Lightfall Book 2: Shadow of the Bird, A Graphic Novel by Tom Probert

Rating: Not for me

Reading Level: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Middle School

A girl and her new friend quest to save the world from a bird who is destroying it by swallowing the light.

I started the series because it was recommended in a Christian parent book review forum, but now I’m wondering whether the recommendation was based on the first book alone. There are serious concerns and book two.

Possible Concerns:

• Pagan Spirits. The entire story is about going to talk to the water spirit who claims to have created the waters and learning about a sun spirit who gave the world its light but is taking revenge and taking it back for some unknown reason. The sun spirit now is a very complex villain.
• Mental Health/Fear. The girls struggles with fear. In the book it is depicted by black vines that grow and tangle her into freezing.
• Peril. Sword fights, giant evil birds, ghost like spirit black creatures…
• Fantasy. Definitely creatures, curses, etc. that are expected in fantasy.

Overall the story has gone beyond fantasy into in unbiblical origin stories and pagan spirits. There is perhaps a Jesus parallel where the one who gave the world light is rejected by it, but I need to read more to assess whether the parallels are worth it. It would be good to know the author’s intent here.

See also my review of Book 1.