Daughter of Gods and Shadows

Brooks’s clunky epic trilogy opener sets up a confrontation between a bloodthirsty demon and a young woman who’s the reincarnation of an ancient being. The last time Sakarabu arose, the conflict between it and Mkombozi the Redeemer destroyed the world of Theia and sent many of its magical inhabitants to Earth as secret refugees. Some 4,000 years later, Earth is poised to fall under Sakarabu’s bloodthirsty hordes, who resurrect slain innocents as ravenous monsters. Only by merging with the three Omens and embracing the power of her past self can Eden Moore save a world that is swiftly falling into an apocalyptic state of chaos and despair. Clumsy prose and lengthy flashbacks undermine the main story. The action is scattered and unfocused, and many of the worldbuilding elements are sadly underutilized, such as the many magical creatures referenced but never shown. Brooks’s debut is full of potential, but it falls short on every level. Agent: Sara Camilli, Sara Camilli Agency. (Feb.)