I started this book and struggled to put it down, untill the very end. It was comforting, a fantasy, dystopian story, where I felt comfortable being. I could see the story like a film as I read. It was lovely. Very well written.

A mature middle grade that manages to evoke heavy emotions of dystopian restrictions and bleak reality filled with corruption and destruction, while also shinning a light on what persists regardless: friendship, hope, and the power of wanting to make things right.

This is aimed at younger readers, probably about 10-13 years, but nevertheless as an adult I truly enjoyed it. A really original idea and enough mild peril to keep readers engaged. The conclusion was perhaps a bit too neat for my liking, but I enjoyed the idea behind it of being your true self and not be afraid to speak up when you see wrongdoings.

Quite a clever and original idea with a curse that affects people's shadows and let's them move independently. I really liked all three main characters. It was a pleasant enough read, unfortunately so much just didn't make sense. It seems like it wasn't all thought through properly and a lot wasn't explained.

The Shadow Order by Rebecca F. John

4 STARS

A wonderful childrens and teenage read. We're sent to the shadowy world John presents here, and join a strong cast of characters who hold both your interest and support throughout the book. An fun, easy read and a worthwhile addition to any young readers collection.

It found it intriguing and thought provoking. There's the discover of our true self and there's the adventures.
The original world building is well developed and i liked the characters and the plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A thrilling read for more able year 6 children or children in Years 7-9. Shadow order was a breath of fresh air in terms of content. I’ve never read a book quite like it with regards to the concept of shadows revealing your true self and the delicate nod to being yourself and not being afraid of who you are.
I love the characters and their different backgrounds and how they come together to make the perfect team.

This was a good story. The characters were lovely, the plot was mysterious and intriguing and the background was really interesting. I loved seeing the way the government were using the shadows to control everything by restricting their movements in the day time and forcing them to stay out of light for fear of casting a shadow.

It just felt a bit unplanned. Even when the characters had plenty of time to strategize, it felt like they were making things up as they went along and things just slid into place for them without that much effort.

I liked the vagabond society a lot. I liked the fact that they rode on deers and lived in nature. It was a nice contrast to the Wellian's society of nighttime and fear.

With government orders to stay indoors during daylight due to the shifting of the shadows - showing people their truest selves rather than just their shapes - Teddy, Betsy and Effie risk all to watch the winter sun rise over Copperwell, in defiance of the Shadow Order. Here they witness the arrest of a woman with a dire warning for all and they are whipped into a dangerous adventure as they learn the truth about the Shadow Order, the world surrounding Copperwell, and themselves.

This was such a mature middle grade book, I felt I was reading a children's adaptation of George Orwell's classic 1984. What a start within this genre for the author. I'm intrigued to try out some of her adult fiction too. I feel working within a primary school that this maybe best suited to year 7 children, perhaps a mature year 6 class, otherwise I feel some of the underlying themes and tones might go over their heads.

With so many connections to current world events this stories narrative really fits in today's modern times, even though it felt at times that Copperwell could be set in an alternate Industrial Revolution/ pre-appocoliptic world, I couldn't quite get a feel for when I thought this was exactly taking place- dystopian maybe? You rollercoaster through themes of government authoritarianism that creates almost a draconian society with its power imbalanced authorities. Elements of world destruction and deviation caused by human interference and the need for a deeper connection to nature. What more could a reader want!

The cover and title were appealing and at a glance I was getting horror,Gothic, steam punk vibes. This was a solid 4 stars for me!

Everybody in Copperwell lives by night: they work and play at night and, by law (The Shadow Order), must be at home before dawn so that they cannot see their shadows which have changed and show their true selves. However, friends Teddy, Betsy and Effie decide to defy that order and the Unified Government to watch the sun rise, but whilst there, they realise that things are different when they find an orchid mantis which shouldn't be in the UK. Minutes later, they hear a woman in the street below them who is also defying the order, shouting about the government and the orrery. When the constables drag her away, the three friends become determined to find out Prime Minister Bythesea and his government are up to, what the orrery is and why everyone is banned from seeing their shadows.

There is a definite darkness to The Shadow Order, not just in the fact that it is largely set at night, but also in that it is very much a book about control. It is evident that the government are controlling the people of Copperwell: they are forced to live by night and hide by day and are clearly terrified of the constables and the consequences of breeching The Shadow Order, after all, readers see the constables' response to the woman in the street and the assumption the children have of what would have happened to her.

The three friends, Teddy, Betsy and Effie, are very different children who are united in their friendship as well as their desire to get to the bottom of what is happening and their bravery is seen in so many different ways and for different reasons. As the book progresses, the danger they are in increases, leaving the reader, at times, uncertain as to what will happen.

The Shadow Order is an immersive book to be savoured and not to be rushed; it is one to contemplate and to take in the world building and description which is clever and vivid. In my mind I imagined a time many years ago but this could equally be a tale set in the future. It is a story with messages about the environment that are relevant today and show us what over-control can do, but there are also messages about friendship and being your true self.

