The Shadow Hunt

Katherine Langrish 
HarperCollins (2010)
ISBN 9780061116766
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 11) for Reader Views (04/10)


“The Shadow Hunt” by Katherine Langrish is the story of Wolf, a boy who is running away from the cruel and oppressive monastery where he was raised.  At the monastery where Wolf was raised, punishments were dished out practically daily for even just the slightest thing - for incorrectly memorizing a psalm or singing a song that was too joyful for the somber monastery.  The punishments were a harsh beating or a whipping. You can probably see why Wolf ran away. 

As he flees, he finds himself caught between a “demon” and a pack of hunting dogs.  He runs, both to get away from the dogs and hunters and to go after the demon.  Soon after, Wolf, wet and tired, goes to the hunters’ camp and tells them of the demon.  They immediately proclaim it an elf, not a demon.  The leader is suddenly interested and asks Wolf to take him to the elf.  Wolf is happy to do so and they are soon are able to track it down and capture it.

When Wolf and the leader of the hunters arrive back at the manor where the hunters live, Wolf finds out that the leader is none other than Lord Hugo de la Mote Rouge, a local hero known for his bravery in the Crusades.  Lord Hugo offers Wolf a job as caretaker of the captured elf child whom Wolf names Elfgift.  Elfgift is a little child who, though intelligent, is mute.  She also has a large red birthmark down half of her face.  Wolf must protect her as many of the men-at-arms believe that touching her with cold iron will “startle her into speech.”  

As time goes on, Wolf makes friends with the daughter of Lord Hugo, Lady Agnes (who prefers the name Nest).  As the two friends continue their care of Elfgift, they realize that there may be a great threat close to home.  One day on Alls Hollows a mysterious jongleur (jester) appears at the manor.  Lord Hugo had met him on the crusades and was willing to let him stay for a while.  However Wolf notices that the songs Haelwyn the jongleur sings seem to haunt Lord Hugo.  Can Wolf and Nest find out what is going on before it is too late?  Is there evil lurking close by?

I would recommend “The Shadow Hunt” by Katherine Langrish to people who like fantasy and adventure.  This was a fun book to read and I finished it the day I started it.

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