Quickwater Lake, at the centre of the Kingdom of Folavia, is deadly. Ora is the only person to have survived its pull, and that when she was an infant. Now, as she nears her fifteenth birthday, Ora finds herself drawn to the lake, sensing it calling her.
When her uncle, the king, takes Ora to see the Cloudtouchers - trees which soar to meet the clouds - she is overwhelmed by their beauty and stature. But soon she learns that the trees are in danger and, with them, the future of the whole kingdom.
Ora must overcome her self-doubt and the shock of discovering her true identity if she is to make full use of her emerging powers and ensure the future of Folavia
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From the moment this novel begins the reader is aware that something terrible has happened, but the event, planned or accidental, is unclear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Skiffers and Folavians do not mix well together. The dark haired, dark-eyed Folavians live inside the wealthy city while the blonde, blue-eyed Skiffers reside in small fishing villages, which rely on the Lake for their survival.
However, quickwater - water that drowns anything that enters it - has rendered the Lake unsafe and unusable. The waterways flowing into the Lake have been the only means of survival for the Skiffers but drought is causing them to dry up.
A Skiffer, Solqua-Tasman befriends Lady Ora, heir to the Folavian throne. Lady Ora discovers that the Skiffers, who prefer to be called Guests, have a history, language and culture of their own and are not merely the underclass of their world. In fact, the Guests refer to the Folavians as Squatters because of their relatively short history with the land.
Through Solqua-Tasman Ora also learns of her miraculous survival after falling into Quickwater Lake as an infant and about the Dalfen. The Dalfen, or Dolphyn, as the Folavians call it, was a magical fish, which disappeared from the Lake shortly before it became quickwater. With increasing intensity Lady Ora finds herself drawn to the Lake and begins to question the accident she survived and the King's role in the history of the Lake.
Shaedow Master is an engaging fantasy, which could be utilised in many ways in the classroom. The relationship between Folavian and Guest (Skiffer) could be the basis for exploring the social history of Australia and other nations in relation to indigenous cultures. The novel illustrates the different perspective of the Guests and Folavians, as well as societal racism.
Another element woven into the story is the environmental impact that can occur from seemingly unrelated events such as the destruction of Cloudtouchers (old growth trees) for money resulting in lack of rainfall, which affects everyone's lives.
Also worth discussing is the journey Lady Ora makes from young girl to queen and the spiritual and mental growth and awakening that occurs as she matures. From her initial reaction to discovering her link to the
Guests :'That she was half-Skiffer. The shame of it . . .' to her pride in her heritage:
'I cannot deny my heritage . . . and nor do I intend to.'
Lady Ora learns to not only accept her background but begins to redefine and change the people around her so that the population of Folavia not only co-exists but also integrates.
The narrative is developed in four parts with short chapters. Each part begins with a flashback to the same event - an event that finally becomes clear at the conclusion of the novel. Although at first this was a little confusing it proves to be an effective means of arousing curiosity and ensuring the reader continues. The conclusion easily becomes the beginning of a new myth - an ending that fits very well with the exploration of cultural differences within the novel.
www.amlib.eddept.wa.edu.au ( )