danger to reach this rare Map of Shadows, or their world will be destroyed, but Finns would have a chance of actual life and bounty. Sienna hopes to find her father and this journey takes on many different adventures and betrayals, as it progresses through enemy lands and some of it is brought back to their own land. A fascinating idea of borders constantly under flux and change as we have seen throughout history. Countries changing names, in this story by a name being erased and another put in its place.
A dark world on the other side of a veil, trying its best to reach our world, for its resources and easier life. Such a simple item such as a map, being able to lend itself to so many different uses, by those called illustrators, with fire magic, blood magic, water magic and so much more! Places being written out of history, dependant on who won any particular war or battle in the past. Who we now are and where we live and has been shaped by so much history and all those who have passed before us. This made me think a lot about those areas of utter devastation in our modern world, with people made homeless and into refugees, but with no safe place to go to. This is happening all over our modern world and has been happening for thousands of years. It is nothing new, but the ability to travel through these changing maps is a novel idea and the Borderlands are very well described and thought out. I can’t wait to see what else happens to Sienna, Finn and the others and if they all get what they want. A great new adventure tale for all to read. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The main character in this story is a young woman called Sienna Farren, who lives in Oxford, where she studied and is just about to lose the latest of her temporary jobs since graduating with a degree in Geography like her father John, who is missing presumed dead, some ten years before. She is notified of the death of her grandfather, on her father’s side, and travels to Bath to meet someone who knew him, a woman called Bridget, against the advice of her mother! Her grandfather owned an old map shop in the middle of the oldest area of Bath, near and area known as the Circus. An area that is thought to have powerful lei lines of power running through it, from ancient times. She finds out that her grandfather Michael was thought to have been murdered under suspicious circumstances. She is unsure what to do about her father’s map shop, but feels some connection to it, especially around the older maps. Whilst there, a well-dressed older man comes in and asks if she wants to sell the shop, stating he knew Michael and had offered to buy it or its contents before. Luckily for Sienna, she gets quite a bad feeling about him and on taking his business card, she locks the shop up and goes for a coffee.
On her way back to the shop she meets another young woman, about her age, called Mila, after her dog runs out into traffic. She is invited back to Mila’s canal boat to be able to chat about things and is shown Mila’s ability to travel through water. She is a Mapwalker, but her ability is in connection to water. Bridget had left a letter with Sienna, from her grandfather explaining that it was their family’s lineage and duty to work with the Ministry of Maps and that Bridget could tell her more. She accompanies Bridget and Mila to the Ministry, which is hidden underneath an old church, hidden in plain sight! She meets another young man, Perry, who is struggling to master his fire magic, an ability to destroy and recreate maps. She meets an ancient man called the Illuminated Cartographer, who is linked in to all the maps and can never leave the Ministry. He holds records of all the Mapwalkers ever and a star chart which allows them to travel back to their home, no matter where they are at that time. If they lose it, they may never find their way home. Another is Xander, who can use the creatures and animals that decorate older style maps and make them come to life and do as he wishes. He is an Illustrator Mapwalker. Very useful when fighting against the Ferals who make it through from the Borderlands ever so often.
An alarm sounds as she is meeting the rest of a team due to set out to the same place her father was lost in, and they end up back near her grandfather’s shop and the Circus. A breach has opened and more Ferals are coming through. Xander conjurors up an animal to chase them away and the breach is closed. Knowing that this team are going to where her father was last seen and that he was alive a lot more recently than she knew, she wants to join them. She has little experience, but is a natural, ending up in a dungeon in the Borderlands and even making it back safely, all without an actual map to follow. Her instincts are used to follow where her father might be in the Borderlands, using her Blood Mapwalker magic and what she knows of her dad and what they used to love to do together.
Their mission is to find something called the Map of Shadows, which those in the Borderlands are using to take over parts of this world and take over, piece by piece. Re-drawing the lines of the maps using blood magic, a very rare magic that runs in Sienna’s lineage. One of the sites they end up in, is the remnants of war torn Aleppo, with families just managing to survive in ruins of buildings. Everything is in some sort of monochrome almost. A warlord is in power in the area and human sacrifices are made, as they worship old gods and follow much older traditions in the way their world is run. There is a resistance operating in this land, who try to help the Mapwalkers, and once such person is a young man called Finn, who is also one of the warlord’s sons. His younger sister was taken to the king’s tower to be used as a brood mare or worse and he has made an agreement to help them in his land, in return for help in rescuing his sister.