As I finished the book, I took a moment to sit and savour the ending (I won't give anything away) and to hope that there may be a second book so I know what happens next.

The Shadow Order will be a perfect read as the days shorten and the longer, darker nights descend.

I found this book very thought provoking, especially after our experiences of Covid. In the book, something causes people's shadows to change and the leaders in Copperwell put in laws to make those living there feel ashamed of the changes. They decree an order that everyone must stay inside during the day so that people's shadows stay hidden. And then the three main characters make a startling discovery about the cause of the change and what this means to their way of life.

All of the above gave me a lot of food for thought. The theme of following directions from leaders without understanding or questioning their wisdom would create great discussion points for older children as would the way the characters respond. I think there would also be a lot to unpick about bravery and it can look like. It also has a strong focus on the need for humans to connect with nature which I loved. All in all, I think it would be a great book to read with Year 5 or Year 6 pupils and I hope the children in my school will enjoy it when it comes out.

What a fabulous book, definitely a five star. Brilliant characters, a weird and fascinating take on an alternative Britain but at the end, a real sense that people can make change happen.

A year vefoer the story begins, a 'Shift' happened in Copperwell - suddenly, people's shadows seemed to become animated with their own life, revealing the truth of its owner's character. Thta's when the Shadow Order stared - the Unified Government ordered the people of Copperwell to hide during the day and live only in darkness so no one would reveal their true self.
Three friends, Teddy, Effie and Betsy, like everyone else, have grown to feel ashamed of what their shadows could reveal..
Teddy is a canal worker, some of the poorest in the city, since he lost his father. Betsy can barely remember where she comes form and works in a laundry for lodgings. Effie is the daughter of the chief of Justice and could have a pretigious career as a classical musican but she prefers to play in jazz clubs, masked.
One day, the friends decide to defy the Shadow Order and sneak on a roof to watch the sun rise There they witness the Constabulary arresting a woman who claims that she knows why the shadows shifted...
This revelation is going to lead Teddy, Effie and Betsy on a journey of discovery. Discovery of the world around us, beyond Copperwell, of new friends, and themselves. Strong with their new knowledge they will risk all to free their city.

I very much enjoyed The Shadow Order, which sets some very strong friendships between attaching characters, adventure and high stakes. A dying city where the people are getting poorer and more miserable by the day (imagine having lived in darkness for a whole year). A cruel government which favours greed over the well-being of its people. The exploration of politics and responsibility, through the world of The Shadow Order, is very well down and engaging for the age group target. A read highly recommended :)

Despite – it seems – my attempts to single-handedly read all of them, I have absolutely no idea how many children’s books are published each year. Some of those I read are hotly anticipated, not only by myself but it seems by all of my book-reading friends on Twitter, while others are quietly published with very little mention, if any at all.

This – if I’m honest – is a title that I had skipped past a few times on Net Galley but having seen a brief tweet mentioning it a few days ago, thought I would go back and give it a read – not wanting to miss out on something special hiding amongst those other titles that seem to be popping up in my Twitter feed on a more frequent basis. Unlike anything else I have read, this is a title that will be popular with upper KS2 readers looking for something different but with parallels to the world around us.

For friends Teddy, Effie and Betsy life has been very different over the past year since The Shadow Order was issued and the three of them have arranged to meet secretly an hour before sunrise. Brought in by Prime Minister Bythesea and the Unified Government, The Order has forbidden going outside in daylight, when people’s new, changeable shadows reveal their true selves but the friends have decided to run the risk of being caught in order to feel the sun upon their faces once more.

Hiding on the roof of Copperwell’s observatory the three excitedly watch as the sun rises, lighting up the icy roofs and streets of the city and the woodland beyond and are surprised when a light shower of blossoms falls on them. Not expecting to see flowers in the middle of winter, their surprise turns to puzzlement when they discover that the flowers are in fact orchid mantises – insects which are not native to the Britannic Isles.

Shortly afterwards, their attention is diverted to what is happening on the streets below them when a dishevelled woman appears, shouting loud accusations about the behaviour of the government and the instruction: Find the orrery! As Teddy and the girls watch in horror, the woman is silenced by a policeman and dragged away. With their curiosity piqued by the woman and her shadow, the three of them decide to go in search of the mysterious orrery. What will they discover when they find it? How is it linked to the shadows? And just what have the Unified Government got planned for it?

The world in which the three friends live is very similar to ours in a great many ways, which makes the way in which the law makers act all the more sinister throughout the book. Forbidding its citizens from setting foot outside during daylight will surely remind many readers of the loss of liberty that we all experienced during the lockdowns that were imposed upon us but while most of us could see the logic behind the need for social isolation then, here there is no deadly disease but merely the risk of an altered shadow, which does not seem to warrant the same kind of restrictions.

