Shadowman - (Valiant Universe) by Shola Adedeji (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this thrilling origin story, one young man finds himself in the middle of a war between powerful gods, and tasked with saving the city he holds dear.

Jack Boniface is having a weird day. Considering himself above the voodoo beliefs of his father and community back in New Orleans, Jack left his hometown to pursue his intellectual dreams at NYU. Normally, Jack is confident in his ultrarational approach to the world, but this morning he swears he can sense things moving in the shadows and keeps having the strangest daydreams about a hideous monster.

Below New Orleans lies the Deadside, where Baron Samedi rules over a pantheon of Lwa--voodoo gods. However, when Freda--among the most beloved Lwas in New Orleans and one of Samedi's wives--goes missing, the Deadside falls into chaos. Freda's absence negates a decade-long agreement to protect New Orleans from unnatural violent death, resulting in a power struggle that spills over into the human world.

When an unexpected death brings Jack back to New Orleans, he finds a city in violent uproar and a neighborhood under siege by undeniably supernatural forces. Turns out Jack was wrong: The voodoo world is quite real. And, if that wasn't enough, Jack finds out he is heir to the mantle of Shadowman, an entity tasked with maintaining the delicate balance of power between the Deadside and the real world. Will Jack be able to control his new powers and right the balance before it's too late? Or will the discord in the Deadside destroy New Orleans forever?

A new Shadowman is rising. Jack just hopes it's not from the ashes of his city.

Review Quotes

"Adedeji is a master chef, preparing a savory gumbo that would be perfect for any N'awlins feast. This rendition of Shadowman is both engaging and well-crafted, skillfully utilizing modern storytelling techniques while pulling on the roots of traditional voodoo lore."