Shine, an orphaned, magic-less young woman in a family full of mages, lives her life in quiet, ostracised, reproach as she tends to the family estate with only her telepathic cat and peculiar aunt as companions. The arrival of Bright, her gay, exiled cousin, on the eve of a large family gathering, brings with it a ghost named Shadow whom Bright has commissioned to help Shine discover the truth about her mother’s death. Shine must reckon with mystery and murder in order to release her inheritance and secure her future within a family dynasty littered with secrets that are determined to stay hidden.
This isn’t a YA fantasy but rather a family drama set within a magical world. That’s no bad thing, but the premise of the fantasy side of things is so intriguing you can’t help but wish for a spin-off that focuses solely on Shine, her telepathic cat and a magical treasure map of some kind. There’s more sex than a mid-season episode of Riverdale, which does little more than highlight the potential to adapt this story into a pilot episode for the CW Network, a medium that the subject matter and tone may have been better suited to.
Author Jane Routley does a great job of using social class distinctions and politics to add layers to both Shine’s journey and the world that she lives in, even if the world-building itself feels a little underserved. A guilty pleasure that’s a little more guilt than pleasure, but worth your time if the literary lovechild of Downton meets Enola Holmes is your thing.
Release Date: January 21st