Obviously, as the reader journeys through the story, what has been going on becomes clearer and clearer and as Teddy, Effie and Betsy work out not only what is happening but what they need to do in order to restore the freedom that they and everyone else so desperately craves, they find themselves in greater and greater danger. What follows is a terrific adventure, with all three of them learning a great deal about themselves and each other as they race to the story’s conclusion.

Publishing 15th September, this is a book which would make a great Year 6 shared read, with the opportunity to discuss a huge range of topics such as Covid, the lockdowns and the responsibilities of government and individuals in making and following laws. Huge thanks go to publisher Firefly Press and Net Galley for my virtual advance read.

The Shadow Order is an incredible well written book filled with gorgeous descriptions and story telling, at times the story telling can come across as dark but there is a underlining message of hope that shows the reader no matter how bad things may get in the world, change can happen. I absolutely can’t wait to read more young adult stories by Rebecca.

Teddy, Betsy and Effie value their friendship in a closed city, living their lives under cover of darkness, where shadows reveal the true nature of a person and are forbidden from being shown. But their city is unstable: the weather is bizarrely chaotic and creatures from other climate zones are unexpectedly appearing. When a protester cries out "Find the orrery" one night and is cruelly silenced by the feared Constabulary, the three friends are catalysed into action. Forced to flee the city having discovered some disturbing secrets they are offered sanctuary by the Vagabonds, who live in the forest across the canal, and live in harmony with nature, and with their help, they decide to try to free their fellow "Wellians" from the tyranny of the shadow order...
There are two distinct halves to this intriguing tale: the first half brilliantly depicts the claustrophobia and fear of life in an increasingly repressive state where the authorities are beginning to lose control, whereas the second half becomes a thrilling, exciting, fear-filled account of an attempt to overthrow the Unified Government, and overturn the Shadow Order. Above all, it is a tale of friendship and loyalty, a coming of age story in which the three protagonists find their talents and the courage and freedom to be their true selves. In addition, there is a strong environmental theme, contrasting the damaging manipulations of the city with the respectful attitude that allows the Vagabonds to live in harmony with their surroundings. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking novel with memorable, hugely appealing characters. A great read!

Reviewed by E.M. Watson.
Gosh, this was quite a ride.
As rich in description as the best Christmas puddings are fruit, this is a sweet morsel that cannot be rushed yet demands to be read.
The story is told in the third person omniscient. As a result, it has the definite air of a much bolder style of story – Arthurian or Tolkein. It is a style that threw me till I got the gist, and then like a thick fur coat, it wrapped me up and kept me literarily warm. There are arguably hints of steampunk and dystopia. Mrs H and I argued about referring to dystopia and compromised on saying that it was a society on the verge of a calamity that could have led to a dystopian future.
I have not read any of Rebecca's adult literature. Still, I can understand why she was, amongst other things, a Costa Award nominee. This is her first venture into middle-grade writing. It is, in equal measure, impressive, rich, characterful, forboding and heartening. Copperwell is a place crafted so that it could easily be two hundred years ago but also potentially fifty or a hundred in the future. There are definite parallels to the actions of governments in our own world on the environment and the creatures and peoples they are supposed to serve and protect.
The middle of a heatwave probably isn't the best time to start such a consuming book, and I wasn't sure about what I had. By the end, however, I was sad to say goodbye to Copperwell and the assembled characters. I really do want another adventure to be born out of the ashes of this. As I said earlier, it has the feel of an epic in the making. It certainly will provide great talking points for teachers and readers of all ages.
Definitely do not shy away from this fabulous piece of storytelling.
Five stars for Firefly Press and Rebecca F. John

Rebecca F John has an extraordinary imagination. Shadows that reveal their owners' true selves, a mysterious orrery that does far more than track the movements of the planets, a city ruled by a corrupt government and glimpses of the world beyond. This is an atmospheric and intriguing adventure, centred around three very likeable main characters. The story is sometimes dark, but the overall message is one of hope - that, however bleak the world may seem, things can change. There is so much to explore in this world, I'd love to read more.

The Shadow Order is a really interesting and thought provoking fantasy novel filled with atmosphere.

I found it quite scary how much of it seemed to reflect the country we're currently living in. The rich people are living comfortable lives in their fancy buildings, making more and more money while destroying the world without care, while the poor become ever poorer, hungrier, colder. A cowardly and corrupt Prime Minister hides away at the centre of it all, refusing to face his people, while the government passes ever more draconian laws, restricting freedoms in the name of protection, enforced by an increasingly brutal police force.

But despite that bleakness, The Shadow Order is a story about hope and the possibility of change. it's about listening to what is within us, and listening to the wide, wild world around us, and making ourselves heard. It is about the power of friendship and self-sacrifice, about taking risks, breaking the rules and doing what you can to make things right.

I really enjoyed it, and I'm hoping we'll get a chance to find out more about this curious world and the strange devices within it.