A very different world to Sienna and a strange experience. She has viewed some of the horrors of this world in her accidental journey and is now seeing more of it up close and personal. She and Finn are working well together and she has none of the higher opinions of themselves that most other Mapwalkers he has come into contact with have. He was born in the Borderlands, from a local woman, but with a father who is a Mapwalker, from their world. They must travel far and into danger to reach this rare Map of Shadows, or their world will be destroyed, but Finns would have a chance of actual life and bounty. Sienna hopes to find her father and this journey takes on many different adventures and betrayals, as it progresses through enemy lands and some of it is brought back to their own land. A fascinating idea of borders constantly under flux and change as we have seen throughout history. Countries changing names, in this story by a name being erased and another put in its place.
A dark world on the other side of a veil, trying its best to reach our world, for its resources and easier life. Such a simple item such as a map, being able to lend itself to so many different uses, by those called illustrators, with fire magic, blood magic, water magic and so much more! Places being written out of history, dependant on who won any particular war or battle in the past. Who we now are and where we live and has been shaped by so much history and all those who have passed before us. This made me think a lot about those areas of utter devastation in our modern world, with people made homeless and into refugees, but with no safe place to go to. This is happening all over our modern world and has been happening for thousands of years. It is nothing new, but the ability to travel through these changing maps is a novel idea and the Borderlands are very well described and thought out. I can’t wait to see what else happens to Sienna, Finn and the others and if they all get what they want. A great new adventure tale for all to read. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
April 6, 2018
**I received this book for free in return for a review**
"A map of skin etched in blood.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker."
*Spoiler Free Review*
This book instantly thrusts the reader into a city split by magic, beginning with a tragedy for the main character Sienna. Readers discover that the city of Bath is a gateway between two worlds, our world and the world of the Borderlands. The Borderlands are only accessible by the Mapwalkers, a select group of people who have the ability to travel or create using maps.
I was pleasently surprised while reading this book. It was a completely new concept and begins by thrusting the reader into the action, getting you hooked within the first few pages. While I have never been to London or Eurpope for that matter, I found it easy to understand the references to the city and its surroundings. My biggest complaint of the entire book are the small references to self harm within the first 100 pages. They are quick references, only within a paragraph but it still bothered me and I thought it wasn't necessary to the plot or the character who said it. Otherwise, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable, loved the authors writing style, and am intrigued by the story enough to read the second book.
"A map of skin etched in blood.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker."
*Spoiler Free Review*
This book instantly thrusts the reader into a city split by magic, beginning with a tragedy for the main character Sienna. Readers discover that the city of Bath is a gateway between two worlds, our world and the world of the Borderlands. The Borderlands are only accessible by the Mapwalkers, a select group of people who have the ability to travel or create using maps.
I was pleasently surprised while reading this book. It was a completely new concept and begins by thrusting the reader into the action, getting you hooked within the first few pages. While I have never been to London or Eurpope for that matter, I found it easy to understand the references to the city and its surroundings. My biggest complaint of the entire book are the small references to self harm within the first 100 pages. They are quick references, only within a paragraph but it still bothered me and I thought it wasn't necessary to the plot or the character who said it. Otherwise, I found the book thoroughly enjoyable, loved the authors writing style, and am intrigued by the story enough to read the second book.
December 13, 2017
I did receive a copy of this book but this is my honest opinion - and I wouldn't have read it in two sittings on the same day if I hadn't thought it was marvellous! I've loved all of JF Penn's fiction output (and her non-fiction as Joanna Penn), and I've always been impressed at the way she weaves wider societal concerns or cultural contexts into her thrillers. She achieves a level of depth that you don't always see in the genre. Map of Shadows is slightly different in that it's a remix of the thriller genre via dark urban fantasy (hooray!) but she still includes thought-provoking themes and messages. This time, it's around the nature of borders, identity, and the changing importance of places, people, and even the things that we do. It's a highly inventive read, mixing real places (Old Aleppo, Venice's Poveglia plague island, and Bath) with a shadowy realm of the forgotten, the abandoned, and the unwanted. And there's magic, which is really all you can ask for from a book. Thoroughly recommended and I can't wait to see what she does with the next instalment!
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